The importance of Sustainable Business has never been greater. This is an opportunity for you to explore a business model for your Sustainable* Business Idea.
We are looking for people with passion currently working either full-time or part-time on sustainable start-up ideas that have potential for commercial or social impact and with the ambition to work full-time on the idea in the future. Start-up Lab is open to undergraduate and postgraduate students, recent graduates, researchers and others from any background or discipline.
Over 7 weeks, (Tues evenings) we will work with you to explore and communicate a business model for your business.
Each week we will provide specific guidance on the steps that you will take to develop your business model, provide you with an opportunity to present progress to experienced mentors and peers and work in small groups to address issues and overcome obstacles.
We will also have a Sustainable Start Up Founder guest speaker each week, who will provide specific practical advice and guidance on important start-up topics such as networking, raising finance, building a team and more.
This Start-Up Lab is restricted to just 12 start-ups. Where there are multiple partners involved in the start-up, two are welcome to participate in any session(subject to numbers).
While the overall approach will be learning through fun and enjoyment, it is expected that all participants are committed to work on their start-up idea between workshops.
All participants will be have the opportunity to pitch their idea to an invited panel on the final day and participants will be provided with specific recommendations on the next steps to develop their idea.
Participants who meet the criteria may be offered a place on a UCC Entrepreneurship programme or avail of supports appropriate to you. These programmes and supports include the MaREI Centre, IGNITE programme, SPRINT programme, ESA Space Solutions Ireland, Student INC programme and UCC Innovation.
The workshops will kick off online on Tues 16 February at 18.00-20.00 and will run for 7 consecutive Tuesday evenings until Tues 30 March.
To apply, simply answer a few short questions and upload a 60 sec video that a) explains your business idea and b) why you deserve a place on the programme and c) why is Sustainability particularly important to you and/or your idea?
If you have any questions, don't hesitate to contact us: michelle.dorgan@ucc.ie
*Global, EU and national policies and action plans (Paris Agreement, EU biodiversity strategy, EU Green Deal, Farm to Fork Strategy, Climate Action Plan, Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), Common Fisheries Policy, CFP, Programme for Government, New Decade New Approach) all point to the need to become carbon neutral, reduce GHGs and improve biodiversity. All policies aim for increased sustainable jobs, improved quality of life, regional and rural development. A key enabler of this Sustainable Future requires skilled and impassioned entrepreneurs to drive these innovations forward. Growing public awareness and concerns over climate change and environmental sustainability are pushing businesses to place sustainability at the heart of their business strategy, operations and decision-making. Strategic opportunities arising from this include the creation of new jobs, increased competitiveness and exports, efficiency and productivity gains, innovation, supply chain development, energy security, health benefits, fuel poverty alleviation, boosting tax revenues, and regional development.