Daft Media Ltd announced as 2009 Deloitte Technology Fast 50 Awards winner

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Daft Media Ltd, the online media group, has achieved the top ranking in this year’s Deloitte Technology Fast 50 Awards. This is the first year the company is eligible for the overall ranking, previously the company received a Rising Star accolade in the awards programme in 2007.

The company, whose property websites include Daft.ie, Property.ie and Rent.ie, achieved an aggregate growth rate of 8453% over the last five years. The average growth rate of the Fast 50 companies named in this year’s ranking is 789%.

Last year’s winner, Lincor Solutions, a provider of next generation interactive digital media solutions for the delivery of content and communication services to the healthcare sector, put in another strong performance, achieving second place with a growth rate of 6802%. Third place went to Northern Ireland company SLA Mobile. The technology business solutions company achieved an aggregate growth rate of 4436%. Similar to the overall winner, SLA Mobile was recognised as a Rising Star winner at last year’s awards.

Once again this year, there are two winners in the Rising Star category, which recognises younger companies with the fastest growth in turnover over the past three years. AER Limited, an alternative energy company, is the Republic of Ireland’s representative, with Learning Pool Ltd, an e-learning provider for the public sector representing Northern Ireland.

The Fast 50 programme, now in its tenth year in Ireland, ranks the fastest-growing technology companies in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. Over the last decade the Deloitte Fast 50 Technology Awards has recognised the outstanding development of companies such as Pulse Learning, Data Electronics and Web Reservations. Two companies have achieved a ranking every year - Andor Technology plc and Texthelp Systems Ltd.

This year, there are 14 companies from Northern Ireland in the ranking. SLA Mobile is the highest ranked Northern Irish company. There are 15 new entrants to the ranking – four from Northern Ireland and 11 from the Republic of Ireland.

Announcing the winners of the Technology Fast 50 programme, David O’Flanagan, Partner with Deloitte, Dublin said: “The aim of this year’s Fast 50 was to showcase the resilience and determination of Ireland’s indigenous technology industry and this has certainly been achieved. Our winners show that they are rising above the challenging business environment and are proof that inventive companies will continue to be successful.”

O’Flanagan continued, “Our winning company, Daft Media Ltd, has achieved a very impressive growth rate and has achieved significant success despite the challenges in the property sector. It shows that innovative companies will always win through, and this innovation has always been a feature of technology companies in Ireland. In addition to that, we have a considerable number of new entrants to the list proving that it has been a very successful year for the Fast 50 awards.”

The awards took place in Clontarf Castle on October 15th. Industry figures speaking at the event included Paul Rellis, Managing Director, Microsoft Ireland; Michael Dwyer, Founder and CEO, Empathy Marketing Limited (Pigsback.com); and Jim Sloane, Lead Technology Partner and Vice Chairman, Deloitte UK.

Details of the final Technology Fast 50 ranking list are available to download at www.fast50.ie.

Pictured are David O'Flanagan, Partner, Deloitte with Odhran Ginnity CEO of Daft Media Ltd and guest speaker Michael Dwyer Founder and CEO Pigsback.com.

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About the Deloitte Technology Fast 50 Programme

To enter the Fast 50 Awards, companies must meet the criteria listed below. Entries must be sent in electronically, with the necessary supporting documents (audited financial statements).

Entry Criteria:

• Have been operating for a minimum of five years
• Considered a technology company, which is defined as producing technology, manufacturing technology-related products, be technology intensive, or use unique technology to solve problems, devoting a high percentage of effort to technology R&D
• The parent company must be Irish-owned and have its headquarters in Ireland (subsidiaries of multinational organisations do not qualify)
• Operating revenues must be at least €50,000 for 2004

Rising Star category

Companies who wish to enter the programme, which have not been in business for the minimum 5 years may qualify for the Rising Star category on satisfaction of the following criteria:

• Have been in business for a minimum of 3 years and less than 5 years
• Considered a technology company, which is defined as producing technology, manufacturing technology-related products, be technology intensive, or use unique technology to solve problems, devoting a high percentage of effort to technology R&D
• The parent company must be Irish-owned and have its headquarters in Ireland (subsidiaries of multinational organisations do not qualify)
• Operating revenues must be at least €30,000 for the year 2006

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