UCC IGNITE Opens Applications for April Start

IGNITE Opens Applications for April 2025 Start of Graduate Start-Up Incubation Programme

Cork, Ireland – IGNITE, the award-winning start-up incubator for recent graduates, has opened applications for its April 2025 programme. The programme supports graduates from all third-level institutions in transforming business ideas into operational ventures.

Recent IGNITE alumni companies Trustap and LegitFit have achieved funding milestones, with Trustap raising €5.3 million in Series A funding and LegitFit securing €1.74 million.

What the IGNITE Programme Offers:

The IGNITE start-up programme provides a comprehensive support package valued at €20,000 for participants. This includes €5,000 in seed funding to support initial business activities, access to mentors and specialised training, sessions with guest speakers, and an equity-free model where participants retain full ownership of their businesses.

Programme Achievements:

• IGNITE-supported businesses employ over 300 staff and have contributed an estimated €66 million in salaries to the economy since its inception in 2011.

• Collectively, these businesses have raised over €27 million in funding.

Alumni Highlights:

• Trustap: Raised €5.3M in Series A funding to expand its payment platform focused on safe transactions.

• LegitFit: Secured €1.74M to grow its operations in the UK market.

• Well Schools Network: Featured as a Knowledge Transfer Ireland case study.

• Additional alumni such as Kwayga, Recruitroo, and NeuroBell, along with Trustap, LegitFit, and Well Schools Network, were included in the ThinkBusiness Hot 100 list of Irish start-ups to watch in 2025.
   

  "You'll really enjoy it. The people you meet are really interesting. They were all really fun people, and we got on really, really well." - Ita Ryan - IGNITE Alumni
  ​Apply today.

About IGNITE:

IGNITE is a collaborative initiative involving Cork City Council, Cork County Council, the Local Enterprise Offices of Cork City, South Cork, and North & West Cork, and University College Cork. It supports entrepreneurship, provides resources for developing innovative ideas, and helps build sustainable businesses without taking equity.