2026 Awards

How to
Enter

Entering the National Startup Awards is free, takes less than 30 minutes, and could be the most valuable thing you do for your business this year.

ENTER HERE! → View Categories

◆ 2026 Key Dates

September 2026Entries Open

12 October 2026Entries Close

22 October 2026National Shortlist Announced

3–4 November 2026Live Judging — Dublin

19 November 2026Awards Ceremony — Dublin City Hall

How It Works

Check Your Eligibility

Make sure your startup is 5 years old or less, has 30 employees or less, and is registered in the Republic of Ireland. It's not a requirement to be a customer of any particular financial institution. Any Irish startup can enter — there's no entry fee.

No Entry Fee

Choose Your Categories

Select the categories that best represent your business — you can enter up to three categories per company. Make sure the categories you choose are genuinely relevant, as judges assess fit as part of the evaluation. Review all 13 categories before applying.

Complete the Application

Fill in the online application form. You'll be asked about your innovation, business model, customer value proposition, scalability, and social impact. Written or video submissions are accepted. Budget around 30 minutes per category.

~30 Minutes Per Entry

Regional Judging

All submissions are reviewed by our judging panels. Standout entries are selected for the Regional Shortlist across four regions: Dublin, Munster, Connacht and Ulster, and Rest of Leinster.

4 Regions

National Shortlist

Regional shortlists are merged and judged again to produce the National Shortlist. National shortlisted companies are invited to pitch live to our national judging panel in Dublin.

Live Pitch in Dublin

Awards Ceremony

Winners are announced at the National Startup Awards Ceremony at Dublin City Hall. Category winners receive an award trophy. The Grand Prix — Startup of the Year is selected from among the category winners.

Dublin City Hall

Benefits

Why Enter the Awards?

◆

Impress potential investors and raise funding credibility

◆

Gain prestige and recognition from peers and industry

◆

Network with fellow entrepreneurs across Ireland

◆

Raise your national and international profile

◆

Boost existing client comfort, trust and loyalty

◆

Demonstrate workplace attractiveness to potential employees

◆

Drive measurable business growth and brand awareness

◆

Media coverage and PR opportunities for shortlisted companies

Requirements

Eligibility Criteria

✓

Registered in the Republic of Ireland Your startup must be incorporated and operating in the Republic of Ireland.

✓

5 Years Old or Less Your organisation must be five years old or less at the closing date for entries.

✓

30 Employees or Less Your organisation must have 30 employees or less at the closing date for entries.

✓

Trading Product or Service You must have a product or service that is trading or ready to trade.

✓

Up to Three Categories Simply select the categories you wish to enter — you can enter up to three per company — and complete the short application form. Each entry is assessed independently.

✓

No Entry Fee There is no entry fee.

Not Eligible Subsidiaries of multinational companies are not eligible to enter.

Judging

How Entries Are Judged

◆

Innovation

Grade of innovation, disruption and originality of your product or service.

◆

Business Model

Organisational structure, sales strategy, strength of team, vision and strategic plan.

◆

Customer Value

Why should a customer buy or use your product or service over alternatives?

◆

Scalability

Pathway to growth, addressable market size and export potential.

◆

Social Impact

Jobs generated, diversity policy, social inclusion and community contribution.

◆

Grand Prix

The overall Startup of the Year is chosen from among the category winners on the night.

Ready to Enter 2026?

Entries open September 2026. No entry fee, open to Irish startups 5 years old or less. It takes less than 30 minutes to apply.

ENTER HERE! →

How toEnter