Competitions
Four ways to pitch, from Ireland's largest student pitch competition down to a Tuesday night where you are handed an idea at the door.
Our flagship
Dragons’ Den
Dragons’ Den is the biggest thing TES does. Student teams pitch a business idea on stage to a panel of judges, in front of a full theatre, for real prize money.
Applications are a one-minute video pitch — your idea, the problem you are solving, the market, why you are the ones to do it, and any traction so far. You can apply solo or as a team. You do not need a company, a prototype, or a plan beyond the idea.
Audience tickets are free, and there is an afterparty.
Never heard of it?
It is named after the TV show. A panel of judges — founders, investors and partners from Irish firms — sit at the front of a packed lecture theatre while student teams pitch them a business. The judges question each team, then award the prize money. You do not need to pitch to come: most of the room is there to watch.
Prize pool
- 1st
- €2,500
- 2nd
- €1,500
- 3rd
- €500
- Audience favourite
- €500
Microsoft has also awarded Azure credits to technical startups in the competition.
Last time out
- Around 260 people came to Dragons’ Den 2026.
- €5,000 in prize money was awarded on the night.
- $10,000 in Azure credits went to technical teams.
- Saor, an Irish canned-water startup, won both the judges’ and the audience vote in 2025.
Applications open in February and are announced first to members by email.
Hult Prize
Regional qualifier held in Trinity, usually February.
TES joined the Hult Prize Global Network in 2026, which means the regional qualifier is now hosted in Trinity rather than somewhere you have to travel to.
The route runs qualifier → nationals at UCD → a digital incubator → the global accelerator → the global finals in London. At least one Trinity team is guaranteed a place at the national finals, which is a materially better shot than most universities get.
The top prize at the global finals is $1,000,000.
VCIC
Held in late February.
The Venture Capital Investment Competition flips the usual format. Instead of pitching a company, your team of five becomes the venture fund: you get €1 million to invest, three real startups pitch to you, and you then defend your investment strategy to a panel of working VCs.
Trinity teams compete against universities across Ireland and the UK. Winners go through to the global finals at the University of North Carolina.
Open to all backgrounds — you do not need a finance degree to enter, and most teams do not have one.
Pizza & Pitching
Runs a few times a year, usually in Freshers' Week and again in January.
The lowest-barrier thing TES runs. You turn up, you are handed a business idea you have never seen before, and you pitch it to the room. Then there is pizza and everyone talks to each other.
Nothing to prepare and nothing to bring. It is public-speaking practice disguised as a social, and it is the easiest possible first TES event — several people who have gone on to win Dragons’ Den started here.