The CLIMB Mentorship Programme is a structured, six-month initiative designed to support entrepreneurs and start-ups in the digital creative industries in growing and scaling their businesses. Through tailored mentorship, participants gain access to expert guidance, peer learning, and practical tools to help achieve their business goals.
This 6 Month programme includes:
The combination of matched, floating and peer-to-peer group mentorship will allow participants to explore diverse perspectives, address specific business challenges in real time, strengthen their professional networks, and develop the confidence and strategic insight needed to scale sustainably.
By the end of the programme, participants will:
Mentorship is provided by experienced business mentors and creative industry experts, matched to participants based on their business needs and goals. Participants will select their mentors after the first Mentorship Mixer event, which takes place at CREW at the beginning of the mentorship programme. Mentors bring expertise across areas such as creative entrepreneurship, business strategy, marketing, finance, leadership, and scaling operations. Peer-to-peer group mentorship sessions sessions are facilitated by CREW to ensure focused and valuable exchange.
Shirley Halvey is the founder of Halvey & Associates, where she partners with business owners to identify growth barriers and implement practical, lasting solutions. She has 20 years experience in senior management working with Multi-National and SME companies. Her mission is to empower businesses to reach their full potential through clarity, efficiency, and strategic action.
Katelyn brings 15 years of global client-facing experience, including 8 years leading teams in a multinational organisation.
She combines her advanced academic background in Work and Organisational Behaviour
with hands-on leadership experience to help clients build high-performing leaders and teams. Katelyn is an expert in coaching, facilitation, and delivering tailored leadership interventions. She has led large-scale global customer service operations and expanded B2B sales divisions across Europe giving her an
understanding of practical challenges faced in complex organisations.
At OMT Global, Katelyn collaborates with diverse industries to design and
implement solutions that enable sustainable leadership excellence.
Alan O’Rourke has spent 20+ years on both sides of the founder journey, building and selling his own businesses, then helping other founders do the same.
He founded three companies. Toddle, a bootstrapped SaaS platform, grew to 30,000 users across 12 countries before an exit. Before that, he ran Spoiltchild, one of Ireland’s leading digital design and marketing agencies and nominated for a BAFTA award.
Outside business, Alan is an award-winning illustrator, artist and children’s book author, and holds a postgraduate diploma in Digital Fabrication and Making from NCAD.
Alan now runs Wilson & Keys, working with startups and scale-ups on go-to-market strategy and growth. He has mentored founders at Portershed Galway with Dogpatch Labs, has designed business development programmes and workshops for Visual Artists Ireland and the Design & Crafts Council of Ireland, and is a board director of Children’s Books Ireland. He has written a few books on how early-stage companies find and keep customers.
Keith Lawler is a creative director and sonic branding specialist who helps make brands memorable through distinctive sound and advertising.
Across an 18-year international career, Keith has worked with agencies including VML, Saatchi & Saatchi and TBWA Worldwide, creating work for brands such as Heineken, Google, Vodafone, Adidas, An Post, PlayStation, Nissan and The National Lottery.
Today, he runs two independent creative businesses. LAUDHAUS is a specialist sonic branding studio, using strategy, music and sound to build distinctive audio identities for brands. Keith Lawler & Co works across advertising, brand and culture, bringing together bespoke creative teams around each project.
His work has been recognised at Cannes Lions, the New York Clios, D&AD, Eurobest, the Effies, International Sound Awards and the Transform Awards, alongside more than 24 ICAD Awards and six Sharks.
A former touring musician as well as a creative director, Keith’s work sits naturally between music, ideas and commercial creativity.
Cróna Esler is the Owner and Managing Director of Cróna Esler PR & Communications – a bespoke public relations and communications firm, offering a broad range of specialised and client-specific services. Cróna works with clients across diverse sectors to develop compelling messaging, build awareness and credibility, protect reputation, foster trust, and shape perception both internally and externally.
Cróna has spent more than 20 years working across journalism, public relations and communications. She holds a BA (Hons) in English and Sociology from Maynooth University and an MA (Hons) in Journalism from Dublin Institute of Technology. She is also a published author (Unless By Invitation – Crimes That Shocked Ireland, Blackwater Press, October 2014).
Cróna combines newsroom experience with strategic advisory work, supporting clients as they shape their message, protect their reputation, and tell their story in a way that resonates. She is also a mentor with the Local Enterprise Office (LEO) in Galway.
Stuart Forrest has led Triggerfish, one of Africa’s leading animation studios, for over two decades. He brings extensive experience in growing a creative business, building specialist teams and delivering animated films and television productions for international audiences.
Under his leadership, Triggerfish has produced three feature films: Adventures in Zambezia, Khumba and Seal Team. The first two sold a combined nine million cinema tickets worldwide, while Seal Team reached Netflix’s global Top 10. The studio’s television credits include Supa Team 4 for Netflix, Kiya & the Kimoja Heroes and Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire for Disney+.
Stuart’s experience combines creative production with business leadership, international partnerships and talent development. Triggerfish has contributed animation to Oscar-nominated, BAFTA-winning and Emmy-winning productions, while supporting emerging African talent through the Triggerfish Foundation and Triggerfish Academy.
In 2021, Triggerfish received the MIFA Industry Award at the Annecy International Animation Festival in recognition of its pioneering contribution to animation in South Africa and across the continent.
Recently featured on the Irish Independent’s 30 under 30 list – Roscommon native Peter Kilmartin is a multi-award-winning commercial producer and documentary filmmaker. In 2017, he founded Spicy Dog Media, and has since successfully produced hundreds of video campaigns for brands, agencies, and public bodies—including work for notable brands like Amazon Web Services, Mitsubishi Electric Ireland, Sennheiser, and Rockshore. In 2025, Peter launched CHASER, a new creative commercial company working with an international roster of directors. Recent clients include Netflix, Monzo Bank, Tesco and Bus Éireann.
Peter’s work spans commercial, documentary, and large-scale TV campaigns. His films have screened at top festivals including Raindance, DOC NYC, Toronto, Galway, Cork, and the IFI Doc Festival. Most recently, Peter was a part of 6 teams from all over the globe selected for the prestigious Netflix Documentary Talent Academy Fund.
Sarah Flynn is an experienced business development expert and former self-employed professional, currently Head of Business Development (New Services) for Fenero Tax & Accounting. With a background in business growth, client relationships, and commercial strategy, Sarah combines practical entrepreneurial experience with expertise in tax, finance, correct legal structures, and compliance. Passionate about empowering founders and freelancers, she has facilitated trainings and workshops in many corporate and coaching environments, serves as a mentor with the Open Doors Initiative, is a LIFT facilitator and has first hand experience in the start-up ecosystem as a past participant in Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur (IBYE). For the CLIMB cohort, Sarah offers practical, grounded mentorship spanning commercial strategy, tools for building strong financial and compliance foundations, client acquisition tactics and approaches to help early-stage digital and creative businesses scale securely.
Jane Manzor is an award-winning marketer with over 25 years of industry experience, working with national and international brands.
In 2016 Jane established Manzor Marketing to help SMEs grow their sales through the tools of strategic and digital marketing. Manzor Marketing works with a broad range of clients in industries such as food and drink, hospitality, design and craft, product and services marketing. She is a passionate marketer and her goal with clients is to demystify marketing, whilst delivering commercial results for their brands.
Jane is a mentor with organisations such as Enterprise Ireland, Intertrade Ireland, Skillnet Ireland and several Local Enterprise Offices. She is also a mentor with Mentors Works through the Small Firms Association.
Declan is an experienced entrepreneur, business consultant and business mentor. He is founder of one of Ireland’s most distinctive, artisan food companies, Kinvara Smoked Salmon. He is a business mentor with CREW, Galway LEO, Mayo LEO, SCCUL and Enterprise Ireland and lecturer with UCD Innovation Academy and with the New Frontiers programme at ATU. He also delivers start-up courses to early stage and scaling entrepreneurs.
Donncha Hughes, Business Advisor is a trainer and mentor who specialises in working with start-ups. Donncha’s clients include Enterprise Ireland, Local Enterprise Offices and InterTrade Ireland.
Donncha has been part of CREW’s panel of experts and mentors since 2023, and supports early stage and scaling start-ups in the digital creative industries through our CEED and Explorer programmes, and leads on our Creative Business Cup programme
Ailish Irvine is the founder of Irvine Training, providing practical training, mentoring and consultancy to businesses, social enterprises and community organisations across Ireland. Her expertise includes AI for business, digital marketing, social media, strategic planning, governance and social impact measurement. Based in County Mayo, Ailish helps organisations build skills, strengthen their online presence and turn ideas into clear, achievable action.
Grace Windsor is the founder of AmpliStory, a research and strategy consultancy that helps businesses make better decisions about customers, markets, positioning, and growth.
With more than 15 years’ experience across research, marketing, product marketing, and strategy, Grace specialises in customer discovery and turning research into practical business decisions. She works with founders and leadership teams to understand their customers, test assumptions, assess new markets and opportunities, and connect what they learn back to their wider business and marketing strategy.
Her work includes customer and market research, feasibility studies, positioning and messaging, and go-to-market strategy. Recent projects include a six-month Enterprise Ireland-funded growth feasibility study for Galway Chamber, University of Galway and Regional Skills West, and a market feasibility study exploring expansion into the North-West European offshore sector.
As a CLIMB mentor, Grace can support founders who need to get closer to their customers, test a business or growth idea, make sense of the evidence they already have, or decide where to focus next.
Noreen D’Arcy is the founder of D’Arcy Marketing & PR, an award-winning bilingual communications company based in Galway city. She brings extensive experience in public relations, marketing and sales, with particular expertise in tourism, entertainment, hospitality and consumer brands.
Working with national and regional media, Noreen and her team develop strategic campaigns that build brand awareness. Her experience spans media relations, launches, copywriting, event management and social media, combining communications expertise with an understanding of clients’ commercial priorities.
Her portfolio includes Galway’s successful bid for European Capital of Culture 2020, Galway UNESCO City of Film, Galway Film Centre and TG4’s Ros na Rún. She has also worked with Galway Races, Clifden Arts Festival, the Crafts Council of Ireland and the Handmade Soap Company.
Noreen brings practical insight into developing clear messages, identifying publicity opportunities and planning coordinated campaigns to help businesses raise their profile and reach their audiences.
Karen Pappin is an expert brand strategist and storyteller, and is the founder of point zero, a brand strategy and visual storytelling studio based in Kinvara, Co. Galway. Her belief is a simple one: every business already has the story it needs. Most are just too close to it, or too busy running things, to tell it well. That is where she comes in.
She has spent 26 years in the creative industries, working across graphic design, branding, print production and visual communications for everyone from sole traders to national brands, including 13 years with Brown Thomas, building and evolving the brand behind the shop floor. She began her career in design and print, trading for years as Kaz Productions, before rebranding her practice as point zero in 2020, a deliberate return to first principles that gave the studio its name. She holds an MA in Interdisciplinary Design Practice from TUS (LSAD)
Sinéad is an early-stage investment and venture-building professional with experience supporting founders, angel investors, and emerging businesses across Ireland and Europe. She is Co-Founder, CEO & CFO of Prospera Ventures and works with early-stage companies on refining their business models, preparing for fundraising, developing investor materials, and building the strategic partnerships needed for growth.
Her areas of mentorship include business planning, early-stage fundraising, investor readiness, pitching, market positioning, partnership development, and navigating the startup ecosystem. Sinéad is particularly interested in supporting ambitious creative entrepreneurs to turn strong ideas into commercially sustainable businesses.
Richard McCurry is the founder of PitchLab, where he supports founders and teams in preparing for investor pitches, customer conversations, presentations and other important business discussions.
He combines his own experience of raising investment, selling internationally, winning business competitions and pitching on Dragons’ Den with several years of coaching early-stage founders, established businesses and participants in innovation programmes.
Through practical coaching and role-play, Richard helps clients refine their messaging, explore different approaches and communicate their proposals clearly to different audiences. Clients he has coached have gone on to raise investment and achieve success in major competitions, including winning the UK’s premier MedTech start-up competition and placing third globally at the Creative Business Cup.
William has more than 20 years’ experience in management consultancy working with SME businesses with a keen focus on Turnaround, Systems Implementation, Sustainability, Innovation, Lean and Costing in particular.
William has advised businesses across a wide range of sectors including finance, engineering, manufacturing and professional services. His professional credentials include Fellowship of Chartered Accountants Ireland and the Chartered Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, a distinction in International Financial Reporting Standards, and a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Business & Financial Standards
Emily Brady is a dynamic entrepreneur and a strategic leader in next-generation software solutions and digital media. With a background as a Partner at global consulting giant Unisys, she brings deep expertise in IT and business strategy to every venture she undertakes.
In 2017, Emily founded Elcaso Network Ltd, making a bold move into the world of Over-The-Top (OTT) content creation. Under her leadership, Elcaso has successfully designed, produced, and marketed two major online kids’ shows—the globally acclaimed Elena and Clara Show and Doll Time HD Show. These series have garnered over 1.5 million followers, 800 million views, and 80 million watch hours, earning YouTube’s prestigious Gold and Silver Play Awards. Available on platforms like YouTube, Roku, Amazon Fire, Apple TV, and HappyKids, Elcaso’s content captivates young audiences worldwide.
Operating from its Galway-based studio, Elcaso has established an international footprint, with 99% of its audience outside Ireland, including key markets in the USA, UK, Canada, Australia, and the Middle East. The company has also collaborated with global toy giants such as Disney, LEGO, Mattel (Barbie), MGA (LOL), Moose Toys, and Zuru to create engaging, branded content.
The cost to participant is €330. The programme is being offered to the SME at 20% of the market rate (the full programme is valued at €1650) with the remaining 80% supported by Enterprise Ireland Smart Region scheme. Payment is due in full before the programme commences. In order to avail of this discounted rate, all applicants are asked to confirm that they have the appropriate De Minimis balance to accept the support.
The programme is aimed at entrepreneurs, start ups and SMEs who:
For queries regarding eligibility, contact Stephanie Ford, Programme Associate: Stephanie.ford@crewdigital.ie
The closing date for applications is Thursday 12 November.
