Student entrepreneurs gather to showcase ideas at Cork's MTU

More than 70 student entrepreneurs gathered at Munster Technological University (MTU) in Bishopstown this week to showcase their businesses developed during the Student Inc 2025 summer programme.

The 13-week immersive entrepreneurship programme, now in its 12th year, is led by MTU and backed both internationally and by the Higher Education Authority (HEA).

The programme aims to equip students with the skills, funding, and mentorship to transform their ideas into viable businesses.

Students in the programme received €4,000 in seed funding, intensive training, and the opportunity to work in campus incubators, alongside established entrepreneurs.

HYBRID

A hybrid delivery model enabled nationwide participation with students benefiting from world-class mentorship online, while still being connected to their home campuses.

In addition to MTU, this year’s group included students from Atlantic Technological University (ATU), South East Technological University (SETU), Technological University of the Shannon (TUS), University College Cork (UCC), University of Limerick (UL), Mary Immaculate College (MIC), Dundalk Institute of Technology (DKIT), and Dún Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology (IADT).

The programme culminated in a final showcase which saw more than 200 attendees, where each student was given the opportunity to present their businesses to judges, trainers, mentors, industry professionals, investors, and peers.

The range of businesses showcased was spread across a variety of sectors, including the creative sector, biomedical devices, career development apps, AI-assisted customer service platforms, food products, films, and gaming.

Professor Maggie Cusack, the president of MTU, said that Student Inc is “more than just developing businesses”.

“It develops mindsets, attitudes, and skillsets, and students with these skills are in high demand by future employers,” 

said Ms Cusack.

Carole O’Leary, programme manager of Student Inc at MTU, said that the programme “continues to demonstrate the strength of student entrepreneurship in Ireland”.

“This year’s showcase highlighted the creativity and ambition of our students, who transformed early-stage ideas into fully developed business plans in just 13 weeks.”

For more information on Student Inc, visit: www.mtu.ie/partner-with-us/entrepreneurship/student-inc/