The IGNITE programme at UCC, which nurtures start-ups from ideas to commercial reality, has created 250 jobs since its inception.
The programme, which is celebrating 10 years of success this morning, has supported more than 120 start-ups led by recent graduates since its creation in 2011.
Over that time the companies have created 250 jobs and raised more than €16 million in funding.
IGNITE start-up founders have also been finalists in a number of awards and received various accolades including the EY Entrepreneur of the Year competition, listed as a European Forbes 30 under 30 and the Enterprise Ireland Student Entrepreneur of the Year Winner.
IGNITE is supported by UCC, Bank of Ireland, Cork City and County Councils, and the Local Enterprise Offices across Cork.
Spealing about the initiative, IGNITE Director, Eamon Curtin said:
“We are very proud of all that has been created over the last ten years here at IGNITE. Our start-ups are building innovative businesses in a variety of sectors including food and agriculture, health and medical, business and financial with a key focus on having an economic, environmental or social impact.
Since 2011, the programme has evolved to meet changing needs and we now offer a comprehensive range of workshops, seminars and guest speaker events. Participants also get access to a wide network with over 100 entrepreneurs, business owners and industry executives contributing to the programme every year.”
The international award-winning start-up incubation programme helps entrepreneurs turn good ideas into scalable businesses.
The organisation initially ran a single six-month incubation programme supporting 10 start-ups, and it now runs two 12-month programmes supporting 20 start-ups every year.
As well as the full-time programme, IGNITE also offers a range of supports such as Start-Up Lab, an eight-evening programme, to help student and recent graduate founders to develop their ideas before progressing to IGNITE.
