ORRECO is on an upward trajectory that has seen the company soar from an early-stage start-up to become a global player in the elite sports performance market.
Co-founded by Dr Brian Moore in 2010, the firm has been based at IT Sligo’s Innovation Centre ever since – and this year will see a marked expansion in its activities.
Orreco has a staff of 15, with admin and logistics based in Sligo, London and Boston and a global laboratory network including IRL, UK, US, Australia, NZ and South Africa.
Last September, ORRECO was chosen by IBM in New York to become its first pro-sports partner to develop the cognitive capabilities of its super computer IBM Watson that famously beat the gameshow Jeopardy.
The information processed by Watson is used to help athletes and sports teams to make informed decisions about training, diet, sleep and recovery.
ORRECO uses data and science – in this case bio-markers – to analyse the bloods of elite athletes. It then uses the signals contained in the blood to help those athletes alter and adapt training schedules.
That helps them to ultimately avoid injury, allowing them more game time and increasing the chances of success in the multi-billion dollar pro-sports market.
Earlier this year, the firm appointed former Ireland rugby captain Keith Wood and Tom Killalea, the former VP of Technology at Amazon, to the board, joining investors pro-golfers and major winners Padraig Harrington and Graeme McDowell, on its exciting journey to growth.
“We plan to double our workforce from about 15 people to more than 30,” says Brian Moore.
When he’s not in Sligo, Brian is most likely in the US, hammering out deals with professional franchises in the MLB, NHL and the NBA and building strategic partnerships.
Photo caption:
Dr Brian Moore, Co-founder of ORRECO, in his Sligo office.