WEALTH October 23, 2026 0 Comments

66 Trailblazing Startups Clash for Glory: Who Will Own the Future of Innovation in 2026?

Ever wonder what it takes for a startup in Ireland to truly stand out among hundreds of eager contenders? Well, the National Startup Awards just dropped their national shortlist for 2026 — and it’s buzzing with 66 trailblazing companies across a dozen sizzling categories. From Dublin’s AI innovators to a humble brewery in Westmeath, this list isn’t just a collection of names but a vibrant mosaic of Irish ambition and grit. Now in its 15th year, this awards programme has become the longest-running stage celebrating early-stage founders who are sketching the very blueprint of Ireland’s future business landscape. After two intense rounds of judgment, the shortlist showcases startups swimming in sectors like artificial intelligence, medtech, fintech, food & drink, tourism, and sustainability. I can almost feel the adrenaline as these founders gear up to pitch live in Dublin’s Docklands this November – talk about pressure meets opportunity! Honestly, if you ask me, this isn’t just about competition; it’s a celebration of the relentless hustle and heart beating within every corner of the Emerald Isle. Ready to peek behind the curtain? LEARN MORE

The National Startup Awards has named 66 companies on its national shortlist for 2026, with businesses competing across 12 categories for recognition as some of Ireland’s most promising startups.

Now in its 15th year, the awards programme is Ireland’s longest-running initiative recognising early-stage companies and the founders developing the next generation of Irish businesses.

The national shortlist follows two rounds of judging and features companies operating across sectors including artificial intelligence (AI), medtech, fintech, food and drink, tourism and sustainability.

Dublin accounts for the largest share of shortlisted businesses, although every region of Ireland is represented, with companies from counties including Cork, Mayo, Monaghan, Sligo, Waterford and Westmeath also making the cut.

The 12 categories include AI Focused Startup, Tech Startup, Early Stage Startup, Female Founder Startup, Export & Global Ambition Startup, Consumer Product Startup, Food & Drink Startup, Fintech Startup, Sustainable Startup, Medtech Startup, Hospitality & Tourism Startup and Rising Star.

Des Doris, co-founder of the National Startup Awards, said narrowing the field to 66 companies had been the most difficult part of this year’s process.

“What you see on the national shortlist is a cross-section of Irish ambition: an AI exam tool built in Dublin, a point-of-sale company in Sligo, a brewery in Westmeath, a medtech business in Waterford,” he said.

“Each of these founders has now been through serious scrutiny and come out the other side.”

The shortlisted companies will pitch to judges during live judging sessions on 3 and 4 November at the offices of McCann FitzGerald LLP in Dublin’s Docklands.

Category winners and the overall National Startup of the Year will be announced at a ceremony in Dublin City Hall on Thursday, 19 November.

Stephen Dillon, co-founder of the awards, said the shortlist demonstrated the strength of entrepreneurship across the country.

“These are companies from every corner of the country — Longford, Mayo, Roscommon, Kilkenny, Galway, Cork — competing on the same stage, and the quality across all twelve categories is amazing,” he said.

He described the live judging round as an opportunity for founders to present their businesses to investors, advisers and industry operators.

The 2026 awards are supported by Business Plus as official media partner, Enterprise Ireland, Cronin & Company, Start Up Accountant, McCann FitzGerald LLP, Dublin City Council, Furthr and Microfinance Ireland.

National startup awards — Hexis, winner of the National Startup Awards Grand Prix 2025

The 2026 National Shortlist

AI Focused Startup (7): Arventa (Dublin); EchoByld (Dublin); Examinaite (Dublin); Maya Data Privacy (Dublin); Protostars (Dublin); Scopey Onsite (Dublin); Talio (Dublin)

Tech Startup (6): BidReview (Dublin); Furrow (Connacht & Ulster); Nexus Inclusion (Dublin); Re Tech Offshore (Rest of Leinster); Skippio (Dublin); Spryt (Connacht & Ulster)

Early Stage Startup (6): Aqta (Dublin); Cantivia (Dublin); E-Kiosk Ireland (Rest of Leinster); Octoglo (Dublin); Perissos (Munster); SendrLabs (Dublin)

Female Founder Startup (6): Allskills Tech (Rest of Leinster); Eblana Learning (Dublin); ExamRevision (Dublin); femmebiome (Munster); Fussy Food Plates (Dublin); Staq AI (Dublin)

Export & Global Ambition Startup (6): An Even Better Place to Work (Connacht & Ulster); Anyscor (Dublin); Anytime Creativity (Dublin); Key2Biotics (Munster); Spryt (Connacht & Ulster); Zolvia (Dublin)

Consumer Product Startup (6): AURA Sports Cream (Rest of Leinster); ealu (Rest of Leinster); femmebiome (Munster); Fussy Food Plates (Dublin); IPERA (Munster); MyComfort (Rest of Leinster)

Food & Drink Startup (6): Altered State Drinks (Dublin); Dead Centre Brewing — The Irish Craft Soda Co (Rest of Leinster); Egan’s Iced Tea (Dublin); Garnacha (Dublin); Hytropics (Dublin); Sip (Dublin)

Fintech Startup (6): FacePOS (Connacht & Ulster); Leapifai (Dublin); Medeblock (Dublin); QuantML (Dublin); Slainte Finance (Dublin); Yes Insurance (Dublin)

Sustainable Startup (6): ESG Data Core (Dublin); Renew Energy (Rest of Leinster); StylAi (Dublin); Tao Climate (Dublin); The Better Market (Dublin); White Spire (Connacht & Ulster)

Medtech Startup (6): ArrayPatch (Munster); Building Bones (Rest of Leinster); Fertally (Dublin); Medwrite (Rest of Leinster); MindPath (Munster); Wired By Nature (Dublin)

Hospitality & Tourism Startup (6): CeolConnect (Connacht & Ulster); Levels Revenue (Rest of Leinster); Order IT (Dublin); Pacey.ai (Dublin); Priory Market — Partas (Dublin); Skippio (Dublin)

Rising Star (6): Cara Shelters (Connacht & Ulster); Cavalloré (Rest of Leinster); Examinaite (Dublin); ExamRevision (Dublin); Leapifai (Dublin); SkynCap (Dublin)

Photo: HAON Life Sciences, winner of Emerging Tech award in 2025