Saor Water has been named the overall winner of the 2025 Enterprise Ireland Student Entrepreneur Awards. 

Ryan Ormonde and Jonathan Hoffman, from Saor Water, were named as the Enterprise Ireland Student Entrepreneurs of the Year at a ceremony in TUD Blanchardstown, Dublin, where they were presented with their prize by Kevin Sherry, interim CEO, Enterprise Ireland.

Sustainable solutions

Ten cutting-edge innovations which address a range of global challenges were shortlisted for the final of the 44th annual Enterprise Ireland Student Entrepreneur Awards, and these included cutting-edge medtech devices, sustainable solutions and pioneering sports tech focused innovations.

The Enterprise Ireland Student Entrepreneur Awards is focused on supporting students to turn their smart ideas into commercial businesses, and aims to encourage and stimulate entrepreneurship by helping students take what are often their first steps towards commercial success.

This annual initiative, which invites applications from third-level student innovators, is co-sponsored by Cruickshank, Grant Thornton and the Local Enterprise Offices.

This year’s overall winner, Saor Water, provides a bespoke canned water solution for brands who are seeking a sustainable alternative to plastic bottles. They offer custom-branded aluminium cans and a low-minimum order service, which includes design, compliance, and logistics, and they are already working with high-profile clients such as Mercedes-Benz and Sculpted by Aimee.

L-R: Niamh Horan, Enterprise Ireland; Ryan Ormonde and Jonathan Hoffman, Saor Water; and Teri Smith, Enterprise Ireland.

As the overall winners of this year’s competition, Technological University Dublin students Ryan Ormonde and Jonathan Hoffman have won a €10,000 prize, as well as mentoring supports from Enterprise Ireland experts and advisors, focused on supporting them to develop their products and explore new market opportunities. 

Other prize winners

Other prizes presented at this year’s ceremony, which was hosted in TUD on Friday, included;

• The Cruickshank High Achieving Merit Award and €5,000 was presented to Max Crinion-Morgan for his innovation, RespÉire; 
• The Grant Thornton High Achieving Merit Award and €5,000 was presented to David Cashman for his company, the WellSchools Network;
• The Local Enterprise Office High Achieving Merit Award and €5,000 was presented to Sean O’Sullivan for his product, Lion’s Reign;
• The Enterprise Ireland Academic Award, recognising the contribution of third-level project supervisor, was awarded to Dr Margaret Tynan from South East Technological University.

The other six finalists from this year’s competition also received a prize of €1,500 each from the Enterprise Ireland Merit Awards Fund.

In addition, this year’s winners will also benefit from comprehensive business advice and mentoring supports from Enterprise Ireland and the Local Enterprise Office, Intellectual Property consultancy and protection from Cruickshank and business plan development from Grant Thornton.

Kevin Sherry, interim CEO of Enterprise Ireland, said: "The Enterprise Ireland Student Entrepreneur Awards is an important annual event that honours students who are delivering innovative solutions which have the potential to drive real and positive change in society.

“At Enterprise Ireland, Irish entrepreneurs and businesses are at the heart of everything we do. They are economic cornerstones in communities across the country.

"Our key objective is to accelerate sustainable Irish business so that, in time, exporting Irish companies can become the primary driver of our economy.

"Key to this is strengthening our pipeline of early-stage companies with global potential, such as these innovators we are honouring in this year’s Student Entrepreneur Awards. These awards are a powerful example of how we can foster ambition, innovation, and international success from the very beginning of the entrepreneurial journey.”

Teri Smith, manager, Local Enterprise Centre of Excellence & Enterprise Europe Network, Enterprise Ireland, said: "The Student Entrepreneur Awards continue to provide third-level students with a vital platform to explore the feasibility of their business ideas, supported by experienced mentors and their academic institutions. 

“At Enterprise Ireland and the local enterprise offices, fostering the next generation of Irish entrepreneurs is a top priority. These awards mark a significant milestone in the entrepreneurial journey of students, offering them the resources, guidance, and recognition needed to transform innovative concepts into thriving businesses. The 44th year of the competition showcases the ambition, creativity, and potential of Ireland’s future business leaders." 

Finalists profiles

TactiCast – Alex Markey, Atlantic Technological University (ATU). TactiCast is a real-time tactical projection app, designed to support sports coaches in visualising and communicating game plans. Developed by final-year Mechanical Engineering students Alex Markey, Arunas Pakalniskis, and Akeb Saleem, the system replaces traditional whiteboards with dynamic visuals, GPS tracking, and live strategy tools. It is intended for use across all levels of sport, from grassroots to elite.

PulsePath – Zeynep Altintas, Dublin City University (DCU). PulsePath is a web-based crowd management tool that enables festival organisers to monitor footfall, assess crowd density, and respond to live conditions. Developed by Zeynep Altintas and Lizel Sulaj, the platform improves on-site visibility and supports more efficient deployment of staff and resources, contributing to safer and more streamlined event operations.

RespÉire – Max Crinion-Morgan, Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT). RespÉire is a short-term respiratory rate monitoring device designed to assist nurses during patient observations. As respiration rate is often the earliest indicator of clinical deterioration, the device offers a more efficient and accurate alternative to current manual methods – aiming to save time, reduce costs, and improve patient outcomes.

EquiColic Guard – Samuel Gabor, Munster Technological University (MTU). EquiColic Guard is a biometric monitoring device designed to detect early signs of colic in horses. Developed by Samuel Gabor, Michael Walsh, Aoibhinn Walsh, Gavin Collins, Emmet O'Sullivan, and John O'Grady, the system tracks key indicators such as heart rate, temperature, activity levels, gut motility, and abdominal pressure, enabling timely intervention and reducing the risk of fatal outcomes.

Saor Water – Ryan Ormonde, Technological University Dublin (TUD). Saor Water provides a low-minimum-order canned water solution for brands seeking a sustainable alternative to plastic bottles. Developed by Ryan Ormonde and Jonathan Hoffman, the service includes design, compliance, and logistics, allowing businesses to offer custom-branded aluminium cans. Clients include brands such as Mercedes-Benz and Sculpted by Aimee.

Lion’s Reign – Sean O’Sullivan, University College Cork (UCC). Lion’s Reign is a food innovation company, producing mushroom-based jerky made from Lion’s Mane mushrooms. The product offers a meat-like texture and is designed to appeal to consumers seeking plant-based, sustainable snack options.

The WellSchools Network – David Cashman, University College Cork (UCC). The WellSchools Network delivers a systems- and trauma-informed model of positive education that supports schools in prioritising well-being alongside academic outcomes. Through training, coaching, and research, the network helps educators improve student resilience and achievement, and it currently connects schools and agencies across Ireland.

AscertPro – Sarah Jane Hughes, University of Galway (UG). AscertPro is a digital platform that assists assigned certifiers on construction sites in identifying potential issues early and maintaining compliance with building regulations. Developed by Sarah Jane Hughes and Ethan O'Brien, the tool integrates AI with a step-by-step checklist to reduce delays and improve inspection accuracy.

LOCKD IN – Cathal McCurdy, University of Limerick (UL). LOCKD IN is developing a portable spinal immobilisation system for use by first responders in outdoor and emergency settings. The flagship product, LOCKD IN Equilibrium, is a backpack that converts into a spinal immobiliser. The project team includes Cathal McCurdy, Brian Pereppadan Saiju, Cathal Curtin, and Ben O'Searcoid.

Good InTent – Noah Fingleton, University of Limerick (UL). Good InTent addresses the environmental impact of abandoned tents at music festivals. Developed by Noah Fingleton, Jamie Chisholm, Hannah O'Meara, and John Foley, the system includes a tent deposit scheme linked to a mobile app, encouraging festival-goers to return their tents and reduce waste.