CyberInnovates’ First Year Delivers Strong Entrepreneurial and Research Outcomes

The first year of the CyberInnovate postgraduate programme at Munster Technological University (MTU) has delivered impressive results, with graduates already launching start-ups, securing funding, and leading major research projects that will strengthen Ireland’s cybersecurity innovation ecosystem.

Designed to bridge the gap between research, entrepreneurship, and industry needs, CyberInnovate has proven its value in turning ideas into tangible impacts — with participants successfully transitioning from concept development to company formation and funded R&D initiatives.

Four new start-up companies have emerged directly from the programme, each addressing real-world challenges in the cybersecurity and digital space:

Ailtire, founded by Colm McSweeny, Aileen Sheehan, and Damion McGing, is developing an automated threat modelling tool to enhance secure technology design. The tool streamlines threat modelling, automates control mapping, and simplifies security collaboration enabling cybersecurity teams to build securely, faster, and at scale. The company has received funding from the LEO and Microfinance Ireland and has participated in the AI Accelerator Programme in Galway. The team plan on releasing their MVP in the coming months.

Resilium, led by Paddy Lange, launched officially in October and is building an Operational Technology (OT) Security Operations Centre (SOC) to help secure industrial environments. The company has also appointed a COO.

Mulcahy Ward, co-founded by Paul Ward and Clodagh Mulcahy, is a cybersecurity regulations consultancy that supports organisations navigating complex compliance requirements. Both Paul and Clodagh also completed their MSc degrees in summer 2025.

DocuWill, founded by Harry Dunne in November, is a Life and Legacy Planning Platform which empowers anyone to create comprehensive end-of-life and incapacity plans independently from home.

Three participants have joined the Enterprise Ireland New Frontiers entrepreneurship programme, enabling them to continue developing innovative projects with validated market potential:

• Harry Dunne is developing DocuWill through the New Frontiers programme at SETU Carlow.
• Mélanie O’Donovan is developing Cuan Secure, a human-centred risk management tool that monitors the digital activity of high risk staff and advises both staff and employers on how to lower the incidence of identified risks , through New Frontiers at MTU Cork.
• Paddy Lange’s Resilium continues its early-stage growth through New Frontiers at MTU Kerry.

Adding to these commercial achievements, Ammar Zeini has secured a significant research and development project titled M.A.R.S-Shield (Mitigating, Automating, and Remediating Security) — an 18-month initiative, led by Principal Investigator Conor Lynch at the Nimbus Centre, MTU Cork. The project focuses on developing new methods to automate incident response and enhance cybersecurity resilience across digital infrastructures.

These outcomes demonstrate the powerful impact of the CyberInnovate programme — combining academic expertise, industry collaboration, and entrepreneurial support to nurture high-potential ventures and research that address critical cybersecurity challenges.

CyberInnovate is supported under Innovators’ Initiative Programme, and co-funded by the Government of Ireland and European Union through the Southern, Eastern & Midland Regional Programme 2021-2027.