GMIT Innovation Centre
GMIT Student Entrepreneurs win Business Support
By Judith Feehan
23, Jun 2010 - 22:15

Eight GMIT Students Win Valuable Business Support In Gmit Innovation In Business Centres (Iibc)

Eight final year GMIT students have won valuable business support including desks space, mentoring and training in GMIT's Innovation in Business Centres in Galway and Mayo.

GMIT students win valuable business supports for entrepreneurial ideas Final year GMIT Castlebar students Diarmuid Higgins, from Rush, Co Dublin, Marie Walsh, Westport, and Stephanie Byrne, Knock, who have won valuable business support, mentoring and desk space in GMIT Castlebar's Innovation in Business Centre, under the new GMIT Graduate Entrepreneurship Programme launched on Friday 18 June 2010 by GMIT President Marion Coy: l-r: Diarmuid Higgins, Marion Coy, GMIT President, Marie Walsh and Stephanie Byrne, both B.Bs in Culinary Arts, Dr Patrick Delassus, Head of Research & Innovation, GMIT, and Maria Staunton, Manager, Innovation Centre, GMIT Castlebar.

Under a new Graduate Entrepreneurship Programme launched today (Friday 18th June 2010) by GMIT's Research & Innovation Department, the eight budding entrepreneurs have won a great opportunity to grow their innovative business idea in a very supportive and successful entrepreneurial space.

The students have just completed honours degrees in Business, Electronic Engineering, Information Technology and Digital Media, Outdoor Education, Culinary Arts, and Enterprise Development (HC). They entered a competition offering them a chance to win incubation space, entrepreneurship training and mentoring to assist them in developing their business ideas.

GMIT students win valuable business support for chocolate business. Marie Walsh, Westport, and Stephanie Byrne, Knock, who have won valuable business support, mentoring and office space in GMIT's Innovation in Business Centre, Castlebar, under GMIT's new Graduate Entrepreneurship Programme, launched today (Friday 18th June) by GMIT President Marion Coy. Marie and Stephanie, both B.Bs in Culinary Arts, are establishing a business offering products for Coeliacs starting with "Devilish Chocolate Gateaux".

They had to submit a detailed application and business plan, and present their ideas to an independent panel comprising successful entrepreneurs and business people.

The eight successful candidates were announced by GMIT President Marion Coy at a formal reception in GMIT's Dublin Road campus this afternoon (Friday 18th June).

GMIT student wins business support for new kit surfing business. Final year degree student in Outdoor Education Stephen McGinley, who has won valuable business supports, mentoring and desk space in GMIT Castlebar's Innovation in Business Centre, under the new GMIT Graduate Entrepreneurship Programme launched on Friday 18 June 2010 by GMIT President Marion Coy. Stephen has set up a kite surfing hostel in Achill.

They are: Gerard Kelly from Ballybrit, Galway City, B.Bs (Hons), Michael Monaghan from Belmullet, Co Mayo, B.Sc (Hons) in Information Technology for Business, Stephen McGinley from Killybegs, Co Donegal, B.Sc (Hons) in Digital & Software Systems, Stephanie Byrne from Knock, Co Mayo, and Marie Walsh from Westport, Co Mayo, both B.Bs in Culinar Arts, Diarmuid Higgins from Rush, Co Dublin, BA in Outdoor Education & Leisure, Neil Walsh from Athenry, Co Galway, HC in Enterprise, and Yvonne Stevens from Tuam, Co Galway, HC in Business in Enterprise Development.

Five of the successful projects will be based in the Innovation Centre at GMIT's Dublin Road campus and two projects in the centre at GMIT Castlebar.

Entrepreneurial students win places in GMIT's Innovation Centre Castlebar three final year GMIT Castlebar students Marie Walsh, Westport, Stephanie Byrne, Knock, and Diarmuid Higgins, Rush, Co Dublin, who have won valuable business support, mentoring and office space in GMIT's Innovation in Business Centre, Castlebar, under GMIT's new Graduate Entrepreneurship Programme, launched on Friday 18th June 2010 by GMIT President Marion Coy. Marie and Stephanie, both B.Bs in Culinary Arts, are establishing a business offering products for Coeliacs starting with "Devilish Chocolate Gateaux". Diarmuid, BA in Outdoor Education & Leisure, has just opened a new kite surfing hostel in Achill.

"All successful applicants demonstrated a combination of entrepreneurial traits as well as novelty in terms of their product or service offering and business model." says Dr Patrick Delassus, Head of Research & Innovation, GMIT.

"The presentations surpassed the expectations of our external judging panel of successful entrepreneurs. We'd like to thank our panel of judges John Quinn, CEO, Surface Power Technologies, John O'Dea, CEO, Crospon Ltd, Geraldine McLoughlin, Investment Executive, Western Development Commission, Paul Cummins, CEO, Telegael Teo, and Gerry Barry, CEO, Fintrax Group." added Dr Delassus.

For further information on the GMIT Graduate Entrepreneurship Programme, please contact the GMIT Research Office. Tel 091-742761, email maura.Gilligan@gmit.ie