Have a start-up idea but don’t know where to start?

Are you working on a start-up idea that has potential for commercial, environmental or social impact?

Are you an undergraduate or postgraduate student?

And do you have the ambition to work full-time on the idea in the future?

Then START-UP LAB may be for you!

Start-Up Lab is open to undergraduate and postgraduate students in any discipline. Over 7 Tuesday evenings, we will work with you to develop a business model for your start-up.

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 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.

START-UP LAB is limited to just 16 start-ups. Where there are multiple partners involved in the start-up, two are welcome to participate in any session.

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 the IGNITE programme or avail of supports appropriate to you.

The programme will run for seven consecutive Tuesday evenings for two hours each evening, taking place on campus at University College Cork. 

Our next START-UP LAB will take place in Autumn 2024.