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Transport software start-up drives ahead

Friday, September 21 14:45:47

Stratum, a Dublin-based transport software firm founded by brothers, Greg and Brian Kelly, said today that it is well on the way towards creating more jobs and expanding following funding from Enterprise Ireland.

The company develops software for large transport fleets to make shipping goods around Europe cheaper and more efficient.

The Kelly brothers had originally designed their enterprise as a workforce management company but, after expert advice, Stratum refocused on the industry they thought would prove most lucrative: high-end transport.

Greg Kelly had been made redundant from Trintech Technologies after it was bought out by venture capitalists in the US while his brother had a small IT firm that fixed PCs.

The brothers had initially raised some finance through banks and the South County Dublin Enterprise Board.

Stratum then received funding under Enterprise Ireland's HPSU fund of E120,000 together with additional private investment.

Currently, seven people are employed by the firm - from just two 18 months ago - and this will increase to ten by the end of the year as the company focuses on meeting rising demand with some of the largest transport companies in the country now running on their software.

"Stratum is starting to pick up customers in Britain and hopes to further expand internationally. This is a niche industry. One of our competitors is a Belgian company called Transics and they have a turnover of E75 million. They are one of only three companies in Europe doing this," the Kellys said.