The winner of the Cork Chamber/ Vodafone Cork Company of the Year Award in the Emerging Cork Company went to Keelvar Systems, a University spinout, based in the Rubicon Centre. Keelvar helps large organisations and government bodies find cost efficiencies through smarter procurement processes. The Company’s novel auction technology brings sophistication to the financial proposal stage of government tendering so that cost efficiencies are communicated and realised. Responders to tenders supported by Keelvar are invited to communicate more price data and conditional bids describing cost synergies. Keelvar’s software helps the purchaser to compute the most economically advantageous outcome.
Fighting off stiff competition for the coveted prize, its CEO Dr Alan Holland said the award was “a terrific endorsement for Keelvar and the team and will help us break into new markets and becoming a force for change in procurement methods.”
Speaking about this year’s winners, John Mullins, President of Cork Chamber said, “The Cork Company of the Year Awards have gone from strength to strength and 2013 has seen the highest level of entrants across all categories, both in terms of quality and quantity. It has been a great experience to see first-hand the high levels of achievement that companies in the region have been reaching, offering excellent products and services to their customer base which in turn deliver economic growth locally and to Irelands reputation internationally. Together with our partners Vodafone we are pleased to recognise and reward the successes of the three winning companies who have shown the knowledge, skills, commitment and passion to drive their business over the past year and into the future.
Presenting the awards, Vodafone Ireland business and enterprise director Anne O’Leary said: “Something I’m particularly excited about is how much the winning businesses are utilising technology to forge ahead in the marketplace. “The awards have demonstrated the wealth and depth of talent in this country and have reassured me how much Irish businesses are out there going head-to- head with with the best in the international marketplace.”
Keelvar was founded by Dr. Alan Holland, a former research fellow based in University College Cork. His research is focused on electronic commerce and mechanisms for improving economic efficiency in complex trading environments such as gas storage, transportation, print, packaging, waste, chemicals and maintenance services.
On the night, the Cork Company of the Year Award went to VMware and Contracting PLUS received the Cork SME Company of the Year award.
