CREW (Creative Enterprise West ) has announced Michaela Murphy of Iguaion Media as the winner of the judge’s prize for best overall pitch at the Creative Entrepreneurship & Enterprise Development (CEED ) Programme Showcase.
This year’s CEED Showcase was hosted in CREW’s newly opened Creative Enterprise & Innovation Hub, on the Atlantic Technological University (ATU ) Galway City (Wellpark Road ) Campus. Staff from the ATU School of Design & Creative Arts who teach on the programme, and representatives from startups, industry mentors and creative tech enterprises were present to hear the pitches from eight CEED entrepreneurs. This year’s cohort includes entrepreneurs developing businesses in 3d visualisation, storytelling and brand development, cultural events and gamification. The judging panel included Eoin Connaire of LEO Galway, multi-disciplinary artist Finbar McHugh, and creative entrepreneur Emily Brady of Elcaso Network.
In addition to Michaela Murphy taking home the judge’s prize, Ryan McKenna, Galway Céilí Club, was awarded the prize for Sustainable Impact and Kate Costello, Narrator & Co, received the Storytelling award. Building on more than 10 years’ experience as a digital media designer in the MedTech industry, Michaela’s venture, Iguaion Media, offers 3d representations of medical technology through video animation, illustration and product images, aiming to make concepts and processes compelling and easy to understand.
CREW’s Creative Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Development programme is an accredited, postgraduate incubation programme for early-stage creative tech entrepreneurs, and is delivered in partnership with ATU School of Design & Creative Arts. Over the past 8 months, participants have validated their business ideas through developing skills in creative ideation, market research, customer discovery and the exploration of business models for the creative industries. This programme is supported by LEO Galway, and participants are integrated into the entrepreneurial ecosystem through access to the Connected Hub and gteic networks.
Celine Curtin, Head of Department of Creative Arts and Media, ATU Galway City (Wellpark Rd ) said "Cultivating a strong collaborative programme between ATU and CREW is essential for nurturing innovation and entrepreneurship in the creative industries. By leveraging academic expertise, resources, and industry networks, this partnership empowers aspiring entrepreneurs to translate their ideas into impactful ventures.”
"We are pleased to announce Michaela Murphy and the development of her venture, Iguaion Media, as the winner of the Judge’s Prize today.” said Ainslie Peters, CREW Programme & Community Manager, “Michaela exemplifies the spirit of entrepreneurship, showcasing creativity, dedication and a strong understanding of industry needs. We also want to celebrate and recognize the growth of all CEED entrepreneurs during their participation in this year’s programme.”
The next intake for the Creative Entrepreneurship & Enterprise Development programme will be in September 2024; please visit crewdigital.ie for more information.
