Fourteen TU Dublin New Frontiers Graduates Target €6M Funding and 35+ New Jobs in 2026

Published: Tue Dec 9 2025 - 11:34

Fourteen ambitious entrepreneurs took centre stage at the Synergy Centre, TU Dublin Tallaght, as they graduated from Phase 2 of Enterprise Ireland’s New Frontiers Programme. Collectively, this year’s cohort is targeting €6 million in investment and the creation of over 35 new jobs in 2026, marking one of the programme’s most dynamic groups to date.

Drawn from a broad mix of industries, the 14 founders are tackling real-world problems with creativity and scientific rigour. Their ventures include AI-powered platforms reshaping education, HR, workforce planning, and global security; biotechnology innovations advancing equine genetics; sustainable materials that convert sawdust into durable composites; wellness solutions supporting families during pregnancy; and consumer-focused products such as premium men’s haircare, sparkling electrolyte drinks, hands-free dog leashes, and screen-free family gaming experiences. Despite their diversity, they share a common ambition: to build scalable Irish companies that make a meaningful impact.

More than half of entrepreneurs have already begun investor discussions with Local Enterprise Offices, Enterprise Ireland’s Pre-Seed Start Fund, angel groups, and venture capital firms. Their momentum was on full display at the New Frontiers Graduation Showcase on Friday, 5 December, a vibrant celebration of progress, resilience, and innovation. The event brought together founders, industry leaders, mentors, and potential investors for a day of pitching, product demonstrations, and networking.

Two competitions brought an added sense of excitement: the TU Dublin-sponsored Most Engaged Entrepreneur Stand and the high-stakes Investment Pitch Competition, judged by an expert panel chaired by Majella Murphy, Head of Acceleration at Furthr, with awards sponsored by Philip Lee, Resolve Partners, and LEO South Dublin.

Award Winners

Most Engaged Entrepreneur Stand – TU Dublin

Winner: Owen Murray, URhired
Owen was recognised for his exceptional engagement and his innovative e-learning platform, which acts as an Interview Co-Pilot to support neurodivergent job seekers.

_{Manmeet Abroll, Ana Malsam, Laura Enache, Owen Murray, Conor Fay}

LEO South Dublin €1,000 Award

Winner: Anna Malsam, Hytropics
Peter Connolly, Acting Head of Enterprise at LEO South Dublin, commended Anna's business and reaffirmed the LEO’s ongoing support for emerging founders.

_{Peter Connolly (South Dublin LEO), Anna Malsam}

Resolve Partners ‘Funding Prep’ Mentoring Award

Winner: Conor Fay, Forest Living
Forest Living is pioneering circular, bio-based materials that convert sawdust into durable composites for healthier, more sustainable interiors.

_{Laura Enache (TU Dublin), Conor Fay, Majella Murphy`(Furthr), Thomas Stone (TU Dublin), David McDonnell (TU Dublin)}

Philip Lee “Invest Start” Award

Winner: Manmeet Abroll, The Source
The Source uses AI to simplify and accelerate business planning, offering intelligent templates, automated forecasting, and investor-ready financial insights.

_{Hugo Grattirola and Manmeet Abroll}

Majella Murphy of Furthr, chair of the pitching panel, shared her feedback using the ‘three stars and a wish’ approach, praising the entrepreneurs’ evident passion, the clarity of their pitches, and the strength of their value propositions, while expressing one key wish: to keep the customer as their guiding north star.

Looking ahead to 2026

If you have an innovative, knowledge-driven, or technology-focused business idea, consider applying for a spot in the 2026 New Frontiers Programme. For more details, please contact NewFrontiers@TUDublin.ie.

New Frontiers Phase 2 Participant list - TU Dublin, Tallaght Campus

Anna Malsam - Hytropics: Irish-made sparkling electrolyte drink with B vitamins and ginseng, offering zero sugar, zero calories, and natural fruit flavours for clean, refreshing energy and focus. https://www.hytropics.com/

Carl Stainthorpe – Madra World: Irish brand crafting premium, hands-free dog leashes for urban life—designed by dog owners to combine style, control, and convenience with functional innovation and Irish craftsmanship for stress-free city walks. https://madraworld.com/

Christina von Schmieder – Marbelo: Large Irish-made table game for up to six players—fast, competitive, and fun, combining the best of table football and air hockey with strategic marble shooting.

Conor Fay - Forest Living: Circular materials company transforming sawdust into durable, design-ready composites—replacing fossil resins with bio-binders for healthier interiors, reduced waste, and scalable local supply chains. https://www.forestliving.ie/

Emer Spain Butterly - Lara Wellness: Developing innovative, evidence-based solutions that empower families during pregnancy and early parenthood—starting with a supplement to combat morning sickness, and addressing overlooked stress points with practical, measurable improvements in wellbeing.

Gavin Doyle – Examinaite: AI-powered adaptive learning platform for secondary students and teachers—offering curriculum-aligned content, personalized learning, instant feedback, and AI grading to reduce stress and free teachers’ time. https://examinaite.ie/

Gavin Hefferon - Poseidon Hair: Men’s haircare brand delivering premium styling products backed by real education—combining barbering expertise and viral online tutorials to make great hair effortless with high-performance formulas and step-by-step guidance. https://poseidonhair.com/

Graham Ó Maonaigh – Tuarity: AI-powered platform giving managers instant, reliable HR and compliance answers—blending structured knowledge with ready-to-use documents to turn complex tasks into simple, confident decisions. https://tuarity.com/

Manmeet Abroll - The Source: AI-powered platform that transforms complex business planning into a seamless, investor-ready process—offering intelligent templates, automated forecasting, real-time insights, trusted mentorship, and funding connections to drive scalable growth. https://the-source.ai/

Mark Harkin - Vox Talk AI: AI-powered Voice and Vision technology for the security industry—enabling Alarm Receiving Centres to handle high-volume alerts, analyse CCTV footage, and scale operations efficiently with faster responses and lower costs. https://www.voxtalkai.com/

Nicola Gillespie – Equigenesis: Developing Ireland’s first commercial equine biotechnology and reproductive science centre—specialising in advanced techniques like ICSI and embryo biopsy to drive genetic excellence and sustainable, science-led breeding solutions.

Owen Murray – URhired: Personalized e-learning platform acting as an Interview Co-Pilot—helping neurodivergent job seekers turn interviews into job offers with tailored guidance and practical tools. https://www.urhired.ie/

Phuong Vu – Talexa: Turning complex skills data into actionable business intelligence—helping companies see, plan, and grow their workforce with precision through AI-powered upskilling, hiring, and workforce planning. https://talexa.ai/

Piush Vaish – Kojable: Making SMBs the first choice in AI-driven search—unlocking a fresh stream of leads by ensuring customers find them first. https://kojable.com/