Enterprises with high potential and at the vanguard of innovation were showcased at this year’s Technological University of the Shannon (TUS) Startup Awards.
Calm & Free, the paediatrician-led skincare and wellness venture co-founded by consultant paediatrian Dr Rachel Power, was named Startup of the Year, recognising the development of a business addressing a clear gap in the baby and child health market.
The company brings together clinical expertise and natural formulation to develop targeted skincare solutions for babies and young children. Drawing on direct clinical insight into common skin conditions, alongside extensive engagement with parents, the company is now moving toward market entry in Ireland with plans to scale into the UK and European markets.
The Best Innovation Award was presented to Sarah Hayes, co-founder of Fastwave, a platform focused on competitive swimming that automates and standardises competition entry, replacing fragmented manual processes with a single, data-driven system that simplifies how swim competitions are organised and delivered.
The One to Watch Award went to Hugh McNally, co-founder of CarPal, a demand-led automotive platform designed for dealers, giving them direct access to verified, high-intent buyer demand, reducing wasted enquiries and improving conversion and stock turnover.
The awards, hosted at The Engine in Limerick City, marked the culmination of the Enterprise Ireland New Frontiers programme at TUS, part of a national entrepreneur development programme that supports founders to translate ideas into scalable, innovation-led businesses with real regional and international impact.
The event also featured a keynote address from John Cleary, founder and CEO of Eventmaster and founder of the Great Limerick Run, who shared insights from building and scaling a technology company serving organisations and sporting bodies in Ireland and across Europe. Mr Cleary is a graduate of the 2011/2012 LEAP programme at the Hartnett Centre, the predecessor to New Frontiers.
The startups pitched to an audience of more than 100 people, including investors, business leaders and representatives from support agencies and higher education institutions.
The programme is delivered through the TUS Hartnett Enterprise Acceleration Centre, in collaboration with UL Nexus and supported by the Local Enterprise Offices in Limerick, Clare and Tipperary, alongside AxisBIC, Propelor BIC and Limerick Chamber Skillnet. The awards event was supported by sponsors including Holmes, Bridgewater Management, Resolve Partners, the Local Enterprise Offices in Limerick, Clare and Tipperary, Limerick Chamber Skillnet and Innovate Limerick.
It was not just the winners who stood out. Among the participants were ventures advancing emergency response through coordination and decision-support tools for search-and-rescue operations, developing bio-based materials aligned with European sustainability priorities, and driving innovation in oral health and microbiome science. Others are building clinically informed consumer health and performance brands, alongside creative and data-driven platforms that are reshaping how organisations engage with and understand their audiences through insight-led approaches.
Together, the cohort represents a cross-section of sectors critical to Ireland’s future economy, from life sciences and sustainability to software, AI and consumer products. The programme, funded by Enterprise Ireland, is delivered at TUS in the Midwest, with a parallel programme also delivered by TUS in the Midlands, forming part of a wider national effort to strengthen Ireland’s pipeline of high-potential, innovation-led startups.
Professor Vincent Cunnane, president of TUS, said: “What we are seeing here is a cohort of innovative founders who have moved beyond early ideas and are now building businesses with real potential to scale. Programmes like New Frontiers are critical in strengthening Ireland’s pipeline of innovation-led, export-focused companies. At TUS, we are proud to support that journey as part of a very strong, collaborative ecosystem. The ambition now is to translate that progress into growth, into customers, and ultimately into companies that can compete internationally.”
Ciara Concannon, National Programme Manager for New Frontiers at Enterprise Ireland, said: “New Frontiers plays a vital role in developing Ireland’s pipeline of early-stage entrepreneurs. Across the country, it gives founders the skills, guidance and confidence to advance their ideas, and the Limerick cohort reflects that mission – bringing fresh innovation to the Midwest and beyond. The programme at TUS thrives within a deeply collaborative regional ecosystem that helps founders test ideas and build real momentum. Today we celebrate entrepreneurs who are shaping the region’s future and deserve great credit for their achievements.”
The awards mark a key milestone as participants move beyond early validation into the next phase of business development, with a number progressing to Phase 3 of the programme offering more tailored support.
Applications for the next New Frontiers programme at TUS are now open.
Participating founders in the 2026 TUS New Frontiers programme included: Brendan Shinnors (Devyber, Tipperary), Brian Garvey (Tribal Drinks, Galway), Eimear Lynch (No Mum Told Me, Clare), Eoin Keller (Lurra Bio, Tipperary), Gillian Shannon (HY-GEN-IST, Clare), Greta Adomaviciute (Carbona, Limerick), Matthew Kelly (SAR Commander, Clare), Mykola Babiy (WinnerFlags, Limerick), Rachel Power (Calm & Free, Limerick), Sam Sorensen (Cyberlynk, Limerick), Sarah Hayes (Fastwave, Tipperary), Sherin Sebastian (QuietSignals, Laois), and Hugh McNally (CarPal, Clare).
