Winners of first international ‘Remote Work Innovation’ Competition announced

With companies now embracing remote and hybrid working as the norm, there is a huge need for innovative thinking and smart new ideas to address the challenges and maximise the opportunities remote work can bring. 

Applications from around the world were submitted for the first international Remote Work Innovation Competition, run by social enterprise Grow Remote.

The Remote Work Innovation Competition celebrated companies that have found clever ways to tackle the challenges of remote work.

They have created new tools and technology to address common issues, found ways to connect remote workers with each other, and helped remote workers achieve a healthy work-life balance.

A judging panel of experts from the worlds of technology, social enterprise, media, and remote work were put together to assess whether the applications fulfilled the competition criteria of either driving the social impact of remote work, making remote jobs more visible and accessible, addressing common business challenges of remote work, or supporting the development of the remote work ecosystem.

On the judging panel was Deirdre Mortell, CEO of Rethink Ireland; Toby Shannon, Board Member and former COO of Shopify International; Chase Warrington, Head of Remote at Doist; Anne Bibb, podcaster and CEO of Remote Evolution; Darren Murph, VP of Workplace Design and Remote Experience at Andela, Daphnée Laforest, CEO of Modern Leaders; and Faye Drouillard, CEO of WakeUp Capital.

Four finalists were recognized for their innovative and fresh ideas that are driving the remote working revolution forward.

The awards were presented by Enterprise Ireland Chief of Staff, Clare Power, on stage at the Grow Remote Summit in Portlaoise.

First prize was awarded to CRAOI, the digital solution redesigning workplace wellbeing by combining data and technology to provide personalised support to companies and their employees, no matter where they are located.

CRAOI founder Clodagh Ryan (pictured above) was presented with a cash prize of €5,000 plus non-financial support in the form of mentoring and advice from a panel of experts facilitated by Grow Remote.

The judging panel unanimously agreed that solutions such as CRAOI that are addressing burnout and supporting wellbeing are critical in today’s remote working world.

The three finalists were Rooral, Work from Anywhere and Generalist World.

Rooral partners with small Spanish villages to offer unique co-living and co-working experiences for remote workers.

Work from Anywhere is a platform to help companies compliantly execute a hire or work from anywhere strategy.

And Generalist World fosters meaningful growth, deeper connections and peer-to-peer learning for career generalists.

All three finalists received cash prizes and non-financial support from Grow Remote in recognition of their innovative contributions to the remote work ecosystem.

Speaking about the awards, Enterprise Ireland Chief of Staff Clare Power said “At Ireland’s first Remote Work Summit held in Portlaoise in June, I had the honour of presenting the outcome of the Innovation Competition.

“Over 20 applications were received from several countries and the finalists included Generalist World, Rooral and Work From Anywhere.

“The top prize went to Clodagh Ryan of CRAOI.

“The quality of the applications further demonstrates that Ireland is at the forefront of the Future of Work movement, with promoters like Clodagh Ryan of CRAOI ahead of the curve in terms of offering the tools and support for companies embarking on their remote work journey.

“The awards included cash along with one-to-one time with a Grow Remote dedicated mentor to support these awardees in enhancing their propositions.

“I wish them the best of luck as they chart their growth!”

Competition winner Clodagh Ryan, CEO of CRAOI, said “We are thrilled to have won the Innovation Competition at the Grow Remote Summit 2023.

“We absolutely love the work that Grow Remote does and the community they have created. CRAOI was born out of my personal experience navigating the challenges and opportunities of remote work.

“Our goal is to help corporate companies create a happier, healthier, and more engaged workplace, regardless of their employees’ location. CRAOI helps companies foster connection, enhance engagement, and reduce costs associated with absenteeism, stress, and turnover.

“Our mission is to empower employees to prioritise their well-being, enabling them to thrive both at work and in life, ultimately driving the success of companies.

“We’re excited to announce the upcoming release of our new Mobile App, shaped by valuable feedback from our clients and users.

“We are now opening up a few spaces to onboard additional early adopters to partner with us. If you’re interested in learning more, please reach out to us directly (hello@craoi.com) or via our website ‘contact us’ page.”