This month, The B!G Idea house is buzzing. Student pitches have been submitted from schools all across Ireland, and now 101 top creative professionals are stepping in to mentor the next generation of innovators. As a result, classrooms nationwide are connecting directly with industry expertise — in real time.
Currently, mentors are reviewing student submissions through our bespoke online mentoring platform. Importantly, the system allows for blind, peer-reviewed commentary, ensuring fairness and encouraging honest, constructive feedback. At the same time, mentors can see each other’s insights. This creates space for diverse perspectives, richer commentary, and deeper reflection.
Consequently, students receive layered feedback that helps them refine, strengthen, and elevate their ideas.
This year’s mentor cohort includes leading names from across Ireland’s creative industries, including:
And that’s just the beginning.
These accomplished professionals bring real-world expertise, industry insight, and creative leadership to every student pitch. Through their guidance, projects move beyond early ideas and develop into thoughtful, impact-driven solutions.
Not only do our mentors represent industries across Ireland, but they also span continents. In fact, Irish professionals based in New York and Australia are actively participating. Therefore, students gain exposure to global perspectives while remaining grounded in local relevance.
This blend of local and international experience strengthens the mentoring process and broadens students’ understanding of what’s possible.
Importantly, the impact extends beyond students.
Teachers also benefit from this industry connection. By observing professional feedback in action, they gain valuable insight into how creativity operates in real-world settings. Moreover, the added mentor support strengthens classroom confidence and enriches the learning experience.
Together, students, teachers, and mentors form a collaborative ecosystem — one built around creative thinking, industry relevance, and meaningful feedback.
When young people see professionals investing time in their ideas, something powerful happens.
Through structured mentoring and diverse industry input, The B!G Idea continues to bridge the gap between education and industry — empowering students to think bigger, act braver, and develop ideas that could change our world.
