Graduate founders have been celebrated at University College Cork (UCC) with an event to showcase the innovation and entrepreneurship of founders and promoters undertaking the start-up programmes at the university.
Twenty founders and promoters presented their ideas to invited guests from business and investment communities and were offered an opportunity to connect with prospective customers, partners, mentors and investors.
The showcase event included participants of the IGNITE Start-up Incubation Programme that was set up by UCC in 2012. IGNITE supported businesses now employ more than 300 staff and are estimated to have contributed €66 million in salaries. IGNITE supported businesses have also raised €27 million in funding.
IGNITE equips recent graduates with the skills and tools to develop an idea into a business. It is one of a suite of supports offered by UCC Innovation to encourage and support students, graduates and researchers to harness research and innovation to create new ventures through entrepreneurial activity.
IGNITE Director Eamon Curtin said: “Innovation plays such an important role in shaping our future and we are proud to have so many successful businesses start out on the IGNITE Start-Up Incubation Programme. This showcase is about spotlighting the founders and promoters who want to make a difference, to benefit society through innovation and entrepreneurship.”
Sean O’Driscoll, Chair of UCC’s Governing Authority and former Chair and Chief Executive of Glen Dimplex Group, delivered a keynote address. He noted the scale, depth and significance of the University’s research agenda with an estimated annual research budget of €130 million and offered key advice for start-ups and entrepreneurs.
UCC Director of Innovation, Dr Sally Cudmore acknowledged the valuable support that UCC receives from Bank of Ireland, the Local Enterprise Offices of Cork City, South Cork and North & West Cork, Cork City Council and Cork County Council to support innovation and entrepreneurship.
The IGNITE Start-Up Incubation Programme is based at University College Cork and is open to anyone who has graduated from a third level institution in recent years and has the passion and ambition to work on an idea that has the potential for economic, environmental or social impact.
Start-up founders who started on IGNITE include William Nolan of AddAptiv, Dr Sinead Bleiel of AnaBio Technologies Ltd, Ryan O’Neill and Ian O’Sullivan of LegitFit, Dr Mark O’Sullivan of Neurobell, Clare Meskill of Telea, Conor Lyden of TrustAp and Shannen O’Reilly of TrustDish.
IGNITE is now inviting applications from start-up founders and promoters to join the programme in 2025.
Photo: Joleen Cronin
