11 student groups from Atlantic TU community shortlisted in National Enterprise Ireland Entrepreneurship Awards 2022

When Enterprise Ireland informed students of the results of the second stage of this year’s Enterprise Ireland Student Entrepreneur Awards, students and staff at Atlantic Technological University (ATU) were thrilled to learn that a total of 11 teams from the ATU student community were shortlisted into the second round of 50 finalists from hundreds of entries. 

To celebrate this great achievement and to pay tribute to the students, lecturers, and academic supervisors, ATU President, Dr Orla Flynn, met with each of the shortlisted teams in the recently launched extension to the Galway iHub building. “I’m delighted to see the entrepreneurial spirit among our ATU students is alive and well, with strong engagement and an excellent cohort selected for the final 50. Wishing our 11 teams all the best for this stage of the competition. I also want to acknowledge the team of staff from a range of disciplines who have supported our students throughout” said ATU President, Dr Orla Flynn. 

This event was organised by academic supervisors Mark Campbell and David Keary and hosted by iHub Operations Manager, Turlough Rafferty, who commended the students on their achievements and outlined the range of entrepreneurial pathways and opportunities, should any students wish to pursue their project ideas beyond their studies.

The Student Entrepreneur Awards is a competition organised annually by Enterprise Ireland and is open to full-time registered third level undergraduate and postgraduate students on the island of Ireland. Entries are accepted from individuals or teams, and 2021 saw over 250 unique entries, with other years receiving several hundred entries from higher education institutions throughout the island of Ireland.  

 There are three stages to this competition: Between November 2021 and March 2022, Stage one of the competition requires entrants to submit a 2-minute video pitch that showcases their great ideas, highlighting the commercial and export potential. Stage Two: In April 2022, the top 50 entries were notified and were required to submit a business plan. Finally, for Stage Three, later this month, the top ten projects will go forward to the final where they present their ideas to a judging panel and this event will conclude with the Student Entrepreneur Awards ceremony (June 2022). 

This year over 60 entries were received from ATU students for Stage one, and in the last two weeks it has emerged that 11 of the 50 finalists in Stage 2 are from ATU students in ATU Galway City and ATU Sligo (St. Angela’s) campuses.  

Ivan McPhillips, who has been organising the student entrepreneur awards in the Atlantic Technological University (previously GMIT) for over 25 years says “We have a long history with these awards, with a great track record - with several outright “All-Ireland” winning teams, many top ten award recipients, and dozens of entries shortlisted into the final 50. This year is no different – with a great range of new innovative ideas stemming from our wonderful students. Go n’éirigh leo!”

More information:

For more information on the annual Enterprise Ireland Student Entrepreneur Awards, please get in touch with ATU student entrepreneur awards contact point, Mark Campbell (mark.campbell@gmit.ie), or visit https://www.enterprise-ireland.com/en/student-entrepreneur-awards/

ENDS