Virgin Media has named the 12 Irish businesses flying high among the top 80 for its Voom 2016 start-up accelerator competition, vying for a chance to be grilled by Richard Branson and win €1.2m in prizes. Two happen to be in the top 10.

Now in its fifth year, this is the first year the Voom accelerator created by Virgin Media has incorporated entries from Ireland since it formally took over the reins of UPC towards the end of last year.

The 12 Irish businesses surfaced from a pool of 4,894 entrants; a very impressive feat considering it was their first year in the competition.

The Irish entrants below have reached the top of the process from a total field of 4,894 entrants to the Virgin Media VOOM 2016 Competition.

Anyone who wants to support these and other Irish entrants should get onto www.vmbvoom.com asap to vote for their favourite candidates. By casting a vote, you can help to determine who goes through to a pitchathon which will take place over 29 hours from 1-2 June, as part of Richard Branson’s business boosting VOOM 2016 competition.

After the Pitchathon, a final shortlist of candidates will get to pitch to Richard Branson directly.