Tipperary founders win sustainability title at BMW Future Entrepreneur Competition
Tipperary founders win BMW Sustainability award for sheep’s milk skincare brand
Tipperary founders Elaine Crosse and Nicola Lyons of Bánór were awarded the Sustainability title at the 2026 BMW Future Entrepreneur Competition.
The pharmacist-and-farmer duo have built a natural skincare brand using sheep’s milk and lanolin-inspired formulations, championing local ingredients, sustainability and Irish innovation.
Having reached the final of the competition in 2025, the founders returned this year to secure the Sustainability title and continue their mission of showcasing sheep’s milk as a premium Irish skincare ingredient.
The awards were presented by BMW Ireland at a special event held at Cliff at Lyons, Co Kildare, recognising some of Ireland’s most exciting and ambitious emerging businesses.
The competition returned this year following a successful inaugural campaign in 2025. Led by BMW Ireland, in partnership with Enterprise Ireland, the initiative also welcomed Skingredients Founder and CEO Jennifer Rock to the judging panel to help champion the next generation of Irish innovators.
The winning businesses were selected from a highly competitive shortlist, with one winner recognised for Innovation and one for Sustainability.
Bánór, winner of the Sustainability category, is a natural Irish skincare brand founded by Farmer Elaine Crosse and Pharmacist Nicola Lyons, combining farm-born ingredients with skincare science to create sheep's milk and lanolin-based products inspired by the Irish landscape.
Having reached the final of the competition in 2025, the founders returned this year to secure the Sustainability title.
Helen Westby, Managing Director of BMW Ireland, said the calibre of applications this year was exceptionally high and praised the ambition and clarity of purpose shown by the winners, including Bánór.
As part of their prize, each winner will receive the use of a branded fully electric BMW, personalised mentoring, and a brand development package including a professional photoshoot, a media feature, and promotion across BMW Ireland's website and social media channels.