Ireland’s next generation of entrepreneurs have showcased 50 emerging business ideas developed through Student Inc. 2026, the national student entrepreneurship programme managed by Munster Technological University (MTU) and funded by the Higher Education Authority (HEA).
The students presented their ideas at the Student Inc. 2026 National Showcase on Friday last, 21st August at the MTU Arena, Munster Technological University, Bishopstown in Cork.
This year, 55 students representing eight universities took part in the intensive summer programme through a network of 14 programme locations. Since the end of May, they have explored and developed ideas spanning healthcare, agriculture, accessibility, employment, education, sustainability, entertainment and other sectors.
Among the ventures being developed are Auridaith, a non-invasive pressure device to relieve migraines, developed by MTU student Michelle Amuodi; BioInsulate, a bio-based insulation material using agricultural waste and mycelium composites, developed by TUS researcher Fatima Jahangir; VANO, a student-powered flexible staffing platform, developed by ATU student Ayush Puri; and EcoEd, a marketplace for buying and selling second-hand school uniforms, developed by SETU student Annabel Allenden.
Approximately half of this year’s participants come from business and humanities fields and half from science and engineering. Women account for 30% of the 55 students who took part.
ENGAGEMENT TO FIND A SOLUTION
Commenting on Student Inc. 2026, Carole O’Leary, Student Entrepreneurship Manager at MTU, said that the showcase offered participants ‘a chance to recognise just how much they have achieved over the summer’.
“As part of the Student Inc. programme, we encourage students to start with the problem, not the solution,” Carole O’Leary, Student Entrepreneurship Manager at MTU, explained. “This involves engaging directly with potential customers, challenging their assumptions and validating genuine demand before investing significant time or resources in an idea. Collectively, this year’s participants completed almost 2,000 customer interviews to validate that their proposed solutions were addressing real problems.”
“What is particularly exciting is the range of challenges they are tackling, from healthcare and accessibility to agriculture, education and sustainability. These are the entrepreneurs of tomorrow, already looking at some of the biggest challenges facing society and asking how they can make a difference,” she said.
MAKING CONNECTIONS
The participating institutions are MTU, Atlantic Technological University (ATU), Technological University of the Shannon (TUS), South East Technological University (SETU), University of Limerick (UL), Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT), the Institute of Art, Design and Technology (IADT), University College Cork (UCC) and Endicott College.
The National Showcase brought together participants, enterprise professionals, educators, industry representatives and supporters of Ireland’s start-up ecosystem. Students presented what they have learned, demonstrated their ideas and made connections that may help them continue developing their ventures. Gary Fox, podcaster from the ‘the Entrepreneur Experiment’ and a serial entrepreneur, was the guest speaker at Friday’s event.
“Our role is to give students the support, confidence and space to explore their potential,” Ms O’Leary continued. “Alongside €4,000 in seed funding, they receive intensive training, access to campus incubators and the opportunity to learn from established entrepreneurs and experienced mentors.
“Student Inc. gives students a practical opportunity to test entrepreneurship as a career path, develop skills they can take with them wherever they go and, for those who want to continue their journey, provides a pathway towards later-stage supports such as Enterprise Ireland’s New Frontiers programme. We are incredibly proud of what they have achieved and excited to see where they go from here,” she said.
