IdeasLab Launches Start100 2023
University of Galway IdeasLab
University of Galway Innovation and Entrepreneurship Hub
University of Galway IdeasLab is excited to announce our?Start100?2023 student teams!
Start100?is University of Galway's student incubator, run by IdeasLab.?
Throughout the programme our 12 Start100?teams will have the chance to?hone their business model and connect into a vibrant start up ecosystem.?Start100?will link students?with a fantastic bank of Catherine Conroy , mentors and speakers to inspire, advise and support the next generation of entrepreneurs.?
This programme also connects students into a thriving community of innovators and entrepreneurs across Ireland.?
This year we have an exciting and varied group of student entrepreneurs, with ideas they cannot wait to explore and develop - from an app designed to improve your rowing capabilities to beauty and skincare products - it will be a innovative and fun journey for all our student teams.?
Meet our 12?Start100?student teams and find out more about their ideas and how they came to be part of the?Start100?programme:
AgriLink
Darragh Kyne is a driven and curious individual who has had a passion for entrepreneurship and a desire to understand how things work from an early age. In primary school, he already knew he wanted to run his own business, and after completing his secondary education, he enrolled in undominated engineering at the 爱尔兰国立高威大学 .?
Darragh's decision to pursue engineering was partly motivated by the fact that engineers have the highest rate of entrepreneurship in Ireland, but he also wanted to develop a better understanding of how things work. While he is interested in many areas of engineering, he is most drawn to mechanical engineering and plans to specialize in this area in his second year.
Growing up on a farm has given Darragh a unique perspective on the importance of safety. He has seen firsthand the tragic consequences that can result from a lack of safety measures and is determined to make a positive difference. This focus has made Agrilink a particularly important business for Darragh, as he sees the potential for it to create meaningful change in the farming community.?
Aside from his academic pursuits, Darragh is also passionate about sports and fitness. He recently joined his college rowing team and finds the sport to be a terrific way to stay physically fit and clear his mind.
Eoin has had the desire to create new things, discover how the world works, and make it a better place from an early age. After completing secondary school, Eoin joined the School of Engineering at the University of Galway. Eoin has worked with a small, local engineering firm where he has gained hands-on engineering experience as well as the running of a small business. This has been a powerful teaching point for Eoin, showing him the challenges that are related to running a business, while reinforcing his passion to start his own business.??
Eoin has realized that entrepreneurship is the path that he should take to make a proper impact in the world and bring his ideas to fruition. While accepting that it will be tough and take a lot of commitment, Eoin is genuinely excited about bringing together a team of people to solve important problems and create profitable and useful products.
Due to Eoin’s upbringing in the agricultural sector, He is specializing in products that solve problems that farmers encounter. Eoin is particularly interested in engineering manufacture and design; He would like to utilize automation to bring manufacturing of his products in-house.
DisruptAI
Highly experienced in the world of Digital?Marketing. Peter founded Disruptive Digital in 2019 on a hunch that SME's would undergo a big transformation to Digital Marketing online. This was accelerated by the Covid-19 pandemic which made the startup flourish. To this date Peter has worked with 50+ clients across many industries such as Retail, Sport, Food & Drink, Clothing and E-Commerce, which has given him highly valuable experience.?
Starting up and running this successful business for four years has given Peter exceptional skills such as Business Development, Founder Selling, Brand Management, Entrepreneurial Finance, Digital Marketing Strategy, Social Media Marketing and Marketing Analytics.?
Peter is also currently in his final year of a Honours B.Comm degree - specialising in Marketing Management at University of Galway.?
Having turned Disruptive Digital into a leading Digital Marketing agency in Ireland,? Peter now sees a huge gap in the market to scale his business in a new daring direction, to offer a truly exceptional service to SME’s all over the world.?
Glow By Chlo Beauty
Chloe is a 21-year-old student studying science in her hometown of Galway, while working a part time job in the beauty industry and aspiring to become a model.?In Chloe’s free time she enjoys getting her hands dirty by working on her 2005 Toyota Corolla. On the flipside Chloe makes beauty and fashion-based content for her platforms on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.?
Chloe has always had a passion for beauty but began her time in college wanting to become a science teacher, all while running a nail business from her home in her spare time. However, this changed when Chloe went through a tough time and nearly dropped out of college, but with the help of her mother, Chloe discovered she would be able to combine the beauty and the brains. This led Chloe to specialize in botany and start looking into the research of natural plant-based beauty products.?
The inspiration for this business came from Chloe’s mother. When she found out skin cancer runs in the family, it really hit her how important sun protection is and gave her the idea to answer the question:?‘How can I reduce the risk of young people getting skin cancer’.
LambCam
A career minded M.Sc. in International Management student with an undergraduate degree in International Commerce and French obtained from the University of Galway and EM Strasbourg School of Management Strasbourg. Michelle is a career-minded, passionate, hardworking, motivated individual. Michelle is an eager learner with a drive and ambition to create and implement positive change in the workplace and society.?
Michelle tested entrepreneurial waters during Covid when she generated her own online language school business to teach students how to grow their language skills and explore their own cultural curiosities.??
Michelle shows personal interest in trying new things, animals, traveling, learning languages, farming, and in all things vintage. Michelle joined many societies when attending university and held positions such as OCM of the ENACTUS entrepreneurial society, secretary of the French society, and proud member of the Debate and Harry Potter society 4 years running.??
Her favorite motivational motto in life is – “If you only ever do what you can, then you will only ever be what you are”.?
A passionate and ambitious individual with a positive attitude and a strong work ethic. Maria is currently pursuing her M.Sc. in International Management at the University of Galway.?
Maria's journey began in Málaga, Spain, where she completed her bachelor's degree in marketing and Market Research. During this time, she gained valuable experience working as a Marketing Officer for KFC franchises, where she was responsible for implementing successful promotional campaigns, sales strategies, and analyzing results.
She specializes in strategic marketing, market research, and international business management. Her attention to detail, original thinking, and strong analytical skills makes her an asset in any team.?
Maria is an avid traveler with a passion for immersing herself in new cultures. She spent a summer in the United States, where she learned about American work culture, and completed a nutrition course in Turkey at Aksaray University. These experiences have instilled in her an entrepreneurial mindset and an ability to think creatively.
Overall, Maria is a determined and results-driven individual with problem solving skills. With her positive attitude, excellent teamwork skills, and strong marketing knowledge, she is poised to make a significant impact on this project.?
An M.Sc. International Management candidate from the University of Galway with several years of professional experience in the capacity of an external Auditor with Ernst & Young, Abu Dhabi where primary responsibilities included assisting audit teams on client management and assurance engagements across industries including Oil & Gas giants in the Middle East.?
Forte includes high analytical skills and excellent team working dynamics. This comes along with advanced Microsoft Office skills coupled with skills imbibed as a result of the master's programme which covered modules of Supply Chain Management, Global Strategy, Marketing Strategy, Project Management and Leading Change and Business Transformation.?
A keen interest in understanding the dynamics of successful teams and what their specific characteristics lead are and incorporating the same. An individual who is ardent and passionate about experiencing life and nature around through activities like long endurance running, trekking and swimming. Possessed by new challenges to ensure and see it through to the end.
MyEcoFund
Claire is a highly motivated final year BA Government student in University of Galway. Claire has majored in law and minored in economics and politics. She graduated secondary school in 2018 and spent a year working and travelling before enrolling in University of Galway.
Last year she spent six months on work placement in a tax advisory office which is where she will be taking up a graduate position in tax accounting and advisory in Deloitte Private Clients. Her time at UG has been spent studying core law, economics and politics modules as well as elective environmental and financial modules. This is where she found her passion in environmental economics, the basis of her business.
She was part of the pioneer group of CreateHER women with IdeasLab this year, learning from women in business, research and beyond for six weeks. She is an active committee member of UG’s first politically neutral politics society- PolSoc.?
Beyond university life Claire works in the leisure industry as a swim coach for the last five years while balancing her studies. She also enjoys languages, following her Leaving Certificate she spent a number of months in Spain to take part in a language immersion experience and culture swap.
Next-Gen Electric Motors
Matthew has engineering in his blood, born into a family of engineers, welders and petrolheads, there’s nothing he understands more than how to turn raw steel and an idea into reality.??
At 14 years old, he volunteered to teach swimming 1:1 to children with special needs, going on to become a full-fledged swimming teacher at 17. This gave Matthew a passion for leadership and helping others. These two factors drove him to entrepreneurship, aiming to use his engineering skills to develop machines and products to help those who need it most and right now.
领英推荐
Enrolling in University of Galway's mechanical engineering integrated master’s, with his leadership and teaching skills, Matthew has become a guiding light amongst his peers, running tutorial & revision lectures for fluid dynamics & fluid mechanics. Matthew has shown a particular affinity to both electromechanical engineering and engineering computer modelling and simulations. While working on an old project he started at 15 years old, but couldn’t finish at the time, he made a breakthrough in electrical motor & generator design.
Now Matthew has joined Start100 as a starting point to bring his invention to the world, and hopefully bring it to renewable energy markets to aid in the fight against climate change.?
Scientia
Stephen Kelly is really excited about his career change right now. He has had a strong interest in coding and software development for a while, and he is currently studying to become a full-stack software developer. Additionally, Stephen is passionate about drone technology, as he believes it has the potential to revolutionize many industries. ?
Before starting his journey in software development, Stephen worked in the hospitality industry for 13 years where he learned valuable skills. He also gained experience in retail and construction, which gave him a wide range of knowledge and expertise.?
Stephen has a reputation for being able to adapt quickly to new environments and form strong working relationships with colleagues and clients. He's always eager to stay up to date with the latest technology trends and innovations, and he wants to use his diverse skill set and experience to contribute to a technology-focused business, whether it's a start-up or an established company.?
Given his passion for coding, interest in drone technology, and strong interpersonal skills, Stephen is confident that he can make a positive impact in the field of software development and beyond.?
Anka Maric is a final year student studying Law and Human Rights at the University of Galway. Anka’s specialisation stream is law and innovation, and she is particularly interested in exploring how new technologies can impact human rights. After graduation, she is planning to take the FE1 exams to pursue a career in law. Anka believe that the legal profession offers an opportunity to make a positive impact on society, particularly in areas such as human rights and social justice.?
She has a passion for helping others and has been involved in non-profit work, particularly for seniors facing age discrimination, civil rights violations, and issues around mental capacity. During her internship at Sage Advocacy, Anka developed an understanding of the importance of advocating for those who are marginalized and most in need of help. This experience has instilled a sense of commitment to social justice and a desire to make a difference in the world.?
Anka believes that new technologies are increasingly having an impact on human rights, presenting both opportunities and challenges. On the one hand, technology has the potential to advance human rights in many ways but on the other hand, technology can also be used to infringe upon human rights.
With her skills and interests, Anka hopes to make a difference in promoting social justice and human rights in the future.?
John-Joe Mulloy is a final year law and business student at the University of Galway. John-Joe has always had a keen interest in technology and innovation and is excited about the potential applications of technology both within the legal sphere and wider society as a whole. Due to this interest, John-Joe has chosen to specialize by taking the Law and Innovation stream as this has allowed him to marry together two specialist areas of study.?
John-Joe has a deep love of travel and a passion for conservation and climate action. During the summer of 2022, John-Joe traveled to Mexico as part of the EIL explore program and spent time working on a conservation project to help protect sea turtles and the local crocodile population. John-Joe has returned to the academic sphere as a mature student, after spending several years in the outdoor sector and has been able to leverage the skills and adaptability gained during his time in that sector throughout his academic life, professional career and voluntary work.?
Once he has completed his university degree, John-Joe is looking forward to taking the FE1s, before taking up a trainee solicitor position with one of the top firms in the country. John-Joe believes that his interest in future technologies will play a key role in his career and the insights he gains through completion of the law and innovation stream and involvement in extra curriculars such as the Start100 program will be invaluable in the future.?
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SwapShop
?Nikola is an international student from Czechia, currently in her second year of the Commerce program in University of Galway.
During her secondary school years, she became increasingly interested in the ethical implications of the fashion industry, specifically in regard to sustainability and workers' rights. This passion for change prompted her to delve deeper into the subject of conscious shopping and propelled her towards a desire to effect positive change when she moved to Ireland.
In her spare time, she also enjoys the art of crafting beaded jewellery and pursuing her love of snowboarding.?
The Eagle Club
Aaron is a 23 year old, final year Commerce student from Athlone. ?
Aaron began his professional career as a professional Irish dancer, touring the East Coast of the USA at 16. He became the youngest performer with Riverdance in 2016 by performing to a sold out Croke Park stadium.
After completing secondary school, Aaron moved to Birmingham, U.K, to train with one of the finest Irish Dance Academy’s in the world, with a goal of adding a third World title to his two he achieved in 2011 and 2013. He also began studying Business in Birmingham City University. ?
Following a career ending injury on his 20th birthday in October 2019, Aaron returned home and began extensive rehabilitation in quarantine. In December 2020, when the world was in lockdown, Aaron embarked on one of the most ambitious stadium tours in history as he took off to Taiwan with Michael Flatley’s Lord of the Dance. Aaron performed to sold out stadiums across Taiwan, while also in his first year of University in Galway.
Post-Covid, Aaron focused on his degree, Commerce, specializing in Marketing, while also becoming obsessed with the game of Golf. Currently working with IdeasLab and an Investor/ Advisor in Tampa, Florida - he is developing The Eagle Club to unite the global golfing community and make golf more accessible for everyone. ?
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Row Teic
Sam is a final year Physics and Astrophysics student who came to the University of Galway on an elite sports scholarship for rowing. Sam's earliest memories are rowing with his dad on the river Lee in Cork and the sport has always been a large part of his life. Sam chose Physics as he was always interested in how the world worked, enjoying the experimental and problem-solving aspects of the subject. Sam also enjoys cycling and worked in a bike shop, mechanically minded, he enjoys building and repairing bikes along with boats.??
Combining his interest in rowing and mechanical Physics, Sam investigated the effects of force application and optimization of an athlete's energy in rowing, as part of his final year project. Sam will be building on his project work, in the Start100 programme over the summer.
Dan McLachlan is a final year physics undergraduate student from Donegal, specializing in astrophysics. He has a strong interest in and aptitude for programming and is eager to refine his abilities working on this project.??
The decision to apply for this programme was taken when he was asked by Sam to assist in the technical aspects of app development. Additionally, Dan has an elementary but not particularly advanced knowledge of watersports, giving him an outsider or potential customer’s perspective on the presentation of data from the app.?
Dan has been programming since the age of 12 and is highly technically proficient in python. He also intends to learn additional programming languages to aid with web API integration. He loves problem-solving and lateral thinking and greatly enjoys applying the skills he has picked up to real-world problems. His final year project involves using computer programs to generate simulated narrow-band images of the Southern Ring nebula.
In his spare time he composes and records music, some of which he has released publicly. He has a deep interest in jazz harmony and is fond of the work of Miles Davis and Frank Zappa. He also enjoys reading science fiction novels, particularly the works of Philip K Dick and recently the Strugatsky brothers.?
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PhysioMate
Inquisitively minded 1st Year medical student with an aptitude for design and technology. Sophia has a keen interest in genetics and a passion for improving healthcare. She represented the University of Galway at the USI Congress of 2022 and continues to make the most of every opportunity she can to improve society.?
Deniss Suharevskis is a highly talented 2nd year computer science student who has a deep passion for coding and technology. Since the age of 12, Deniss has been fascinated with computers and programming, and has dedicated countless hours to learning and perfecting his craft.?
Over the years, Deniss has self-started numerous coding projects and games, showcasing his innate creativity and technical aptitude.?
He is always looking for new challenges and opportunities to apply his coding expertise, and his relentless pursuit of innovation and excellence have led him to many successes in his academic and personal pursuits.?
My World
Carmen Parrón Rubio is from Spain, and she is 26 years old.??
Carmen started her university studies in economics at the Complutense University of Madrid (2015/2021), and in the last year of her course she did an Erasmus semester at the Economic University of Krakow (2021). She is currently finishing a higher diploma in business at the University of Galway.?
In this last year, she has observed a great lack of resources when it comes to dealing with different problems in the daily life of Irish adults. She has noticed a general lack of self-esteem in Irish culture, as well as a culture where Irish people find it difficult to speak to their loved ones about issues they may be facing, and instead opt to suffer in silence. That is where Carmen's idea comes into place - "My World" focuses on the prevention of these kind of problems, by educating the Irish youth through books and activities based on how to face life issues.
Find out more about our Start100 programme and follow IdeasLab on social media .