The Annual IT Tralee Enterprise Showcase will take place on Friday March 22nd in the Main Building of the North Campus. This event provides an ideal opportunity for students, staff, visitors and potential start-ups to talk to those who have already taken the plunge to set up their own business in Kerry. Exhibitors will include past and current New Frontiers participants, IT Tralee Research Centres and information on additional supports available through IT Tralee and the Tom Crean Business Centre.

The day will also host the County Final of the Kerry County Council Annual Student Enterprise Awards, with more than 20 Kerry schools participating in the competition. The competition promotes business idea development, structure, sourcing of finance, marketing/sales and the presentation of a business plan. Students’ progress through the establishment of a mini company which trades over a period of a number of months. An exciting and rewarding programme, students get to experience the realities of entrepreneurship from developing a business idea to producing a product, researching the market, promoting the business, managing the books and generating profits.

Participants in the’ SuperSolvers’ will also be on campus to take part in events. Supersolvers is a primary school programme that oversees primary school pupils developing solutions for their regions incorporating the STEAM theme and the wider environment.  The pupils experience innovation, team building, research and the opportunity to present their solutions in smaller groups to a panel representative of academia, industry and community at the Tom Crean Business Centre.

**PITCHING COMPETITIONS**

New Frontiers and Kerry-based start-ups will pitch for a prize of €5,000 in the Kerry Pitch Competition (2pm in R102).

IT Tralee students who have been taking part in the IT Tralee Enterprise Hackathon over a number of weeks will pitch for a prize of €500 (3pm R102)

Schedule of events:

9am – 1pm
LEO Kerry Student Enterprise Awards

10am – 12.30pm
IT Tralee Enterprise Showcase - Exhibition

11am – 12.30pm
Elevator pitching for Kerry Pitch Challenge (as part of Showcase)

1pm – 2.00pm
Scaling from the Park - Aoife Ni Mhuíre, Salaso

2pm – 3pm
Kerry Pitch Final for prize of €5,000 (3 finalists)

3pm – 4pm
Enterprise Hackathon Pitch Final for prize of €500 (5 pitches)
Judges deliberations and scorecards

4.30pm
WINNERS ANNOUNCED AND CLOSE