Sonru.com

Enniscorthy 03 November 2010. Sonru.com were named the Best High Growth Company in the Connaught and Leinster regional final of the InterTradeIreland Seedcorn All-island Business Competition. The company, which employs eight people and is based in Enniscorthy Enterprise & Technology Centre has won a €20,000 share of the prize fund and will now go forward to compete in the all-island finals which will take place in Belfast on 24th November. The company is now in with a chance to compete for the overall Best High Growth Company prize worth €100,000.
 

Sonru has developed an award winning automated video interview tool for the recruitment industry. The name Sonru stems from the Irish phrase “Bí le sonrú” which means to “stand out” and their flagship product enables interviewees to do just that.  Founder Ed Hendrick spotted an opportunity to save people time and money during the interview process. He believes Sonru will disrupt the established methodology of performing job interviews and it is Sonru’s vision that all first round screening interviews will be conducted using automated video interview tools.
 

Fergal O’Byrne, CEO of Sonru, who made the winning pitch, said “We are thrilled to have been chosen as the overall regional winner for Connaught/Leinster. We are confident that our product will revolutionise the recruitment industry.  Our focus now is to roll the product out across Europe and capitalise on the global opportunity for our product. We are very proud that our initial concept is also being used by many blue chip enterprises in Ireland.”
 
Liam Nellis, chief executive of InterTradeIreland, the cross border trade body which oversees the awards added, “We have been truly impressed by the calibre of the companies shortlisted for this year’s final.  There is a wealth of innovative product and service development happening across the island of Ireland and we are delighted to be able to award these companies funding to assist in their enhancement and development. Sonru is a worthy regional winner which is making innovative advancements in the recruitment sector.”
 
The company will join the company that won the Emerging Business Category prize in the Connaught and Leinster regional final, and six other regional winners from Dublin, Munster, and Northern Ireland to vie for the all-island titles.

This latest accolade is another in what appears to be a winning streak for this innovative video technology company already having won a number of prestigious awards in 2010 which include:

Winner: Bank of Ireland Bright Ideas Challenge Grand Final 2010

Winner: Innovation Award at IIA Net Visionary Awards 2010

Winner: Innovate!100 Pitch Slam Dublin 2010

Winner: Best of Breed iGap (Internet Growth Acceleration Programme)

Winner: New Business of the Year at Wexford Business Awards 2010

ENDS
 
Notes to Editors
 
    •    The Connacht and Leinster regional final comprised companies from Counties Wexford, Kildare, Wicklow, Sligo, Louth and Galway.
    •    Six regional winners win €20,000 each, with the all-island winners for Best High Growth Company and Best Emerging Company winning €100,000 each. An additional prize of €10,000 will    go to the best venture stemming from a university spinout or platform programme.
 

For further information and availability of Sonru management for interview, please visit the Sonru Press Centre or contact Joy Redmond 0868561682

About InterTradeIreland
InterTradeIreland is the only organisation which supports SMEs across the island to develop North/South trade and business development opportunities for the mutual benefit of both economies. ??We encourage better use of Ireland’s collective resources to accelerate trade and business growth across the island and create an environment where it is easier to do business. We achieve this through co-operative business, policy and research programmes, partnerships and networks.

Further information from InterTradeIreland Communications Manager Rachael Downing on +44 28 3083 4161.
 
Laura Wall/Karen Ferris Drury Communications 0861641168 (LW) 0863171246 (KF)