Technology to improve rowing athletes’ performances, zero-waste clothing design, and a safer and more comfortable Intrauterine Device (IUD) were among the start-ups highlighted at this year’s University College Cork’s IGNITE Autumn Showcase.
The third-level graduates supported by the university’s flagship incubation programme began working on their ideas this year and are hoping to develop them into a company with the assistance of IGNITE.
The 2025 Autumn Showcase follows IGNITE’s recent success in securing a €1 million Higher Education Authority (HEA) Award for exemplary performance and impact. The HEA evaluated Impact Assessment Case Studies, which were submitted by higher education institutions earlier this year. IGNITE emerged as one of five winning submissions.
IGNITE is based at UCC and is open to anyone who has graduated from a third-level institution in recent years and has the passion and ambition to work on an idea that has the potential for economic, environmental or social impact.
The annual showcase gives the IGNITE participants an opportunity to network with other entrepreneurs and potential investors.
IGNITE has supported nearly 250 founders since it was established in 2011. The programme is a joint initiative by Cork City Council, Cork County Council, the Local Enterprise Offices of Cork City, South Cork and North and West Cork and University College Cork.
Eamon Curtin, Director of IGNITE, said: “We are proud at IGNITE to support talented founders in developing their innovative business ideas into scalable and sustainable start-ups that deliver real social and economic value. The HEA Award is a testament to not only the great work carried out by our community of entrepreneurs, but also to the support provided to us by the Local Enterprise Offices, Cork County Council, Cork City Council and Bank of Ireland, without whom the programme would not be possible.”
Among the 14 start-ups currently supported by University College Cork’s IGNITE Start-Up Incubation Programme are:
Roteq – founded by Will Gunnarson and Sam O’Neill. Roteq empowers rowing athletes to reach their full potential by providing actionable insights into their performance. By processing data from a phone’s built-in sensors, the programme delivers real-time performance metrics. These quantifiable metrics allow instant feedback and tracking of an athlete’s technical and physiological progress on the water, making it easier than ever to achieve their goals.
The Zero Waster – founded by Sarah O’Neill. Sarah is a designer whose work is grounded in the principles of regenerative design. With a deep-rooted respect for natural materials, traditional craftsmanship, and environmental responsibility, Sarah challenges the norms of the fashion industry through innovative reuse and transparency. Creating unique, wearable pieces from reclaimed and natural materials, showing that waste can be reimagined without compromising creativity or quality.
Elithiya – founded by Isabelle Curran. Isabelle is a Product Design & Technology graduate from the University of Limerick and the founder of Elithiya, a women’s health innovation focused on redesigning the intrauterine device (IUD) experience. Over the past year, she has collaborated with clinicians, FemTech founders, and patients worldwide to identify gaps in reproductive healthcare and develop a softer, more informed IUD insertion experience through redesigned tools and supportive digital technology.
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