Tarracor

WestBIC is an Enterprise Ireland partner providing hands-on startup support, funding readiness and investment preparation for early-stage founders in the west of Ireland.

We build autonomous mobile robot hardware and software to solve labour problems starting with a robot to tow golf ball pickers on driving ranges. We are based in Westport, Co. Mayo and Colorado, United States. We started the company in 2023 following participation in the New Frontiers program. The basis of starting the business was the belief that robotics has reached a point where it can be utilized by everyone out in the real world, not just on factory floors. We have backgrounds in the technology and we’re just excited to see where it can go in the next few years.

Key supports received during start-up process & the role WestBIC played

I participated in the New Frontiers program to flesh out our business idea and I’d recommend it to anyone considering it. We got insightful financial modelling training from John Brennan of WestBIC during the program and when we decided to apply for PSSF funding from Enterprise Ireland, we went straight to WestBIC for advice. We worked with Alison McGonagle directly and her experience of the application process was invaluable in ensuring we were successful. Tarracor was approved €100k Pre-Seed funding in Nov 2023. We’re now working with WestBIC on further fundraising activities.

In March 2024, we were selected for the Prep4Seed programme and therefore, we will continue to work closely with WestBIC. This 12 week programme brings High Growth start-up clients through the investor readiness process quickly and effectively.

Future Plans

We’re focusing on the US golf market for now. We’ve just come back from the PGA Show in Florida and having sold our first robot, we’re now finalizing some upgrades before delivering a batch to driving ranges over Summer 2024. The aim is to monitor this batch closely for a few months before scaling to much higher quantities in 2025. Beyond driving ranges, there will be many other industries in our future. We’ll need to hire staff to support the operation here in the West of Ireland and in the US over the next 12 months. 

Words of advice for new start-ups

However unrefined it might be, get a product out in the world as soon as you can. People start taking you seriously once you’ve something real to show them. Then ask people for what you need, you will be amazed how it all starts to progress.