Rooted at the intersection of Governance. Creator Economy. Emerging Technology.
Awen empowers creators to push boundaries. Through experiential events and innovative digital projects, we ignite the spark that propels your next creative breakthrough.
Inspiring Creative Experiences
Our Creative Innovations
TIKIT
Event ticketing, simplified.
SYNC.LAND
A P2P marketplace of music for film & video games.
VALT
A token-gated digital collectibles marketplace.
Tikit
Event ticketing, simplified.
With 120+ registered users and 450+ tickets sold, Tikit has already facilitated more than $10,000 in revenue, ensuring seamless transactions and direct payouts to event organizers. Tikit streamlines ticket sales while keeping event hosts in control of their earnings.
Sync
A P2P marketplace of music for film & video games.
Sync.Land connects music and visual art creators, showcasing a catalog of over 250 songs to facilitate proper licensing and enable direct payments to rights holders.
30+ high-energy events & activations Around the US and Canada
energizing communities. igniting change.
Partners & Case Studies
Awen collaborates with trailblazing organizations to create impactful experiences. From grassroots movements to global initiatives, we help bring visionary projects to life through immersive events and digital innovation.
Who We Are
Ian "Cullah" McCullough
Founder & CEO, Awen
Ian “Cullah” McCullough is a multi-disciplinary artist, engineer, and entrepreneur whose visionary approach bridges creativity, technology, and community. Best known for his work as Cullah—a recording artist with an unparalleled 20-year streak of annual open-source album releases—Ian’s creative journey naturally led him to found Awen. Drawing from deep roots in music, philosophy, and open-source innovation, he launched Awen to inspire collective experiences that blend artistic expression with emerging technology, governance, and community-led systems.
With a Master’s in Philosophy in Music and Media Technologies from Trinity College Dublin, Ian pairs academic rigor with decades of software development and blockchain advocacy. His career includes building artist-first licensing frameworks and driving policy conversations that champion distributed, equitable digital ecosystems. At Awen, Ian brings technical expertise, mythic storytelling, and a generational pulse of musical tradition into a future-forward platform for co-creation.
Visit cullah.com to learn more.
Maggie "Mie" Schmidt
Co-Founder & CMO, Awen
Maggie “Mie” Schmidt is a multidisciplinary artist, producer, and strategist whose creative vision shapes the soul and story of Awen. As a recording artist, Mie’s voice carries emotional weight and clarity, drawing from a lifetime of musical study and a deep commitment to healing through art. Her work spans song, design, and movement—each piece part of a larger thread woven through presence, performance, and purpose.
With a background in vocal performance, audio production, and systems-based thinking, Mie brings a rare blend of emotional insight and technical fluency to every project. Her early years in dance and theater, combined with hands-on experience refining sound tools and creative workflows, inform a process that balances structure and intuition. As President and founding member of the Wisconsin Blockchain Business Council, Mie also works at the intersection of policy and possibility—crafting more expressive, inclusive spaces for artists, builders, and communities to thrive.
Visit therealmie.com to learn more.
As Seen In...
From national media to local spotlights, Awen has been featured across a range of platforms recognizing our work at the intersection of creativity, community, and innovation. Explore some of the publications and partners that have shared our story.
