GMIT nurtures students with good business ideas

Author: Press Office

Date Article Written Friday 9 December 2011

A website promoting Irish summer schools, a device that helps remove wetsuits, and unique furniture pieces are just three of seven innovative start-up business projects currently being developed by graduates of GMIT.

The graduates were today (Friday 9 December, 2011) awarded places on GMIT’s Graduate Entrepreneurship Programme (GEP) which provides valuable start up supports including desk space, mentoring and training in GMIT’s thriving Innovation in Business Centres (IiBCs) at the Galway and Castlebar campuses.

Many of the concepts stemmed from projects the graduates worked on while in their final year of study in GMIT. They graduated last year in a range of disciplines from Business to Culinary Arts, Furniture Design & Manufacture and Outdoor Education. To win a place on the GEP they had to submit a detailed application and a business plan, and present their concept to an independent panel of successful entrepreneurs and business people.

The successful GEP candidates this year are: Michael Smyth, from Athboy, Co Meath, graduate of the BA i Gno agus Cumarsáid in GMIT Galway, who has developed a tourism website in Irish and English promoting Irish summer schools in Gaeltacht areas. The website will go live in February;

Laura Taylor from Gort, Co Galway, graduate of the BA in Outdoor Education in GMIT Castlebar, who has developed a device called EasyOff which helps remove wetsuits easily;

Jens Kosak from Germany and now living in Oughterard, Co Galway, graduate of the Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Furniture Design & Manufacture and now award-winning furniture designer and maker, who offers unique furniture pieces and lighting as well as modular flat-packed sustainable items;

Patrick Dolan from Crossmolina, Co Mayo, and Alan Prendergast form Claremorris, Co Mayo, both graduates of the Bachelor of Business in Culinary Arts, who have developed a range of gluten free products;

Bill Buckley from Kinvara, Co Galway, graduate of the Bachelor of Business degree, who has developed a chair that improves attention span and increases physical flexibility;

John Kavanagh from Borris, Co Carlow, graduate of the Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Furniture Design & Manufacture, who has developed a range of outdoor furniture and decking and a full range of wood furniture for bathrooms made from a high-technology wood Accoya which is durable and water-proof;

And Danny Coleman from Tuam, Co Galway, graduate of the Professional Cookery programme and an award-winning chef, who offers low-carb recipe ideas using simple and natural ingredients.

This is the second year of the GMIT Graduate Entrepreneurship Programme which promotes innovation and entrepreneurship among the student community across all disciplines while also promoting lifelong learning.

George McCourt, Manager of the GMIT Innovation Centre, Galway, says this year’s cohort of graduates are highly motivated and brimming with ideas. “The projects that won came through a very strict interview screening process.”

“Not only have these GMIT graduates won valuable supports, they are becoming part of a growing community of entrepreneurs in Galway and Mayo. GMIT’s two Innovation Centres, at the Galway and Castlebar campuses, have delivered 160 plus jobs, 19 successful businesses that have transitioned to the regions, 15 high-potential start-up (HPSUs) and €45m investment funding raised by the clients.”

“The GMIT Innovation Centres will be running an Enterprise Platform Programme in March 2012, presenting further opportunities for people with sound business ideas. Please contact Tony O’Kelly, EPP Manager, tel. 091-742858 or email tony.okelly@gmit.ie for further information.”