Serial entrepreneur and long standing RTE Dragon, Gavin Duffy has been announced as the ‘celebrity’ judge for the 2016 SCCUL Enterprise Awards.
A veteran of over 40 start ups, Gavin Duffy first judged the SCCUL Awards in 2012 when Galway-based Channel Mechanics scooped the €10,000 top prize.
Commenting on the announcement, Michael Smyth, General Manager SCCUL Enterprises said, “SCCUL Enterprises is delighted that Gavin has agreed to be this year’s celebrity judge. He brings huge experience to the judging process both as an entrepreneur, investor and business mentor.”
Gavin Duffy is widely known for his Dragon’s Den Investments but Gavin presented RTE’s first ever business programme, Marketplace, in the 80?s and was a regular on the then fledgling Morning Ireland radio programme. He left RTE to become CEO of local radio station, LMFM. The sale of LMFM (which he founded ) to UTV in 2005 still holds the Irish and UK record for the highest multiple achieved for a broadcast or publishing asset.
Among Gavin’s many successful Dragons’ Den investments are TanOrganic, the world’s first and only ECO certified, 100% natural, organic sunless tan; Henparty.ie, an online business which has grown from a bedroom start-up to a multi-million revenue online business and Aruna Sauces, a range of authentic, Indian, chilled, pour-over sauces in a pouch now available nationwide in Tesco.
The closing date for entry to the SCCUL Enterprise Awards is Friday November 6 at 5.30pm. To enter visit www.scculawards.ie. The SCCUL Enterprise Awards Ceremony and Business Expo takes place in the Bailey Allen Hall, NUI Galway on Friday January 29.
