Third level students with innovative business ideas and commercial potential are being invited to apply for this year’s Enterprise Ireland Student Entrepreneur Awards.
Now in its 45th year, the 2026 awards are co-sponsored by Cruickshank, Grant Thornton and the Local Enterprise Offices. The competition aims to inspire and support aspiring entrepreneurs from all academic disciplines who are interested in exploring the possibility of starting their own business.
Ten finalists from third level institutions across the country will be selected to compete for a number of awards, including the Cruickshank High Achieving Merit Award, the Grant Thornton High Achieving Merit Award and the Local Enterprise Office High Achieving Merit Award.
The overall winner of the Enterprise Ireland Student Entrepreneur Awards will receive a €10,000 prize along with mentoring support from Enterprise Ireland to help develop their product or service and explore new market opportunities. The remaining award winners will also receive expert advisory and mentoring support, as well as a €5,000 cash prize to assist in bringing their ideas to market.
Students from Technological University Dublin, Ryan Ormonde and Jonathan Hoffman, won the top prize in last year’s competition for their company Saor Water. The business offers bespoke canned water solutions for brands seeking a sustainable alternative to plastic bottles. The service includes custom branded aluminium cans with low minimum order quantities, covering design, compliance and logistics.
Other winners in the 2025 awards included Max Crinion Morgan, who received the Cruickshank High Achieving Merit Award for RespÉire, a short term respiratory rate monitoring device designed to support nurses during patient observations. David Cashman received the Grant Thornton High Achieving Merit Award for The WellSchools Network, which delivers a trauma informed model of positive education aimed at supporting student wellbeing alongside academic achievement. Sean O’Sullivan was awarded the Local Enterprise Office High Achieving Merit Award for Lion’s Reign, a food innovation company producing mushroom based jerky made from Lion’s Mane mushrooms.
Teri Smith, Manager of Local Enterprise Office Operations and Client Excellence, said the Student Entrepreneur Awards continue to highlight the exceptional talent and creativity emerging from Ireland’s third level institutions. She said that as the competition marks its 45th year, it continues to showcase innovative ideas across sectors such as sustainability, healthcare, digital technologies and consumer products. She added that many past participants have gone on to build successful businesses both in Ireland and internationally.
She said the awards provide students with a unique opportunity to test their business concepts, gain valuable guidance from experienced mentors and take the first steps towards turning their ideas into viable enterprises.
Ryan Ormonde of Saor Water, winner of the 2025 Student Entrepreneur of the Year, said being recognised by Enterprise Ireland opened many doors for the company. He said the process of applying, refining their business plan and pitching to judges was invaluable and helped build momentum. He added that the exposure from the competition led to direct customer enquiries and key connections, contributing to strong growth, including tripling sales in the months that followed.
The closing date for entries to the 2026 Student Entrepreneur Awards is Friday 6 March 2026.
The final ten teams will present to a panel of judges on 28 May, with the final awards ceremony taking place at Technological University Dublin Blanchardstown on 29 May 2026.
Entries to the Student Entrepreneur Awards 2026 can be made via https://www.enterprise-ireland.com/en/student-entrepreneur-awards/apply-now
