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Key Capital is excited to announce a new partnership with IDEATE Ireland, Ireland's leading third-level start-up competition, that offers the best kick-start for entrepreneurs on the island of Ireland. The IDEATE programme provides successful candidates with a structured insight into how to progress their business via tools, skills and mentoring.
The 2023 competition opened on February 15th with the ten best submissions invited to participate in a 10-week mentoring and support programme and compete for a €27k prize fund.
"Through IDEATE Ireland, entrepreneurs are provided expert guidance and support in a focused, motivational and hands-on environment, making it an invaluable and rewarding experience."Helen Fullen - Co-Founder of IDEATE Ireland
Empowering the Next Generation of Entrepreneurs
The IDEATE programme is open to undergraduate, postgraduate or research students from any academic institution or research centre on the island of Ireland. Candidates can develop their business ideas through mentoring and workshops, apply for start-up support and pitch for cash funding.
Helen Fullen, Co-Founder of IDEATE Ireland said: “Last year’s cohort of IDEATE showed us the extraordinary potential that entrepreneurs in this country have. We believe ideas can change the world; that's why we're just as excited and ambitious about our entrepreneurs' projects as they are. “
Chairman of IDEATE Ireland David Moffitt, commented: “The competition's success over the past 11 years highlights the importance of providing entrepreneurs across Ireland with education, mentorship, and a robust business network. The initiative is going from strength to strength, with exciting new partnerships since last year. Our mission is to capture the imagination of Ireland’s brightest minds, enabling and empowering them to make a lasting contribution to the global economy, employment, and society.
“We’re determined to sustain and grow this network to ensure IDEATE Ireland continues to be the best kick-start entrepreneurs can get on the island of Ireland.”David Moffat - Chairman of IDEATE Ireland
This year’s IDEATE Ireland sponsors are PwC, Key Capital, Guinness Enterprise Centre, Irish Life and Each & Other.
David Moffit added: "IDEATE have a deep bench of alumni who are ready and willing to engage with the next generation of Irish entrepreneurs, offering them support and feedback; it’s also great to have the support of PWC and Key Capital as pillar sponsors for this year’s programme."
"We aim to develop commercial know-how and allow entrepreneurs to engage with like-minded people so that their business can have a global impact. Entrepreneurs can speed up their learning through exposure to the best in the business.”Conor Killeen, Chairman of Key Capital
IDEATE Competition Timeline:
15 February - Applications Open
07 March - Open Evening
21 March - Applications Close
30 March - Shortlist Announced
April /May - Workshops Commence
June - Competition Showcase and Prizegiving
This year’s candidates are competing for a €27K prize fund with the winner receiving €15K, First Runnper-Up €7K and Second Runner-Up €5K.
Past Winners Success Stories
Last year’s winners were Dr. Mark O’Sullivan and Dr. Alison O’Shea of Neurobell, which is developing a pocket-sized brain monitor with automated seizure detection for new-borns, while the first runners-up were Sarusha Pillay and Dr. Fergus McCarthy of pHetalSafe, which seeks to detect and prevent fetal hypoxia and assess fetal well-being during labour.
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Read the impressive success stories of past finalists on the IDEATE Ireland website here.
See the video below to find out how last year’s cohort found the IDEATE programme.
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Contact Us
For further information about Key Capital, email or call us in confidence at:
Email: john.flavin@keycapital.ie
Phone: +353 1 638 3856