The Liffey Trust, in partnership with University College Cork is delighted to announce Michal Szczepan as the 2026 recipient of The Dr Séamus McDermott Entrepreneurial Scholarship.
University College Cork recently invited Chairperson of The Liffey Trust, Aidan Corless for a roundtable discussion exploring entrepreneurship, innovation, and the impact of philanthropy in developing future leaders, and also marked the announcement of the 2026 recipient of the Scholarship at UCC.
Michal’s journey to date strongly aligns with the values that underpin this scholarship. From early entrepreneurial activity during his school years to developing a PC building and repair business, he has demonstrated initiative, adaptability, and resilience in the face of challenges such as fraud and supply chain disruptions.
Michal has also demonstrated leadership and creativity through projects such as EduCat (later rebranded as ScreenPaws), which aims to enhance children’s learning through structured screen time. He currently serves as Campus Director for the Hult Prize at UCC and is Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer of Ganzy, an emerging EdTech startup focused on personalised study tools for Irish students, with ambitions to scale nationally and internationally.
Aidan Corless, Chairperson of The Liffey Trust said:
“It was a pleasure to meet Michal Szczepan, who embodies everything the Seamus McDermott Scholarship stands for, a commitment to solving problems and driving meaningful change. Michal has already explored several micro-business ventures and has learned valuable lessons, including resilience, which will serve him well on his entrepreneurial journey. He demonstrates passion and energy, along with the work ethic required to build a successful business. We are delighted to have Michal as our 2026 Scholar and look forward to introducing him to fellow scholars in Trinity, UCD, DCU, and the University of Galway. I would also like to thank Carol Walsh, Professor Joe Boque, Dr Lana Repart, Dr Sally Cudmore and the entire team who invest their time, expertise and energy in encouraging students to consider entrepreneurship”.
The roundtable discussion provided a valuable platform for students to reflect on their entrepreneurial ambitions, share insights, and discuss the challenges they face. The conversation also underscored the broader role of philanthropy at UCC, not as an add-on, but as a catalyst for innovation that empowers students to think creatively, take risks, and pursue ambitious ideas.
Dr Sally Cudmore, Director of Innovation said:
“The Dr Séamus McDermott Entrepreneurial Scholarship plays a vital role in helping students at UCC develop the skills, mindset and confidence needed to succeed as entrepreneurs. Beyond financial support, the scholarship enables students to fully engage with UCC’s innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem, such as the supports provided through UCC’s SPARK programme such as Start-up Lab, Ideas for Impact Hackathons, entrepreneurial student community, industry connections and start‑up advice clinics, as well as UCC’s modules from CUBS on Developing and Entrepreneurial Mindshift. By harnessing these resources, scholarship recipients can develop their talents, test ideas and build ventures that have real societal and economic impact.”
Hugo Guenebaut, first recipient of the scholarship at University College Cork, shared his experience with the schoalrship:
The Dr. Séamus McDermott Entrepreneurial Scholarship has provided me with opportunities that I likely would not have had otherwise.
The most significant of these has been the chance to network with remarkable people. In my second year of university, I was invited to speak about the Scholarship and its positive impact at the UCC Benefactors Lunch, where I had the pleasure of meeting a number of professionals with senior roles in industries I am passionate about, including the Head of Engineering at Qualcomm. I was also given the opportunity to meet fellow Scholars in Dublin, where we discussed our respective ventures and skill sets. It was an inspiring experience to be surrounded by such driven and talented students and entrepreneurs.
The Scholarship has also been a meaningful asset during my professional development. Throughout my work placement applications I was successful in securing every position I applied for, and I believe the Scholarship played a role in that. A private scholarship makes a strong statement on a CV, and it has helped open doors to opportunities I may not have accessed otherwise.
Finally, knowing that others believe my future is worth investing in has been a genuine source of motivation. It has encouraged me to work harder and to set more ambitious goals for myself.
On top of all this it has provided me with time that I might have otherwise spent working to earn the funds for University. Time that I have invested in my education, my passions and my entrepreneurial ventures
Read more on Aidan’s visit, and our 2026 scholarship awardee here.