Sculpted By Aimee founder named best emerging entrepreneur

Aimee Connolly, founder and chief executive of Sculpted By Aimee, has won top prize in the Emerging Category at the EY Entrepreneur of the Year Awards.

Ms Connolly established the cosmetics business, which now ships its products to more than 20 countries, in 2016, having worked as a freelance makeup artist prior to this.

Originally from Dublin, Ms Connolly has funded the company’s growth to date and hopes to see the brand become a staple for consumers globally.

The company began 2021 with eight staff and has since built that to 15 as it looks at Britain and the Middle East for expansion. The business is on track to accomplish revenue of €8 million this year.

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“I am very focused on international growth and replicating the loyal community we have created here in Ireland in other markets,” Ms Connolly told The Irish Times recently.

“It takes time and significant resources but that is where I concentrate my efforts. I am also working on expanding the range with well-thought-through additions that make sense to the brand’s story and ethos,” she added.

Ms Connolly was one of 24 finalists selected for this year’s EY Entrepreneur of the Year Awards across three categories.

Other winners on the night were Brian O'Sullivan of Zeus Packaging who was namedEY Entrepreneur of the Year and international entrepreneur and David Henderson, managing director of Tobermore Concrete Limited, who took home the industry entrepreneur award. EY also presented a special award to former president Mary Robinson.

The other finalists in the emerging category this year were: Niall Horgan and Diarmuid McSweeney, Gym + Coffee; Lisa and Vanessa Creaven, Spotlight Oral Care; Chupi Sweetman, Chupi; Róisín Molloy, TriMedika Limited; Conor and James McCarthy, Flipdish; Xuemei Germaine, MicroGen BioTech; and John Browne, Kastus.