Enterprise alumni group news
Blueprint awards
The Blueprint Awards ceremony on the 18th June saw successes for a number of our Alumni entrepreneurs:
- Reyad Abdulqader of Shine Electric Power won the environmental award
- Joanne Riddle and Ondrej Lewis of Ateliero won the most innovative award
- Dr Andrew Dean and Sylvia Dean of Nano Agrochemical won the general business and science and technology category
- Vinnie Morgan of Mango Creative Studio was runner up in the general business category and won the digital technology award
- Nano Agrichemicals and Mango Studio qualify for the regional grand final on 20 October 2009.
Vinnie Morgan - Mango Studios
MSc Visual and Web Applications
Vinnie came to Teesside from South Wales after attending an open day where he said the lecturers made him feel welcome and he was impressed with the facilities. After completing his first degree, he went on to a master’s degree, and then stayed in the area to set up his own business. He is now a director at Mango Studios, who employ five staff and are a web development company that specialise in online booking system software for the sports and leisure industry.
In three years Mango Studios have gone from strength to strength and have taken six placement students from Teesside during that period. The company have won numerous awards including Best Business 2009, Best Digital Technology 2009 and the 2009 Entrepreneur of the Year Award. The Best New Business Awards are held annually in the Tees Valley to recognise and celebrate outstanding new businesses.
Vinnie said: 'I'm extremely proud to have received this award and it reassures my belief that our continued hard work will inevitably see us reach and sustain our vision of becoming recognised as the number one provider of online booking systems in the UK.' Mango Studios website
Richard Mairs - Falling Pixel
MSc Multimedia Applications
After a successful time at Teesside that included reaching the national final playing for the University’s American Football Team, Richard continues to work within technology and entrepreneurship.
Gizmo Visual Studio was Richard’s first company, offering digital solutions focusing on digital and interactive media, particularly around education, learning and helping others to express their creativity.
Richard then spent six months at the world renowned Kauffman Foundation in Kansas City, USA, in 2009 as one of the NCGE Kauffman Global Scholars, developing new ideas and expanding his network and knowledge. This included time at Harvard Business School, Stanford and MIT and within innovative companies, giving him a better understanding of how to commercialise technology, grow and scale a company and develop his general business knowledge.
Richard then began working on Falling Pixel with fellow Scholar Jonathan Lloyd. Falling Pixel is a platform for buying and selling high quality 3D content. The site features work from top digital artists worldwide with products available for instant download, ready for integration into a company's 3D projects, saving them time and money.
Richard stepped down as an Executive Director at Falling Pixel to focus on developing a new venture of his own, as well as spend more time on other projects he is involved in. He was invited to dinner at 10 Downing Street to celebrate small and medium sized enterprises, and has also been accepted on to the 2010 Future Leaders programme. Falling Pixel website
Stuart Varrall - Fluid Pixel Studios
MSc Computer Animation
Stuart came to Teesside from Berkshire, drawn specifically to the University by the courses and facilities available. After graduating he completed a master’s and then stayed in the area to set up his own business.
Fluid Pixel Studios is a media studio specialising in the development of applications and games for mobile devices. They offer innovative solutions for applications, games, interface development for mobile phones, the web and desktops. In just over two years the business has grown to eight full time staff and they have worked on projects with worldwide clients.
Fluid Pixel Studios have built valuable relationships with Nokia, Adobe and various distributors around the world and Stuart has travelled to China, Barcelona and Boston to display at several large exhibitions. He was also awarded a scholarship with the prestigious Kauffman Foundation programme in America. He has also won the Dedipower Entrepreneur of the Year award and the Best New Business Creative Industries award.
Fluid Pixel Studios website
