iTechGuides is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more
Enterprise Ireland has named five finalists for its 2026 High Potential Start-Up (HPSU) Founder of the Year award. The winner is scheduled to be announced on Thursday, 15 October 2026, at Salesforce Tower in Dublin; as of 3 October, no winner had been announced.
Who are the five finalists?
Enterprise Ireland selected the five finalists from 38 eligible High Potential Start-ups. Their businesses span eyecare technology, confectionery, communications software, hospital workflow automation and pharmaceutical manufacturing.
| Finalist | Company and role | Sector and offering | Progress described by Enterprise Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breda O’Regan | Lia EyeCare, co-founder and CEO | Eyecare technology: Nightleaf, a non-invasive wearable intended for use before sleep. | Enterprise Ireland says O’Regan led fundraising, CE certification and manufacturing scale-up. The company describes Nightleaf as supporting the eyes’ natural ability to restore and recover; that is product positioning, not independently established clinical evidence. |
| Mark Birrane | WONDR, founder and CEO | Confectionery: jellies described by Enterprise Ireland as low sugar, high protein and high fibre. | The finalist biography says the brand is growing in Ireland, the UK and Europe, with the US in view. These nutrition and growth descriptions are attributed to Enterprise Ireland, not independently verified here. |
| Robert Norton | Kaptea, co-founder and CTO | Communications software: Pronto, a journey orchestration platform built on Twilio that runs workflows and AI across communication channels. | The official biography describes the platform and its purpose; it does not state a comparable funding, certification or market-expansion figure. |
| Seán Kirwan | MedWrite AI, CEO | Hospital workflow automation: a service for deploying and managing AI agents for clinical documentation, coding and administrative work. | Enterprise Ireland reports that specified tasks can be completed up to 10x faster and that MedWrite AI has raised over €1 million. Both figures come from its finalist biography and are not independently verified here. |
| Leah Fletcher | Dunbar Pharma, founder and CEO | Pharmaceutical manufacturing: WaterClear THC, a plant-derived dronabinol active pharmaceutical ingredient (API). | Enterprise Ireland describes Dunbar as Ireland’s first EU GMP-certified cannabinoid pharmaceutical manufacturer. Its biography says WaterClear THC launched to partners behind ten magistral preparations in two major export markets. |
What happens next, and who chooses the winner?
The award ceremony is scheduled for Thursday, 15 October 2026, at Salesforce Tower in Dublin. Enterprise Ireland says the winner will be selected by three judges:
Recommended Free Tools
- Heidi Davis, CEO and founder of Peri and 2024 Founder of the Year.
- Dan Fox, strategic advisor of Eudia and co-founder of Johnson Hana, where he was formerly CEO.
- Donnchadh Cullinan, Divisional Manager for Technology, Services and Consumer at Enterprise Ireland.
Enterprise Ireland’s announcement names the panel but does not publish a judging rubric or scorecard. The company descriptions and milestones above therefore provide context about the finalists, not a statement of the judges’ criteria.
#1 Best Overall
How the award fits the HPSU Founders Forum
The award is part of Enterprise Ireland’s HPSU Founders Forum, delivered in partnership with Select Strategies. Enterprise Ireland says the Forum is in its 11th year and has involved over 500 founders to date, from fields including digital technologies, medical devices, fintech, food, engineering and construction.
Enterprise Ireland describes the Forum’s objective as providing “a platform for founders to help founders succeed internationally and scale faster.”
Quick Recap
Best Value
- If you want to build a better future, you must believe in secrets.
- The great secret of our time is that there are still uncharted frontiers to explore and new inventions to create. In Zero to One, legendary entrepreneur and investor Peter Thiel shows how we can find singular ways to create those new things.
Rank #3
- we like to ship out right away
Rank #2
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →
