DCU Invent hosts The Future of Entrepreneurship - A Vision for Tomorrow’s Innovators
Paul Cheek, the Executive Director of the MIT Martin Trust Centre for Entrepreneurship addressed an audience of students from DCU Business School’s New Enterprise Development programme, Bord Bia MSc in Insights and Innovation, and Dublin City University/Dundalk Institute of Technology’s joint Enterprise Ireland New Frontiers, leading the masterclass in Disciplined Entrepreneurship.
They heard about Mr Cheek’s practical experiences in the start-up world and gained insights into his latest book, Start-up Tactics, which builds on the foundational principles of MIT’s Disciplined Entrepreneurship.
Keynote and Panel Discussions
The afternoon session saw the opening address by Ronan Cunningham, Director of DCU Invent, after which Paul Cheek delivered his keynote, which covered the opportunities and challenges posed by technological advancements such as AI, highlighting the need for a forward-looking perspective, and openness to meet such advancements. Cheek also emphasised the critical role of education in nurturing talent - a role clearly acknowledged by DCU in its Innovation, Creativity and Enterprise (ICE) initiative, a key driver in the University’s strategy 2023 - 2028 - Transformation for an Unscripted Future.
The event continued with a panel discussion chaired by Martina Fitzgerald, CEO of Scale Ireland. The panel, featured Mr Cheek, Lisa Ericsson (Head of KTH Innovation, Sweden), Ricardo Marvão (Co-founder of Beta-i), and Ken Finnegan (DCU’s Director of Student Innovation and Entrepreneurship), and explored a range viewpoints on innovation and entrepreneurship in a European context, with specific reference to Mario Draghi’s recent report, The Future of European Competitiveness, and those opportunities and challenges posed by the continued advancement of AI.
Speaking at the event, Ronan Cunningham said
"We see first-hand every day that innovation and entrepreneurial mindsets are powerful vehicles for change, and we want to empower not just our researchers and academics but all students and staff with the skills and confidence to take risks, learn from failures, and create an impact. To this end, we have expanded the mission of DCU Invent to help create a new extra-curricular framework where ideas are nurtured and transformed into economic, social, cultural and environmental impact, and where the next generation of entrepreneurs, intrapreneurs, and thought leaders can thrive.
We need to ensure that Irish entrepreneurs are not only inspired but that they are also equipped with the best tools, supports, and strategies to succeed. We need to create a community where early-stage entrepreneurs, investors, policymakers, and industry leaders can come together to share ideas and build connections. By doing so, we can strengthen our ecosystem and forge the partnerships necessary to drive real entrepreneurial growth."
About Paul Cheek
Paul Cheek is a global expert in innovation-driven entrepreneurship. Paul is a serial tech entrepreneur, educator, software engineer, and bestselling author of Disciplined Entrepreneurship: Startup Tactics. He is currently the Executive Director of the Martin Trust Center for MIT Entrepreneurship and a Senior Lecturer in the MIT Sloan School of Management
About DCU Invent
DCU Invent is the Dublin City University's commercialisation and technology transfer unit, working with companies and organisations to bring university research to the marketplace.