The UCC Start-Up of the Year Award is awarded to an enterprise that best demonstrates the potential for significant economic, social or environmental impact through innovative thinking and entrepreneurial endeavour. At least one of the founders or promoters must be a UCC student, graduate, staff member and/or have been supported by a UCC start-up programme.The start-up can be a sole trader or incorporated entity that is not exploiting intellectual property rights developed at UCC or any other third level institution.The start-up does not yet need to be incorporated/trading, but will have first validated the potential for impact in 2023. 

Nomination Procedure

• Nominations for Start-Up of the Year can be made by any UCC staff member via this form. 

Evaluation Criteria

Evaluation Panel

• Dr Sally Cudmore, Director of UCC Innovation
• Michael Lucey - Patent Attorney and Director Purdy Lucey Intellectual Property
• Dr Siobhán Jordan - Head of Technology Transfer and Commercialisation at Teagasc
• Donal Daly - CEO Future Planet and UCC Entrepreneur-In-Residence

Previous Winners