Startup takes home €100,000 investment from ALPHA Innovation’s flagship Disrupt By The Sea Shark Tank
Oliver Begley (Centre) collecting the Overall Winner Prize from the sharks - L-R: John Fries - Managing Partner, Germantown Ventures, Mike Finucane - General Manager, BAYADA Home Health Care (Ireland), Mark Baiada - Chairman, BAYADA Home Health Care
Five scaleups travelled to Ramelton, Co. Donegal to pitch their ventures to US investors in front of a live audience. After 5 pitches, the Sharks provided the founders with tough love on their potential to conquer the US market and promised to select a founder who would go on to negotiate a cash investment.
Disrupt By The Sea 2024 (now in its second year) was held last Thursday 26 September in a vintage carnival tent, in McDaid’s Courtyard on the Quays in Ramelton. ALPHA welcomed a live audience of over 80 entrepreneurs, startups, ecosystem partners and visitors from the USA to the Atlantic Coast.
John Fries, Managing Partner of Philadelphia-based Germantown Ventures was joined on stage by Mark Baiada, Chairman of BAYADA Home Health Care. Limerick-based General Manager of BAYADA in Ireland, Mike Finucane completed the judging panel.
After hearing each 6-minute pitch and following up with questions, the judges returned to the stage outlining they were unable to separate their top 3 teams. In an unexpected twist, the judges allowed each of the founders to battle it out live: which saw each provide their best-and-final terms on the equity they were prepared to part in return for the investment.
Oliver Begley, Biota pitching to the sharks at Disrupt By The Sea 2024
Oliver Begley, founder of Biota, emerged victorious, taking home the €100,000 cash investment. He also secures an Annual Membership Plan for ALPHA Innovation which brings with it a suite of wrap-around supports.
Dr. Esther Murphy, DigiAcademy, captured the crowd's hearts, pitching her ‘see-it, be-it’ learning platform where those with intellectual disabilities teach others digital skills so corporate organisations can tap into a new talent. Esther won the Audience Choice award on the day.
Begley’s Biota provides biodiversity monitoring from space, using satellites and machine learning AI. They service large corporates, including Dole, who manage multiple production plants across the globe.
Reflecting on his success, Oliver said, “After seeing the calibre pitches from the founders, I am delighted to have been chosen as this year’s overall winner of Disrupt By The Sea 2024. The investment and partners secured leaves us well positioned to grow over the coming months and I am excited for Biota’s next chapter.”
The Sharks have promised to make valuable introductions to senior decision-makers including the CEO of Microsoft, and Forbes Magazine. This is a big win for those that did not take home the cash investment on the day as it can lead to significant global contracts.
In the weeks leading up to Disrupt by the Sea, shortlisted startups received coaching to help them craft a compelling story and predict the tough questions. This service is open to other ventures that want to pitch next year and the hunt to identify the long list for Disrupt By The Sea 2025 has already begun.
“To come through the whole shortlisting process with ALPHA Innovation was invaluable and we are really grateful for their insights and feedback to get us ready to put our best foot forward for the sharks”, concluded Oliver.
L-R: The fireside chat featuring Head of Innovation at ALPHA Innovation - Kevin Sexton, Orla Ward - React Social, Alan Hernon - Atlantic Technological University & Kieran Supple - Founder & CEO, Reap Interactive
Head of Innovation [at ALPHA Innovation], Kevin Sexton was delighted with how the afternoon’s proceedings went:
“Disrupt By The Sea about showcasing the connections and support we bring to startup & scaleup ventures. We introduced these enterprises to influential US investors that would otherwise take them years to access one-to-one, gaining valuable first-hand insights on the US market and introductions to get started on US pilots. Our Sharks commented that all 5 businesses were investable so it is a credit to each of the founders who showed bravery to stand up on stage today. The sharks will be tracking the progress of each startup going forward”.
Kevin moderated a fireside chat featuring entrepreneurs and companies that have come through ALPHA’s programmes, who provided advice to those in the audience with global ambitions. One of the panellists, Kieran Supple, Reap Interactive spoke of his recent successes winning Enterprise Ireland’s ‘Startup Innovator of the Year’ award at the National Ploughing Championships, and his expansion into the US market with a private investor secured and pilots in Texas.
Kevin concluded: “Against the backdrop of the Wild Atlantic Way in a top-notch location, with artisan food from local producers, Disrupt By The Sea showcased some of the best the county has to offer ..and today’s event firmly planted Donegal on the investor radar. I will continue building on the strong relationships we have with the US East Coast during my next visit in November”.
If you are interested in pitching in 2025 or accessing the coaching supports ALPHA Innovation provides, reach out here.
