By Sophie Bates, SU Enterprise Events & Marketing intern.
Our recent SU Enterprise Belfast to Boston trip gave 18 students the brilliant opportunity to step outside the classroom and dive into innovation, entrepreneurship and technology in a truly immersive way.
The week brought together students from a variety of disciplines and year groups, all connected through an interest in entrepreneurship or shared experience as founders, for a packed schedule of visits, conversations and workshops. We met inspiring founders and professionals, explored incredible spaces, and got a real insight into how ideas grow and develop in a city like Boston.
“Push yourself out of your comfort zone, meet people, and say yes to every opportunity this trip brings. This trip gave me a talking point at networking events, job interviews and with fellow entrepreneurs. The workshops laid the foundations for a spectacular trip full of innovation, connection and empowerment.”
Check out our rundown below of what we got up to!
Day 1: Scavenger hunt and exploring Boston
Our first full day in Boston began with a scavenger hunt that gave us the chance to explore the city in teams. It was a great way to get our bearings, see some of Boston’s most well-known sights, and start the trip with plenty of energy. There was a real buzz in the group as we began to settle into the city, get to know each other better, and get excited for the week ahead.
Day 2: Rian Immigrant Center and Invest NI
Day two brought two valuable visits. First, we went to the Rian Immigrant Center, where we learned about J-1 visas and what it’s like working in the US. Our hosts were really helpful and gave us some practical advice for students thinking about opportunities abroad, which was something a lot of us didn’t have much knowledge about before.
We then headed to Invest NI, where we joined a panel discussion featuring founders across three different industries. The session offered a wealth of practical insights for our aspiring entrepreneurs and gave us a useful look at what it takes to build and grow a business in Boston. Hearing from people already working in the city was especially valuable, and it helped us understand the networks and opportunities that exist beyond Northern Ireland for students and entrepreneurs looking to grow ideas internationally.
Day 3: UMass and the Edward Kennedy Institute
Day three began with a visit to the UMass Venture Development Center, where we got a tour of the facility and heard about their programmes and success stories. The students who are already building their own businesses got some really helpful advice and we’re excited to see where that takes them, it made the visit especially valuable for our group.
Later that day, we attended a panel discussion and networking event at the Edward Kennedy Institute on A Shared Home Place: Irish Diaspora Voices on Heritage, Connection and Shared Island Future. The discussion was thought-provoking and engaging, and it was a wonderful opportunity to be in such an impressive location. We were really grateful to have been invited along and to hear such inspiring perspectives.
Day 4: MIT, BU and Fenway Park
One of the most memorable days of the trip took us to MIT, where we got a tour of the museum and saw how art can be used to highlight innovation and science. It was fascinating to explore and a really interesting insight into the creative side of a leading technology institution.
We then met Doug from the Martin Trust Center, who gave us a demonstration of Orbit, an entrepreneurial platform used within the MIT ecosystem and beyond. Hearing about the role of the platform and how it supports innovation was a real highlight, providing some very useful tools for our student entrepreneurs to make use of.
After that, we headed to Innovate @ BU for a hands-on workshop on design thinking and challenging assumptions. We found this particularly useful, as it encouraged us to think differently and approach problems with a more open mindset. We also heard about social entrepreneurship in Boston and the Boston University programmes supporting founders in the city.
To finish off the day, we headed to Fenway Park to see the Red Sox win! A super fun end to a packed and inspiring day.
Day 5: CIC and Venture Café
On our final full day, we visited Cambridge Innovation Center, where we learnt about all the innovation happening in Boston and the impressive businesses that have come out of the space. We were also lucky enough to hear from a tech founder, who spoke about his experience as an entrepreneur and shared the journey behind building his business. It was especially interesting to hear about the different stages he went through to get the company to where it is today.
That evening, we attended Venture Café, CIC’s weekly gathering, which was a real favourite for many students. It was a great opportunity to meet new people, make connections and spend our last evening together in such a vibrant and welcoming setting.
“[Belfast to Boston] was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, from the networking events to visiting some of the world’s most prestigious universities. My highlight was Venture Café, getting to talk to some inspiring entrepreneurs while looking over Boston’s views.”
Day 6: Northeastern, reflection and departure
Our final morning took us to Northeastern University, where Gary from MCS Group kindly welcomed us with breakfast, and shared his journey from Cork to Boston. His reflections on the importance of connections and mentorship were a great way to round off the trip, and gave us something meaningful to take away as our journey came to an end.
We closed with a reflection activity sitting out in Boston Common, which gave us the chance to look back on the week and think about everything we had experienced. After some final free time in the city, it was time to head to the airport and begin our journey back to Belfast.
Looking back
This trip to Boston was a brilliant opportunity to experience a world-class innovation ecosystem first-hand. Across the week, we met inspiring people, visited incredible spaces and gained valuable insight into entrepreneurship, technology and what it takes to turn ideas into something bigger.
For me, one of the most rewarding parts of the trip was seeing everyone engage so openly with every opportunity, whether that was asking questions, making connections or thinking about their own ideas in new ways. It was a reminder of how valuable experiences like this can be, both personally and professionally.
“Regardless of your background and experiences, if you are curious about what it is like to pursue a career in Boston and have an open mindset, you should apply to the programme!”
“I feel incredibly grateful for this opportunity and the amazing friends I made along the way.”
A huge thank you to everyone in Boston who welcomed us so warmly and generously shared their time and knowledge, and to the incredible SU Enterprise team for organising such a memorable trip.
Thank you to the Queen’s Annual Fund and Queen’s Careers for the funding and support necessary to make this programme possible.
Find out more about SU Enterprise here.
