Creative Enterprise West, trading as CREW, is accepting expressions of interest for the upcoming Creative Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Development (CEED ) incubation programme delivered in partnership with the School of Design & Creative Arts, Atlantic Technological University, Galway.
This accredited post-graduate programme supports entrepreneurs working in the creative digital industries (CreaTech ) through the start-up process. It is targeted at early-stage entrepreneurs, providing strategic assistance in business idea validation, customer discovery, market research, professional pitching and the development of a business plan. The programme allows participants to develop and enhance their network in the creative digital industries across all sectors.
The highly dynamic and innovative CEED programme is an accredited postgraduate certificate programme (Level 9 ), is delivered in partnership with ATU Galway, and includes a team of industry experts and mentors. It is both knowledge and industry led with opportunities for individual mentorship, peer to peer learning, and immersion in the entrepreneurial ecosystem through hub accommodation. It is a part-time programme, delivered in a hybrid format including weekly seminars online and monthly in person symposia at ATU Galway. The next programme will run from October 2023 to May 2024.
Online seminars each week provide entrepreneurs with the framework for validating their business idea with the support of experienced mentors. Industry events and networking activities introduce participants to the creative industries and entrepreneurial ecosystems in the West of Ireland. Experts from Keltie, Galway City Innovation District, Local Enterprise Office Galway, Creative Europe, ATU Galway, and start up founders Paul Flaherty (What’s the Scor ), DIarmaid O Fatharta (Tonnta.io ) and others, have contributed their expertise and insights to the CEED cohorts in 2022 and earlier this year.
Participants on the CEED programme will have access to desk space in a connected hub (www.connectedhubs.ie ) or GTeic (www.udaras.ie/gno/gteic/ ) in their local area to work from and grow their network, and participants will also be welcomed into the CREW Creative Hub that will be opening later this year at ATU Galway (Wellpark Rd ), School of Design & Creative Arts, campus.
The CEED programme has supported 25 early-stage entrepreneurs in the creative digital industries through the first two incubator programmes, with entrepreneurs working across fashion-tech and machine learning, film and tv production, digital arts, e-learning, digital design and virtual creative services. Successful graduates are awarded a Level 9 Postgraduate Certificate (30 ECTS ), and several have pursued further programmes such as Enterprise Ireland’s New Frontiers programme. CEED alumni consistently note both the knowledge and practical industry experience gained from the programme, and also the importance of developing an entrepreneurial community that is rooted in the creative industries.
CREW supports the development of creative digital enterprises across the Atlantic Economic Corridor (AEC ) contributing to the economic growth in the region. It is a collaboration between Atlantic Technological University (ATU ), the Western Development Commission (WDC ), and Ardan, with funding from the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment's Regional Enterprise Development Fund administered by Enterprise Ireland.
CREW will be opening an innovation hub for the creative industries later this year, with space for 150 entrepreneurs, start-ups, and new FDI companies in the CreaTech sector. In addition, the CREW Hub will include meeting rooms and event space which will cater for training programmes, networking and business events that will bring the creative industries ecosystem together to support growth and job creation, enhancement and investment in the sector.
Registration for the Creative Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Development certificate programme is now open and accepting expressions of interest until August 17th. More information and registration details can be found at www.crewdigital.ie and follow social media channels @CREWdigital1 for news and updates.
Alumni Experience
Thady Kavanagh
Thady has developed a video creation training and mentoring service for people working on projects that create positive change in society.
Why did you decide to participate in the CEED programme? Why now?
As a creative, I produce a lot of videos for organisations in the non-profit sector; many people I worked with spoke about the challenges of creating content themselves due to lack of experience and resources. I wanted to pursue the idea of creating a business that would specifically focus on these individuals and organisations, allowing them to gain the necessary skills and experience to be able to tell their story effectively.
How did the CEED programme help you validate your idea? What were the main insight(s ) gained?
The CEED programme gave me the tools to dig deeper into the needs of the clients, and to really understand who I would be working with and how to best provide a service for them. It helped me structure a way of asking open questions so clients can tell me what they were struggling with. The programme also opened my mind to being a creative entrepreneur which really helps you understand empathy for the people you are building your business for. The power of empathy is something I had not seen before in any business course I had taken, and applying the creative process to creative entrepreneurship has been a valuable takeaway for me.
What is next for your entrepreneurial journey?
I am currently developing a demo of the service and am working with a small group of beta testers. My clients are designing and creating content that will benefit their projects, and are developing their skills and confidence in video creation.
Would you recommend CEED to other creatives exploring a new business idea?
Absolutely! I would recommend this programme to any creative trying to develop their business idea. This course gave me a structure to develop my idea which is something I usually struggle with. It was stimulating and challenging, with work that was directed at the development of my business which I found extremely beneficial.
Any other advice/thoughts?
This course is worth doing and creating time in your schedule each week for the lectures, and business development work.
Thady is looking to hear from anyone working in a charity, non-profit or community group that would like to take part in a beta testing group to learn more about video editing and share insights to create a service that will benefit the sector. www.thadykavanagh.com
