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 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.
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 a 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 support from Enterprise Ireland and the Local Enterprise Office, Intellectual Property consultancy and protection from Cruickshank and business plan development from Grant Thornton.
Speaking at the awards ceremony, 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.
“I would like to congratulate all of the finalists in this year’s competition. You are the leaders of tomorrow – we look forward to supporting your journey and wish you every success.”
Also speaking at the event, 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.”
