Showcasing creative and art-based business concepts: Highlights from Creative Demo Day
The Creative Demo Day aimed to offer pre-incubator participants the chance to showcase their projects to a wider audience, particularly focusing on individuals interested in entrepreneurial initiatives within the creative and arts sectors. Fourteen teams developed their business ideas in the Aalto Digital Creatives programme this spring. Eight of these teams were given the opportunity to put their pitching skills to use on the Creative Demo Day stage.
The pitches from this spring's Aalto Digital Creatives programme were Leda Vaneva with The Visit Podcast, Zachary Burda with Mimiqit dance application, Maria Badji with Silva 1 haptic multipurpose controller, Praejeen Kunawong with Moom AI visualization platform for architects and designers, Hannu Järvensivu with EMS-Emotion Measurement System for measuring audience reactions, Aaro Keipi with SparkViewer platform for customising fitting process in online shops, Julio Orduña Sánchez with Nite portable device that translates sound into visual art, and Marina Berzina with PicPicker visual search tool to assist customers to connect with the right photographer.
'We saw great pitches from various areas of the creative industries. It was clear that participants had put a lot of effort into perfecting their pitches,' says Ari Kivimäki, project manager at Aalto Digital Creatives/Aalto Studios.
The jury of creative industry experts were Anu Oksanen business advisor at Business Helsinki, Heikki Laaninen project manager at Metropolia University of Applied Science and Matilda Kivelä Head of Strategy and Founding Partner at Hi-Shine.
The Aalto Digital Creatives pre-incubator programme aims to assist creatives in establishing a company based on their early-stage ideas. In the thirteen weeks from March to June participants have been involved in weekly workshops to gain insight into various topics including IPR protection, team building, funding, and business models. Additionally, they have received tailored guidance from business advisors through individual sessions. The programme also places importance on pitching ideas, which helps participants find partners and investors.
The next Aalto Digital Creatives pre-incubator programme starts on the 1st of October 2024. The application period is open now and closes on the 16th of September 2024. Applications are encouraged from teams or individuals who have an idea for business and a background in the creative industries.
Aalto Digital Creatives
Aalto Digital Creatives pre-incubator programme aims to help creative industry students, researchers and practitioners on their path towards entrepreneurship. The programme is supported by the City of Helsinki and it’s part of Helsinki-based higher education institutions’ campus incubators network. Aalto Digital Creatives programme is coordinated by Aalto Startup Center and Aalto Studios.
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