Dragons’ Den 2025: 350 Students, 42 Dragons, and a Showcase of Ambition at DCU Business School

Over three action-packed days on the third floor of DCU Business School, 350 final-year students stepped into the Dragons’ Den, pitching their innovative business ideas as part of the New Enterprise Development module. The event, a capstone of the undergraduate business programme, challenged students to present fully developed concepts — shaped over months of ideation, research, and planning — in a seven-minute pitch followed by a seven-minute Q&A with a panel of experienced industry leaders.

This year’s 42 Dragons, all drawn from across DCU’s influential alumni network and business partners, represented a remarkable breadth of sectors and leadership. Entrepreneurs and executives from companies such as Irish Rail, VHI, eDesk, AIB, eShopWorld, Learnosity, Kerry Group, Aptiv and Boldyn Networks took their seats in the boardroom to challenge and inspire the next generation of business leaders. Alumni like Mike Glennon (Glennon Brothers), Maureen King (iTrust Ethics), Ui May Tan (VHI) and Sean Keating (Boldyn Networks) brought industry insight and a spirit of constructive scrutiny to every session.

Students rose to the occasion with concepts ranging from sustainable consumer products to tech-enabled services and agri-innovations. The energy was high, the pitches were sharp, and the feedback was honest and valuable. As students left the boardroom — some relieved, others energised — it was clear they had gained more than experience; they had found their entrepreneurial voice.

Dragons’ Den 2025 reaffirmed DCU’s commitment to applied learning, industry engagement, and fostering the bold thinking needed to transform lives and society. We thank all the alumni and partners who made this extraordinary experience possible.