#FollowPerficiIntelligence
This week’s follow is Yvonne Comer, Co-founder of Perfici Intelligence, a new sports technology company specialising in sports analytics innovation. Yvonne is leveraging the power of artificial intelligence and machine learning and combining them with an in-depth knowledge of sports to provide rapid, accurate and better output from video analytics, so that analysts and coaches can use their in-depth knowledge of the game and players to improve performance and match outcomes.
Q1: How would you describe yourself in 6 words or less?
Resilient, stubborn, passionate and energetic
Q2: What prompted you to start your business?
After returning from the UK, I realised that what I enjoyed most about my previous roles was that they were all newly created, which had giving me the opportunity to take on a lot of responsibility and accountability within them, with a wide scope for innovation and driving new projects. I hadn’t had a purely functional role since I had left Ireland so it seemed a natural next step to run my own business. I started working on developing an idea completing both the New Frontiers and Empower Start programmes.
Last year I was approached by my now co-founder and CTO, William, who through his work with Connacht Rugby and Galway Corinthians realised that there had to be a better way of doing video analysis. It seemed a no-brainer to combine my love of sport and my business background, with William’s video and technical expertise, so we can create an organisation in Perfici Intelligence that transforms and revolutionises the sports analytics landscape starting with RugbySmarts.
Q3: Can you tell us a bit more about you?
I’m originally from Co. Galway but studied Sports Science in St. Mary’s University College in Twickenham. After uni I spent a few years back home in Galway working in Quality Control in the Medtech industry. I then returned to London to do my Masters, again in Sports Science and ended up working over there for the next 13 years as a multidepartment manager across various industries. After years of working in commercial business I decided to further broaden my knowledge and skillset and complete an Executive MBA in NUI Galway and the rest as they say is history.
Outside of work I was a former International rugby player although this was just one of a multitude of sports I was involved with. I’ve played rugby with Connacht, Galway Corinthians, Galwegians, St. Mary’s University and the odd match for Richmond RFC in London and soccer with Salthill Devon. I got back involved with Corinthians in 2017 and I’m currently their Director of Women’s Rugby, Child Welfare Officer, girls coach & manager, and Junior Vice President. I chair the Connacht Mini’s Committee and sit on the IRFU Women’s subcommittee and just recently was nominated to the IRFU Board. I’m driven by the desire to ensure that anyone playing sport now has it better than those who came before, that they realise they can be anything they want to be, that they have visible role models and that sport lives up to it’s values.
I feel like things have come full circle by returning to my Sport Science roots and using the business skillsets I’ve gained to work in an industry that I’m passionate about.
Q4: Fill us in on your female founder journey so far and what would you like to share with the AwakenHub community?
It’s an exciting and scary time and definitely a roller-coaster journey so far. It’s not even been a year yet but we’ve achieved so much that I’m proud of. It’s a steep learning curve to get to grips with all the aspects of a new business and I’m so grateful for the many people who are willing to give up their time to help and share their knowledge. I hope that someday I’ll be able to give back in the same way. What I’m learning is don’t be afraid to ask and get comfortable being uncomfortable. It’s also important to surround yourself with good people who support you, push you, inspire you, call you out when needed or can just help you de-stress.
Q 5: How has being part of the AwakenHub community helped your business?
Having a community like the AwakenHub is so important, so that you know you are not alone and that there are supportive and likeminded women who understand what you are going through. We all benefit for being part of a strong network where we can guide and help one another in a multitude of ways. The AwakenHub community is motivational and it’s helped me put myself out there in a safe environment providing me with the confidence to continue to do so in other areas. I’ve met some fantastic people in the breakout rooms of inspiring webinars and can’t wait to meet more in the future.
Q 6: Have you an ‘ask’ which we can share with fellow #Awakenhubbers?
Q7: What words do you live by as a founder?
Know your values and live them.
Get in touch with Yvonne via any of the following:
