CitySwifter is a transport technology platform that enables commuters and event attenders to crowd-source transport. It was set up in 2016 by three friends from Longford – Brian O’Rourke, Alan Farley and Seán Byrne. Brian O’Rourke explains how the UStart student accelerator helped:
“We already had the broad concept and our core team in place but UStart helped us to define our market, end users and how the technology would be developed. We received excellent mentoring that covered everything from technology to marketing and finance. UStart also strongly advocated continuously talking to our customers through a structured interview process to gain valuable information and insights. Other important supports from UStart included introductions to contacts who could help us to research our market and grow the business. We also had access to office and meeting space in the Ryan Academy.
By the end of the programme in October 2016, the technology had started to come together and we had piloted the product on the DCU campus. We had some customers and revenue in place and were already beginning to look to the next stage. The UStart programme definitely broadened our horizons and expectations for the product – from day one, they hammered home to us that we should look at potential to expand to other markets in the UK, Europe and beyond. Today, we now employ six people and are definitely looking to the next stage and at expansion into new markets.”
