CREW is accepting expressions of interest for the upcoming Creative Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Development (CEED ) incubation programme developed in partnership with ATU’s School of Design and Creative Arts, Galway City (Wellpark Rd ) campus.
This free, accredited 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, 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. The next programme will run from September 2024 to May 2025.
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 LK Sheilds, Galway City Innovation District, Local Enterprise Office Galway, Creative Europe, and panel of start up founders have contributed their expertise and insights to the previous three CEED cohorts.
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 Enterrprise & Innovation Hub that opened in April of this year.
The CEED programme has supported 35 early-stage entrepreneurs in the creative digital industries through the first three incubator programmes, with entrepreneurs working across fashion-tech and machine learning, film and tv production, e-learning, digital design and virtual creative services. Successful graduates earn a Level 9 Postgraduate Certificate (30 ECTS ), and many 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 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.
In April, CREW officially opened the CREW Creative Enterprise & innovation Hub for the digital creative industries, with a mix of desk and office space for entrepreneurs, start-ups, and new FDI companies in the CreaTech sector. In addition, the Hub includes meeting rooms and event spaces which cater for training programmes, networking and business events that 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 September 1st . More information and registration details can be found at Creative Entrepreneurship • CREW (crewdigital.ie ) and follow social media channels @crewdigital.ie for news and updates.
Alumni Experience
Martin McGuire of 091 Productions participated in the 2023-24 CEED Programme. 091 Productions is a full-service video and photo production agency specialising in commercial advertisements, corporate projects and social media content, focused on elevating brand awareness and creating content that captivates, educates and inspires audiences. Find out more at @091productions on social media.
Why did you decide to participate in the CEED programme? Why now?
I applied for the CEED progeramme because I was looking to refine and validate my business idea at a critical growth stage. With the creative industry evolving rapidly, it was the perfect time to ensure 091 Productions is positioned to meet market demands effectively. Without CREW and the CEED programme, I would have been lost in all of the online information, unsure which was the right path to take.
How did the CEED programme help you validate your idea?
CEED provided invaluable feedback from industry experts, helping me finetune our services and approach to sales and marketing. The main insights I gained were the importance of clear value propositions and the need to realign our offerings more closely with client needs.
Would you recommend CEED to other creatives exploring a new business idea? I would absolutely recommend CEED – it offers a supportive environment, practical guidance and valuable resources that can help any creative entrepreneurs grow their business. It has put me on the right track and given me greater understanding of both how to grow my business and also how to grow as an entrepreneur. I am more confident in evaluating my business, and am confident that I have the right skills to adapt my business in the future.
Any other advice/thoughts?
Don’t be afraid to seek feedback. The creative industry is constantly evolving and being flexible and open to new ideas is key to long-term success. CEED is a great place to start that journey.
