Kieran Fitzpatrick and Maurice Curran of financial software business Barracuda FX were last night crowned winners of the emerging category at the EY Entrepreneur of the Year awards.
The duo emerged as “ones to watch” at this year’s ceremony, having established their business as the industry-leading provider of specialised order management technology in the foreign exchange market in just four years.
Founded in 2009, Barracuda FX provides trading and risk management software solutions to leading global banks and financial institutions.
The company operates its global business from Dublin, where it employs 25 people. “Through their innovative approach, Barracuda FX has truly disrupted the $4 trillion-a-day foreign exchange market with their software solutions,” said Frank O’Keeffe, partner-in- charge of EY Entrepreneur of the Year programme.
“For an emerging company to have a client list that includes a number of the world’s largest top 50 banks is a phenomenal achievement and one that we are delighted to acknowledge tonight.”
Mr Curran said he considered himself and Mr Fitzpatrick as winners for just reaching the shortlist, adding to win the category was a great surprise. He said Ireland can look forward to being a country with more and more success stories, as young people now are less fearful of setting up their own businesses.
“We all have the same challenges despite operating in different industries,” Mr Fitzpatrick said, adding “If you don’t believe in your company, you’ll go nowhere.”
The other finalists in the emerging category were Eleanor McEvoy of Budget Energy; Colin Williams of Sixteen South; Jane ní Dhulchaointigh of Sugru; Seán Sheehan of Wisetek Solutions; Connor Murphy and Ray Smith of Datahug; Mark Godfrey and Simon Cole of Automated Intelligence and Paul and Kerril Burke of Merit Software.
