Cotter Agritech, an LEO Limerick supported Start-Up wins at National Enterprise Awards

Nick and Jack Cotter, Founders of Cotter Agritech Limited pictured at the National Enterprise Awards 2023. Picture Conor McCabe Photography.

Cotter Agritech Limited, who are supported by Local Enterprise Office Limerick, were winners at this year’s National Enterprise Awards

The multi-award-winning start-up company based in Abbeyfeale, West Limerick, took home the South West Region award.

Cotter Agritech Limited was founded by serial entrepreneur brothers Jack and Nick Cotter. Nick Cotter won the 2022 Global Student Entrepreneur of the Year award with the business. They have developed the Cotter Crate, an innovative sheep-handling system that makes handling and data recording of animals easier, faster and safer for sheep farmers. They have also developed a world-first app called SmartWorm. SmartWorm is dramatically reducing chemical use in agriculture by 40-50% through the use of advanced algorithms.

Speaking after the Awards ceremony in Dublin, Head of Enterprise at LEO Limerick, Mike Cantwell congratulated the Cotter brothers, “The Local Enterprise Office Limerick would like to congratulate Cotter Agritech on their award, which is a just recognition of the hard work and determination of Nick and Jack Cotter in setting up and growing their enterprise.

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“The Local Enterprise Office Limerick is proud to support Cotter Agritech and the many micro enterprises and start up’s just like them, throughout the City and County of Limerick and the pivotal role they play in the development of the local economy. Through our extensive programme of supports, LEO Limerick is at the heart of driving job creation throughout Limerick and the wider region by being the first stop shop for micro and small business.

“Part of this process is to provide a platform to local entrepreneurs, to showcase their entrepreneurial achievements to a national audience and the National Enterprise Awards ceremony in Dublin brings together some of the best entrepreneurial minds in the Country, like Cotter Agritech.”

The National Enterprise Awards took place at the Round Room in the Mansion House in Dublin. It’s the 23^rd year of the annual awards run by the Local Enterprise Offices nationally. The overall winner was Advanced Cosmetics who are based in Ballina and supported by Local Enterprise Office Mayo.  The “concept to shelf” manufacturing company was set up by cosmetic chemist Noreen Hackett in 2018, before launching to market in 2022.  The business has achieved significant success, securing contracts with some of the biggest brand names in the cosmetics industry.   

Announcing the award winners at the Mansion House, Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Simon Coveney said: “The National Enterprise Awards are the highlight of the small business and enterprise calendar.  Year on year the diversity of businesses and the standard of companies that are coming through the process is getting stronger.  We should not be surprised given the innovation and endurance that businesses have shown in the past couple years.  We have some outstanding winners but the finalists on the whole have been excellent, and this is very much the start of their journey.  We will ensure they continue to get the support they need to grow their businesses as small businesses in Ireland are at the core of every town, village and community and are vital to our economy.” 

Several other companies won across a range of categories at the Awards, which were established by the Local Enterprise Offices to celebrate the impact and quality of small businesses across the country. The National Enterprise Awards are one of a number of initiatives that the Local Enterprise Offices run, to foster entrepreneurship across the country. Others include Local Enterprise Week, the Student Enterprise Programme, National Women’s Enterprise Day and Local Enterprise Showcase. The Local Enterprise Offices in local authorities are funded by the Government of Ireland through Enterprise Ireland.

Established in 2014, the Local Enterprise Offices are the essential resource for any entrepreneur looking to start a business or any small business that is looking for support or advice to help them grow. Since their inception eight years ago, the Local Enterprise Offices have helped create over 25,000 jobs across the country. The LEOs work with thousands of client companies across Ireland in a diverse range of sectors offering mentoring, training, expert advice and financial supports to small businesses.

For more information see here.
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