Neil Sands
Bio
Neil Sands is a Silicon Valley-based entrepreneur, design executive, and founder with a unique track record of building bold consumer brands and design ventures globally.
He is the creative force behind Clír Water, a fast-scaling premium Irish water brand; Holla, a pioneering wellness drink; and Measc, a leader in medical device manufacturing in Ireland.
As founder of Fox Design Thinking, Neil has led brand, innovation, and experience strategy for clients including Deloitte, NHS, Forbes, and Booking.com, alongside a host of high-growth startups across food and drink, wellness, sustainability, and technology.
He also owns Lost Irish Whiskey, now sold in 23 countries and recognised for its triple-distilled blend that captures the adventurous spirit of the global Irish diaspora in every bottle.
Neil is a winner of top-level accolades in international horse racing and is a passionate owner through Bronsan Racing, with growing success across both National Hunt and Thoroughbred flat racing and breeding.
He lectures at TU Dublin, donating his speaking fees to the Injured Jockeys Fund, and continues a three-generation family legacy as an officer in the Irish Defence Forces Reserve.
What are the key skills you learned while at Maynooth that have influenced your career, or indeed, your life?
As a Math major at Maynooth, I gained an appreciation for logic and quantitative analysis of data. My studies in History, offered me the opportunity to collaborate and research in teams on projects with qualitative information and improve my writing.
Updated 31/03/2025