Trinity College Dublin launches crowdfunding page for student start-ups

14 Apr 2014

Trinity College Dublin (TCD) has launched a crowdfunding page on its website to encourage people to make donations towards three student-created start-ups in order to get them off the ground.

The recently launched page features start-up teams that developed new businesses as part of the college’s Launchbox business accelerator for students.

The three teams are FoodCloud, a social enterprise; Writing for Tiny, publisher of personalised e-books for children; and Artomatix, a computer graphics enterprise.

They are seeking donations over a six-week period for campaigns to support specific activities to grow their businesses/non-profit organisations that have already received public and media recognition.

As part of the Launchbox programme, the three teams spent last summer with three other teams incubating business ideas at Launchbox headquarters at TCD’s Regent House. They received seed funding, office space and master classes in marketing and funding.

The University of Dublin Fund (USA) and Trinity Angels, business leaders making up a network of Trinity alumni and friends, supported the programme.

The Trinity Angels were also on hand to provide expert advice and mentoring to the students during the programme.

Enterprise Ireland CEO Julie Sinnamon said youth entrepreneurship and access to finance are two key pillars of Enterprise Ireland’s strategy.

“We warmly welcome this timely initiative by Trinity College,” Sinnamon said, referring to the crowdfunding site. “Crowdfunding is growing in popularity all over the world and it is particularly suited to companies on accelerator programmes. It is a great way to test and validate ideas and raise funds.”

Crowdfunding image via Shutterstock

Colm Gorey was a senior journalist with Silicon Republic

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