Banteer creator Conor Sexton is aiming to reshape how children consume digital media after being selected for one of Ireland’s leading student entrepreneurship programmes.
Conor, founder and Director of Business Strategy at CLE Family Media, has been accepted into the prestigious MTU Student Inc. Summer Accelerator 2026, run by the Munster Technological University Student Innovation Hub.
The accelerator programme supports emerging founders and innovators as they develop businesses with real-world impact, providing mentorship, strategic guidance, and networking opportunities throughout the summer.
Conor and his partner Lydia, alongside a small creative team and a growing network of mentors, advisors, and supporters, are currently developing The Pawsitive Pugs & Pals®, a new educational children’s series which supporters have described as potentially becoming an “Irish Bluey” for modern families.
The show is designed to encourage creativity, kindness, and learning, with a focus on calmer, more meaningful content compared to much of today’s fast-paced digital media.
Speaking about the inspiration behind the project, Conor explained that the idea came while minding a friend’s young child.
“I looked up and he was watching Lego characters acting out a bank robbery. He was only four years old,” he said.
“That moment really made me start researching children’s media and how content is designed to keep kids engaged. Young children can struggle to process fast-paced, overstimulating content, especially when it is loud, chaotic, and designed mainly to hold attention.”
Conor said his goal with CLE Family Media is to create programming that supports both children and parents by promoting meaningful engagement rather than passive screen time.
“Our aim is to use the content as a starting point that encourages children to move offline, engage in real play, ask questions, and reflect on what they’ve watched,” he explained.
“Each episode will have a purposeful theme that can be incorporated into day-to-day life at home and when out and about.”
Conor added that the project has also been shaped by family life, with his partner Lydia supporting the vision behind creating safer, calmer, and more meaningful content for children.
CLE Family Media is currently preparing to launch its first episodes, with development focusing on educational storytelling, positive values, and balanced media consumption for younger audiences.
Conor’s entrepreneurial journey has been shaped by more than a decade of experience in business, beginning in the butchery industry where he developed skills in customer service, teamwork, and operations management.
He later expanded his studies through qualifications in logistics, supply chain management, and marketing, completing a QQI Level 6 in Marketing with distinction. He also studied at the Morrison’s Island Campus of Munster Technological University, completing two QQI Level 6 courses, and is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing at MTU while building CLE Family Media.
Support for the project has also come from academics and early childhood specialists working within the field of child development and education.
The MTU Student Inc. Summer Accelerator officially begins on May 25th, with Conor joining a cohort of ambitious student founders working to bring innovative ideas to life
Follow Conor’s journey here:
Conor Sexton LinkedIn
Learn more about CLE Family Media here:
CLE Family Media Facebook Page
CLE Family Media Instagram
