Five founders vie for Enterprise Ireland’s top prize
Enterprise Ireland has unveiled five finalists for the Founder of the Year Award 2026. The winner will be announced at a glittering ceremony in Dublin next month.
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Enterprise Ireland Business News
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⏱️ 1 min read
The race for Ireland’s most prestigious start-up accolade is on after Enterprise Ireland today revealed the five finalists vying for the High Potential Start-Up (HPSU) Founder of the Year Award 2026. The triumphant entrepreneur will be crowned at a glittering awards ceremony on Thursday, 15 October 2026, hosted in the striking Salesforce Tower in Dublin’s docklands.
This year’s shortlist showcases the extraordinary talent driving innovation across Ireland’s most dynamic sectors. Among the contenders are Breda O’Regan of Lia EyeCare, Mark Birrane of WONDR, Robert Norton of Kaptea, Seán Kirwan of MedWrite AI, and Leah Fletcher of Dunbar Pharma—each a pioneer in their field, from life-changing medical technologies to next-generation consumer products.
The winner will be selected by a distinguished judging panel, including 2024 award winner Heidi Davis, strategic advisor Dan Fox, and Enterprise Ireland’s own Donnchadh Cullinan. The ceremony marks the culmination of the HPSU Founders Forum’s 11th year, a programme designed to empower founders with the tools to scale globally and accelerate success.
This year’s shortlist showcases the extraordinary talent driving innovation across Ireland’s most dynamic sectors. Among the contenders are Breda O’Regan of Lia EyeCare, Mark Birrane of WONDR, Robert Norton of Kaptea, Seán Kirwan of MedWrite AI, and Leah Fletcher of Dunbar Pharma—each a pioneer in their field, from life-changing medical technologies to next-generation consumer products.
The winner will be selected by a distinguished judging panel, including 2024 award winner Heidi Davis, strategic advisor Dan Fox, and Enterprise Ireland’s own Donnchadh Cullinan. The ceremony marks the culmination of the HPSU Founders Forum’s 11th year, a programme designed to empower founders with the tools to scale globally and accelerate success.
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