The 31 finalists for the 2023 National Enterprise Awards were announced in Dublin today.
They'll now compete for the top prize which will be announced at an awards ceremony on 1 June.
This is the 23rd year of the Local Enterprise Office initiative, which was won last year by Aqualicence, supported by Local Enterprise Office Wicklow.
Aqualicence have positioned themselves at the forefront of planning and project delivery in the offshore renewable energy sector.
This year the finalists cover a range of sectors and industries from augmented reality tours and sensory friendly clothes designers to energy saving software platforms and agtech solutions farmers.
The finalists also include a range of consumer products from chocolate and whiskey to artisan bakery products and a zero-waste food company.
"The National Enterprise Awards serve to highlight the very best businesses that the Local Enterprise Offices are working with across the country," said John Magee, Chair of the Network of Local Enterprise Offices.
"The diversity of sectors and innovation shown again this year is outstanding and the winners will no doubt produce businesses destined for international success.
"These finalists have shown outstanding resilience to get to where they are today and we are looking forward to celebrating with them at the Awards," he added.
The finalists compete for a prize fund of €50,000 and along with an overall National Enterprise of the Year winner there are categories for Best Start-Up, Best Export Business, an Innovation Award, a One-to-Watch Award, and a Sustainability Award.
There is also an Outstanding Achievement award for a business that started with their Local Enterprise Office and has gone on to achieve international growth with the assistance of Enterprise Ireland.
National Enterprise Awards finalists 2023
LEO Dublin City – Lovin' from the Oven
Lovin' from the Oven Ltd is an award-winning artisan bakery that supplies cakes and bakery products including vegan and gluten free, to wholesale, corporate clients and events.
LEO Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown - Imvizar
Using augmented reality technology, they create experiences for tourist attractions, universities and entertainers in US, Ireland, UK, Portugal and Australia.
LEO Fingal – Cream of the Crop
Cream of the Crop is a zero-waste business focused on turning ‘wonky" surplus produce into treats so you can fight food waste with every bite.
LEO South Dublin - High Resolution Lighting
High Res are a full service Creative Production company, specialising in Virtual Production for the tv & film industry.
LEO Clare - Wild Irish Seaweeds
Wild Irish Seaweeds manufacture and export products for the health food industry using raw materials sourced from the Atlantic Ocean.
LEO Kerry - Lorge Chocolatier
Lorge Chocolatier supply a wide range of chocolates and confectionery to gourmet shops, e.g. handmade truffles, bars, nougat, marshmallows and hot chocolate powder.
LEO Limerick – Cotter Agritech
Cotter Agritech is a start-up founded by brothers Jack and Nick Cotter. Based in Abbeyfeale, Co. Limerick, who develop novel hardware solutions to address difficulty of manually handling animals and software to address the issue of controlling parasites in livestock.
LEO Tipperary – Truepos
Premier Utilities Limited t/a Truepos is an international payment services company in the Fintech sector providing EPOS and Card Payment Solutions to the SME Sector.
LEO Kildare – Kildare Brewing Company / ProKulture Organic Kombucha
ProKulture Organic Kombucha is brewed in their own purpose designed brewing facility in Kildare. ProKulture is an award winning non-alcoholic restorative drink, packed full of antioxidants.
LEO Laois – Ballykilcavan Brewing Company
Ballykilcavan Brewery is based on a 13th generation family farm near Stradbally, and all their beers are made with water and barley from the farm.
LEO Offaly - Glass Innovations
Glass Innovations is an engineering company that specialises in printing and painting on glassware for clients in the drinks, beauty, and retail industries.
LEO Westmeath - Watt Footprint
Watt Footprint is an innovative tech-enabled energy management service company delivering significant energy savings for businesses.
LEO Cork City – Stolen Stitches
Stolen Stitches is the one-stop-shop for adventurous knitters. People can join their vibrant global knitting community, choose from immersive clubs and knit-alongs, explore luxury yarns, patterns, and video workshop.
LEO Cork North & West – BaseWorx Technologies
BaseWorx is a flex space management software that provides solutions for flexible and hybrid workspaces.
LEO South Cork - HYDE Irish Whiskey
HYDE Irish Whiskey is a premium range of multi award winning Irish whiskey currently exporting to over 65 markets worldwide.
LEO Waterford - Hopfully Brewing
Hopfully Brewing Ltd was established with the sole aim of producing and selling high-quality craft beer to customers throughout Ireland and around the world.
LEO Carlow - Forest Rock Technologies
Forest Rock provides software and hardware solutions for multiple clients in energy usage, sustainable buildings, and access controls.
LEO Kilkenny – CHI Environmental
CHI Environmental is the only EPA licenced site that collects and recycles a range of construction and demolition waste materials in the South East.
LEO Wexford – Sully & Juno
Sully & Juno is Ireland’s only sensory friendly design house. Established in 2021, the company creates clothing designed to be inclusive and conscious of the sensory needs of the wearer.
LEO Wicklow - The Wicklow Hops Company (WHC Lab)
WHC Lab is a biotechnology business, focused on yeast fermentation. The team are experts in the brewing and distilling industry, using next-generation methods to grow yeast and bacteria, with an R&D lab that is home to industry-leading equipment.
LEO Donegal - Silver Strand Rope Works
Based in Moville in County Donegal, Silver Strand Rope Works Ltd is an established cord, rope, string and strapping manufacturing business offering a wide range of products to local and international markets.
LEO Leitrim - CampusConnect
Working with leading universities in the UK and Ireland, CampusConnect is a white labelled community app and platform for universities that delivers significantly higher rates of student enrolment and retention by connecting incoming applicants with a community of best match peers for support, guidance, and friendship.
LEO Longford – Midland Language Centre
Midland Language Centre Ltd (MLC) offers English language programmes for European teenagers to stay with host families in Ireland and attend secondary school or summer camps.
LEO Sligo – PRONAV Clinical
PRONAV Clinical provides customised supply chain services for Early Phase Clinical Trials being conducted in Europe and across the globe.
LEO Cavan - Nualach Automation
Nualach Automation works with companies on the development and design of bespoke automation equipment.
LEO Louth – SeaPark Consultancy
SeaPark Consultancy Ltd. is a business intelligence consulting company based in Dundalk Co. Louth.
LEO Meath - The Studio Coffee Roasters
The Studio Coffee Roasters supplies speciality grade coffee, capsules and cold brew coffee concentrate under the STUDIO COFFEE roasters brand.
LEO Monaghan - Moffett Parking Solutions
Moffett Parking Solutions Ltd is a Monaghan based company designing and manufacturing a range of innovative solutions to help increase storage capacity and simplify parking access for vehicles.
LEO Galway – GH Agri
GH AGRI manufactures and retails safe, effective natural veterinary and nutritional products for farms in Ireland and the global market.
LEO Mayo – Advanced Cosmetics
Advanced Cosmetic Manufacturing Ltd manufactures bespoke cosmetic products for the leading skincare, tanning, body care and fragrance products.
LEO Roscommon – Lark Bridal
Lark Bridal Ltd. distribute a portfolio of luxury fashion and bridal brands, exporting to 32 countries and working with 1,000 retailers across the EMENA territory.
