About this Event
UL Student Entrepreneur of the Year 2024 Agenda subject to Change
Join us for an exciting event where we celebrate the entrepreneurial spirit of UL students! The UL Student Entrepreneur of the Year 2024 will be crowned at this in-person event held at the Kemmy Business School, University of Limerick. Get ready to witness innovative ideas and groundbreaking pitches from our talented students. It's a fantastic opportunity to network, gain inspiration, and support the next generation of business leaders. Don't miss out on this incredible showcase of entrepreneurial brilliance!
UL Student Entrepreneur of the Year Competition 2024 – Accelerating student entrepreneurial ambition and rewarding practical engagement
The Future is Entrepreneurial, whether it will be in your enterprise, social project, or working in entrepreneurial teams within existing organisations. Experiences like these offer students a low-risk, high-reward method of trying new things, building self-confidence, and creating a personal brand that makes individuals more attractive to investment and employment.
The University of Limerick continues to support and encourage entrepreneurial ambition through a diverse range of educational programmes, competitions, and workshops supported by faculty, students, and philanthropic activities to mentor and create a pipeline of future change-makers. This year sees the continuation of the UL Student Entrepreneur of the Year Competition, focused on inspiring students to discover their entrepreneurial spirit, and turn ideas into business opportunities with commercial and or social potential. The competition will reward innovative projects with promising potential and will foster a diverse pipeline of young entrepreneurs and innovators. Innovation is not limited to an idea being new to the world, but rather your ability to add a spin or extra value to a new or existing idea, product, service, or campaign for commercial and/or social good.
The UL Student Entrepreneur of the Year Competition is seeking out students who have innovative business ideas either social or commercial, who want to make their name in the world of innovation and be a change maker. The competition prepares students for the Real World of Entrepreneurship and Empowering them to acquire the knowledge and skills and generate the passion that encourages investment, mentorship, and the actualisation of an enterprise post these awards.
Why participate in the UL Student Entrepreneur of the Year Competition
➢ Prizes – From financial awards; access to hot desk in Nexus Innovation Centre; dedicated project business development mentoring sessions on market validation, finance, and legal aspects of establishing a new venture; and connections to aid your entrepreneurial journey; we provide the supports for budding entrepreneurs to achieve their ideas.
➢ Real World Entrepreneurial & Networking Experience - Students can immerse themselves in a real-world entrepreneurial journey and experience first-hand bringing a concept to market while getting support from experienced mentors and entrepreneurs. These career connections will springboard your ability to gain real insights and learnings based on the specific industry you are entering.
➢ Mentoring support as you develop your idea - receive advice and mentoring from experienced entrepreneurs, industry experts, and entrepreneurship faculty mentors.
➢ Showcase and promote your business idea – You will be provided with an exhibition stand to highlight your business during the final selection stage of the competition.
➢ CV building and generating stronger personal brand – develop skills such as creativity, innovation, entrepreneurial mindset, leadership, teamwork, etc. all of which aid important career development, and be attractive to business networks whether you wish to progress as an entrepreneur, work in an existing company, or new venture.
➢ Certificate of Participation is awarded to all participants who complete all elements of the competition criteria as well as online promotion and an article of the winners.
Who can participate
➢ This award is to promote and encourage students who are interested in learning more about the entrepreneurial process or students who have business ideas they would like to pursue.
➢ Ideas at all stages of development are welcome, no concept is too early stage.
➢ Students who are registered full time UL students at undergraduate, postgraduate and researcher level.
➢ Submissions are encouraged from all disciplines across the campus
➢ Submissions can be on an individual or team basis Do not worry if you do not have a business idea as we will assist you in developing an idea and working through its development through the mentoring process in the competition. Supports provided to students who apply for the Competition All applicants will receive expert advice throughout the competition cycle to include the following:
➢ Information sessions on the competition
➢ 2 days of guided facilitation, mentoring, and work sessions on topics such as idea generation, market validation, sourcing finance, pitching, effective showcasing of new business opportunities
➢ Guide to effective new idea showcasing and creating a winning impact
➢ After-event 1-1 mentoring sessions, guidance on developing and commercialisation of the idea, and access to exclusive business networks.
How the competition is assessed
The competition is centred around preparation for the ‘UL Student Entrepreneur of the Year' Showcasing Event.
Phase 1 – Each entrant will be guided with mentoring through the idea generation and validation process. They will be given a report template that they must complete and submit that evening.
Phase 2 – Each entrant will be required to showcase their cutting–edge business ideas at the showcasing exhibition. Students will use their completed template to have a facilitated discussion on their progress of the research, the USP of the idea, and the potential investability of the project. A panel of judges will visit each stand and assess the project on several judging criteria, giving feedback before the afternoon submission of presentation slides.
Phase 3 – Each participant will receive extensive mentoring and the ability to mock present their slides before submitting.
Phase 4 - The best projects will be selected to progress to a pitching competition on the afternoon of the event. All entrants are welcome to sit in on this part of the event.
With thanks to Platt Reilly and Ingenium for sponsoring the event through the UL Foundation, UL Student Life for sponsorship and mentoring supports, and Kemmy Business School and UL Consulting and Entrepreneurship Society for facilitation of the event.
Learn more about us via the links below
www.ul.ie/business
www.ulfoundation.com
www.plattreilly.co.uk
www.ingeniumtc.com
www.ulstudentlife.ie
www.ulwolves.ie/society/entrepreneurship
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Kemmy Business School, University of Limerick, Plassey Avenue, Limerick, Ireland
EUR 0.00