Students turn ideas into businesses at MTU
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Jacob Dorill, Chelsea Awaziem, Miya George, Aidan O’Callaghan, Emmet Fitzharris, Faith Lockett, Barry Walsh, Zach Daly, front row from left: Matthew Moloney, Natasha Myers, Daniel Kramnov, Kara Stingo, Betul Kantaroglu and Niklas Hockmann, who are all from MTU took part in the Student Inc. Showcase. PHOTO: Pauline DenniganMore than 70 student entrepreneurs from nine Irish universities gathered at Munster Technological University (MTU) in Bishopstown recently to showcase innovative businesses developed through the Student Inc. 2025 summer programme.
The 13 week programme, now in its 12th year, is led by MTU and supported by the Higher Education Authority (HEA). It gives students seed funding, mentorship and practical training to help turn ideas into viable businesses. Each participant received €4,000, access to campus incubators and guidance from established entrepreneurs. A mix of in-person and online sessions allowed students from across the country to take part.
Along with MTU, this year’s group included students from University College Cork (UCC), University of Limerick (UL), Atlantic Technological University (ATU), South East Technological University (SETU), Technological University of the Shannon (TUS), Mary Immaculate College (MIC), Dundalk Institute of Technology (DKIT) and Dún Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology (IADT).
The programme closed with a showcase attended by more than 200 people, where students pitched their projects to judges, mentors, investors and industry professionals. Ideas on display spanned a wide range of sectors including biomedical devices, creative industries, food products, films, games, career development apps and AI platforms.
Awards were presented for Best Poster and Best Pitch. Winners included Sam McGrath from SETU for his Draft Drinks Beverage Dispenser, Natasha Myers from MTU for her board game BrightSparks, and Ali Zeeshan from TUS for his sustained release drug for methane mitigation.
President of MTU, Professor Maggie Cusack, said the initiative was about more than just business creation. “Student Inc. develops mindsets, attitudes and skills. Graduates with these qualities are in high demand by employers,” she said.
Carole O’Leary, Programme Manager of Student Inc. at MTU, praised the quality of this year’s participants. “The showcase highlighted the creativity and ambition of our students, who transformed early-stage ideas into fully developed business plans in just 13 weeks,” she said. “We are especially proud that some have already secured places on the New Frontiers programme, showing how Student Inc. feeds into wider regional and national innovation supports.”