October 22-24th, 2024, 28 enterprising students from Thomond Community College, Colaiste Nano Nagle, and Colaiste Iosaef, participated in the "Startup Mania Bootcamp" held at the University of Limerick’s Nexus Innovation Centre. This boot camp became a launchpad where second-level students explored their entrepreneurial potential and mindset, new career paths, and developed future-ready creativity, teamwork and leadership skills pushing them beyond their comfort zones.
Organised through a powerful collaboration of the Kemmy Business School, Nexus Innovation Centre, and the UL Access Office, Startup Mania offered students the tools to think and act like entrepreneurs and innovators. With guidance from mentors, participation in workshops, and real-life entrepreneur guest speakers, students tackled topics like design thinking, problem framing, market validation, and sustainability. Together, they learned not only to see challenges as opportunities but to act with the kind of initiative and leadership skills needed to thrive in any career—whether as future founders or as proactive, entrepreneurial thinkers in any role they pursue.
From Campus to Career Pathways
Each day was a new adventure: from idea generation to role-playing and pitch practice, the boot camp showcased a dynamic mix of activities and the thrill of building something from the ground up while developing critical teamwork skills. Students engaged in practical exercises on how to integrate sustainability into entrepreneurial thinking through the leadership of Elisa Minoue, UL’s Student Sustainability Coordinator, connected with entrepreneurs Louise Egan (Founder of I-SPY Clothing) and received mentorship from seasoned educators and industry leaders, such as Ben Kiely Fitzgerald of KBS and Professor Ita Richardson of LERO. They also got a taste of university life, as UL Access shared insights on alternative entry pathways to higher education, including the HEAR Scheme and the Access to University Course, designed to support students from underrepresented backgrounds.
A Celebration of Innovation
On the final day, students presented their sustainable business concepts in a high-energy pitch competition. Judges Sorcha Pendergrast (UL Access Office), Myles Kingston (KBS), and Finbar Tuohy (Local Enterprise Office Clare) were impressed by the energy, originality, and real-world viability behind the students' pitches. Winners walked away with prizes, but every participant gained something invaluable: the confidence to lead, to innovate, and to reimagine what’s possible.
A Brighter Future
Startup Mania continues to redefine how students see their potential, showing them that they are more than students, they are future innovators, with the potential to turn problems into meaningful ventures and create positive change in their communities and beyond.