Some of Ireland’s very best start-ups and entrepreneurs have been announced as finalists for this year’s National Enterprise Awards. The awards, an initiative of the Local Enterprise Offices, funded by the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, are now in their 26th year and previous winners have included Pestle & Mortar, Bevcraft, Advanced Cosmetics and Irish health tech firm SPRYT, who took home the overall prize in 2025.
This year’s finalists include The Smooth Company, founded by 2025 EY Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year Áine Kennedy, Sugar Plum Sweetery, founded by Denise Buckley and David Quirke who have been at the forefront of recent confectionary trends creating Ireland’s first Dubai Chocolate Bar and Seed Golf, founded by Dean Klatt, who have become the first Irish company to design and sell high performance golf balls.
The Finalists also include a software platform that helps hotels to fix guest problems before they become damaging reviews (I Left You a Note), Ireland’s first liquid seaweed food supplement (Óir Tonics), an AgTech company that can capture damaging animal emissions in sheds and turn it into a by-product for biogas and SAF production for farmers (I/O Agri).
International war crimes lawyer Joanne Frivet is shortlisted for her company, LegalMoov which helps individuals and SMEs in Ireland find the correct lawyer for their legal position, while RYSE Chocolate, founded by Ian O’Rourke and David Stone, have created a caffeinated chocolate energy bar and are also one of the 31 Finalists for the Awards that take place on the 18th June in Dublin.
Peter Burke, T.D., Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, said at the announcement; “The National Enterprise Awards provide us with an opportunity to celebrate the very best of Irish entrepreneurship. Looking through the list of finalists for this year, you can see a significant variety of sectors and business ideas, from Health and Beauty to AgTech, from Software to Food and Drink.
“Every one of these finalists have the potential to scale, create jobs in their communities and make a significant impact internationally. These awards shine a light on the amazing businesses that are starting and growing across the country year on year, and we should be extremely proud of the level of founders that Ireland is producing. The previous winners and indeed finalists have shown the calibre of these awards, and it’s exciting to see where these businesses can and will go in the future.”
The Finalists compete for a total prize fund of €80,000 and along with an overall National Enterprise of the Year winner there are categories for Best Start-Up, Best Export Business, an Innovation Award, a Digital Award, a Green Award and a Female Entrepreneur award.
There will also be an Outstanding Achievement Award presented on the night to an Irish business who started with the support of their Local Enterprise Office and has gone on to achieve international success.
Brenda Hegarty, Chair of the National Enterprise Awards, said; “This is the 26th year
of the National Enterprise Awards and one thing we see year on year is amazing diversity of businesses from across the country, all excelling in their sectors. We are seeing the best of the best of what Irish entrepreneurship has to offer and this year is no different.
“Reaching this stage is a significant achievement for every finalist, demonstrating that they have built an excellent business — one that is primed for growth with the potential to develop into a significant enterprise both at home and internationally in the years to come.”
The National Enterprise Awards are one of a number of initiatives that the Local Enterprise Offices run, to foster entrepreneurship across the country. Others include Local Enterprise Week, the Student Enterprise Programme, National Women’s Enterprise Day, and Local Enterprise Showcase. The Local Enterprise Offices in local authorities are funded by the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, through Enterprise Ireland.
Established in 2014, the Local Enterprise Offices are the essential resource for any entrepreneur looking to start a business or any small business that is looking for support or advice to help them grow. Since their inception in 2014, the Local Enterprise Offices have helped create over 80,000 jobs across the country. The LEOs work with thousands of client companies across Ireland in a diverse range of sectors offering mentoring, training, expert advice, and financial supports to small businesses. For more information see www.LocalEnterprise.ie
