Independent podcast company Acast has launched its podcast incubator programme, Acast Amplifier, in Ireland.
The programme aims to discover, mentor, and financially support the next generation of talent across Ireland by picking three winners who have the chance to receive a prize package up to €100,000 (£87,797).
“Acast truly believes in the future of podcasting in Ireland, and we want to support the next generation of voices,” said Acast Ireland content director Jennifer Dollard. “Our Acast Amplifier programme is the opportunity of a lifetime for a new podcast idea to get unparalleled support and advice from industry big-hitters, including mentorship from experts who’ve been there and done it.
“We want to provide podcast creators with everything they could need to get their ideas out into the world and, together with our panel of incredible talent, discover the next big podcast.”
Each of the winning applicants will receive a grant up to €2,000 (£1,755) to help fund their show, a free lifetime subscription to Acast’s top-tier hosting plan, support and free equipment from Acast as well as its partners like music company Shure and software designer Focuswriter, and mentoring from the Acast team to support with production, branding, monetisation, etc.
Any applicant with a “great idea for a podcast” for a brand new show and ones that already have an unreleased podcast but need help getting off the ground can apply to the programme as long as they are based in the Republic of Ireland. Podcasters can apply with a form on the website from now until 21 April and will have to introduce themselves, the idea, and upload a 60-second audio clip on why they should be picked as a winner.
Acast Amplifier’s judging panel includes some of Ireland’s most successful podcasters such as The Witness / The Stand producer Jane Gogan, Irish History Podcast’s Fin Dwyer, I'm Grand Mam’s Kevin Twomey, and many others from the Acast Creator Network.
The programme previously launched in the UK in January last year and received over 600 applications from creators with applications that were assessed by industry experts such as Adam Buxton, Chanté Joseph and Dane Baptiste.
Winners from last year’s event included Damian Kerlin, creator of LGBTQ+ nightlife history podcast Memories of The Dancefloor podcast, Amanda Kingsley and Ziporah Banda’s Stacked podcast exploring literature and how it intertwines with politics and pop culture, and Poppy Greenfield with the Call Me Disabled podcast, which removes stigma around disabilities.
