Dundalk IT students excel in entrepreneurship through the Regional Development Centre

Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT) third year students Leila Alaou, from Drogheda, a Business & Technology student and Kshitiz Mittal, a Public Relations & Digital Marketing student, originally from India, wanted to find an internship where they could really put their skills and business knowledge to the test.

They were placed in DkIT’s RDC to become the Student Enterprise Interns for an eight-month period running from January to August. A diverse role with a range of responsibilities, their internship was very focused on the promotion of the Student Inc programme and support of students who successfully enter it. The longest running accelerator programme in Ireland, Student Inc provides seed funding, training and mentoring to entrepreneurial students.

Kshitiz and Leila took charge on a campaign to promote the wonderful opportunities that the Student Inc programme provides to their fellow students. They organised classroom visits, social media campaigns, competitions, and an entrepreneurship event featuring local business leaders, which was a highlight of their internship: “Hearing their journeys was incredibly motivating,” said Leila. Kshitiz agreed: “The planning, handling all the logistics and then seeing the successful turnout was such a buzz.”

Another huge task for the duo was supporting the five student interns that have successfully joined the Student Inc Programme this year. These budding entrepreneurs are working on a wide range of business ideas ranging from an AI assistant, to a range of men’s grooming products. Participants applied through a competitive process involving a written application, interview, and pitch. 

The 2025 Student Inc cohort at DkIT included; Jamie Duffy Creagh, creator of an AI tool to automate esports news; Shane Gray, who is developing a men’s grooming product line; Max Crinion Morgan, inventor of RespÉire, a respiratory monitoring device for nurses and winner of the 2025 Cruickshank High Achieving Merit Award  at the Enterprise Ireland Student Entrepreneur Awards; Israel Olanrewaju, founder of Lan Visuals, an online video production platform; and Philip Vadakekalam, developer of Matcron, a material digital tracing solution that creates 3D digital twins of products, enabling traceability and sustainability compliance.

Each credits Student Inc’s funding, mentorship, and networking opportunities for helping refine and grow their ideas. “They offer a range of workshops on key topics to help get your business off the ground and help us build and form a strong network,” according to Jamie. “The RDC provides access to a wide network of industry experts who can provide guidance and support on your business journey,” echoed Max.

For Israel, a recent MSc graduate in Renewable Energy Systems, the Student Inc Programme has helped to take his company, Lan Visuals, to the next level; “By leveraging the funding, mentorship, and office space provided by the Student Inc. accelerator, we will refine our business model, optimise our online platform, and scale our operations,” he said.

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In addition to providing supports to these students, Kshitiz and Leila collaborated with other SEI’s from various universities to share ideas on promoting the programme and assisting participants to reach their potential. The time seems to have flown by for both students but they are certainly feeling the benefits of their experience! Reflecting on the role, Leila said: "This internship has massively improved my networking skills and really boosted my confidence in work-related situations. Kshitiz added; “I have gained hands-on experience in project management, event organisation, and public speaking, while also building valuable industry connections that will shape my future."

A fantastic end to both Kshitiz and Leila’s internships and the Student Inc Programme, the Final Showcase for Student Inc took place on Thursday, 20th August in The Arena at MTU in Bishopstown, Co. Cork. 75 participating students from across Ireland came together to share their experiences. Jamie Duffy Creagh, Shane Gray, Max Crinion Morgan and Israel Olanrewaju proudly represented DkIT at the event. The programme ended with a final showcase where DkIT participants Max Crinion Morgan and Shane Gray made it to the final 16 for a pitch event and proudly shared their innovations with other aspiring entrepreneurs from around the country.