8 March 2016
By Bryan T. Smyth
bryan@TheCork.ie
Cork company, DARE Technology has been selected by the Local Enterprise Office (LEO) Cork City to represent Cork City at the 2016 National Enterprise Awards in the Aviva Stadium on June 9th.
Founder of DARE Technology, Darren Hayes, will be in with a chance of winning one of 12 awards on offer and his share of the €20,000 national prize fund for his company that specialises in Marine Renewable Energy. Passionate about the environment, engineering and new technology, DARE Technology’s core focus is to remove the reliance on fossil fuels in applications that can be replaced by a renewable energy resource.
Co-ordinated by the 31 Local Enterprise Offices in the Local Authorities Network, the National Enterprise Awards honour the best and brightest small businesses and entrepreneurs around Ireland and celebrate the achievements of Ireland’s micro-enterprise sector. DARE Technology was announced as the Cork City nominee for the National Enterprise Awards at a special presentation hosted at the Local Enterprise Office Cork City at City Hall during Local Enterprise Week, running from March 7th – 11th.
No stranger to awards, Darren has previously represented LEO Cork City at Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur competition in 2014, winning the ‘Best New Idea’ category in the Cork City and South Region stages, and being named runner up at the National Final. He was also named UCC University Entrepreneur of the Year in 2014.
Operating in an extremely specialised space of the market, DARE Technology is one of the front runners in a new and exciting industry that will develop in Ireland, and Europe over the coming years. The company is currently developing a 5kW portable marine wind turbine for use on board commercial vessels during periods of downtime, harnessing the available wind resource, and therefore saving operating costs, and reducing emissions.
According to Adrienne Rodgers, Head of Enterprise at the Local Enterprise Office Cork City, the National Enterprise Awards highlight the success stories behind Ireland’s small businesses. She said “The Local Enterprise Office is the first stop shop for small businesses and start-ups here in Cork City and we are delighted when we have the opportunity to celebrate their impressive achievements, giving them national recognition for their successes, and we wish Darren all the very best at the National Enterprise Awards this June.”
Adrienne continued “Small business owners like Darren are the risk-takers, the innovators and the job creators that form a key part of the enterprise ecosystem here in Ireland. They demonstrate true grit and determination, choosing not just to survive but to grow and establish their businesses even further.”
Last year’s Cork City representative at the National Enterprise Awards was Tracey Ryan, founder of Bia Beauty Skincare, a range of 100% natural, multi-tasking skincare products.
Updates around the National Enterprise Awards are available by searching #NEAwards16 on social media. Further details about the supports available to local start-ups and small businesses in Cork City are available through www.localenterprise.ie/corkcity
