The National Startup Awards are back for their 13th year and officially open for entries! This prestigious event, backed by Enterprise Ireland, is a cornerstone of the Irish startup ecosystem, offering a fantastic opportunity for early-stage businesses to gain both national and international recognition.
The competition is a significant event in the Irish startup calendar, shining a spotlight on the dedication, resilience, and innovation of entrepreneurs contributing to the nation’s economy. From AI-focused ventures to food and drink startups, the awards celebrate the success of companies that have been operational for up to five years. Startups at any stage of development are encouraged to apply.
Introducing the New Frontiers special category
This year, the National Startup Awards has introduced a new category aimed at participants of New Frontiers. The ‘Enterprise Ireland New Frontiers Startup’ category is open to any founder who completed Phase 2 of the programme in either 2023 or 2024. This award category will recognise the outstanding achievements of New Frontiers alumni who have demonstrated significant progress in their entrepreneurial journey.
The judging criteria for this category are as follows:
- Innovation (grade of innovation, disruption, and originality)
- Business model (organisational structure, sales strategy, strength of team, vision, and strategic plan)
- Customer value proposition (why a customer would buy or use the product or service)
- Scalability and market reach (pathway to growth, market size, and export potential)
- Social impact (jobs generated, diversity policy, and social inclusion)
Founders who have completed Phase 2 of the New Frontiers programme are encouraged to apply, highlighting the innovative ideas and business accomplishments that set them apart. Leo Clancy, CEO of Enterprise Ireland, has this about the awards:
“Enterprise Ireland is delighted to partner with the National Startup Awards, reinforcing our unwavering commitment to fostering innovative, export-focused start-ups. A key priority for Enterprise Ireland is to enhance Ireland’s profile as a premier location for starting and scaling businesses. The National Startup Awards offers emerging companies a valuable platform to showcase the energy and innovation driving our start-up sector. We are particularly excited that this year’s awards will feature a special prize recognising participants from the New Frontiers accelerator programme, highlighting the exceptional talent nurtured through this initiative. We look forward to engaging with the outstanding enterprises nominated, as we continue to champion innovation and entrepreneurial excellence.”
Other categories of recognition
The National Startup Awards encompasses 11 categories designed to highlight the diverse range of talent within Ireland’s startup ecosystem. The other categories for 2024 are as follows:
- EmergeTech Startup
- Early Stage Startup
- Fintech Startup
- AI Focused Startup
- Food & Drink Startup
- Social / Sustainable Startup
- Product & Manufacturing Startup
- eCommerce & Retail Startup
- Tech Startup
- Medtech Startup
The awards will also feature a Grand Prix Winner chosen from the winners of the individual categories, offering extra recognition for a standout entrant. A Startup Hero will be chosen by a separate panel of judges.
How to enter the National Startup Awards
The competition is open to sole traders, partnerships, and companies across all sectors that have been operational for up to five years as of 16th October 2024. The entry process is straightforward, and you can enter up to three relevant categories. While you can duplicate the application at the time of submission, we do advise that you tailor each one to the category you are entering.
As well as basic information about the company – including a short description and details such as employee count and turnover – you will be asked to submit supporting material in either written or video format. For the New Frontiers category, in particular, think about how you articulate the problem you’re solving and the traction you have gained.
The online application form is just step one; the second phase of the judging consists of in-person interviews held in Dublin after entries close. To enter or nominate someone for a National Startup Award, visit startupawards.ie and submit your application by 17th October 2024 at 11.59 pm.
The judging process
The judging committee is composed of representatives from Enterprise Ireland (EI), Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs), Business Innovation Centres (BICs), and leading entrepreneurs from various sectors. The judging process will involve shortlisting entries by region before moving on to a national level.
The panel of judges for the National Startup Awards features an impressive line-up of industry experts, including:
- Jamie Heaslip – Ireland Strategic Growth Lead at Stripe
- Anna-Marie Turley – Head of Entrepreneurship & HPSU Operations at Enterprise Ireland
- Des McCarthy – CEO of Microfinance Ireland
- Dr Ros Beere – Consultant at Furthr
- Gary Fox – Host of The Entrepreneur Experiment
- Paula Egan – Head of Sales at Sage
- Kmla Sharma – Technical Lead at HubSpot
- Michael O’Dea – Senior Development Advisor HPSU at Enterprise Ireland
This diverse panel ensures that all entries will be judged fairly and rigorously, spotlighting those startups that truly exemplify innovation and entrepreneurial spirit.
“We are delighted and proud to launch the 2024 National Startup Awards! Over the years, we have seen some incredible companies come through this programme, which is now recognised as the leading awards event for early-stage businesses in Ireland. The National Startup Awards represent a fantastic opportunity for companies to showcase their businesses and gain valuable national and international exposure. We look forward to meeting this year’s entrants and wish all startups the very best of luck.”
– Stephen Dillon, Founder of Startups.ie
Entries close 17th October
The National Startup Awards not only honour outstanding startups but also provide a vital platform for new businesses to gain recognition and support within the thriving Irish entrepreneurial landscape. Whether you’re a startup founder or know someone who is, this is an unmissable opportunity to be part of an inspiring celebration of innovation and hard work.
The national awards ceremony will be held at Dublin City Hall on 21st November 2024.
For more information and to submit your application, visit startupawards.ie. Don’t miss your chance to shine on this prestigious stage!
About the author
Scarlet Bierman
Scarlet BiermanScarlet Bierman is a content consultant, commissioned by Enterprise Ireland to fulfil the role of Editor of the New Frontiers website. She is an expert in designing and executing ethical marketing strategies and passionate about helping businesses to develop a quality online presence.
