The Happy Pear is a business set up by twins Steve and Dave Flynn, who grew up in Greystones, Co.Wicklow. They saw a gap in the market for a business based around healthy living through eating more fruit and vegetables. They started out with a little vegetable shop in Greystones. Which now, has grown rapidly with more than 60 plant-based food products today.

WAZP was set up in 2015 by Shane Hassett and Mariana Kobal. Both entrepreneurs are inspired by their interests in 3D printing. Shane and Mariana had realised that they could do more with 3D printing and many companies that could benefit from it. Through WAZP’s passion, drive and focus they have grown a thriving global business today.

Michael Carey and his wife Alison Cowzer set up East Coast Bakehouse in Drogheda, Co. Louth in 2015. Using the best of Irish ingredients, the company’s mantra is ‘Baking Better Biscuits’. East Coast Bakehouse is the only large-scale biscuit factory in Ireland and is one of the largest in Europe.

Francis Brennan was born in Dublin and grew up in Dundrum, Dublin. His mantra is “First always be good to your staff and secondly don’t look back, always move forward”. Francis took over the Park Hotel in Kenmare in 1980 and turned it to a 5-star hotel. Later in 2011, Francis began a new media career- by starring in various RTÉ programmes.

David Lyons is from Listowel, Co. Kerry. The business idea started while working in Youth Centres in Limerick for 4 years. David has always loved sport. The reaction and feedback from the Youth Centres enabled David to see the potential in the product as a business. David won the Kerry Category of Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur, Regional & County Entrepreneur of the Year in 2019.