Ballina business flying the Tipp flag

Tech firm takes part in National Enterprise Award

A technology company from Ballina is set to compete with the country’s best small businesses as one of the finalists for the National Enterprise AwardS taking place next week.

I Left You A Note Ltd, Stephen O’Sullivan, will represent Local Enterprise Office Tipperary at the prestigious awards that take place on Thursday, June 18, in the Round Room at the Mansion House in Dublin.

The company delivers an AI‑powered, real‑time guest engagement platform designed specifically for the hospitality sector. The platform enables hotels to identify and resolve guest issues during a stay, before they result in negative online reviews, while also generating measurable in‑stay revenue and reducing front‑of‑house workload through automation.

HONOURED

Stephen said: “I am incredibly honoured to represent LEO Tipperary at the awards final and I feel privileged to join with the other worthy finalists from across the country. The PR opportunity locally is invaluable and highlights the entrepreneurial activity in the county, the national exposure is priceless for any small business such as mine.”

This is the 26th year of the Local Enterprise Office initiative, which was won last year by health tech business, SPRYT, supported by Local Enterprise Office Monaghan. Set up in 2022 by Neill Dunwoody and Daragh Donohue, their AI-powered virtual receptionist is helping to revolutionise patient engagement for healthcare providers across the globe utilising WhatsApp and SMS communication.

This year there is a wide variety of finalists competing for the title of National Enterprise of the Year. Some of those include The Smooth Company, founded by 2025 EY Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year Áine Kennedy, Sugar Plum Sweetery, founded by Denise Buckley and David Quirke who have been at the forefront of recent confectionary trends creating Ireland’s first Dubai Chocolate Bar and Seed Golf, founded by Dean Klatt, who have become the first Irish company to design and sell high performance golf balls.

International war crimes lawyer Joanne Frivet is shortlisted for her company, LegalMoov which helps individuals and SMEs in Ireland find the correct lawyer for their legal position, while RYSE Chocolate, founded by Ian O’Rourke and David Stone, have created a caffeinated chocolate energy bar and are also one of the finalists.

BUSINESS IDEAS

The Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Peter Burke, said: “The National Enterprise Awards provide us with an opportunity to celebrate the very best of Irish entrepreneurship. Looking through the list of finalists for this year, you can see a significant variety of sectors and business ideas, from health and beauty to agtech, from software to food and drink.

“Every one of these finalists have the potential to scale, create jobs in their communities and make a significant impact internationally. These awards shine a light on the amazing businesses that are starting and growing across the country year on year, and we should be extremely proud of the level of founders that Ireland is producing. The previous winners and indeed finalists have shown the calibre of these awards, and it’s exciting to see where these businesses can and will go in the future.”

Head of Enterprise at Tipperary LEO, Anthony Fitzgerald, said: “The National Enterprise Awards serve to highlight the very best businesses that the Local Enterprise Offices are working with across the country. The diversity of sectors and innovation shown again this year is outstanding and the winners will no doubt produce businesses destined for international success. These businesses have excelled in their areas and have the potential to follow in the footsteps of previous winners to become successful global companies.”

Local Enterprise Office Tipperary have had recent success at the awards including Nutshed from Nenagh who scooped the South West Regional Award at the competition in 2024.

The finalists compete for a total prize fund of €80,000 and along with an overall National Enterprise of the Year winner there are categories for Best Start-Up, Best Export Business, an Innovation Award, a Digital Award, a Green Award and a Female Entrepreneur award.

There will also be an Outstanding Achievement Award presented on the night to an Irish business who started with the support of their Local Enterprise Office and has gone on to achieve international success.