SMASH secures Innovate UK grant
SMASH, the new platform for content creators, has secured an Innovate UK grant to fund its development. Providing new and young talent with unique digital tools, and connecting them with hard-to-reach decision-makers, SMASH aims to soft-launch this autumn.
In a post-Covid world, audiences are demanding more diversity that challenges established commissioning processes. SMASH transforms the way innovative content is discovered by turning new content creators into market-savvy producers.
SMASH is a digital platform with a suite of digital tools including a Pitch Builder, Pitch Protector, Sales Estimator, Talent Discoverer and Smart Contracts on one easy-to-use platform. The service will launch in the Film Industry before embracing all content creators.
SMASH, founded by independent producers Fiona Gillies, Christine Hartland, and digital pioneer Mahesh Ramachandra, was selected for the prestigious Horizon European Film Market startup Hub in Berlin and was a finalist at the AccelerateHer Investing Women Disruptive Tech category earlier this year.
The team is working with industry veteran Hilary Davis (formerly Bankside Films) and the London-based incubator Activate. They are currently raising additional funding for the platform's development.
Fiona Gillies, CEO of SMASH said:
“We are thrilled to receive this grant and would like to extend our thanks to Innovate UK for recognising the huge upheaval currently being experienced by the creative industries and subsequently supporting the potential of this new and much needed digital platform.”
About Innovate UK
Innovate UK drives productivity and economic growth by supporting businesses to develop and realise the potential of new ideas. We connect businesses to the partners, customers and investors that can help them turn ideas into commercially successful products and services and business growth. We fund business and research collaborations to accelerate innovation and drive business investment into R&D. Our support is available to businesses across all economic sectors, value chains and UK regions. Innovate UK is part of UK Research and Innovation. For more information visit www.innovateuk.ukri.org
About Fiona Gillies, CEO and Producer
Fiona is an experienced and creative feature film producer. Recent feature films include THE BEAT BENEATH MY FEET, which was in competition at the Berlin Film Festival and released worldwide. She produced CITY SLACKER and AFTER LOUISE and has championed grass roots talent. She received funding from Creative England/BFI for SOME SWEET OBLIVIOUS ANTIDOTE starring Sir Lenny Henry and Wumni Mosaku, directed by Christiana Ebohon Green. She has worked with the Film Department of Southbank University and has mentored for Women in Film & TV.
About Christine Hartland, COO and Producer
Christine has over 20 years of experience in corporate film and event production. In 2008, she produced her debut feature film, WMD, which was one of the first films to follow a reverse distribution strategy. She then produced the world-wide release CONTAINMENT, and has since received Creative Europe and BFI development funding. She was part of the mentoring scheme Guiding Lights with mentor producer Damian Jones (the Oscar winning IRON LADY) and is a member of Women in Film & TV and the Royal Society of Arts.
About Mahesh Ramachandra, CPO
Mahesh is a digital pioneer with over 20-years’ experience of creating B2B SaaS and B2C entertainment services around the world. He is currently Chief Product Officer at KidsKnowBest and previously held similar roles at multimedia children’s content platform Azoomee and Hopster, the award-winning SVOD service for pre-schoolers.
About Hilary Davis, Sales Estimates Expert
Hilary Davis has worked for over 36 years in international film sales and film financing and has worked on a broad number of notable films during her long career. After starting at Warner Bros she subsequently worked at HandMade Films, Alibi Communications plc, Beyond Films and Bankside Films. She regularly mentors emerging filmmakers and teaches at film industry events in the UK and abroad.
About Activate, Start-up Studio
Activate is a digital start-up studio based in London. With more than 20 years’ experience in digital design and product development, Activate supports startups with the design capabilities and technology expertise needed to launch, scale, and manage their product. They seek out entrepreneurs with exceptional ideas and only work with the startups that become part of their investment portfolio. Activate ensures the startups’ proposition is investible and can demonstrate traction in preparation for raising capital with its network of investors.
