The Kemmy Business School (KBS) at the University of Limerick welcomed some of Ireland's leading entrepreneurs to form a "Dragons' Den" panel of experts as part of the KBS Undergraduate Enterprise Exhibition which was held on Thursday, 26th November.  This event was funded by the UL/Ulster Bank Enablement Fund as well as providing each student group with seed capital.

Gavin Bourke (TVC Holdings Plc), Aidan Higgins (ADEO), Harriett Cotter (Enterprise Ireland), Colm O'Shea (Ulster Bank), Niall Kearns (Office Ireland) heard the pitches of 16 product innovations from undergraduate students across business studies, architecture, industrial biochemistry, equine science and Erasmus programmes at UL.

 
UL Dragons (L to R):  Aidan Higgins (ADEO), Colm O'Shea (Ulster Bank), Niall Kearns (Office Ireland), Harriett Cotter (Enterprise Ireland), Gavin Bourke (TVC Holdings Plc)
Among the innovative products and business ideas; a revolutionary new everyday protective headwear, fire resistant rugs for horses, the latest in kitchen cookware and the ultimate portable solution to help you change a car tyre.
Aidan Higgins of ADEO, Management Consultants said; "At the KBS they specialise in providing the education and support needed to get the idea to the next phase.  I find there are always brilliant ideas from an as yet untapped pool, full of innovation and creativity. In the current economic climate it is even more important to put these forward thinking business ideas into action, to create successful and growing small businesses."
Integrating entrepreneurship as an educational discipline is a fundamental step to ensuring Ireland continues to produce business leaders ready to seize opportunities and contribute to economic growth. The Kemmy Business School (KBS) at the University of Limerick (UL) has taken up the challenge with the introduction of a new module 'Entrepreneurship & Innovation' available to undergraduate students as well as an Entrepreneurship minor option available to business students and interdisciplinary students.
Dr Naomi Birdthistle, MBA Programme Director at the Kemmy Business School and organiser of the Dragon's Den event said; "In recent years the high-profile success of young Irish entrepreneurs in building profitable businesses has been inspiring. Creating a new venture is a challenging task, one that requires specific knowledge as well as general business and entrepreneurial skills. The Dragons' Den event gives students hands on experience in the creation and development of a new business venture."
The winners and prizes in the Undergraduate Dragons' Den and Exhibition were:
1st Prize:  €300 sponsosred by the UL/Ulster Bank Enablement Fund.
Conveni-Dent proposed by:  Claire Conroy, Darren O'Shea, Ronan  Ó Murchu, Maree Lanigan, Ruth O'Reilly and Aisling O'Kelly.
2nd Prize €180 sponsored by the UL/Ulster Bank Enablement Fund.
Oblivious proposed by:  Caragh Cronin, Laura Gormley, Maeve O'Donnell, Sarah Coffey and Jonathan Sadlier.