GetBulb, a start-up providing data visualisation software, has won €50,000 as part of the Irish Times Digital Challenge. The award was made at last night’s grand finale event, held at The Workman’s Club in Dublin. Kevin O’Sullivan, editor of The Irish Times, said “working with start-ups was broadening the paper’s thinking, and was causing quite a stir in Ireland and abroad”.
GetBulb had taken part in an eight-week experiment in which start-ups worked with the newspaper on new projects. Dr Johnny Ryan, chief innovation officer of The Irish Times, created the challenge. "Opening the doors of this 153-year-old organisation to MyFli, StoryFlow, GetBulb, PicTurk, and KnockOn.ieis a way of accelerating change within the newspaper," he said.
A judging panel of tech entrepreneurs, investors and staff from The Irish Times used two criteria to judge the start-ups: reader impact and revenue potential. The prize is in the form of a convertible loan note from venture capital firm DFJ Esprit.
Brian Caulfield, a partner at DFJ Esprit, said GetBulb had won the judges over with its enormous potential for reader engagement and its differentiated approach to revenue.
