TrojanTrack Wins One to Watch Award at University College Dublin’s 2025 AI Ecosystem Accelerator

Pictured: Stephen O’Dwyer, Founder and CEO, TrojanTrack,

• Nine participating start-ups seeking to collectively raise €10 million in funding
• Programme is a key service of Ireland’s European Digital Innovation Hub for AI run by CeADAR in partnership with NovaUCD

TrojanTrack, an Irish start-up transforming equine performance and welfare using advanced AI motion analysis, was today announced as the winner of the One to Watch Award following an investor showcase event to mark the conclusion of University College Dublin’s (UCD) 2025 AI Ecosystem Accelerator programme. 

The focus of the 6-month programme, which was delivered by NovaUCD and CeADAR, Ireland’s Centre for AI, and the European Digital Innovation Hub for AI in Ireland, was to support a cohort of entrepreneurs who are developing disruptive AI solutions for a global market.

Using just a smartphone and AI, TrojanTrack turns short videos of a horse walking into powerful biomechanical insights. It’s non-invasive, built for busy yards, and helps trainers and owners of race and sport horses to detect potential issues before they become injuries. The company which is based at the National Equine Innovation Centre in Co. Kildare, was founded by Stephen O’Dwyer, a UCD biomedical engineering graduate.

TrojanTrack currently has 200+ horses on its platform across leading yards, including Breen Equestrian and John Whitaker Performance Horses, and is planning a full commercial launch in Ireland and in the UK during Q1 2026, following its current soft launch to pre-launch sign-ups.

The company has to date raised €500k in pre-seed funding, including Enterprise Ireland pre-seed start fund (PSSF) and high-potential start-up (HPSU) funding and is raising a €1.3 million seed round.

Stephen O’Dwyer, Founder and CEO, TrojanTrack, said, “I am delighted and honoured that TrojanTrack was named winner of the One to Watch Award at the conclusion of the 2025 AI Ecosystem Accelerator, especially given the calibre of the start-ups involved.

This recognition reinforces how AI can transform equine performance and welfare. TrojanTrack is already operating across leading yards, and our next step is scaling this technology so every trainer can identify potential issues early, straight from their phone.”

A total of nine (9) start-ups developing disruptive AI solutions in sectors including, advertising, construction, content creation, cybersecurity, education, finance, healthcare and sportstech, completed this year’s programme. Collectively these start-ups are now seeking to raise €10 million in pre-seed or seed funding to accelerate their growth strategies. 

Professor Kate Robson Brown, UCD Vice-President for Research, Innovation and Impact said, “I would like to congratulate TrojanTrack on being named the winner of the One to Watch Award at the end of this year’s AI Ecosystem Accelerator. I would also like to congratulate all the entrepreneurs who completed this year’s programme, delivered by NovaUCD and CeADAR, and we now look forward to seeing them accelerate their start-ups to the next stage of their entrepreneurial journeys.” 

She added, “Ireland has a significant opportunity to shape and benefit from the rapid developments taking place in AI. Strengthening the links between research, talent and real-world applications will be key to realising that potential. One development that will support this ambition is Ireland’s newly announced EU AI Factory Antenna, which will make advanced AI infrastructure more accessible to start-ups, SMEs and public-sector innovators across Ireland.”

The AI Ecosystem Accelerator programme, one of the key services of CeADAR's European Digital Innovation Hub programme, is funded through the European Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIH) framework, a Europe-wide initiative with funding of €700 million from both the European Commission and the Governments of member states. The Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, through Enterprise Ireland, is leading on the EDIH programme for Ireland. 

Speaking at the investor showcase event Marina Donohoe, Head of Research, Innovation and Infrastructure, Enterprise Ireland, said, “Enterprise Ireland is proud to support the UCD AI Ecosystem Accelerator, which is playing an important role in developing a strong pipeline of innovative AI start-ups in Ireland. 

This year’s cohort of entrepreneurs has demonstrated customer-focused validation, early commercial momentum and clear potential for international impact. We now look forward to continuing our collaboration with NovaUCD, CeADAR and the EDIH programme to strengthen Ireland’s AI ecosystem and support founders as they grow and scale.”

Targeted supports for participants during the AI Ecosystem Accelerator included guidance from CeADAR’s AI experts, and experienced commercial mentors, along with workshops on value proposition, scaling and investor readiness. Participants also had access to collaborative co-working space at NovaUCD with the opportunity to connect with successful AI entrepreneurs, start-ups, corporates, investors and access to skilled interns. 

At the final investor showcase event held at NovaUCD each of the nine participating start-ups pitched to an invited audience of investors and industry representatives and to a panel, chaired by Liam Cronin, UCD’s Director of Innovation which included, Amy Neale, General Partner, Delta Partners VC and Jeremy Debono, Senior Venture Associate, Elkstone.

Ricardo Simon Carbajo, CeADAR's Director of Innovation and Development and the EDIH for AI Programme Director, said, “Looking ahead to the 2026 AI Ecosystem Accelerator the CeADAR and NovaUCD teams will build on the programme’s successes to date and further strengthen the programme and support the growth of Ireland’s AI ecosystem.”

The other participating start-ups which completed this year’s programme, in addition to TrojanTrack were, Ailtir, Leapifai, NestiFi, PacSana, Reactable AI,Run Audit, UniDoodle and UnitMode. 

Ends

For further information 
contact Micéal Whelan, Communications and Media Relations Manager, UCD Research and Innovation, NovaUCD, e: miceal.whelan@ucd.ie.
 

Editors Notes

AI Ecosystem Accelerator -be part of an ecosystem of successful AI entrepreneurs and advance your AI start-up with our dedicated technical and commercial supports. www.ucd.ie/innovation/aiecosystem/ 

For further information about NovaUCD visit www.novaucd.ie

For further information about CeADAR – Ireland’s Centre for AI visit www.ceadar.ie

For further information about the European Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIHs) visit https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/activities/edihsor https://www.enterprise-ireland.com/en/supports/become-more-innovative/european-digital-innovation-hubs