Fourteen Startup Founders Graduate From Phase 2 Of New Frontiers In Tallaght

Fourteen early-stage founders have successfully completed Phase 2 of Enterprise Ireland’s New Frontiers programme at Technological University Dublin (TU Dublin) – Tallaght Campus. Their collective goal is to raise €6 million in funding and create at least 35 jobs in 2026.

The Phase 2 Graduation Showcase on 5th December marked the culmination of six months of intensive work by 14 entrepreneurs, celebrating their achievements and future ambitions. It provided a vibrant and celebratory platform for founders to showcase their progress and connect with fellow entrepreneurs, industry leaders, mentors, and potential investors.

This year’s cohort, based in the Synergy Centre in Tallaght, represents a diverse range of sectors from AI-powered education platforms to sparkling electrolyte drinks to biotechnology advancing equine genetic biotech to design-ready sustainable composites to premium men’s haircare (read about each startup below).

Founders competed in two flagship competitions, with winners announced during the ceremony: the ‘Most Engaged Entrepreneur Stand’ competition, sponsored by TU Dublin, and a high stakes investment pitch before an expert judging panel chaired by Majella Murphy, Head of Acceleration at Furthr. The panel selected recipients for three prestigious awards, sponsored by Philip Lee, Resolve Partners, and LEO South Dublin.

The ‘Most Engaged Entrepreneur Stand’ prize was awarded to Owen Murray of URhired. Anna Malsam of Hytropics was the winner of the South Dublin Local Enterprise Office €1,000 cash award, presented by Peter Connolly, Acting Head of Enterprise with South Dublin LEO. The Resolve Partners winner was Conor Fay of Forest Living, who will receive ‘Funding prep’ mentoring sessions. The Philip Lee ‘Invest Start’ award, announced by Hugo Grattirola, Partner at Philip Lee, was presented to Manmeet Abroll for his venture, The Source.

Over the past six months, the founders have reached milestones such as successful product launches, securing B2B customers, and generating significant revenue (one company surpassing €150,000). Several brands gained national media attention. Others completed IP roadmaps, built production-ready prototypes, and tested products with over 150 players, while advancing go-to-market strategies. Partnerships and traction were evident, with pilot schemes established, strategic collaborations signed across Europe and North America, and listings secured with leading retailers like Wholefoods Ireland.

New Frontiers cohort in Tallaght

Speaking after the event, Programme Manager Laura Enache said, “This is the best group I have ever worked with, and the key to their success is teamwork. From day one, they have acted as a team and supported each other, and this commitment is clearly reflected in the outstanding results this cohort has achieved.”

This year’s graduating founders in Tallaght are:

Anna Malsam of 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.

Carl Stainthorpe of 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.

Christina von Schmieder of 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 of 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.

Emer Spain Butterly of 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 of 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.

Gavin Hefferon of 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.

Graham Ó Maonaigh of 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.

Manmeet Abroll of 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.

Mark Harkin of 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.

Nicola Gillespie of 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 of 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.

Phuong Vu of 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.

Piush Vaish of Kojable

Making SMBs the first choice in AI-driven search—unlocking a fresh stream of leads by ensuring customers find them first.

Best of luck to these founders as they take the next steps with their businesses!

Calling startup founders near Tallaght

The New Frontiers Programme Manager in Tallaght is Laura Enache. Learn more about Laura’s approach to running the programme, about Laura’s background, about our Tallaght location, or see our upcoming application deadlines.