10 Places for Entrepreneurial Graduates on 9 Month Business Incubation Programme at UCC

02 June, 2011

IGNITE – THE GRADUATE BUSINESS INNOVATION CENTRE AT UCC

IGNITE is a free 9 month business incubation programme which has been designed specifically for graduates who wish to set up new businesses and turn innovative ideas into new products and services.

Each year, 10 candidates are selected to participate in the IGNITE programme through a competitive process. Since its establishment in January of this year ten businesses have been developed under IGNITE; a number of these businesses are already generating revenue and some have attracted interest from investors.

The IGNITE programme is delivered by UCC in partnership with the Cork County and City Enterprise Boards. It is sponsored by Bank of Ireland, Bord Gáis, Cork BIC, Cork County Council, Cork Chamber, EMC, IBS, PFH and UCC-Food Industry Partnership Board. IGNITE is located in the state-of-the-art Western Gateway Building at UCC.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Applications are currently being invited for the second round of the IGNITE programme, which will start in October 2011. The programme is open to recent graduates of all third level institutions.

Applications must be submitted before Friday, July 1st, 2011. The confidentiality of all applications is guaranteed.

For more information and an application form visit: http://ignite.ucc.ie or contact Miriam Collins, IGNITE Programme Manager at miriam.collins@ucc.ie.

INFORMATION EVENING

An IGNITE information evening, which will include talks on wealth creation and idea generation, will take place on Monday, June 13th, 2011 at 6pm in Boole Lecture Theatre 1, UCC. To register for this free seminar please email ignite@ucc.ie

PLEASE FORWARD TO GRADUATES WHO ARE INTERESTED IN ESTABLISHING A NEW BUSINESS

Do you know a graduate, of any third level institution, who:

a) plans to start a business in the near future?
b) has set up a new business which is at an early stage of development?

If you know of graduates who might benefit from the FREE incubation space, training, mentoring and support offered through the IGNITE programme, please forward this information to them.

IGNITE PROGRAMME BENEFITS

The IGNITE programme at UCC will provide successful candidates with:

• Free business incubation space in the Western Gateway Building at UCC for 9 months.
• Free management and business training.
• Free business mentoring on an individual level.
• Access to UCC’s academic, research and commercialisation expertise (including IP protection).
• A series of free networking opportunities and events.
• Free guidance on sourcing funding and investment for a new business.
• Free membership of Cork Chamber.
• A professional environment in which innovative ideas will be nurtured and business development accelerated.