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Image of 7 people holding up signs with the names of their start-up business — IGNITE

Got a Great Idea? Let’s Make It Happen.

IGNITE is a welcoming, cross-campus community that connects students, staff and graduates to UCC’s wider innovation and entrepreneurial ecosystem. It is also home to the award-winning IGNITE Incubation programme for recent graduates.

IGNITE offers a supportive space to experiment, learn beyond the curriculum, collaborate with peers, and access mentors, founders, and an active network of innovators.

Whether you are simply curious, shaping an idea, or considering an entrepreneurial path, IGNITE helps you discover your own route to innovation and the opportunities to turn your ideas into impact.

Apply to the IGNITE Incubation Programme

How Can We Help?

We can help you whatever stage you are at

I have an idea and want to develop it

I'm looking for expert advice or guidance

I want to meet like-minded people

I want to learn more about entrepreneurship - Explore all IGNITE Supports

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Meet the team, mentors, advisors, and alumni who contribute to our mission and help shape our future.

About Us

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Alumni

Advisory Board

Advisory Board

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Mentors

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Latest News

Photo (L-R): Professor John O’Halloran, UCC President; Dr. Fiona Edwards-Murphy, Member of IGNITE Advisory Board; Damian Boylan, Cork City Lord Mayor; Nadine Seward, SafeSite Solutions; Kevin Curran, Head of Enterprise Local Enterprise Office (LEO) Cork North and West; Bernard Moynihan, Mayor of Cork County; Dr. Sally Cudmore, Director UCC Innovation. Image credit: Claire Keogh

Workplace safety, educational accessibility and sustainable design highlighted at start-up event

Entrepreneurial talent celebrated at IGNITE Awards and Showcase at UCC.

IGNITE programme opens for new applicants.

Applications Now Open for IGNITE Incubation Programme January 2027 Have a business idea you keep coming back to? IGNITE helps graduates turn ideas into businesses, and applications are now open for our January 2027 Start. Apply here

CORKATHON is coming

THREE COLLEGES. ONE CHALLENGE. CORKATHON | 7 NOVEMBER Bringing together students from UCC, MTU and Griffith College to connect, collaborate and turn ideas into action. Hosted by UCC Computer Science SocietyIn partnership with IGNITE UCC & FRAME

Applications Now Open for SheBuilds at UCC

SheBuilds: Building the Business. Building the Founder. A six-week entrepreneurship programme helping women in the UCC community develop their business ideas and build the confidence to lead. Applications are now open for SheBuilds, a programme from IGNITE UCC delivered with the support and expertise of Virginia Foley of Up She Rises. Running from 6 October to 10 November 2026, the programme supports women with an early business idea, a side hustle or an emerging business. Across six weekly evening workshops, participants will develop their ideas while building confidence, self-belief and leadership skills.

IGNITE UCC

Clár Gnó Iarchéime IGNITE

Western Gateway Building, University College Cork

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