IT Tralee

Tom Crean Centre

ITT Tom Crean Centre

The Tom Crean Centre provides entrepreneurs with training in all areas of business including financial arrangements, market research and validation, business process, patenting, product development and sales training. Participants also avail of mentoring from experienced advisors and practitioners, with a view to developing an investor-ready business.

The Institute of Technology Tralee has developed into a world class business environment for technology-based, knowledge-intensive enterprise. The Tom Crean Business Centre has been central to the success and development of an enterprise ecosystem and the successful growth of new businesses in the region – nationally and internationally acknowledged as an example of best practice.

The Tom Crean Centre offers a supportive environment and incubation facilities to assist innovators and entrepreneurs in taking their ideas from proof of principle to full commercial success. The centre promotes innovation and enterprise, as well as contract research and industrial-academic cooperation.

Tom Crean Centre website ￫

applicants to New Frontiers since 2011

past participants with HPSU status

new jobs created

What does the Tom Crean Centre offer?

22 incubator units, canteen, social area, print and post facilities and 24/7 access.

Research facilities include two technical Gateways (IMaR & Shannon ABC), Irish Academy for Hospitality and Tourism (IAHT ), Centre for Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Development (CEED), UNESCO.

Support includes assistance with funding applications through CEED, access to the advice and expertise of academic and central services staff, student placements, and participation in ITT programmes.

Use of IT Tralee facilities, such as our specialist ODL device lab, video-conferencing facilities and multimedia suites.

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The Tom Crean Centre team

The New Frontiers Programme Manager at IT Tralee is Anne Looney. Anne is Marketing & Enterprise Officer at ITT, with responsibility for the development, implementation and monitoring of its marketing activities. Her enterprise remit includes management of the New Frontiers programme and the Tom Crean Centre. Anne also engages in collaborative initiatives with enterprise development companies and state agencies to drive the County Kerry enterprise agenda.

Anne Looney

New Frontiers Programme Manager

O66 719 1994

Breda O'Dwyer

Breda O Dwyer

Incubation Centre/CEED Manager

066 719 1925

headshot Brid McElligott

Brid McElligott

Vice President – Research, Development and External Engagement

I found it huge beneficial to both myself and the business. The material covered was right on point and helped us through the business start-up process. There was also a real strength gained from working amongst other startups on a day-to-day basis. I highly recommend the programme to anyone with a new venture; but remember that the benefits reaped will be down to you.

Derek O’Sullivan, Thermotents

The programme was enormously helpful to the development and growth of our business, and gave us access to top level expertise from successful business owners and incredible mentors. It enabled us to hone our business model and really challenged us to refine our offering. We wouldn’t be in the strong position we are today without New Frontiers.

Sam Harrison, Cloudberry

Some of our previous participants

Lorriane Scroope, The HireLab – e-recruitment platform
Derek Counihan, Harpoon – mobile marketing for apps
Sam Harrison, Cloudberry Bakery – luxury spreads
Derek O’Sullivan, Thermotents – thermally & acoustically insulated tents
Randall Warton, Rigbag – online marketplace for sporting goods
Barry Liston, Grasshopper Skateboards – environmentally sustainable skateboards
Melanie Harty, Harty’s Foods – 100% Irish savoury jellies

The latest news from the Tom Crean Centre

I want support for my startup!

Have a startup idea?
Register your interest in New Frontiers and one of our Programme Managers will be in touch soon!

Further reading

Still not ready to apply? We have some useful links that might help:

the Tom Crean Centre website
more information about the New Frontiers programme
see our Frequently Asked Questions
check out our 10 tips for entrepreneurs thinking of applying to New Frontiers