Cork students pitch ideas to investors at MTU event 

MTU students pitched ideas from cryptocurrency to carpooling and animation to air frying during an event at the University’s Bishopstown campus.

The students, participants in Munster Technological University’s Student Inc summer programme, shared their business ideas with a room of potential investors, members of the business community and support agencies.

The showcase gave the budding entrepreneurs the opportunity to pitch their businesses, having completed the 13-week entrepreneurial incubator programme.

Student Inc, which is Ireland’s longest-running student accelerator programme, is open to all MTU students of all years and disciplines and runs annually from June to August.

It allows students to explore the first steps in developing their own business and assess the feasibility of their enterprise idea in a supportive, student-focused setting.

Participants are provided with seed funding and access to a network of entrepreneurs, trainers, mentors and investors across the south-west region, and they also gain 10 ECT academic credits for taking part.

The Student Inc class of 2024 includes participants from across the university and the projects are just as diverse, covering a wide range of topics.

Graduates of the programme have done degrees in a wide range of topics including music, architecture, engineering, computer science and Spanish.

Many past participants of Student Inc have gone on to run successful businesses after taking part, with the programme offering vital support in the initial stages of students’ entrepreneurial journeys.

Carole O’Leary, regional programme manager for third level student entrepreneurship, said: “We are delighted to see the progress and growth of all the students and their ideas over the last 13 weeks.” 

Ms O’Leary explained that throughout the summer there were 35 training sessions, 30 mentoring days, five ‘lunch and learn’ events with seasoned entrepreneurs, as well as the opportunity to pitch to Angel Investors.

She said: “The programme is enabled by the unwavering support and facilities of the Rubicon Centre and its team, which is part of the Innovation and Enterprise Office, and we are delighted to see three of the 12 student businesses progress to New Frontiers in the Rubicon to continue on their journey. The other students are returning to study in September but will continue to work on their businesses.”