Enterprise Ireland has launched the High Potential Start-Up (HPSU) Founder of Year Award for 2025. The overall winner will be announced at an awards ceremony which will take place on Thursday, October 16, 2025, at the Salesforce Tower in Dublin.
This year, 38 high potential startups were eligible for the award, with the list now narrowed down to five finalists. Nominees include Senus, Marama Labs, Pilot Path, Assiduous and NeuroBell.
On October 16, the final winner will be selected by a panel of judges: Andreea Wade, general partner at Delta Partners VC; Brian Shields, CEO & co-founder of Neurent Medical; and Tom Cusack, divisional manager of Industrial & Life Sciences at Enterprise Ireland.
The Founder of the Year award forms an important element of the Enterprise Ireland HPSU Founders Forum. Now in its 10th year the HPSU Founders Forum, which is delivered in partnership with Select Strategies, continues to grow with more than 480 founders having participated to date from a variety of sectors
Founder of the Year 2025 — nominee companies
Senus
Senus: Software to measure Nature. At Senus, we’re not just measuring nature – we’re providing the intelligence needed to nurture it, enabling a future where environmental preservation and business success thrive together. Senus provide Measurement, Reporting and Verification technology for Natural Capital. Our user-friendly IT platforms have enabled real-time, accurate, environmental impact reporting since 2017.
Pilot Path
Pilot Path, The Pilot Navigation Academy - carrying cadet to cockpit. Pilot Path manages every barrier, licence and transition, orchestrating a consortium of partner universities, flight schools, and airlines in concert with our bespoke technology platform. We unify all of these stakeholders for our students into a single structured journey – managed, financed, and actively stewarded to final cockpit entry.
Assiduous
Assiduous is the Corporate Finance Autopilot®, a virtual advisory team behind every business owner. We are building the AI engine to power small and medium sized businesses through strategic, financing and liquidity transactions across their corporate lifecycle.
Marama Labs
Marama Labs develops analytical tools that help biotech companies develop mRNA medicines. Their patented CloudSpec instrument measures the drug content of complex liquid formulations in seconds instead of hours, giving scientists immediate insights during the drug development process. Marama Labs' tools speed up research and manufacturing, reduce bottlenecks, and accelerate the delivery of next generation RNA-based therapies.
NeuroBell
NeuroBell is a medical device startup based in Cork, founded in 2023. NeuroBell’s first product, Luna, is a portable brain monitor with AI-powered seizure detection. Luna gives all neonatal ICU staff the ability to quickly diagnose seizures without subspecialty expertise, ensuring timely intervention and treatment.