UCC’s Ignite Programme is Looking for the Innovators of the Future

The IGNITE programme at UCC, which nurtures startups from ideas to commercial reality, is open for applications from anyone planning to start a business this summer.

Founded in 2011 and supported by Bank of Ireland, IGNITE is a joint initiative by Cork City Council, Cork County Council, the Local Enterprise Offices in and UCC to encourage entrepreneurship and enterprise creation. IGNITE is an international award-winning business incubation programme supporting recent graduate entrepreneurs turn good ideas into great businesses.

Since then, it has worked with over 120 founders working on over 100 startup ideas which have launched companies such as AlexsAdventure, AnaBio Technologies, ApisProtect, LegitFit, Traxsit, TrustAp, UrAbility, Vconnecta and Yooni.

Former participant and co-founder of Traxsit, Luke O’Mahony says that IGNITE had opened new avenues for business regionally and nationally; “IGNITE equipped us with the skills and resources to validate our business idea. Among the many benefits, the program will provide you with access. Access to mentorship, access to an invaluable network of successful alumni and industry experts and access to a shared working space full of fellow founders.”

Based at UCC, the 12-month IGNITE programme is open to all recent graduates from all third-level institutions in Ireland with the ambition to work full-time on a scalable startup idea with potential for economic or social impact.

Supports include practical workshops and seminars in areas such as business model innovation, marketing, sales, finance, law, taxation and raising investment. Participants can also take advantage of UCC’s expertise in research and commercialisation.

IGNITE Director Eamon Curtin said a vital part of the programme’s success was a collaboration with local industry; “It has never been more important to establish relationships with members of the business community who want to assist the next generation of successful startups. The value of being able to call on the experience of entrepreneurs who have navigated the twists and turns of starting and running their own businesses cannot be understated.”

Trying to grow a startup from scratch is a challenging process, especially when it comes to raising funds. He said; “Having members of the business community willing to assist with small seed funds is essential. Recent graduates can go a long way on relatively little money but are less well able to raise those funds themselves. We are building a network of entrepreneurs and business owners willing to support IGNITE startups with small seed funds that can be used to leverage startup grants to improve the survival rate of the startups significantly.”

Apply to the IGNITE programme here https://ignite.submit.com/show/27