Victoria Smith won the Innovate UK award with a software platform to boost grassroots music venues, simplify ops, and raise their visibility.
Innovate UK recognized Victoria with the Women in Innovation Award. This award supports her business idea; she thinks it will change live events. Victoria is one of fifty women chosen by Innovate UK.
Victoria is a North East entrepreneur and a mother. The grant and coaching will help her scale her idea. She developed Gig Lab from seeing venue challenges.
Independent spots face hurdles, she believes. Gig Lab aims to simplify event planning. It will also help with operations and venue visibility.
Victoria started working at 16 at Sunderland Empire. She later worked for firms like Live Nation. She gained valuable lessons in operations and finance, building a solid base for her career.
She felt drawn back to her roots and local venues. These inspired her in her teenage years. Victoria wanted decisions made for music, not just money.
Victoria said she’s honored to win the Innovate UK award. She also acknowledged her team at Ghostwriter Consultancy; their expertise made it all possible. Sunderland’s new Music City status is very timely. Relocating Ghostwriter to Sunderland changed everything.
Support from several groups helps her use the award. The Layers Studio team builds the software locally. Victoria also works with the University of Sunderland, enhancing the AI in the platform. Sunderland’s focus on creativity helps innovation thrive.
Innovate UK received 1,452 applications for the award. They gave out up to £3.75 million in total funding. This helps develop solutions for big challenges.
Emily Nott from Innovate UK praised the winners. She said they showed great leadership and creativity, paving the way for more women innovators.
