When Clara Mulligan watched her elderly father-in-law struggle weekly with his heavy lawnmower, she saw more than just a personal challenge – she identified a market opportunity that would eventually lead to HomeBot Ireland, the country’s newest player in the smart home robotics space.
“My motivation for this business came from my own experience as a mother to a young family with time constraints,” explains Mulligan, co-founder of HomeBot Ireland alongside her husband Alan O’Neill.
“During Covid, my husband and I moved to be closer to family. I watched my father-in-law struggle every week to lug out his heavy mower. His neighbours, also elderly, needed help with their gardens too. Hiring someone to help every week wasn’t an option, and the robotic solutions on the market were either too expensive or too complicated.”
“Ireland has a rapidly growing appetite for smart tech, so we see a fantastic growth opportunity in this space”
This personal frustration became the genesis of Buddy, HomeBot’s wireless robotic lawnmower designed as “a simple affordable solution that can be picked up and moved from garden to garden, hassle free.”
Addressing Ireland’s smart home market
HomeBot founder and CEO Clara Mulligan
The timing couldn’t be better for HomeBot’s launch. The global smart home market was valued at $127.80bn in 2024 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 27% through 2030.
Within this expanding market, robotic solutions are experiencing particularly strong growth – the robotic vacuum cleaner market is projected to reach $15.38bn by 2034, while the robotic lawn mower segment is expected to hit $10.62 billion by 2032.
“Ireland has a rapidly growing appetite for smart tech, so we see a fantastic growth opportunity in this space,” Mulligan notes. HomeBot is positioning itself to capture this demand with AI-driven robotic products specifically designed for Irish homes.
Product innovation with Irish design
HomeBot Ireland’s product line addresses both indoor and outdoor maintenance needs. “HomeBot delivers a customer-first, Irish-designed alternative in the home robotics space,” Mulligan explains. “Our wireless robotic lawnmowers and robot vacuum & mop systems are specifically designed with Irish homes and families in mind.”
The company’s robot vacuum and mop collection spans from compact models perfect for entry-level customers to advanced systems with self-emptying, self-cleaning, and self-refilling features. “Our robots cater for all floor surfaces, pet hair and levels of dirt,” Mulligan says, emphasizing the comprehensive cleaning solutions available across different budgets.
For outdoor maintenance, HomeBot offers both wire-free models for easy setup and wired options for larger gardens. The product line includes accessories like rain shelters and spare parts to enhance durability and performance.
The human touch
What sets HomeBot apart in the crowded robotics market is its commitment to local customer support. “We also offer Irish-based customer support from real people,” Mulligan emphasises. “We understand the questions and concerns our customers have, whether it’s setup or service queries, and we are always available to offer support through our dedicated WhatsApp customer care chat or phone.”
This approach reflects the founders’ backgrounds and values. Mulligan brings business experience and extensive customer management expertise, having founded previous companies, while her husband Alan O’Neill contributes technical expertise as a former Mercedes technician and AI expert.
“We built HomeBot from our own frustration with what was available, but our mission was simple: make reliable, Irish-designed smart solutions that real households can trust,” Mulligan reflects.
Sustainable business practices
HomeBot has integrated sustainability into its business model through innovative practices. “As a differentiator and to help our customers make the right decision for their needs, while encouraging a more sustainable behaviour, we have a trade in and upgrade option,” Mulligan explains. “We refurbish the old machines and find them new homes thus creating a circular economy for our products.”
The company is also expanding its product range with sustainability in mind. “At HomeBot Ireland, we are always looking to the future with products and ideas, and we are currently testing additional products to bring to the market at the end of 2025 and next year, for example robotic window cleaners and solar panel cleaners, a first for Ireland.”
Early success and market reception
Since launching, HomeBot has achieved remarkable early success. “The business has gone from strength to strength since launching. It completely sold out of vacuums at its launch show,” Mulligan reports. The company has earned recognition including Best Pitch for The West Cork Business awards, finalist status for Best use of Creative Marketing, and the 2024 Home Improvement Innovation Company of the year award.
“My biggest issue currently is trying to keep the best seller in stock,” Mulligan adds, highlighting the strong market demand for their products.
Lessons from the entrepreneurial journey
Mulligan’s entrepreneurial experience has yielded valuable insights for other founders. “One key lesson I’ve learned, something I saw early on in my business venture journey, is that the most important is to focus on your clients. At the end of the day, if your product does not solve a real problem, it won’t really matter.”
She also learned the importance of clear communication. “Don’t overcomplicate your product or message. Early on, we tried to explain everything at once: tech specs, AI capabilities, features. But our customers care most about what the product helps them do: simplify their lives and reclaim their time.”
Customer support emerged as another crucial differentiator. “Customer support isn’t a ‘nice to have’, it’s a core differentiator,” Mulligan emphasizes. “Excellent customer care is what builds strong loyalty and trust and what differentiates us.”
Supporting the local ecosystem
Mulligan expresses optimism about Ireland’s startup environment. “Ireland’s start-up community is vibrant, increasingly well-supported, and brimming with innovative minds. I have seen that there is much more support across the board for Irish-founded businesses, whether in the space of services or products, and this is truly encouraging to see.”
For HomeBot, local support from the Local Enterprise Office proved valuable, providing “resources, advice, information and trainings.” The company has also found that customers actively support Irish brands. “In every event and fair we go, we see that our customers also want to support local Irish brands, so that is very encouraging.”
HomeBot gives back to the community by “sponsoring sports clubs and events,” reflecting Mulligan’s belief that local communities are essential for business success.
Advice for fellow entrepreneurs
For aspiring founders, Mulligan offers practical guidance rooted in her experience. “Build with your customers, get feedback early and often, don’t feel deflated if the feedback is not what you were expecting,” she advises.
She encourages starting small: “It doesn’t matter if you start small, just start. Everyone has a point they need to begin from, so begin.”
Real-world testing proved crucial for HomeBot’s development. “Another thing that helped us was testing our products in real households, with real customers and real problems. This will keep you grounded and focused on solving real problems.”
Finally, she emphasises community engagement: “Don’t forget about the local communities. They will support your business and help you thrive.”
Cutting a dash
As HomeBot Ireland continues to grow, the company maintains its focus on sustainable growth and personal connection.
“We’re currently a small and focused team, growing sustainably in line with our business,” Mulligan explains. “Our approach is a bit more traditional, as we value direct, personal communication, face-to-face or simply picking up the phone.”
With recent bank credit secured for large stock orders and new products in development, HomeBot Ireland represents a successful example of how identifying real customer problems and delivering locally-supported solutions can create a thriving business in Ireland’s expanding smart home market.
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