{"id":4438,"date":"2025-03-14T15:43:52","date_gmt":"2025-03-14T15:43:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.qub.ac.uk\/studentsunion\/?p=4438"},"modified":"2025-03-25T16:20:11","modified_gmt":"2025-03-25T16:20:11","slug":"dragons-den-meet-the-finalists","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.qub.ac.uk\/studentsunion\/2025\/03\/14\/dragons-den-meet-the-finalists\/","title":{"rendered":"Dragons’ Den: Meet the Finalists"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The QUB Dragons’ Den panel has been blown away by some incredible business ideas this year. After fierce competition, these ambitious entrepreneurs have made it to the final stage, bringing them a step closer to securing a share of the \u00a325,000 prize pot, hot-desking space in the SU CoWork at the Students’ Union, and specialist mentoring and support to help turn their ideas into reality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From cutting-edge technology to socially conscious initiatives, they represent a diverse range of industries, each with the potential to make a significant impact. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We have rounded up all the finalists here so make sure to check them out!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>
\n

Shane Kavanagh: SK Engineering and Calibration Ltd.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A specialized calibrating measurement equipment used in high precision engineering industries.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>
\n

Chloe McGurk, Rebecca Connolly, Sophie Bates and Cara Jeffery: The Conscious Creator Initiative<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A certification program dedicated to promoting ethical, socially conscious, and environmentally responsible influencers across the island of Ireland.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>
\n

Alexander McComb: IGKICKZ<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Specialized sourcing and selling of a wide range of products: primarily footwear, clothing, accessories and electronics.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>
\n

Brian Conway and Aidan McGeary: Benchmark Sports<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sports coaching and performance combined with cutting-edge technology with real-world coaching expertise.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>
\n

Izieduwa Akhionbare: Canguard<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

An implantable device that continuously monitors the bloodstream for signs of oesophageal cancer recurrence through the detection of circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA).<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>
\n

Aidan Hegarty: Athlete Life Vest<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A wearable device for athletes in contact and non-contact sports, integrating a 3-lead ECG and other vital sensors (heart rate, body temperature, respiratory rate, steps and GPS tracking).<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>
\n

Fionnuala Hughes and Amy Lonergan: Cineaste<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

An all-in-one digital platform\/app for discovering local entry-level film jobs in one place.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>
\n

Liam Harte: Rephobia<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A therapist-led VR exposure therapy experience, seamlessly integrated into private practices, NHS mental health services and therapy clinics.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\n

Shubhamkumar Baviskar and Riya Anandpara: Aapta Nutrifoods<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A science-driven, plant-based nutrition company focused on gut health and functional wellness.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>
\n

Ben Sloan, Thomas Lowry, Cameron Worbey and Simon White: Equilyze<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Smart Numnah to revolutionize equestrian training by tackling rider asymmetry.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>
\n

Kirsty Graham: Tuition Space<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Specialized tutoring for primary school children, focusing on personalized learning to help each child succeed.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>
\n

Barry Herron, Brian Conway and Jack Fitzpatrick: ProxiPulse<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

An innovative haptic wristband that empowers underserved key workers with a personal sense of protection from the second most common cause of workplace fatalities.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\n

Joel McIntyre: TorqueStep<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Foot Assisted Torque Amplifier with a non-slip pedal which causes the required torque to be applied easily and safely.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

With such groundbreaking ideas and passionate entrepreneurs, the competition is fierce. Good luck to our finalists who will be making their final pitches on Thurs 3 April and stay tuned to see who will impress the Dragons and secure their share of the funding!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

If you would like to find out more about SU Enterprise- check out our website<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The QUB Dragons’ Den panel has been blown away by some incredible business ideas this year. After fierce competition, these ambitious entrepreneurs have made it to the final stage, bringing them a step closer to securing a share of the \u00a325,000 prize pot, hot-desking space in the SU CoWork at the Students’ Union, and specialist […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3862,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[74,52],"tags":[46,219,217,57,218,220,221,96,15,97],"class_list":{"0":"post-4438","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-dragons-den","8":"category-student-life","9":"tag-belfast","10":"tag-business-ideas","11":"tag-dragons-den","12":"tag-enterprise","13":"tag-entrepreneur","14":"tag-queens-university-2","15":"tag-queensstudentsunion","16":"tag-studentlife","17":"tag-students","18":"tag-unilife","19":"czr-hentry"},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/blogs.qub.ac.uk\/studentsunion\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2024\/05\/photo_-4.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p6B2ST-19A","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.qub.ac.uk\/studentsunion\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4438","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.qub.ac.uk\/studentsunion\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.qub.ac.uk\/studentsunion\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.qub.ac.uk\/studentsunion\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.qub.ac.uk\/studentsunion\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4438"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.qub.ac.uk\/studentsunion\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4438\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4513,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.qub.ac.uk\/studentsunion\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4438\/revisions\/4513"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.qub.ac.uk\/studentsunion\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3862"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.qub.ac.uk\/studentsunion\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4438"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.qub.ac.uk\/studentsunion\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4438"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.qub.ac.uk\/studentsunion\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4438"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}