Sustainable Business Idea Competition Winners

This competition was about encouraging those interested in Sustainable Entrepreneurship to take some action towards that Sustainable Future. It was open to early-stage and aspiring entrepreneurs from across the Island of Ireland who were interested in engaging with MaREI, our partner institutions and our collaborators in this competition Enterprise Ireland and the Local Enterprise Office network, through our kind sponsors Local Enterprise Office Cork City, South Cork and Cork North & West.

Category 1. Post Graduate Students/ PhD candidates/ Researchers from any third level institution on the Island of Ireland

1. Vikash Kumar – €4,000 – Overall winner
2. Luis Alejandro Vergara – €1,500 – Runner Up winner
3. Angie Nagle – €1,500 – Runner Up Winner
4. Marion Cantillon – €500 – Special Mention award

Category 2. Early stage start up on the Island of Ireland

1.  Tom Doyle – €4,000 – Overall winner
2. Justin Perry – €1,500 – Runner up winner
3. Aisling Kirwan – €1,500 – Runner up winner
4. David Weitbrecht – €500 – Special mention award

Runner up video pitch presented by Luis Alejandro Vergara

Runner up video pitch presented by Angie Nagle

The video pitch that won a Special Mention award, presented by Marion Cantillon

Runner up video pitch presented by Justin Perry

Runner up video pitch presented by Aisling Kirwan 

The video pitch that won a Special Mention award, presented by David Weitbrecht

We will be tapping into our extensive network/ ecosystem of entrepreneurship support around the country

Post Graduate Students/ PhD Candidates/ Researchers will get warm introductions to supports within their host institutions if not already in contact

• Una Moran, Commercialisation Manager with Enterprise Ireland has reviewed all entries and will be referring entrants to members of her team where relevant. Una is responsible for funding opportunities available to Third Level projects through the Commercialisation Fund, the Commercialisation Feasibility Fund and other supports
• Opportunities to collaborate more closely with MaREI will be explored and all entrants have access to Liam Fitzgerald to discuss supports and opportunities

Start-Ups

• Start-ups will get signposted to suitable development supports by Liam Fitzgerald. This will be based on their stage of development and could include – Introductions to Local Enterprise Office, introductions to Entrepreneur Development Programmes/ accelerator programmes, Introductions to Business Incubation Centres, signposting to grant and funding opportunities, potentially introductions to sources of start-up funding
• Opportunities to collaborate more closely with MaREI will also be explored