Courses
Students spend summer building start-ups through Student Inc.
A therapeutic wheelchair concept that recently won the Atlantic Technological University (ATU) Student Entrepreneur Awards 2026 is among a range of innovative ventures developed by seven ATU students through this year's Student Inc. programme.
Isabella Doyle, a Product Design student at ATU’s Galway City, Wellpark Road Campus spent the summer advancing Bríach, a preventative therapeutic wheelchair designed to reduce long-term health complications associated with prolonged static sitting. Her project was also recognised at the national Student Inc. Showcase, where she received the Best Poster Award.
Ireland’s longest-running student accelerator, Student Inc., supports students in transforming ideas into real-world ventures. Supported by ATU’s innovation partners, CoLab Letterkenny, Sligo Innovation Centre and Galway iHub, the programme provides aspiring student entrepreneurs with mentoring, funding, networking opportunities and practical experience in developing their businesses.
“This year’s Student Inc. cohort demonstrated outstanding creativity and determination. From a Best Poster Award winner to students progressing businesses full-time, part-time, or alongside further study, each participant has taken an important step on their entrepreneurial journey. Programmes like Student Inc. help foster a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship at ATU, encouraging students to explore new ideas, build valuable skills, and create opportunities for themselves and their communities.” Grace Latham Student Entrepreneurship Officer
For many of the participants, Student Inc. offered a first-hand insight into entrepreneurship. Reflecting on his experience, Vladimir-Stefan Mazare, co-founder of MoodWizard and a BA (Hons) in Business student at ATU’s Letterkenny Campus, said:
Student Inc. gives you a real taste of the entrepreneurial lifestyle. If you’re the kind of person who makes things happen, this is the programme for you.
The businesses developed by students this year demonstrate the breadth of innovation emerging across ATU, with participants tackling challenges in healthcare, accessibility, sustainability, technology and consumer products:
- Ayush Puri (ATU Galway) developed Vano, a part-time work app connecting job seekers with employment opportunities across Galway City.
- Declan Jordan (ATU Galway) created Zapit, a contact-sharing app designed to make professional networking easier and more effective.
- Emanuel Covasa (ATU Sligo) co-founded NeurobridgeEDU, a transcription tool aimed at improving accessibility and enhancing learning environments.
- Isabella Doyle (ATU Galway) developed Bríach, an innovative therapeutic wheelchair concept focused on improving mobility and wellbeing.
- Katelyn Madden (ATU Galway) created Refill Hub, a sustainability-driven solution encouraging the use of refill stations for everyday consumer products.
- Olena Anoricheva and Vladimir-Stefan Mazare (ATU Donegal Letterkenny) developed MoodWizard, a beverage brand designed to deliver a unique consumer experience.
The programme culminated in the annual Student Inc. Showcase, hosted by Carole O’Leary (MTU) and featuring keynote speaker Gary Fox, entrepreneur and host of The Entrepreneur Experiment podcast.
A public poster exhibition will be hosted at the Innovation Centre on ATU’s Sligo Campus throughout September, showcasing the innovation and enterprise being developed by ATU students.
Congratulations to all the student entrepreneurs who participated in this year’s programme. Their ventures demonstrate the ambition, creativity and entrepreneurial talent thriving across ATU and Ireland’s wider student entrepreneurship ecosystem.
Student Inc. Showcase Awards 2026
Best Pitch
- Winner: Padraig Casey (MTU), EDI Tag Reader
- Runner-up: Robert Gamble (DKIT), Orbits
Best Poster
- Tara Hanley (TUS), Whimsical Designs
- Neil Dennehy (TUS), Well Zones
- Isabella Doyle (ATU), Bríach
More information on Student Inc. is available on their website, Student Accelerator Programme – MTU, UCC, ATU, TUS and UL.
Photo caption: (L-R) Isabella Doyle, Ayush Puri, Katelyn Madden, Olena Anoricheva and Vladimir-Stefan Mazare, Grace Latham, Emanuel Covasa. Photo by Joleen Cronin.
