NovaUCD start-up secures funding for concussion-detecting sports wearable
19 August 2025
Eóin Tuohy, CEO and founder of Sports Impact Technologies, and Keith Brock, Senior Client Advisor at Enterprise Ireland Credit: Paul Sharp/Sharppix
Sports Impact Technologies, a NovaUCD-supported start-up, has secured €650,000 in pre-seed funding to launch a sports wearable that helps catch concussions early.
The investment round, led by private investors with the support of Enterprise Ireland High-Potential Start-Up (HPSU) funding, will be used to accelerate the roll-out of the company’s beta product.
Sports Impact Technologies’ wearable sensor for players sits behind the ear and detects all impacts to the head as they happen. Its data is transmitted instantly to coaches, medical staff or safety officials via an app.
Officials can then make an informed decision to take a player off the pitch to be assessed for concussion, reducing the risk of further injury and recovery times, and ensuring greater player safety on the field.
The company was founded in 2022 by Eóin Tuohy and is headquartered at NovaUCD.
“It is estimated that between 5% and 10% of players experience a concussion in any given sports season, with five in 10 concussions going unreported or undetected leading to players experiencing long-term health implications,” explained Tuohy.
“Using our smart sensor technology to monitor head impacts in real-time, our goal is to make unrecognised concussions a thing of the past, protecting athletes, optimising their performance and enabling participation.”
“The investment will support the final stages of product development and help us bring our beta wearable to market,” he added.
“We are launching beta-testing programmes with pilot customers in sports ranging from American football and rugby to soccer, hockey and GAA football this September, which will provide valuable real-world data and position us for a full product launch early next year.”
“This investment reflects our commitment to backing innovative Irish companies that are solving real-world challenges with global relevance,” said Keith Brock, Senior Client Advisor at Enterprise Ireland.
“The team’s wearable sensor technology is a game-changer for athlete safety, and we’re excited to support their journey as they bring this product to market.”
Sports Impact Technologies previously completed the Enterprise Ireland-funded New Frontiers Programme at TU Dublin, and secured €100,000 in Enterprise Ireland’s Pre-Seed Start Fund grant programme.
The company also won the ‘Best New Start’ Award in the Connacht and Leinster regional final of the 2024 InterTradeIreland Seedcorn Investor Readiness Competition.
By: Rebecca Hastings, Digital Journalist, UCD University Relations (with materials from Micéal Whelan, UCD Research and Innovation)
To contact the UCD News & Content Team, email: newsdesk@ucd.ie
