Galway medtech startup Galenband will be one for investors to keep their eye on in the future after winning the “One to Watch” Award at Enterprise Ireland’s Big Ideas 2020.
NUI Galway spinout Galenband was one of 12 investor-ready start-up companies to pitch their new technology solutions to investors at Enterprise Ireland’s annual showcase of start-up innovation emerging from higher education institutes.
The “One to Watch” award was presented in a virtual ceremony to co-founder of Galenband Eddie McDaid for having the most outstanding pitch of the day.
McDaid said that he was thrilled to win the award along with his co-founders Oisín McGrath and Patrick Conway. A “Viewers’ Choice” Award was also presented to Galenband.
Galenband produces an unobtrusive wrist worn medtech device that monitors and records heart activity continuously for up to 90 days.
The revolutionary monitoring system is capable of increasing detection rates of ‘Silent Atrial Fibrillation’ from the 1.3% associated with current standard monitoring methods to 85%.
Each of the 12 start-ups at Big Ideas 2020 had just three minutes to promote their innovations and business propositions to an online audience made up of the Irish research and business communities.
Along with Galenband, there were three other NUIG spinout companies taking part in the competition:
- Lifelet Medical from NUIG’s Lambe Institute, founded by Elle Sander and interventional cardiologist Prof. Faisal Sharif, which makes sustainable heart valve leaflets for patients with heart valve disease.
- Nua Surgical which, led by Barry McCann, Padraig Maher and MarieTherese Maher, is making a surgical retractor which will make caesarean delivery safer and enhance patient recovery.
- SymPhysis Medical, founded by Tim Jones and Michelle Tierney, has developed a home-based medical device which will help late stage cancer patients suffering from breathlessness due to fluid build-up around the lung.