Sam Moffett, managing director and founder, Moffett Automated Storage Ltd, Co Monaghan, has been named the emerging and overall, EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™ for 2023. The announcement was made at the annual gala awards ceremony which took place at the Powerscourt hotel, Co Wicklow.

Sam Moffett founded Moffett Automated Storage in 2017. Headquartered in Monaghan and employing 65 people, Moffett Automated Storage Ltd specialises in the development of innovative, automated pallet storage and warehousing solutions.

Sustainability benefits to clients

The company designs, manufactures, installs, and supports fully integrated automated warehouse pallet storage systems that enables end users to pick and pack from palletised materials. This disruptive, dynamic business offers a range of cost, operational and sustainability benefits to clients.

It enables clients to double the storage capacity within existing warehouse facilities and can reduce the energy usage of companies operating within a freezer environment in the cold storage industry by 50%.

Ciaran Marron, CEO and Founder of Activ8 Solar Energies in Carrickmacross, Co Monaghan was named 2023 EY Established Entrepreneur Of The Year™. Established in 2007, Activ8 Solar Energies is a pioneer in the solar energy sector in Ireland, helping to lead the nation's transition to sustainable energy.

Activ8 Solar Energies has installed more than 100,000 solar panels across Ireland and works on both residential and commercial properties. The company is on a mission to empower homeowners and businesses to generate renewable electricity and reduce their carbon footprint.  

Tom Walsh, CEO and co-counder of Staycity was named 2023 EY International Entrepreneur Of The Year™.  Tom co-founded short-term apartment rental company Staycity in 2003 along with his brother Ger.

5,300 apartments across 32 locations

The company specialises in rental of short- and mid-stay aparthotels in prime European city locations for both business and leisure travellers. The Staycity Group (which operates under the Staycity and Wilde Aparthotels brands) has grown to become one of Europe’s leading aparthotel operators with an estate of 5,300 apartments across 32 locations.

Dr Andrew Woods, CEO and founder of CATAGEN was the recipient of the 2023 EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™ Sustainability award. The EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™ Sustainability Award recognises the critical importance of innovation leadership in meeting our collective sustainability challenges. 

Established in 2019, Belfast-based cleantech company CATAGEN’s primary objective is to clean and decarbonise the air. CATAGEN provides a range of emissions tests for after-treatment systems to vehicle manufacturers which will have a direct impact on our cities and air quality. 

The company was founded on technology for green emissions testing and is now evolving this technology to find new ways of making hydrogen, e-fuels, capture carbon and compress hydrogen, all of which are needed to achieve a decarbonised world.

Roger Wallace, partner lead for the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™ programme, said: “This year’s finalists are a phenomenal group of entrepreneurs who are achieving incredible success both at home and abroad. It has been such a privilege to get to know them and their businesses over the past eight months and I look forward to their continued involvement in the programme through our alumni network. 

"On behalf of EY, I wish to extend my warmest congratulations to this year’s award winners. These entrepreneurs have shown themselves to be visionary leaders in their industries, developing innovative concepts that enhance how we live, work, and experience the world around us.

Wealth of entrepreneurial talent

"The endeavours of Ireland’s entrepreneurial community are well recognised across the globe. As a small island nation, we are incredibly fortunate to have such a wealth of entrepreneurial talent who make such a significant contribution to our economies and communities every day.

"Collectively the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™ alumni community generates revenues of €25bn, and employs more than 250,000 people across the island of Ireland. Their success is our collective success and EY is proud and committed to supporting them on their journey to realising their full potential.” 

Anne Heraty, EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™ 2006 and chair of the judging panel said: “On behalf of the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™ judging panel I would like to extend my congratulations to each of this year’s finalists. They are a truly remarkable group of business leaders who are masters in the art of entrepreneurship. Once again, this year the calibre of finalists was incredibly high and presented the judging panel with a significant challenge.

"I would like to congratulate this year’s winners. I am very excited for what the future holds for them, and I look forward to following and celebrating their continued success. I would also like to extend a very warm welcome to the full cohort of this year’s finalists into the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™ alumni community where I know they will continue to make a positive impact.”