Sweden wins KPMG Global Tech Innovator 2023
Congratulations to Swedish firm PlasticFri, the KPMG Private Enterprise Global Tech Innovator winner. PlasticFri is a greentech company with breakthrough technology that turns agricultural waste into eco-friendly products to replace plastics.
Well done to Conor Sheridan, Nory founder and CEO, who represented Ireland and competed against 21 other country finalists in the global final in Lisbon.
We want to recognise Ireland’s emerging tech innovators
Nory, an AI-powered operating system for the hospitality industry, won the KPMG Global Tech Innovator Ireland final.
Conor competed against seven other innovative start-ups from across the island of Ireland, with solutions covering everything from diversity and inclusion and influencer marketing to child-protection and women’s health.
2023 Ireland finalist interviews and pitches
Meet our judges
Explore the competition and hear from past winners
Competition details
Applications
Q: How can I participate in the competition?
A: To enter the competition, you must fill out the online application form for your company before the application deadline of 6 June 2023.
Q: Who can apply?
A: Any technology entrepreneur that has operated for less than 5 years and is registered and based in the Republic of Ireland or Northern Ireland can apply. Applicants must have innovative, proven technologies, robust business models, the ability to demonstrate traction in their activities and the potential to scale up. All entrants entering the competition on behalf of the company must be residents in Ireland and aged 18 years or over. KPMG employees and contractors are prohibited from entering the competition.
Q: When can I apply?
A: Applications are open from 30 March 2023 and close on 6 June 2023. All applications must be received by 6 June 23:59pm .
Q: Is there a limit to the number of entries?
A: During the application period, there is no limit to the number of companies that can apply, however we request that no more than one application per company is submitted.
Q: What information do I need to provide?
A: If you’d like to apply, here’s what we’ll need:
- Company details (name, address, company registration number, contact details)
- CEO, founder and management team details
- A brief description of the company, business model, any media coverage and proprietary technology (maximum of 200 words)
- Details on funding raised to date, 2022 revenue figures and projections for 2023
- A high-resolution image of your company logo
Selection Criteria
Q: How do I know if my company qualifies?
A: We aim to be as inclusive as possible; whether you’re a pure technology company or tech-enabled, tech-led, or tech-driven, we want to hear about your growth ambitions.
Q: What stage should my company be at to be considered?
A: We are looking for companies that have been operating for 5 years or less, and must have a viable product or service.
Pitching
Q: What is the pitching format?
A: Each company will be given a total of approximately 5 minutes to both pitch and answer questions from a judging panel. All presentations must be in Microsoft PowerPoint or PDF file format. A detailed pack outlining requirements will be shared with shortlisted businesses when appropriate.
Q: What is the judging criteria?
A: Each pitching competition will be judged by a panel of industry and KPMG experts. All applications will be scored based on six, equally-weighted criteria. The criteria are disruption and innovation, market potential, customer adoption, market traction and marketing, long-term potential and pitch quality. The decisions of the panel will be final.
Winners
Q: What do winners get?
A: Irish winners will receive exposure and recognition through local media coverage and KPMG corporate channels. The Irish winners will also be put forward as finalists in the Global Tech Innovator competition, which will take place in November 2023.
The finalists will be provided with standard class flights/travel, hotel accommodation to the final.
The prizes cannot be substituted for cash or any other alternatives.
Q: How and when will the winners be notified?
A: Irish winners will be notified on the day of the final. Winners will also be profiled in the KPMG “Winners Report”. The Global Tech Innovator winner will be announced on stage in person and virtually in November 2023.
Further information
Q: What are the costs involved in participation?
A: There is no charge for entering into the competition, although all costs related to attendance at the semi-final and country finals must be covered by the participants themselves, where they are being held in person. KPMG will cover the cost of standard class flights/travel, accommodation for the one member from the finalist companies who are invited to present in November.
Q: Is there any publicity involved?
A: KPMG Private Enterprise will be promoting the pitch heats alongside various partners throughout the course of the competition. By entering the competition, you agree that any personal information provided by you with your entry may be held and used by KPMG to administer the competition.
If you are a winner of the competition, you agree that KPMG may use your name, image and company branding to announce the winner of the competition and for any other reasonable and related promotional and marketing purposes.
Q: Will I receive feedback on my application?
A: Unsuccessful applicants will be notified. Due to the volume of entries received, we are unable to provide detailed feedback to each unsuccessful applicant.
We value the time and effort put into each submission and thank you for your participation.
Q: Who do I get in touch with for further information?
A: For any further information please email info@kpmg.ie.
What makes a winner?
Applicants are typically technology entrepreneurs who are successfully making the transition from the startup phase to the next stage in the growth of their businesses. They have developed innovative, proven technologies, established robust business models, demonstrated traction and have the potential to scale up globally.
To be eligible for the competition, you must:
- Be a registered company in the Country/Region where the Country/Region final is being held
- Have been actively operating for 5 years or less (in the current form)
- Generate revenue between US $1 million and $15 million; or have raised at least US $500,000 in equity
- Be either a pure technology or a tech-enabled, tech-driven or tech-led business
- Not be majority owned by a large corporate
- Conduct all pitches in English
- Be available to pitch at a country/region semi-final event in the timeline outlined by the country of origin (if applicable)
- Available to pitch at a country/region final event in the timeline outlined by the country of origin
- If selected as a finalist, be available to pitch at the global final in Lisbon, Portugal in November 2023
What are we looking for?
Each pitching competition will be judged by a panel of industry experts. All applications will be scored based on six, equally-weighted criteria:
- Disruption and innovation
- Market potential
- Customer adoption
- Market traction and marketing
- Long-term potential
- Pitch quality
The decisions of the panel will be final.
Compete on the global stage
25 countries and jurisdictions are participating in 2023 including Australia, Brazil, China, Colombia, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Ghana, India, Ireland, Israel, Japan, Kenya, Mexico, Netherlands, Nigeria, Portugal, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Sweden, Taiwan, United Kingdom, United States and Vietnam.
The KPMG Private Enterprise Global Tech Innovator competition showcases entrepreneurs across industries who are innovating to become the tech leaders of tomorrow.
