Five student start-ups to take part in Phase 2 of LaunchBox programme

Posted on: 19 March 2025

Five start-up businesses created by budding student entrepreneurs have made it into the second phase of this year’s LaunchBox - the Trinity College Dublin student accelerator programme that converts student ideas into business reality. 

Taking part in the upcoming summer programme will be: 

• Fíoch: Fíoch has developed a hormone treatment to combat Ash Dieback’s effect on our ecosystem, restoring a greener future. 

• Spike-Spy: A colour changing straw that alerts the user when their drink has been spiked. 

• SubReal: Revolutionising the treatment of Substance Use Disorders (SUDs) through predictive technology and continuous care. 

• HexCode: HexCode is a compact, human-readable medical info system, storing critical health data in hexagonal grids for reliable access during emergencies. 

• Rascheb: The AirBnb of university lab space, Rascheb is a platform that aims to democratise access to biotech researchers by monetising under-utilised university lab space and equipment. Rascheb offers a low-risk alternative to traditional "spin-in" approaches. 

These teams emerged from Phase 1 of LaunchBox, which this year took place during term-time. Our judging panel included Pierce Dargan, CEO of Medirecord (pictured below with the Fíoch team) ; Lizzy Hayashida, Dogpatch Labs (both LaunchBox alums); Neil Gordon, Director of Portal; and Sarah Walker, CEO of Tech Ireland. 

Managed by the entrepreneurship team in Trinity Innovation & Enterprise, LaunchBox provides mentorship, access to alumni and investors, and the ideal collaborative environment to launch new startup ventures. 

This first phase saw 24 early-stage teams chosen from 95 applications. The successful teams took part in an eight-week intensive programme, juggling their coursework and part-time jobs to work on their startups. All teams on Phase 1 benefited from mentorship and support from the LaunchBox network of alumni, industry, and the Irish startup ecosystem. 

LaunchBox Phase 2 will take place over the summer months, with coworking space on campus and a bespoke programme aiming to accelerate our top student startups. 

This customised, high-impact programme is designed to fast-track the teams’ progress, offering tailored mentorship, expert-led workshops, and strategic networking opportunities. Designed to meet the unique needs of participating teams, it delivers the resources, network, and support necessary to turn ideas into scalable ventures. 

ENDS 

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• Innovation
• Students