Louth student on way to Tokyo after winning national tech competition

UCD Commerce student Oisin Mallon who hails from Omeath, Co. Louth has been crowned the 2024 Red Bull Basement National champion alongside his team partner Oisin Walsh of Co. Kerry. The pair will go on to represent Ireland in the World Finals in Tokyo next month. 

After 1,800 applications nationwide, the search for the next generation of Irish innovators came to a head at TUD Grangegorman on Thursday night when finalists presented their ideas to a panel of judges from across the Irish creative, media and tech landscape. 

Teams from across the country were represented in the final. Each presented their own business plan, created with the support of AI technology. After much deliberation, University College Dublin pair Oisin Mallon and Oisin Walsh were announced as the winners, nabbing a laptop each from partners AMD, as well as a place at next month’s Red Bull Basement World Finals in Tokyo. 

The team presented their plans for StepAhead, which seeks to connect young people with mentors who have recently navigated the same career or educational paths, offering real-world advice to help them make informed, confident decisions.

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On their victory, Oisin Mallon said: “We are delighted to win the Red Bull Basement National Final with StepAhead and represent Ireland on a global stage in Tokyo with our idea.”  

The next step for the dynamic duo is Tokyo, with over 40 countries set to compete at the World Finals. Across Monday December 2nd, and Thursday December 5th, they will attend workshops, dedicated AI educational sessions, and have the chance to network with international entrepreneurs and business leaders, before they go up against their peers for the World title. 

The grand prize for the global winner? A three week accelerator programme, all expenses paid, to Silicon Valley and Los Angeles in 2025, where they will receive hands-on experience, mentorship and opportunities to connect with top industry leaders, including insights from Red Bull Basement global partners Microsoft. 

To follow their journey, follow @redbullire on Instagram and TikTok.