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Creative Business Cup

The Creative Business Cup is the destination for creative minds, innovative thinkers and future leaders. It is a global competition involving more than 60 creative entrepreneurs, brilliant keynote speakers, juries, and investors. Creative entrepreneurs, industry experts and international thought leaders come together to form a community that focuses on promoting innovation and creative business efforts. The global competition and conference concentrates on new creative and cultural businesses in the creative industries to motivate, sharpen and develop the entrepreneurs of tomorrow.

CBC Ireland is delivered by CREW in partnership with, and supported by, the Western Development Commission.
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The Creative Business Cup Ireland (CBC Ireland) is the national chapter of the global championship for entrepreneurs in the creative business space. spanning over 60 countries. It aims to promote innovation among entrepreneurs engaged in creativebusinesses by providing global exposure, mentoring, networking opportunities, and support structures.

Short-listed applicants will be invited to pitch their businesses and attend the CBC Ireland award ceremony and networking event in June 2025 at the new CREW Innovation & Enterprise Hub in Galway. Shortlisted applicants will receive bespoke training and mentorship from CREW’s network of industry professionals to support the development of their pitching skills and business plans before the national finals.

The CBC Ireland winner will receive additional mentoring and support from CREW and the Creative Business Academy, and access to international events and mentorship before leaving for Denmark.

The CBC Global Finals will take place in Copenhagen on August 26-27, 2026.

All expenses for the national winner to travel to Denmark in August 2026 for pitch training, networking opportunities and participation in the international finals will be covered by CREW and CBC Ireland sponsors. This exciting trip includes networking with fellow entrepreneurs, a marketplace to showcase your business, and an opportunity to pitch to international investors and industry leaders.

  • Up to ten successful applicants will be invited to pitch their ideas at the CBC Ireland finals in July 2026 to a jury of distinguished entrepreneurs, investors and creative professionals.
  • In 2026, all shortlisted companies will be invited to exhibit at EDGE26 in May 2026, participating in Ireland’s Creative Economy Summit.
  • The Irish National Winner will be awarded a trip to Copenhagen, Denmark to compete in CBC Global Finals along with national winners from over 60 countries!

CBC IRELAND NATIONAL FINALS


All CBC Ireland shortlisted businesses will be invited to exhibit as part of EDGE26: Ireland’s Creative Economy Summit. Teams will also be provided with a bespoke training and mentorship programme to support pitching and business plan development in advance of the EDGE and the CBC national finals.

CBC GLOBAL FINALS


The CBC Ireland national winner will then travel to Copenhagen, Denmark to participate in the CBC Global Finals that are held on August 26-27, 2025.

CBC IRELAND WINNERS WILL RECEIVE

  • Sponsorship to attend the CBC Global Finals in Copenhagen, Denmark in August 2026
  • Dublin-Copenhagen flights and accommodation to attend CBC Global Finals for up to 2 team representatives.
  • Free participation in TechBBQ through Creative Business Cup 2026
    • Massive Investor Access: The event attracts over 1,700 venture capitalists, corporate venture builders, and angel investors into one of Europe’s most capital-efficient markets.
    • Tailored Matchmaking: Startups can utilize dedicated networking platforms (like Brella) to pre-book one-on-one meetings with relevant investors and corporate partners.
    • Global Exposure: Founders have the chance to apply for startup programs that offer branded exhibition booths, pitch opportunities, and high visibility to an audience of over 10,000 attendees.
  • In-person pitch training with pitch expert Gleb Maltsev before the finals, plus additional online pitch training
  • High-visibility and international networking opportunities for business development with other creative entrepreneurs, investors and business support organisations
  • Access to the Internationalization Academy for Creative Founders in October 2026 – focused on how to enter and scale in foreign markets
  • Support to develop their own expert roundtable, including running a private online group and sessions during CBC 2026 
  • Continuous learning opportunities throughout the second half of 2026 on topics such as open innovation, public sector clients (B2G), and more
  • An assigned mentor to help grow your business and prepare for your trip to Copenhagen

COMPETITION PROCESS

  1. Creative Businesses registered in Ireland are invited to submit an expression of interest to exhibit at EDGE26 from March 2026.
  2. Applications will be screened by an expert panel and shortlisted Start-Ups will be contacted by April 2026.
  3. Finalists will be invited to participate in EDGE26 mentorship and networking activities
  4. CBC Ireland National Finals will take place in July 2026, with each shortlisted start-up submitted a Creative Business Canvas and Video Pitch. 
  5. Finalists and winners will be recognised through a promotional campaign with CBC Ireland partners.
  6. The winning creative business will represent Ireland at the CBC Global Finals in Copenhagen in August 2026. The winning team must be able to travel to Denmark for the Global Finals.  

Finalists will be selected based on the following criteria:

CREATIVITY & INNOVATION

  • Change the value chain of Creative Industries or use creative competences to change the value chains on other industries.
  • Rely on creative skills as a key to the success of the business.
  • Engage customers or others in creative processes.
  • Innovate in terms of their product service, social relations, customer approach, market, etc.

BUSINESS EXECUTION

  • Have a good team with complementary skills and good experience.
  • Demonstrate the presence of financial & strategic flair within the team, thereby combining creative skills with business skills.
  • Present a robust business model. 
  • Address relevant issues regarding intellectual property rights.

MARKET POTENTIAL

  • Investment potential and scalability.
  • Unique value propositions.
  • Create and impact new markets.
  • Present a strong overview of the existing market situation.
  • Present a good understanding of risks and possibilities.

Have the core asset of the business based on creative competencies.

  • Be commercial, the concept must have market potential.
  • Own the right of the idea with which they are entering the competition.
  • Be registered as a legal entity in Ireland
  • Cannot have received more than 1.000.000 USD of external capital investment in the past.
  • Must be able to attend CBC Global Finals in Copenhagen on August 26-27, 2026 if selected as CBC Ireland national winner

 

For this competition, creative industries include

  • Advertising
  • Architecture
  • Craft
  • Design
  • Experience and immersive technologies
  • Fashion
  • Film & TV
  • Gastronomy
  • Music
  • Performing arts
  • Publishing
  • Photography
  • Software/IT
  • Toys & games

2026 Jury

To be announced.

 

Deadline for application: Midnight 10 April ‘26
APPLICATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED
Supporting creative enterprise and driving innovation, entrepreneurship and collaboration for sustainable growth’
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