Meet Colm Flanagan, an Irish founder who swapped Dublin for Iran and Australia, eventually co-founding Hiroco, a cutting-edge AI company transforming planning and scheduling across industries like transport and defence.

From working in innovative robotics labs in Iran to building Hiroco’s AI solutions that optimise task allocation in defence and commercial sectors, Colm’s journey is not the typical Irish founder story.

Now, Hiroco is earning nominations at the prestigious Australian AI Awards and tackling carbon emissions with its innovative technology.

In this insightful interview, Colm shares:

• How navigating the challenges of a PhD during COVID sparked the idea for Hiroco. 💡

• The real-world impact of MARTAS, their AI-powered planning system is revolutionising operations. 🔧

• Balancing his Irish roots with the challenges of founding a startup abroad. 🌍

• Candid lessons on resilience, rejection, and growing a business in the competitive AI landscape.🎯

Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur or an AI enthusiast, Colm’s story is packed with inspiration. Grab a cup of tea and enjoy! ☕️

Colm Flanagan Snapshot 🤳

Could you tell me about yourself and how you moved abroad and ultimately settled in Australia?

Absolutely. I did my undergraduate degree in electronic engineering in Dublin, which feels like quite a while ago. I’ve always wanted to live outside of Ireland, which I think many of us share.

The motivation for moving abroad was largely the opportunity to study. I spent a year in Iran before moving to Australia around 2017. I enrolled at the University of NSW to pursue a master's, which eventually transitioned into a PhD over four to five years.

After finishing my PhD during COVID-19 in 2021, I found myself at a bit of a loose end. Job opportunities weren’t great then, and with travel restrictions, it was difficult to leave Australia. That’s when I decided to launch my startup, and here we are today.

Can you share the story behind Hiroco’s founding and what led you to commercialise the MARTAS AI system?

The initial push to start Hiroco came from a mix of curiosity and necessity. During the pandemic, when opportunities were limited, I was motivated to explore the potential of AI in solving real-world problems.

Hiroco initially focused on the defence sector because it was the industry that showed the most interest in our technology early on. However, defence proved to be a challenging sector to work with, so we branched out to commercial markets where adoption could happen faster.

MARTAS, which stands for Multi-Agent Resource Task Allocation System, is our flagship system. It optimises planning and scheduling in ways that reduce the cognitive load for human operators. It was inspired by the inefficiencies I noticed in how humans and robots collaborate in resource-intensive environments.

MARTAS is designed to optimise task allocation across various sectors. Can you walk us through how it works?

MARTAS tackles one of the most complex problems: planning and scheduling. Humans are great at knowing what needs to be done but struggle with determining the best way to execute it, especially when dealing with hundreds of tasks and multiple resources.

MARTAS processes this data in seconds, delivering a plan that optimises cost, time, and emissions. It ensures synchronised and efficient operations, offering substantial savings and compliance with modern mandates, like carbon reduction targets.

Hiroco has gained recognition within the Australian defence sector. What challenges have you faced in entering such a high-stakes industry?

The defence industry has been both an opportunity and a challenge. While it initially showed the most interest in our technology, it operates at a slower pace than commercial sectors.

Our approach to defence involves positioning MARTAS as a node within larger systems, like battle management platforms. Rather than building standalone products, we integrate them into existing technologies, leveraging their data for optimisation.

Currently, we’re engaged in tender processes and collaborations with defence primes. However, it’s a slow process, and we anticipate active deployments in defence to take a few more years.

Hiroco was recently selected as a finalist for the Australian AI Awards. What does this recognition mean for you and your team?

It’s an honour to be recognised, especially alongside incredible companies we’ve long admired. For a small team like ours, being a finalist validates our work and our vision for AI’s role in industries like defence and logistics.

AI is increasingly becoming a critical enabler in defence, offering efficiency and decision-making support in complex scenarios. As AI evolves, we expect it to play an even more significant role in automating and optimising resource allocation, whether for missions or logistics.

As an Irish founder building an AI company in Australia, what has your entrepreneurial journey been like, and how has your Irish background shaped your approach to leadership and innovation?

Being Irish has given me a global perspective and a desire to adapt to new environments, which has helped immensely in building Hiroco. However, I’ve been fortunate to have a strong network in Australia due to family connections, which made the transition smoother.

The Irish sense of community and resilience has shaped my leadership approach. I value collaboration and adaptability, which are crucial in startup environments.

Starting a tech company focused on advanced AI solutions is challenging. What have been some of the biggest hurdles in scaling Hiroco, and how have you overcome them?

One of the biggest challenges is handling rejection. Whether it’s from investors, prospective clients, or partners, hearing “no” is part of the process.

With the rapid pace of technological advancement, how do you see the future of AI evolving, particularly in industries where Hiroco operates? Are there any upcoming trends or innovations that excite you?

AI is becoming more integrated into decision-making processes across industries. One exciting trend is the focus on carbon reduction and sustainability. Companies are increasingly adopting AI solutions to meet legal and ethical demands for reducing emissions, and MARTAS aligns perfectly with this shift.

Another trend is the growing understanding of AI’s capabilities and limitations. Many people initially equated AI with tools like ChatGPT, expecting it to solve all problems. The future will involve more targeted applications, like what we’re doing with MARTAS.

Looking ahead, what are your long-term goals for Hiroco and MARTAS? Do you plan to expand into new markets or introduce new AI solutions?

Our ultimate goal is to become indispensable in the industries we serve. We want to reach a point where clients can’t imagine operating without our technology.

While Australia remains our base, we’re exploring opportunities in the UK and other global markets. Growth is the focus, but we’re taking it day by day, ensuring we adapt to what works and discard what doesn’t.

What advice would you give to other Irish entrepreneurs looking to establish AI or tech companies at home or abroad?

Learn to develop a thick skin. You’ll hear “no” far more often than “yes,” and persistence is key. Also, leverage Irish and expat communities. Organisations like Enterprise Ireland or local chambers of commerce can be valuable resources.

Most importantly, don’t get disheartened when things don’t work out initially. Success takes time, and you must be willing to pivot and adapt based on feedback.

To end on a lighter note, if you could transport one thing from Ireland to Australia with a click of your fingers, what would it be?

That’s a tough one! Probably a good pint of Guinness. Even though the Guinness in Australia is decent, there’s something nostalgic about enjoying it in an Irish pub with friends. It’s not just the drink—it’s the feeling that comes with it.