Student Wins €10,000 with online student knowledge platform at NUI Galway Students’ Union Enterprise Awards
Brian Slattery, an NUI Galway Psychology PhD student from Dublin, has scooped the top prize of €10,000 at the NUI Galway Students’ Union Enterprise Awards. His winning project “Student Talks” is an online knowledge platform for students to communicate their ideas, connect with other students and find out about courses and careers.The creator of “Student Talks” was presented with his prize by local entrepreneurs Joanne Sweeney-Burke and Gill Carroll together with NUI Galway President, Dr James J. Browne and NUI Galway Students’ Union President, Sean Kearns.
The competition which is an initiative of NUI Galway Students’ Union is supported by NUI Galway and seeks to foster a spirit of entrepreneurship amongst students. In its four years, the competition has attracted entries from students studying a variety of subjects.
The two runner-up prizes of €5,000 were awarded to “The NUI Galway Student Managed Investment Fund” and “Loyal-T Stamped”. “The NUI Galway Student Managed Investment Fund” is a real-life financial portfolio operated under the guidance of industry experts and alumni for the benefit of the University and its students. NUI Galway students Martin Wietbrecht, Conor Hanniffy, Shane Reilly and Maurice Kelter are the team behind the Fund.
“Loyal-T Stamped” seeks to revolutionize the way we collect and redeem customer loyalty points through a visually striking user friendly application. NUI Galway students Nathan Regan, Fergal Walsh, Gearoid O’Connor and Robert Courtney developed this project.
Joanne Sweeney-Burke, who spoke at the awards ceremony said: “The drive, determination and enthusiasm of the students is fantastic. It is heartening to see that within NUI Galway the essence of the entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well. I would also like to congratulate the University and the Students’ Union for their vision in fostering the talents of tomorrow’s entrepreneurs.”
NUI Galway Students’ Union President, Sean Kearns said: “We have been overwhelmed by the number and standard of entries to the NUI Galway Student Enterprise Awards. The entrants are testament to the exceptional initiative and creativity of students in social and business enterprise. They show that students are both able and willing to create the big ideas that will help fuel our recovery. The Students’ Union is delighted to be in a position to facilitate some of these ideas as they take their first steps. I have no doubt but that we are working with the leaders of the future.”
