NUI Galway Student Entrepreneurs Compete For €20,000 Prize Fund!
The NUI Galway Students’ Union Enterprise Awards competition is now entering its second stage as six finalists battle it out for a €20,000 investment fund to turn their ideas into reality.Now in its fifth year, the competition seeks to promote entrepreneurship and innovation among the students of NUI Galway in both social and business enterprise.
Each of the six finalists, all NUI Galway students, now receives investment capital of €500 to develop their initial ideas further. A series of workshops hosted by members of the business community in 2015 will let the finalists develop their ideas ahead of the final judging session in March. Galway City & County Enterprise Board, Online Marketing in Galway, Hammond Good Solicitors, Gareth Williams Accountant and Starlight Solutions are just some of the groups providing workshops.
Declan Higgins, President of NUI Galway Students’ Union, said:
“We have been overwhelmed by the number and standard of entries to the NUI Galway Students’ Union Enterprise Awards again this year. The entrants are testament to the exceptional initiative and creativity of students in social and business enterprise. At a time when real innovation and flair is needed, students are leading the way in creating the big ideas that will help fuel our recovery. The Students’ Union is delighted with the support that the Awards have received from the local business community and the university.”
The final six projects are:
1. The Creative Native
“The Creative Native” project is a business development idea to create innovative digital educational resources for the modern learner. “The Creative Native” team consists of two final year PhD students, Eilis Flanagan from Donegal and Ali Mc Namara from Limerick.
2. The Tidy Shower Co.
Sean Mc Garry is in his 3rd year of Physics with Advanced French for Science. His business, “The Tidy Shower Co.”, designs and manufactures household personal storage units.
3. Ask4It.ie
“’Ask4It.ie” is an online space for sourcing used car parts. The project team consists of two final year Bachelor of Arts students, Olivia Mc Evoy from Renmore and Roisin Lally from Dangan.
4. EduCode
“EduCode” is an innovative business that integrates coding, programming and computer competency into engaging classes for young students. The “EduCode” team members are Joseph Walsh a 3rd year Commerce student from Richardstown, Co.Louth and Daniel O Loughlin a 2nd year Commerce student from Roscommon town, Co.Roscommon.
5. Bike Back
“Bike Back” will reduce bicycle theft on campus initially and ultimately promote cycling around Galway by installing a GPS unit into bicycles allowing them to be tracked. There will be an accompanying marketing campaign aimed to deter opportunistic thieves. The three members of the “Bike Back” team are Billy Delaney, from Newbridge Co. Kildare, a 3rd Year Energy Systems Engineering student specialising in Civil Engineering. David Van Story a 3rd Year Biomedical Engineering who was born in Washington DC and grew up in rural Wicklow. Niall Rutherford, from Ennis, Co Clare, is a 3rd year Energy Systems Engineering student specializing in electrical energy. The team at Enactus NUI Galway are also involved in this project
6. Safe Farming Solutions
“Safe Farming Solutions” consists of a newly designed bolt that aims to improve farm safety and convenience when attaching machinery onto tractors. Aaron Duignan a 4th year student studying Corporate Law (International) from Carrick on Shannon in County Leitrim is the creator of “Clutch n Bolt”.
The winners will be announced at an awards ceremony dinner on Saturday 28th of March 2015 in the College Bar, NUI Galway.
Pictured at the 2014 Enterprise Awards ceremony are left to right: Dr James Browne (NUI Galway President), Brian Slattery (2014 NUI Galway Students’ Union Enterprise Award winner) Gill Carroll (Judging Panel),Joanne Sweeney-Burke (Guest Speaker) and Sean Kearns (2013/14 NUI Galway Students’ Union President)
Photo: Aengus McMahon
