Ulster University Spin-out Company axial3D one Step Closer to $1,000,000 Win

Ulster University portfolio company axial3D will represent Northern Ireland in the Startup World Cup in San Francisco on the 15th of May which sees the overall winner securing $1,000,000 investment in their company.

Startup World Cup is a global competition that brings together the top startup companies and entrepreneurs from over 60 cities together. Ulster University, Keystone Law, Real IT Recruitment and Barclays Eagle Lab Belfast sponsored the regional heat which saw Northern Ireland’s best start ups competing for a place in the semi-final. Axial3D competed against 12 other up-and-coming starts up and was selected as overall winner and will now compete for a place in the final.

Established in 2014 by Daniel Crawford, a Biomedical Engineering graduate from Ulster University, axial3D has revolutionized the UK medical industry. Axial 3D uses patients’ CT and MRI scans to manufacture individual scaled 3D models of the injuries which surgeons can use to practice and plan procedures. This benefits surgeons by saving valuable time in the operating theatre while allowing patients to view and gain a more comprehensive insight into injuries.

Daniel Crawford, Founder of axial3D said; “We’re delighted to have won the Northern Ireland Regional Final and can’t wait to travel to San Francisco to pitch at the Startup World Cup this month. This is a fantastic opportunity for us to meet entrepreneurs from other start-ups around the world and represent innovation in Northern Ireland on a global platform.

Axial3D’s approach has been to transform how healthcare specialists across the globe access medical 3D printing. Our focus is delivering software and services that make 3D printing accessible and affordable to the entire healthcare community.”

Ulster University is partnering with axial3D within a trans-regional consortium the North West Centre for Advanced Manufacturing (NW CAM) led by Catalyst NI. Axial3D is collaborating with researchers to create innovative polymers for use in advancing surgical practice, a collaboration that is of particular interest to the NW CAM programme.

Chris Shannon, Enterprise & Entrepreneurship Manager, UUSU said; “As an Ulster University portfolio company, axial3D’s success demonstrates to our staff, students and alumni the height that their business can reach. Innovation Ulster and the UUSU Enterprise Centre aim to hone the next generation of entrepreneurs by providing start-up support from the beginnings of an idea to the commercialization of a business. We will be hosting a networking event alongside Global Shapers at the Startup World Cup to further showcase Northern Ireland’s growing reputation for entrepreneurial excellence.”

Philip Maguire, Director of Finance & Administration of Catalyst NI said, “We are delighted to see one of our NW CAM partners axial3D, a Northern Ireland indigenous startup, showcase its groundbreaking technology on this global stage and we wish the team every success”.