Opening Doors Through Entrepreneurship

The Dr Séamus McDermott Entrepreneurial Scholarship is a competitive award designed to foster innovation and entrepreneurial thinking among first-year undergraduate students. It was introduced to UCC in 2023, with Hugo Guenebaut being chosen as the inaugural recipient.

The three-year scholarship is funded by The Liffey Trust, an Irish charitable organisation that supports startups and small enterprises with services like business planning, financial advice, and marketing, helping reduce barriers and improve long-term success.

Now in its third year, the scholarship has supported three students at different stages of their academic journey, representing more than just financial support, but an investment in ambitious and creative students and in the solutions they will create for society.

As Hugo finishes his third year of support under the scholarship, he reflects on the difference it made to his university experience.

“The Dr Séamus McDermott Entrepreneurial Scholarship has provided me with opportunities that I likely would not have had otherwise," says Hugo.

"The most significant of these has been the chance to network with remarkable people. In my second year of university, I was invited to speak about the scholarship and its positive impact at the Cork University Foundation Benefactors’ Lunch, where I had the pleasure of meeting a number of professionals with senior roles in industries I am passionate about, including the Head of Engineering at Qualcomm. I was also given the opportunity to meet fellow Scholars in Dublin, where we discussed our respective ventures and skill sets. It was an inspiring experience to be surrounded by such driven and talented students and entrepreneurs."

The scholarship has also supported Hugo’s professional development as he plans for the future.

"Throughout my work placement applications, I was successful in securing every position I applied for, and I believe the scholarship played a role in that. A private scholarship makes a strong statement on a CV, and it has helped open doors to opportunities I may not have accessed otherwise," he reflects.

"Finally, knowing that others believe my future is worth investing in has been a genuine source of motivation. It has encouraged me to work harder and to set more ambitious goals for myself.

"On top of all this, it has provided me with time that I might have otherwise spent working to earn the funds for university. Time that I have invested in my education, my passions and my entrepreneurial ventures.”

Thanks to organisations like the Liffey Trust and philanthropic awards like the Dr Séamus McDermott Entrepreneurial Scholarship, exceptional UCC students are provided with opportunities that otherwise wouldn’t be possible. These opportunities open doors to a bright a successful future.

If you would like to discuss a scholarship or prize, please fill out this short interest form or contact foundation@ucc.ie or call +353 (0)21 420 5942.