idfive Co-Founder, Andres Zapata, Judges MICA Up/Start Venture Competition

The idfive sign at the top of the agency's headquarters on the MICA campus in Baltimore.

By idfive \ February 20, 2020

Since moving onto the Maryland Institute College of Art campus in 2018, idfive has strived to support the bustling center of students, educators, and creative professionals. 

This year, the agency’s Co-Founder, Andres Zapata, served as a judge for MICA’s Up/Start Venture Competition, an initiative that focuses on incubating and building creative business ventures within the MICA community. 

“I’m very excited and honored to help out with this initiative,” said Zapata. “MICA’s ability to connect students with the community and foster entrepreneurialism  is very admirable. It’s something that should be emulated by schools across the country.” 

Working with industry partners, UP/Start provides mentorship and capital to help nurture ideas into sustainable businesses. Last year’s winners include an architectural ceramics company, a sustainable product design company, a comic book company that highlights underrepresented characters, and others. An aspect of idfive’s mission is to support Baltimore’s creative industry. Zapata has taught at MICA for 18 years; in 2019 the agency hosted “Make a Mark Baltimore,” an event that partners nonprofits with volunteer marketing professionals; and idfive holds the social design apprenticeship, Lorem Impact, which graduated two MICA students in 2018.