Over two high-energy days at Dublin City University, the High Tech Entrepreneur Pitch Days delivered a powerful showcase of student innovation, culminating in the validation of two ventures as investable opportunities and reinforcing the programme’s reputation for real-world impact.
Bringing together students from the BSc Marketing Innovation & Technology undergraduate programme, the event challenged participants to take ideas from concept to commercialisation. Across both days, students presented fully developed business propositions — complete with product design, market validation, and go-to-market strategies — to panels of experienced industry judges.
From the outset, the standard was set high. Day 1 introduced a diverse range of ideas, with students demonstrating strong foundations in research, creativity, and strategic thinking. Industry experts including Stephen McNulty of Inventive Leap Ltd, Caolan Bushell (Mergon Group), Ellen Drumm (AIB), Sarann Kennedy Wood, Lisa Bergin (PepsiCo), Ciaran Byrne, and Kian Coleman (2K) offered detailed feedback, pushing students to refine their thinking and strengthen their commercial cases.
By Day 2, held in a boardroom-style setting designed to mirror real investment environments, the bar had risen significantly. Students returned sharper, more confident, and more commercially focused — a progression that did not go unnoticed. The standout moment came as two products were formally recognised as investable opportunities, marking a significant achievement for undergraduate-led ventures.
Reflecting on the pitches, Stephen McNulty commented:
“The quality of the teams pitching was incredibly high — a great reminder of the talented students coming through DCU. The level of preparation was extremely impressive, as was the depth of research each team had undertaken. Every team demonstrated a genuine passion for solving real, scalable problems, and undoubtedly has the ability to do so.”
Day 2’s “Dragons” panel featured Abigail Six of Google, Megan O Riordan of Accenture Song, and Pádraic Daly. The afternoon session continued with insights from Jack Manning (Transpoco), Ian O’ Rourke (RYSE Chocolate), and David Moran of Yeah!Burgr and Illusion Museum Dublin.
Across both days, a clear narrative emerged: students are not only learning about innovation — they are actively delivering commercially viable solutions. The combination of academic structure and direct industry engagement created an environment where ideas could be tested, challenged, and, in some cases, validated for real investment.
The High Tech Entrepreneur Pitch Days highlight what is possible when education and industry collaborate meaningfully. For DCU’s students, the experience goes beyond assessment — it is a launchpad into the world of entrepreneurship, where ideas are no longer hypothetical, but have the potential to become the next generation of scalable businesses.
