TU Dublin Team SolHex Wins NIBS Worldwide Business Plan Competition 2026
Students from TU Dublin have claimed first place at the prestigious NIBS Worldwide Business Plan Competition 2026, showcasing the university’s commitment to innovation, collaboration and practice-based learning on a global stage.
Team SolHex — made up of third-year Product Design students Hannah Schiller, Jack Spollen, Vicky He and Julia Bartecka — impressed an international judging panel with their business proposal, Daylight, a modular wall-mounted habit support system that combines ambient lighting with behavioural science. The team was crowned overall winner during the online finals held on Wednesday, 13 May 2026.
Representing TU Dublin to a live international audience, the students delivered a compelling pitch and responded confidently to challenging questions from judges from business and academia worldwide.
Oliver Herbst, Lecturer in Entrepreneurship in the School of Marketing and Entrepreneurship, praised the students’ achievement:
Congratulations to Hannah Schiller, Jack Spollen, Vicky He and Julia Bartecka on this outstanding international success. Winning the NIBS Worldwide Business Plan Competition is a tremendous achievement and reflects the creativity, professionalism and dedication shown by Team SolHex throughout the competition. At TU Dublin, we place a strong emphasis on practice-based learning, giving students opportunities to apply their knowledge to real-world challenges, work collaboratively and develop the entrepreneurial skills needed to succeed internationally. This achievement is a fantastic example of the impact of that approach.
The NIBS Worldwide Business Plan Competition encourages entrepreneurship among students from member institutions across the globe. Participants are tasked with developing innovative products or services, producing a formal business plan and pitching their ideas to potential investors and industry experts.
Through the competition, students gain valuable experience in identifying business opportunities, conducting market research, developing business models, preparing professional business plans and presenting ideas to an international panel. The process also strengthens teamwork, communication and organisational skills — all of which are critical for graduate employability.
At TU Dublin, students apply classroom learning in real-world and industry-focused settings, developing the creativity, collaboration and problem-solving skills valued by employers. The success of Team SolHex reflects TU Dublin’s strong focus on innovation, entrepreneurship and applied learning.