To become successful entrepreneurs, aspiring innovators should actively seek entrepreneurship education, whether through a university course, participating in accelerators or incubators, continuous reading, or learning directly from the experiences of successful founders. Just as importantly, they need to be part of a strong network and community to thrive over the long term.
The ADT4Blue Entrepreneurship Showcase, organised by the University of Galway as part of the ADT4Blue project, was designed to provide students, alumni, and early-stage entrepreneurs with valuable insights from accomplished entrepreneurs and educators, foster meaningful networking, inspire them through outstanding pitching sessions, and highlight how innovators can access the support they need.
To ensure continuous support both during and beyond the ADT4Blue project, and to help bridge the gap between entrepreneurship education and real-world practice, the Entrepreneurship Showcase website serves as a central hub where students and early-stage entrepreneurs can access practical resources, tools, and connections to strengthen and accelerate their entrepreneurial journey.
About ADT4Blue
ADT4Blue is a research project structured around five core work packages:
🔹 WP1 - Ecosystem Development
🔹 WP2 - Open Calls & Matchmaking
🔹 WP3 - Capacity Building
🔹 WP4 - Entrepreneurial Support
🔹 WP5 - Evaluation & Impact Assessment
The University of Galway plays a significant role across these work packages, with one of its most impactful contributions being its leadership in entrepreneurship education under WP3. This work draws on the deep expertise of Prof. John Breslin and Prof. W. Bernard Carlson, alongside Mafalda Santos’ research, to understand the real needs of entrepreneurs and how universities can best meet them.
Through her research work under WP3, Mafalda identified a critical misalignment between the entrepreneurship education currently offered at Irish universities and what is truly needed to prepare entrepreneurs for success in today’s fast-changing, digitally driven world. Even non-technical entrepreneurs need exposure to digital technologies and innovation tools to remain competitive and resilient. Importantly, modern entrepreneurship education must also help entrepreneurs recognise opportunities to build sustainable business models and embed environmental responsibility at the heart of their ventures.
About Mafalda Santos
Mafalda Santos is a research associate at the University of Galway, where she leads the university’s activities for the ADT4Blue project. She brings combined expertise in data analytics, data engineering, blockchain, and entrepreneurship research to deliver practical, high-impact outcomes.
