Rent-free office space prize for start-ups


13 Nov 2009

Media Cube, a facility for digital-media companies based on the grounds of the Institute of Art, Design and Technology (IADT), Dún Laoghaire, is running a Dragons’ Den-style competition for start-ups.

Called Innovation Media ’09 and backed by Enterprise Ireland and Microsoft, the competition allows digital and software companies to showcase themselves to a panel of judges, including Sarah Newman from Dragons’ Den, and Paul Rellis, managing director of Microsoft Ireland.

Prizes include rent-free office space for a year in the centre, cash amounts and ongoing profiling and mentoring for the winning businesses.

“The judges will be looking for innovative, well-thought out concepts for digital businesses and we welcome applications from start-up companies or established businesses that are seeking assistance to take them to the next stage of development,” said Media Cube manager Martin Hogan.

“Digital media has developed to be a very broad term incorporating the creation and dissemination of all digital content. It includes companies in e-learning, published media, gaming, animation, film, television, music, mobile, telecom network operators and software in many sectors to name but a few.”

Promoting ambition

Set up in 2007, the main goals of Media Cube are to promote the development of digital media, software and content companies that show themselves capable of trading in the international arena, facilitating the development of applied research initiatives and supporting the drive to put Ireland at the forefront of the digital-media industry.

Media Cube houses several successful companies, including Customer Minds, Worldnet TPS, ICAP Media, Onlinetradesmen and Campbell Ryan Entertainment which produces the RTÉ drama Aisling’s Diary.

Entries need to be in by 5 December and the ceremony coincides with the national digital-media conference of the same name on 16 December. Application forms for entries for the awards can be downloaded here.

This article first appeared on Bizstartup.ie