
Saor Water takes top prize at Enterprise Ireland's 2025 Student Entrepreneur Awards
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.
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 awards are 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.
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 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.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


RTÉ News
14 hours ago
- RTÉ News
Griffdon Engineering to create 48 new jobs in Ballaghaderreen
Griffdon Engineering, a family-run electrical engineering company, is to create 48 new jobs at its headquarters in Ballaghaderreen, Co Roscommon. Griffdon already employ 350 people and provides services to semiconductor and pharmaceutical industries, the oil and gas and renewable energy sectors, and ICT firms involved in data centre construction. The creation of the new jobs is being supported by Enterprise Ireland's Company Development Fund while Leirim based not-for-profit Future Cast helped to secure the Funding. The company's growth is expected to boost local employment and enhance skills in the electrical service and maintenance sector. It also aims to capitalise on the growing need for support among multinationals in the tech, pharmaceuticals and agrifood industries. Griffdon Engineering is led by Managing Director Seamus Griffin and EHS Director Elayne Griffin, the son and daughter of company founders Martin and Mary Griffin. The siblings took over the running of the company in 2017. Since then, the company has grown considerably, taking on large scale projects in Ireland and across Europe. Director of Griffdon Engineering Seamus Griffin said Enterprise Ireland has paid a pivotal role in supporting Grifdon to reach this milestone in the company's growth. "Enterprise Ireland's commitment to fostering innovation and strengthening Irish enterprise has empowered businesses like ours to invest with confidence, create high-quality employment, and contribute meaningfully to our regional and national economy," said Mr Griffin. "This is a proud day for Griffdon Engineering, for Ballaghaderreen, and for the wider community. We are excited to build on this momentum and look forward to what we can achieve—together."


Irish Times
2 days ago
- Irish Times
More than 20 Irish companies on Asian trade mission
More than 20 food and drink companies are seeking new business in South Korea and Japan this week with Martin Heydon , Minister for Agriculture and key State export agencies. Mr Heydon is leading a trade mission, with Enterprise Ireland , the agency responsible for developing Irish industry, and Bord Bia , which promotes the country's food business abroad. The mission's two legs will involve 22 Irish companies, including the likes of Kerry Group, Jameson, Lakeland Dairies, Carberry, Sliver Hill Duck, Kepak, ABP and Tírlan. Mr Heydon predicted that the visit would allow the Republic to build on commercial and official relationships it has developed with Korea and Japan. READ MORE Japan is the world's third biggest beef importer while Korea ranks fourth. Between them they buy more than one million tonnes a-year. The mission will take in Seoul Food, Korea's biggest exhibition for the food and drinks industries, and Expo 2025 in Osaka, Japan, expected to lure more than 28 million visitors and in which 160 countries are participating. The Korean leg will give producers the opportunity to build on the opening of that country's market to Irish beef last year, when the product was launched in September. Jim O'Toole, Bord Bia chief executive, pointed out that Irish beef has a competitive edge over rivals as it is grass fed, which the agency's research shows Korean consumers regard as healthier and more natural. 'This sets us apart from our grain-fed competitors in the market, and one we are using to reach an affluent consumer base,' he said. Mr Heydon stressed that the mission's focus was to build on and promote the State's reputation in agri-food in the Republic of Korea and Japan and the wider Asia market. It offered opportunities to 'showcase Ireland as a source of high-quality food, including dairy products, meat, seafood, drinks, prepared consumer foods and food ingredients', he added. The Japanese leg will include a focus on the drinks business, with a dozen companies from that industry represented, including Clonakilty Distiller, Dingle Distillery, Curraghmore Irish Whiskey, and Hyde Irish Whiskey. Expo Osaka will include an Irish Whiskey VIP Tour for buyers and media. Drinks is one of the Republic's more valuable home-grown industries, serving 113 export markets worth €2 billion in 2024. The mission will also have a political element with two ministerial meetings. Mr Heydon recently pointed out that it was critical for Irish agri-food to continue seeking new markets.


RTÉ News
2 days ago
- RTÉ News
Saor Water takes top prize at Enterprise Ireland's 2025 Student Entrepreneur Awards
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. 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 awards are 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. 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 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.