The founder of a corporate gifting platform has been named Entrepreneur of the Year at the 2025 Women in Tech Northern Ireland Awards.
Louise Doyle is the CEO and co-founder of needi, which has offices in Northern Ireland and Manchester.
She won the award in front of over 300 leaders, innovators and changemakers from across the Northern Irish tech sector at The Europa Hotel in Belfast.
The annual event celebrated the individuals and teams helping to reshape the digital landscape and driving meaningful impact in the local economy.
Doyle, who spent 10 years at social enterprise Camps International before launching needi in 2021, was recognised for her outstanding achievements in building the platform.
The startup is a tech-powered corporate gifting concierge service that uses psychology and AI to match businesses with the perfect gifts from sustainable, independent merchants.
Under her leadership, needi has supported over 150 UK companies, including Microsoft and Spotify, while generating more than £1m in sales for small businesses and aiming to reach £5m in 2025 alone.
“I’m truly honoured to receive this award alongside so many inspiring women in tech,” said Doyle.
“To win entrepreneur of the year was not only a moment of absolute shock but a hugely proud moment that wouldn’t be possible if it weren’t for my incredible co-founder Steph Scholes and my team at needi.
“The future of tech is inclusive, creative, and human-centred and I’m proud to be part of that movement.”
Lorraine Acheson, managing director of Women in Business, added: “Tech has proven to be a powerful engine for the local economy and our showcase awards ceremony stands as a positive reinforcement of Northern Ireland’s status as a top tech destination for firms globally.
“At Women in Business, it is our privilege to champion the women innovators central to this continued success, at every level, from apprentice to C-suite.”