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The MTU Enterprise Showcase and Kerry Start-Up Challenge 2024 which took place on Friday 15th March at MTU North Campus saw seven participants from the New Frontiers Programme based at the Tom Crean Centre win awards. Pictured back row from left: Sean Ryan, Aspen Grove, Tim Daly, MTU, Stephen Wilson-Downey, CEO Speire and AIP Technology, Stephen Stack, AIB, Prof. Joseph Walsh, IMaR, Emily Reen, New Frontiers Programme Manager, MTU, Erin Lonergan, MTU, Anne Looney, MTU, Tom Fitzmaurice, Kerry Innovation Centre, Ogie Sheehy, ViClarity, Sean Cooke, AIB Business Banking. Award winners front row from left: Emma Cullinane, Sense of Wonder, Kerry McCarthy Brady, Hercules Building Systems, Jack Norman, Zirkulu, Zaneta Labuz-Czerwein, Rustic Boowa, Paula Carroll, Keynote Speaker, Enterprise Ireland, Annemarie O’Brien, Honor & Bloom, Orla Breslin, Recluse & Bird and Alan Yeun, HypoPods. Photo: Pauline Dennigan Photo: Pauline Dennigan
THE MTU Enterprise Showcase and Kerry Start-Up Challenge 2024 took place on Friday March 15 on the grounds of Munster Technological University, North Campus, Tralee.
It was organised by the MTU Kerry Campus Enterprise Team; Emily Reen, Enterprise Co-Ordinator and New Frontiers Programme Manager, Erin Lonergan, Programme Administrator, Anne Looney, External Services Manager and Grainne Maunsell, External Services.
This event brought together over 18 early stage start-ups in Kerry under three years to exhibit their businesses in the morning to a panel of Judges.
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The judges on the day comprised of Stephen Stack, Senior Branch Manager, AIB and President of Tralee Chamber Alliance, Anne Looney, External Services Manager, MTU and Stephen Wilson-Downey, CEO of Speire and AIP Technology.
Patrick Griffin, AIB, Yvonne Murphy, AIB and Stephen Stack, AIB at the MTU Enterprise Showcase and Kerry Start-Up Challenge 2024 which took place on Friday 15th March at MTU North Campus. Photo: Pauline Dennigan
Each exhibitor had the opportunity to deliver a 90 second elevator pitch for the roaming judges at their exhibition stands. Judges then shortlisted 4x Start-Ups to pitch for the live pitching competition in the early afternoon in front of a live audience.
There were also a line-up of speakers at the afternoon event, comprised of Enterprise Ireland’s National New Frontiers Programme Manager, Paula Carroll, Keynote Speaker, Ogie Sheehy of ViClarity and MTU’s Head of Strategy and Performance, Tim Daly.
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The Enterprise Showcase is run in conjunction with the final showcase event for the Enterprise Ireland’s New Frontiers Programme and supported by the MTU Innovation & Enterprise Month.
Emily Reen, Enterprise Co-Ordinator and New Frontiers Programme Manager at MTU with Ogie Sheehy, ViClarity and John Gannon at the MTU Enterprise Showcase and Kerry Start-Up Challenge 2024 which took place on Friday 15th March at MTU North Campus. Photo: Pauline Dennigan
The Award Winners on the day included:
• Best Tech Business – €1,000 * Sponsored by ViClarity – Kerry McCarthy Brady, Hercules Building Systems
• Best Non-Tech Business – €1,000 *Sponsored by IMaR Reseach Centre – Jack Norman, Zirkulu
• Best Exhibition Stand – €500 *Sponsored by MTU – Annemarie O’Brien, Honor & Bloom
• Best Runner-Up Pitch – €250 *Sponsored by AIB – Emma Cullinane, Sense of Wonder
• Best Pitch – €500 *Sponsored by Kerry Innovation Centre – Zaneta Labuz-Czerwein, Rustic Boowa
• Judges Choice Award – A Ticket to TechFest *Sponsored by Tech Industry Alliance – Orla Breslin, Recluse & Bird
• Judges Choice Award – A Ticket to TechFest *Sponsored by Tech Industry Alliance – Alan Yeun, HypoPods
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Speaking on behalf of the event, Emily Reen said: “Starting and growing a company has always been challenging, but today, more than ever, it is harder for new businesses to raise capital and expand swiftly as the working world navigates widespread inflation and economic instability.
Sara Morrissey, MTU, Mike Casey, MTU, Sean Ryan, Aspen Grove and Tom Fitzmaurice, Technology Gateway Manager, MTU at the MTU Enterprise Showcase and Kerry Start-Up Challenge 2024 which took place on Friday 15th March at MTU North Campus. Photo: Pauline Dennigan
The New Frontiers programme provides an ideal opportunity for entrepreneurs at a start-up stage to be plugged in to an ecosystem that is agile and used to helping indigenous entrepreneurs to provide solutions to worldwide challenges.”
Professor Joseph Walsh, Director, IMAR and Dr. Tim Yeomans, Shannon ABC at the MTU Enterprise Showcase and Kerry Start-Up Challenge 2024 which took place on Friday 15th March at MTU North Campus. Photo: Pauline Dennigan
The eleven entrepreneurs participating in this year’s programme are following on in the footsteps of over 500 entrepreneurs who have used MTU to successfully launch their businesses over the past decade. The innovative business ideas that were chosen this year span a range of industries from cutting-edge technology to food and healthcare.
Niall Burke, Shannon ABC, Luke O’Donnell, IMAR and Niall Larkin, RDI Hub at the MTU Enterprise Showcase and Kerry Start-Up Challenge 2024 which took place on Friday 15th March at MTU North Campus. Photo: Pauline Dennigan
Emma Cullinane, Sense of Wonder and Gearóid Kearney, RDI Hub at the MTU Enterprise Showcase and Kerry Start-Up Challenge 2024 which took place on Friday 15th March at MTU North Campus. Photo: Pauline Dennigan
Zaneta Labuz-Czerwein from Rustic Boowa Café taking part in the live pitching competition at the MTU Enterprise Showcase and Kerry Start-Up Challenge 2024 which took place on Friday 15th March at MTU North Campus. Photo: Pauline Dennigan
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