The Media Cube at IADT Celebrates 10 years!
The incubation centre at IADT Dun Laoghaire known as The Media Cube proudly celebrates 10 years of success in supporting high potential start-ups in technology, creative and culture sectors. Originally established in 2007 with funding from Enterprise Ireland under the National Development Plan. The Media Cube has supported 80 successful companies which have generated 756 jobs and raised €25 million in equity.
Dr. Annie Doona, President of IADT spoke of the significant output that the Media Cube has generated, despite opening at a time when the country endured one of the worst economic recessions in recent memory.
“The Media Cube has supported over 80 successful companies that are still growing and thriving today. The impact to the local and broader economy is very significant when you consider these companies employ approximately 756 people in highly skilled positions.”
Dr. Doona went on to highlight the global nature of these companies:
“The companies involved are competing across the globe and many of them are tapping into the research expertise within IADT to consolidate their positions as leaders in their sectors. Today’s event allows us to honour the work of these entrepreneurs and reaffirm our commitment to delivering on the government’s strategy - Innovation 2020 - positioning Ireland as a Global Innovation Leader”.
Notable successes include Your Smile Direct. Graham Byrne, CEO commented on the importance of the Media Cube’s entrepreneurial ecosystem as his company grew:
“Your Smile Direct began its life at the Media Cube back in 2014. We were able to get the help, support and contacts at critical times in our growth journey. But possibly the biggest benefit I found was that the Media Cube has a rare community where you can just sit down and have a cup of coffee with 5 different entrepreneurs all going through the same journey”.
Your Smile Direct now employs 60 people and have recently relocated to offices in the Stillorgan area.
Brendan Kiely, Managing Director of Thinscale Technologies based at the Media Cube mirrored these sentiments:
“Being part of the enterprise community here, combined with having the opportunity to tap into the graduate base within IADT has provided us with the right environment and support to help us scale up as our company has grown”.
Thinscale Technologies recently came fourth in the Deloitte Fast 50 Awards. It is an entirely bootstrapped company, currently employing 15 people in its offices at the Media Cube. Since the company sold its first enterprise licence in 2013, it has averaged 98% of sales as exports and has grown its turnover by over 620%.
The Media Cube has become a central hub for the high technology start-up community in the digital media and creative technology sectors and works closely with Enterprise Ireland, the Dun Laoghaire Rathdown Local Enterprise Office and other key agencies. It offers a suite of services including serviced office space, hot-desks and one to one mentoring support.
The Media Cube benefits from being on campus as there are strong links between the companies and IADT staff on innovation + research projects. Students from IADT also intern with the companies and many walk across campus to their first jobs at the Media Cube. Also the location is unparalleled – close to the mountains, the sea and the city centre so it’s no surprise that 50% of the companies have scaled globally and yet remain in the Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County.
For additional information please contact: Ann Marie Phelan, Enterprise and Innovation Manager, Media Cube at +353 1 2394625, mobile: 086 7015922 or email: annmarie.phelan@iadt.ie