Queen’s University has celebrated the achievements of women entrepreneurs and innovators at the WE Innovate 2026 Final, with healthcare venture VacTimmune named overall winner of this year’s programme.
Held in the Great Hall, the event marked the culmination of six months of mentoring, coaching, workshops, networking and venture development support designed to help women founders transform innovative ideas into businesses with real-world impact.
Delivered by Queen’s University and Venture Folk in partnership with Imperial College London’s Imperial Enterprise Lab and supported by QUBIS, WE Innovate supports women founders to develop entrepreneurial skills, build valuable networks and explore commercial opportunities for their ideas, research and expertise.
The final brought together entrepreneurs, investors, mentors and business leaders from across Northern Ireland and beyond to celebrate the progress made by this year’s cohort and hear pitches from five finalists developing solutions to challenges in healthcare, biotechnology, accessibility, sustainability and legal technology.
The ventures showcased innovative approaches to tackling issues including antimicrobial resistance, vaccine delivery, legal accessibility, regulatory compliance and sustainable transport, demonstrating the breadth of innovation emerging from across the Queen’s community.
The overall winner, Dr Beckie Ingram, was recognised for VacTimmune, a venture developing vaccines designed to protect vulnerable patients from serious bacterial infections while reducing reliance on antibiotics. Antimicrobial resistance is recognised as one of the most significant global healthcare challenges, highlighting the potential impact of the company’s work.
Alongside Dr Ingram's success, four other founders were recognised for the strength of their ventures and pitches during the final:
Second place (£6,000) – VisiPatch, led by Huanhuan Li: A colour-changing microneedle patch designed to make vaccine and biologic drug delivery safer, more reliable and easier to access globally.
Third place (£3,000) – Net-Vrai Limited, led by Romona Harron-Harding: A legal ESG platform helping organisations navigate complex regulatory requirements across multiple jurisdictions.
Runner-up (£2,000) – Surien Ltd, led by Rachel MacNeill: An intelligent power management solution designed to optimise performance and efficiency in zero-emission vehicles.
Runner-up (£2,000) – LexisHear, led by Sophie McManus: An AI-powered live transcription and accessibility platform designed to improve access to justice for people who are Deaf or hard of hearing.
Together, the finalists demonstrated the breadth and quality of women-led innovation emerging from Northern Ireland, addressing challenges ranging from healthcare and biotechnology to sustainability, accessibility and regulatory compliance.
VacTimmune’s success also reflects the strength of Queen’s wider innovation ecosystem. During her participation in the programme, Dr Ingram successfully spun out VacTimmune from the University, with the company now joining the QUBIS portfolio.
As Queen’s commercialisation company, QUBIS continues to support researchers, innovators and founders to translate university innovation into high-growth ventures capable of delivering economic, societal and global impact. The progression of VacTimmune from early-stage venture to spinout company demonstrates the pathways available to founders through Queen’s entrepreneurial and commercialisation ecosystem.
Marina Donohoe, CEO of QUBIS, said:
"WE Innovate continues to showcase the exceptional talent, ambition and creativity of women founders across Queen’s. The programme provides participants with the confidence, skills and networks needed to take the next step in their entrepreneurial journey and develop solutions to real-world challenges."
"VacTimmune’s progression from WE Innovate participant to QUBIS portfolio company is a fantastic example of what can be achieved when founders are supported through every stage of the innovation journey. We are delighted to see Beckie’s venture continue to grow and look forward to supporting the company as it develops its technology and commercial opportunities."
Dr Beckie Ingram, Founder of VacTimmune, said:
"WE Innovate gave me the confidence, support and network to take VacTimmune to the next stage. Being surrounded by other ambitious women founders and experienced mentors has been incredibly valuable throughout the programme."
"Winning the final is a huge milestone for the team and reinforces our belief in the potential impact of our technology. We're excited to continue building the company with the support of QUBIS and the wider Queen’s innovation ecosystem."
The evening also included a panel discussion exploring the realities of building and scaling innovative ventures, moderated by Dr Janine Swail, a leading researcher in women’s entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial ecosystems. Drawing on their experiences as founders, innovators and champions of entrepreneurship, panellists Ciara Reynolds, Founder of IASO Health; Rachel Small, Nurse Educator at Queen’s University Belfast and co-founder of INNOVAscope; and Kristina King, co-founder of RoutineRoo, shared insights on navigating entrepreneurship, overcoming challenges and creating opportunities for women-led innovation. The event was hosted by Michael E. Gasior, a PhD researcher, entrepreneur, comedian and WE Innovate 2025 semi-finalist, who guided attendees through the evening’s programme and celebrations.
Contributors from across the innovation and entrepreneurial ecosystem also took part throughout the evening, including Marina Donohoe, CEO of QUBIS; Dr Pragya Sharma, award-winning biotech entrepreneur and Founder of Granlab; Alan Carson, Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer of Cloudsmith; Barbara Orr of InterTradeIreland; and Yolanda Cooper, Founder of We Are Paradoxx.
By supporting women entrepreneurs and innovators, WE Innovate is helping to create a more diverse and inclusive innovation ecosystem while encouraging the development of ventures with the potential to deliver meaningful social, economic and environmental impact.
For QUBIS, the success of ventures such as VacTimmune highlights the importance of creating clear pathways for founders to progress from innovative ideas and research to commercial ventures. Through programmes such as WE Innovate, Queen’s continues to strengthen its pipeline of innovation, supporting founders as they transform expertise and ambition into businesses capable of making a difference locally and globally.
About WE Innovate
WE Innovate is a six-month programme delivered by Queen’s University Belfast in partnership with Imperial College London’s Imperial Enterprise Lab. The programme supports women founders through mentoring, coaching, workshops, networking and venture development activities, helping participants explore entrepreneurship and accelerate the development of innovative ventures.
→ Learn more about the programme and upcoming opportunities