The future is so bright the winners may have to wear shades at the second annual Shell LiveWire Young Business Start-Up awards this week.
Sixteen young entrepreneurs, aged 16 to 30, whose businesses have been up and running for between three and 18 months, were chosen as finalists in the competition.
The short-listed business ideas range from the innovative and practical to the fanciful.
One company has developed a switch that enables a phone user to turn on or off any electrical device using either a phone or the Internet.
Another business designs hats which are inspired by birds, insects, tribal costumes and human organs.
On Thursday, the overall winner will receive a £3,000 price sponsored by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment.
Four other winners will be presented with £1,000 for winning one of four sponsored categories: best potential employment (Skills Group International); best business plan (Bank of Ireland); e-commerce (Ocean); and innovation and new technology (PricewaterhouseCoopers).
The companies, and their founders, who have made it to the final are: Rapt Electronics, Dundalk, Barry Finnegan and John Phelan; Clare Ann Lawler Designer Hats, Dublin, Clare Ann Lawler; House of Delphine, Tralee, Delphine Grandjouan; Irish Soap Craft, Straffan, Lorna Watkins; Celtel Communications, Galway, Barry Harper and John Clancy; Pest Check Ltd, Shrule, Mayo, Seamus Staunton; Margaret Ryan Knitwear, Limerick, Margaret Ryan; KPD Print & Design, Tallaght, Jason Keely; Shadow Creations, Tallaght, Paul McDonnell and Kevin Murphy; Rosk e-Systems, Templeogue, Christophe Harris; Industrial Wood Products, Navan, Philip and Dominic Moran; and Ascotfirst.com Limited, Arklow, Andy Scott.
These awards are part of the internationally successful Shell LiveWire programme, which was introduced to Ireland last year to help young Irish entrepreneurs maximise their business potential.
Last year's overall winner was Mr Noel Daly and his company, Sareo Healthcare Ltd, from Midleton, Co Cork. The company produces a range of hi-tech medical support and anti-pressure devices.
