The Enterprise Ireland Founder of the Year Awards recognise and celebrate the dedication of entrepreneurs and start-ups working to build world-class companies of the future.
Mark O’Sullivan, CEO and co-founder of Cork-based medtech start-up NeuroBell, has been named Enterprise Ireland’s High Potential Start-Up (HPSU) Founder of the Year for 2025.
The announcement was made at a ceremony held in Salesforce Tower, Dublin, recognising O’Sullivan’s leadership in developing Luna, a portable brain monitor designed to detect seizures in newborns using AI technology.
“Our ultimate aim is to grow the business globally, bringing Luna to all hospital settings for the benefit of critically ill infants and their families”
Founded in 2023, NeuroBell’s Luna device enables neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) staff to diagnose seizures rapidly without requiring subspecialty expertise.
Protecting young lives
The technology aims to improve outcomes for critically ill infants by facilitating timely intervention and treatment.
“I am deeply honoured to receive this award, particularly as the nominees are selected by Founder peers,” said O’Sullivan. “Enterprise Ireland has been with us on our start-up journey and we look forward to working with them as we scale into the US and European markets.
Luna allows healthcare workers in neonatal ICUs to act quickly with the right information. Our ultimate aim is to grow the business globally, bringing Luna to all hospital settings for the benefit of critically ill infants and their families.”
The Founder of the Year Awards celebrate the achievements of entrepreneurs participating in Enterprise Ireland’s HPSU Founders Forum, a peer-led initiative that has supported over 480 founders across sectors including medtech, fintech, digital technologies, food, and sustainability. This year marks the tenth anniversary of the programme, delivered in partnership with Select Strategies.
Finalists for the 2025 award included Eoghan Finneran of Senus, Craig Lancaster of Pilot Path, Fergal Meegan of Assiduous, and Brendan Darby of Marama Labs. The judging panel featured representatives from Enterprise Ireland, Delta Partners VC, and Neurent Medical.
Jenny Melia, CEO of Enterprise Ireland, praised the calibre of this year’s finalists.
“The Founder of the Year Awards shine a spotlight on the ambition, innovation and resilience of Ireland’s start-up community. These awards are a celebration of the entrepreneurial spirit that drives high-potential start-ups to scale globally. With over 480 founders having participated in the HPSU Founders Forum to date, this initiative continues to be a powerful platform for peer learning, collaboration and growth.
“Enterprise Ireland is proud to support these founders at every stage of their journey, working closely with partners across the ecosystem to ensure Ireland remains a world-class location to start and scale a business,” Melia said.
Founder of the Year finalists 2025
Senus – Eoghan Finneran (Co-Founder & Director of Growth)
Senus develops software to measure nature, providing the intelligence needed to nurture it and enabling a future where environmental preservation and business success thrive together. The company offers Measurement, Reporting and Verification (MRV) technology for Natural Capital. Its user-friendly IT platforms have enabled real-time, accurate environmental impact reporting since 2017.
Pilot Path – Craig Lancaster (CEO & Founder)
Pilot Path, The Pilot Navigation Academy, supports aspiring pilots from cadet to cockpit. The company manages every barrier, licence and transition, orchestrating a consortium of partner universities, flight schools, and airlines through a bespoke technology platform. All stakeholders are unified into a single structured journey that is managed, financed, and actively stewarded to final cockpit entry.
Assiduous – Fergal Meegan (CEO & Co-founder)
Assiduous is the Corporate Finance Autopilot®, a virtual advisory team supporting business owners. The company is building an AI engine to power small and medium-sized businesses through strategic, financing and liquidity transactions across their corporate lifecycle.
Marama Labs – Brendan Darby (CEO & Co-founder)
Marama Labs develops analytical tools to help biotech companies create mRNA medicines. Its patented CloudSpec instrument measures the drug content of complex liquid formulations in seconds instead of hours, providing scientists with immediate insights during the drug development process. These tools accelerate research and manufacturing, reduce bottlenecks, and support the delivery of next-generation RNA-based therapies.
Top image: Mark O’Sullivan, CEO and co-founder of Neurobell
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