Third-level students who have an innovative business idea with commercial potential are being invited to apply for this year’s Enterprise Ireland’s Student Entrepreneur Awards competition.
Now in its 45th year, the 2026 Enterprise Ireland Student Entrepreneur Awards are co-sponsored by Cruickshank, Grant Thornton and the Local Enterprise Offices. The aim of this competition is to inspire and support aspiring entrepreneurs from all academic disciplines to explore the idea of starting their own business.
Ten finalists, from third level institutions across the country, will be selected to compete for several 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 competition will receive a prize of €10,000 and mentoring supports from Enterprise Ireland, to help with the development of their products and to explore new market opportunities. The other award winners will also benefit from expert advisory and mentoring supports from Enterprise Ireland, as well as a €5000 cash prize to help them bring their entrepreneurial ideas to life.
Technological University Dublin students Ryan Ormonde and Jonathan Hoffman took home the top prize in last year’s competition for their company Saor Water, which offers a bespoke canned water solution for brands who are seeking a sustainable alternative to plastic bottles. Their service includes custom-branded aluminium cans with low-minimum orders, covering design, compliance, and logistics.
Other 2025 award winners included Max Crinion-Morgan, who received the Cruickshank High Achieving Merit Award for his innovation RespÉire, a short-term respiratory rate monitoring device designed to assist nurses during patient observations. David Cashman was presented with the Grant Thornton High Achieving Merit Award for his company The WellSchools Network, which delivers a systems and trauma-informed model of positive education to help schools prioritise well-being alongside academic outcomes. And Sean O’Sullivan received the Local Enterprise Office High Achieving Merit Award for his product Lion’s Reign, a food innovation company producing mushroom-based jerky made from Lion’s Mane mushrooms.
Teri Smith, Manager, Local Enterprise Office Operations & Client Excellence, said:
“Each year, the Student Entrepreneur Awards showcase the exceptional talent and creativity emerging from Ireland’s third-level institutions. As we celebrate the 45th year of the competition, we continue to see groundbreaking ideas across diverse sectors such as sustainability, healthcare, digital technologies and consumer products. Many past participants have gone on to build thriving businesses both at home and internationally.
“The Awards offer students a unique opportunity to test the potential of their business concepts, gain invaluable guidance from experienced mentors, and take the first steps toward turning their vision into reality. If you’re a third-level student with an innovative idea, this is your chance to kickstart your entrepreneurial journey.”
Ryan Ormonde, of Saor Water, winner of the 2025 Enterprise Ireland Student Entrepreneur of the Year, said:
“I was incredibly honoured to have been named Student Entrepreneur of the Year by Enterprise Ireland, a recognition that has opened numerous doors for my company, Saor Water. The experience I gained from the process of applying to the competition, refining our business plan and pitch, and finally presenting Saor Water to the panel of judges was invaluable. The start-up journey is a hard and fast road, so moments of recognition like this provide an important opportunity to reflect on progress and gain momentum.
“We have seen first-hand the impact this award has had, generating direct customer enquiries through the press coverage from the competition and connections made via Enterprise Ireland, some of whom have since become some of our biggest customers. Since the competition, we have gained significant traction and were proud to triple our sales in the months following the competition.”
The closing date for Student Entrepreneur Award entries is Friday 6th March 2026. The final ten teams will present to a panel of judges on the 28th of May, with the final ceremony and announcement of the Student Entrepreneur of the Year taking place in Technological University Dublin Blanchardstown on 29th May 2026.
Entries to the Student Entrepreneur Awards 2026 can be made via https://www.enterprise-ireland.com/en/student-entrepreneur-awards/apply-now