Chilli-infused recovery product leads diverse field of student ventures tackling health, mobility and accessibility challenges.
A chilli-infused muscle recovery product developed by a student at Atlantic Technological University (ATU) has claimed the top prize at this year’s Enterprise Ireland Student Entrepreneur Awards, highlighting the growing ambition and commercial focus among Ireland’s next generation of founders.
AURA Sports Cream, created by Rory Staunton, was named overall winner at the 2026 awards ceremony held at Technological University Dublin’s Blanchardstown campus. Staunton received €10,000 alongside mentoring support from Enterprise Ireland, aimed at accelerating the product’s route to market and scaling its commercial potential.
“It is inspiring to see the creativity and problem-solving skills demonstrated by students across the country”
The winning product combines capsicum frutescens, an extract derived from chilli peppers, with natural botanicals to deliver targeted heat for muscle recovery. Designed for athletes and active individuals, the cream aims to provide fast relief for muscle and joint discomfort, tapping into demand for performance-focused wellness products.
Breadth of innovation
The annual Student Entrepreneur Awards programme, now in its 45th year, brings together third-level students from across Ireland to showcase commercially viable business ideas addressing real-world challenges. This year’s finalists reflected a breadth of innovation, spanning artificial intelligence, mobility solutions and health technology.
Among the shortlisted concepts were an AI-powered educational tool designed to enhance student learning outcomes, a transport application that aggregates public transport data to calculate live commuting times, and a virtual reality platform developed to support individuals living with phobias.
Alongside the overall winner, several high-achieving projects were recognised with merit awards. Liam Harte, a student at Queen’s University Belfast, received the Grant Thornton High Achieving Merit Award and €5,000 for Rephobia, a platform focused on addressing phobia-related challenges.
Sienna Joyce Faherty from ATU Galway was awarded the Cruickshank High Achieving Merit Award and €5,000 for her business venture The Hill Café. Faith Olopade of Trinity College Dublin secured the Local Enterprise Office High Achieving Merit Award and €5,000 for Blindspot Labs, a solution aimed at improving accessibility.
The Enterprise Ireland Academic Award was presented to Dr Orla Byrne from University College Dublin, recognising her contribution to fostering entrepreneurial talent within academia.
The remaining six finalists each received €1,500 through the Enterprise Ireland Merit Awards Fund, reflecting the programme’s commitment to supporting early-stage innovation across a wide spectrum of disciplines.
Speaking at the event, Joe Healy, head of Research and Innovation at Enterprise Ireland, pointed to the role of student entrepreneurship in shaping Ireland’s economic future.
“Enterprise Ireland believes Irish exporters can become the primary driver of the Irish economy, and we believe programmes like the Student Entrepreneur Awards are critical to fostering the next generation of innovators and entrepreneurs who will drive this growth,” he said.
“It is inspiring to see the creativity and problem-solving skills demonstrated by students across the country as they develop innovations with business potential which address real-world challenges. Enterprise Ireland is committed to harnessing the skills, ambition and talent of our diverse population, including this cohort of student entrepreneurs who are the leaders of tomorrow. I want to congratulate all the participants, finalists and award winners in this year’s competition.”
Teri Smith, Manager of the Local Enterprise Centre of Excellence and Enterprise Europe Network at Enterprise Ireland, also emphasised the importance of supporting early-stage founders.
“Fostering the talent and expertise of young entrepreneurs is key to the work of the Local Enterprise Offices,” she said.
“The passion demonstrated by the businesses recognised today bodes well for the future of Ireland’s startup ecosystem. It is through the dedication of today’s young entrepreneurs that Ireland’s business landscape will continue to thrive for years to come. We look forward to seeing the businesses flourish in the future through continued support from the Local Enterprise Office and Enterprise Ireland.”
As the awards programme continues to evolve, the diversity of ideas presented by this year’s cohort underscores a wider shift toward innovation-led enterprise among students, with an increasing emphasis on scalable solutions in health, technology and sustainability.
Image at top: Joe Healy, Head of Research and Innovation at Enterprise Ireland; Rory Staunton, AURA Sports Cream and Carmel Dillon, Enterprise Ireland
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