The countdown is on to the 2009 Impact Media Elevate Award, which this year offers a launch pad of €120,000 to two of the best business start-ups.
The successful annual event, which is now in its fourth year, has been opened for the first time to businesses in Limerick to celebrate the recent opening of Impact Media's offices in the Treaty City. The huge prize fund - which has been generously contributed by a range of sponsors - will be split between two lucky winners, one from Galway and the other from Limerick.
The award is designed to lift emerging entrepreneurs to a whole new level. Galway's top start-up will receive a complete marketing, web, PR and advertising package from Impact Media; print services from Castle Print; a range of advertising including a package from the Galway Advertiser ; legal expertise from RDJ solicitors; and photographic services from viewmaker. The lucky Limerick winner will also receive €60,000 worth of invaluable business services.
This year, the Carlton Hotel Group joins the prestigious sponsors list, as the gala awards ceremony will be held at its luxurious Castletroy Park Hotel on December 3.
As always, an expert judging panel will be on hand with a range of testing questions to separate the top start-ups from the non-runners. In Galway, Supermac's boss Pat McDonagh will once again put the short-listed entrants through their paces, alongside Tom Murphy of Total Shaving Solution.
The Limerick entrants will be judged by Michael Kearney, founder of the Carlton Hotel Group, and Oliver Moloney of Instore. CEO of Impact Meda, Niall McGarry will chair both panels.
Entries will be accepted from new businesses in Galway city and county; and Limerick city and county, until 5pm on Tuesday, October 27. All applications will then be assessed and six short-listed entrants from each region will be invited to make their pitch in front of the judges.
After the panel interviews, three finalists from Galway and three from Limerick will be invited to the gala awards ceremony, where the identities of each region’s winners will be revealed.
More information and entry details can be obtained from www.impactmedia.ie or by contacting our offices in Galway (091 383200 ) or Limerick (061 603232 ). See our press advertisements for full details of the Impact Media Elevate Award.
Impact Media is a dynamic and creative marketing agency, which offers full services from brand consultation and development to product launch and ongoing strategic marketing.
With offices in Galway and Limerick, the company has a proven track record in the west and has a growing national client base, which includes Supermacs, FRS Recruitment, JJ Kavanagh, Simply Mortgages, the Carlton Hotel Group and Dromoland Castle.
Impact Media was established in 2003 by Niall McGarry a graduate of Limerick Institute of Technology, with a significant background in media sales and winner of the 2004 Shell Livewire Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award.
Ireland and Munster rugby hero Jerry Flannery joined the company as director in 2009.
