Wattics, a pioneering UCD spin-out that wants to help firms save money on their energy costs, has beaten competition from across the island to be named the Best Emerging Company in the 2012 InterTradeIreland Seedcorn Business Competition.
The Dublin spin-out was the toast of a gala awards ceremony in Titanic Belfast last night where it was also presented with a winner’s cheque for €50,000.
The NovaUCD based company has designed a software solution that allows businesses to manage their energy usage by employing a piece of equipment with one meter clipped at the distribution board.
Seedcorn is one of the biggest business competitions on the island for early stage companies.
HTC appoints marketing chief
HTC hired a new chief marketing officer as it seeks to reverse declines in smartphone share that have pushed revenue down for four straight quarters.
Benjamin Ho, head of marketing at phone operator Far EasTone Telecommunications, will take up the HTC post in January while current sales and marketing president Jason MacKenzie will focus on strategy. Ho, who joined Far EasTone in 2003, previously held the top marketing role at Motorola Asia Pacific and worked at Dentsu and Omnicom Group’s BBDO.
Asia’s second largest smartphone maker suffered a 24 per cent decline in brand value in the past year amid stronger competition from Samsung Electronics and Apple.
App launched for pharmacy customers
Irish firm Ista Technologies has launched a new smartphone app platform for Irish pharmacies.
Working with more than 50 independent pharmacies and another 50 stores, it allows customers to communicate with their local pharmacy directly to order repeat prescriptions, get details of local clinics and opening times, set a pill reminder and query non-prescription products, amongst other services.
Developed by Cork pharmacist Ciaran O’Connor, the platform allows each pharmacy to have their own tailored app with their brand, name and information.
“I decided that there must be a better way to serve my customers using the technology with which they are already so familiar,” says O’Connor.
The free app is available for iPhone and android. Future plans include rewards and loyalty programmes and more interactive shopping enquiries. The app has also been nominated for a 2012 Appy in the healthcare/medical category.
