Mike McGrath, founder of Supply.ie emerged as the principal winner at the inaugural awards ceremony of UCC’s IGNITE programme. As well as receiving the “Most Collegial” award as nominated by his peers on the Programme, Supply.ie won the Best Company award.
Launched just one year ago, in partnership with Cork City and County Enterprise Boards, the IGNITE programme has shown itself to be a hugely beneficial environment for entrepreneurial graduates to launch their own businesses. IGNITE provides companies such as Supply.ie with incubation space in UCC’s state of the art Western Gateway Building, avail of professional mentoring and training, as well as access to UCC’s academic, research and commercialisation expertise.
Receiving his awards at UCC, Mike McGrath commented “We are delighted to win this inaugural IGNITE award plus the recognition from our peers. IGNITE is a great programme for start-ups with a most impressive line-up of mentors and advisers. Starting a business is not easy so it is great to have access to successful individuals such as Liam Casey. We look forward to a long association with IGNITE and continue to learn from their expansive network.”
Presenting the awards and congratulating the recipients, Vice- President for Research & Innovation, Professor Anita Maguire stated that: “The IGNITE programme is a demonstration of UCC’s unique approach to fostering innovation in the graduate community. By creating the conditions which smooth the path from lecture theatre and lab to marketplace, UCC is investing in the future – the future of its students, helping to create new products and employment and playing a lead role in the economic development of our country”.
Awards were also presented to:
Artemij Fedesojev – PLANBEAM.com - Most Innovative Award
Sarah Jane O’Sullivan – SEAHORSEATLANTIC.com – Joint Sales & Marketing Award
Aylmer Barrett – PETCONNECT.ie – Joint Sales & Marketing Award.
The Awards Ceremony took place in UCC’s Aula Maxima in the presence of academics, students and members of the business community.
Picture: Aylmer Barrett, Artemij Fedosejev, Sarah Jane O'Sullivan and Mike McGrath at the first annual Ignite Programme Awards at UCC.
