‘Watching my mother juggle her palette, phone and mirror, I knew that there had to be a better way’

“I realised that she was juggling a phone, her palette and a mirror – and it just wasn’t working,” said the 20-year-old who was at the time a fifth-year student at Coláiste Mhuire in Mullingar.

Being interested in engineering, particularly the intersection between hardware and software, he wanted to see if there was a way in which her phone could be the mirror.

“So I started working on a prototype for a touchscreen smart mirror. Then I patented the technology and started to commercialise the product by taking part in the Student Enterprise Programme – the SEP.”

He began looking at finance options to expand his business – and crucially, to start making sales. And now he has a waiting list for the product (on www.mirr.tech).

Tomorrow over 80 students from all over the country will gather in Dublin to find out if they have been successful in their attempts to win the top prize at the national finals of the Student Enterprise Programme.

The annual event, which is in its 21st year, aims to “encourage and nurture” the next generation of Irish entrepreneurs, says SEP national co-ordinator Yvonne O’Neill. She says finalists will be showcasing their products and services – which encompass a range of sectors including tech, finance, health, beauty and education – in a bid to gain recognition, experience, and perhaps even a successful business.

“The aim of the Student Enterprise Programme is to instil an entrepreneurial spirit and passion for innovation in our young students with the hope that in the future they may consider entrepreneurship as a viable career choice,” she said.

“It also helps them learn that self-employment is a real option for them after school – and many of them will have never considered this before.

“In addition to this, students learn so many life skills during the programme – such as teamwork, creativity, innovation, financial management, and public speaking. They learn how to promote themselves, how to solve problems, how to pick themselves up, and how to overcome obstacles.”

Jack had taken part in SEP before – but when he entered his Mirr, he ended up winning the competition.

“This was really helpful in getting the word out and introducing the product to the right people.”

The young Offaly man is also the MD of www.joinpatch.org – which he describes as “a community of curious and driven young people who learn and create together”.

He is looking forward to hearing about the SEP’s winning entries.

“My advice would be to start building something and put it out there,” he says. “Get people looking at it and using it.

“I made so many terrible projects before I landed on Mirr – but that experience really helped me. I think connecting with other people who are interested in building things makes the experience less lonely.

“So don’t be worried about not being good enough. You’ll find that most people don’t know what they are doing either – so just keep going.”

Ms O’Neill says that although not everyone who participates in programme will end up running their own business, they will all have gained from their experience.

“The SEP alumni definitely have more strings to their bow after taking part in the programme,” she says.

“In particular, those who fulfil the position of MD in their student enterprise have a greater appreciation of what’s involved in managing a team of people and how important it is that everyone pulls their weight.”