Education
Limerick Law Student Wins Bold Ideas Student Innovation Award
Limerick Law Student Wins Bold Ideas Student Innovation Award
Pictured: John Whelan; Partner and Head of A&L Goodbody’s International Technology Group, and winner Sarah McCarthy.
Third Year Law Plus student at the University of Limerick, Sarah McCarthy has won the 2016 A&L Goodbody Bold Ideas Student Innovation Award. She won the award following her proposal to establish the Irish Fintech Market. This proposal entailed linking Irish technology start-up businesses with established foreign financial companies, looking to make a low-risk investment in Ireland.
During the competitions, fifth year running over 1200 people cast their votes via Facebook for their favourite submission, after which the runners-up were selected by three expert judges.
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Limerick Law Student Wins Bold Ideas Student Innovation Award
Pictured at the prize-giving of the A&L Goodbody’s Bold Ideas Student Innovation Award 2016 are Front L to R: Anne Marie Geary, University College Cork, and Sarah McCarthy, University of Limerick. Back L to R: Jonathan Newman, Senior Counsel; Sarah Lennon, Legal Counsel at Google; Denis Flynn, Griffith College; and John Whelan, Partner and Head of A&L Goodbody’s International Technology Group.
“Bold Ideas is about inspiring creativity and bold thinking among Ireland’s brightest minds and giving them the space to develop their own ideas on how to tackle the issues that Ireland faces today. Sarah’s idea to establish the Irish Fintech Investor Market (IFIM) impressed the judges as an innovative way of tackling future challenges to Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)” stated Partner and Head of A&L Goodbody’s International Technology Group, John Whelan.
After winning first prize Sarah received €4,000 in cash and an internship in A&L Goodbody’s Head Office in Dublin as well as a donation, from the firm to a charity of her choice.
“I’m absolutely delighted to win this award from A&L Goodbody. My bold idea is that the IFIM would act as an online tool to connect Irish tech start-ups with potential foreign investors.” Stated Sarah, after presenting her Bold Idea at a prize-giving event in A&L Goodbody’s Head Office in Dublin, “The start-ups and the investors would both be vetted and authorised by the IFIM. The investors can make an informed decision based on profiles of the start-ups and can choose to invest with them either online via Bitcoins or via direct communication.” She added.
Bold Ideas is A&L Goodbody’s annual student innovation award. It recognises the most innovative ideas from undergraduate and postgraduate students from all disciplines. The theme for this year’s competition related to foreign direct investment.
For more information on the A&L Goodbody Bold Ideas Award click here
To read more stories about education in Limerick click here
