The DCU Ryan Academy’s UStart Student Accelerator Programme for entrepreneurial students is now taking applications for the 12-week course starting in June.
Aimed at students within Dublin City University (DCU), the UStart Student Accelerator Programme attempts to tap into the ideas generated by the university’s students and, with the help of €10,000-worth of backing, tries to turn their concepts into something more concrete.
The free programme includes office space for thrashing out ideas, with business development funding support also being made available and allocated based on progress throughout the programme.
Running part-time during the summer months, the programme starts on 25 May, with three multi-day sessions spread over a month to help the start-ups get the ball rolling.
Ends with demo day
After 23 June, students are then encouraged to hone their ideas with support from start-up mentors to produce a minimal viable product, validate with customers and refine with mentor guidance, until the end of the programme on 1 October.
The applicants will then take part in a demo day to showcase the work they have done over the few months with their product.
Speaking about UStart Student Accelerator Programme 2016, Eoghan Stack, CEO of the Ryan Academy, said: “The UStart Student Accelerator Programme is an exciting opportunity for students with an idea, but crucially students who need infrastructural support and mentoring to bring it to a point where it is ready to lift off.
“The UStart Student Accelerator is about providing those supports and setting budding entrepreneurs on their journey.”
The closing date for applicants is Monday, 25 April, with successful applicants to be announced on 6 May.
DCU sign image via Marie. L./Flickr
