The forbes 30 under 30 europe list has delivered a major boost for Irish beauty founder and chief executive Aine Kennedy, whose name is now on the annual ranking after building The Smooth Company from the ground up. The milestone lands as a big night for the team at The Smooth Company headquarters, with Kennedy describing it as a dream come true. The recognition comes after the brand’s rapid rise, viral reach, and expansion into international retail markets.
A dream milestone for The Smooth Company founder
Aine Kennedy started The Smooth Company in 2022 with little more than €12, 000, and the company’s growth has now carried her onto the forbes 30 under 30 europe list. Her first product, the Smooth Stick, went viral, helping the brand build more than 150 million TikTok views and a growing profile well beyond Ireland. The company is now stocked in Brown Thomas, Arnotts, Cloud10Beauty, on its own website, and across 92 countries globally.
For Kennedy, the moment is deeply personal. She said, “This is literally such a dream come true! I honestly can’t believe it. I’ve put it on my goals list every year since starting The Smooth Company, so this really is the biggest dream come true. ” She added that the email was “genuinely the craziest email to ever get, ” and said she was “so, so grateful” to be listed alongside Molly-Mae Hague, Daisy May Kelly, and Lucie MacLeod.
Why the listing matters now
The recognition places Kennedy among a small group of selected entrants from a far larger pool. More than 20, 000 entries are submitted for the Forbes 30 Under 30 competition each year, and only 600 spots are available across the list. In that context, the forbes 30 under 30 europe list marks a sharp and visible jump in profile for a founder whose business began with limited resources and a single breakout product.
The company’s early momentum has been built on a simple but powerful formula: a viral first launch, a fast-growing audience, and retail reach that now stretches far beyond one market. That combination has helped turn The Smooth Company from a new Irish startup into a brand with international recognition.
Immediate reaction from the founder
Kennedy’s reaction was one of disbelief mixed with pride. Her comments underline how personal the achievement feels, especially because she had set the goal for years while building the company. The listing is also a team moment, with the founder saying the achievement is heading home to Ireland for her and her colleagues.
The announcement arrives with no sign of slowdown in the company’s visibility. The Smooth Company’s online traction and retail footprint have already given it a global platform, and the forbes 30 under 30 europe list recognition is likely to add another layer of attention to that growth.
What happens next for Kennedy and the brand
The immediate next step is momentum. The list placement gives Kennedy and The Smooth Company a fresh spotlight at a time when the brand is already stocked internationally and supported by strong online engagement. With the founder now on the forbes 30 under 30 europe list, the focus will turn to how the company uses the recognition to build on its current reach and sustain the pace that brought it here.
For now, the moment belongs to Kennedy, her team, and the Irish startup story that has turned a €12, 000 beginning into a global beauty brand.
