More than half of companies supported by Enterprise Ireland in 2025 have AI at their core, while Government outlines €21m refreshed, founder-focused accelerator model.
Enterprise Ireland supported 198 new start-up companies across Ireland in 2025, investing €32.9 million to help early-stage businesses establish and scale, according to figures released at the agency’s annual Startup Day in Dublin.
The Government agency approved €23 million in equity funding for 90 High Potential Start-Ups, alongside €9.55 million in pre-seed funding for a further 108 early-stage companies. Of the total cohort, 99 start-ups, or 52%, have artificial intelligence as a central part of their product or service.
“Start-ups are critical for our future economically, reputationally and societally”
Beyond direct investment, Enterprise Ireland-supported seed and venture capital schemes invested €80 million in 76 Irish companies during the year. The agency also backed 28 start-ups emerging directly from the research ecosystem and approved 67 Commercialisation Fund awards worth a combined €22 million to third-level researchers.
Female founders continued to feature strongly, with 55 of the early-stage start-ups supported in 2025 classified as female-led.
National Accelerator Programme
Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment Peter Burke, TD, said the scale and pace of technological change meant Ireland needed to sharpen its focus on indigenous innovation.
“Rapid advances in artificial intelligence are driving deep changes across business and the global economy,” he said. “Ireland’s response to these changes must include a renewed and coordinated focus on innovation-led, Irish-owned enterprises with the ambition and capability to compete and scale globally.”
Central to that response is a new National Accelerator Programme, announced by Enterprise Ireland with a budget of €21 million over three years. The programme will replace the National Digital Research Centre and will be delivered through a competitive tender process, with applications from operating bodies expected shortly.
According to Enterprise Ireland, the redesigned accelerator model is intended to address feedback from founders and ecosystem stakeholders. It will focus on specialist sectors, broader regional coverage, stronger international connectivity, reduced duplication across programmes and improved access to experienced, founder-led mentorship.
The accelerator will form a core pillar of the forthcoming Startup Ireland initiative, which the agency said is expected to be formally launched in the coming weeks. Startup Ireland is a key action under the Government’s Action Plan for Competitiveness and Productivity.
Minister of State for Employment, Small Business and Retail Alan Dillon said the new accelerator was designed to help Irish founders navigate a more complex global market.
“Global competition, technological disruption and geopolitical uncertainty demand renewed focus on building sustainable Irish businesses. The new €21 million National Accelerator will support Irish founders to start, scale and internationalise in order to secure Ireland’s economy both nationally and internationally.”
The programme is also expected to reflect evolving founder needs, including training supports for AI-native innovation and access to scalable AI infrastructure.
Jenny Melia, chief executive of Enterprise Ireland, added: “Start-ups are critical for our future economically, reputationally and societally,” she said. “Our goal at Enterprise Ireland is to ensure that the necessary support systems and resources are in place to empower founders as they scale their ventures.”
Conor O’Donovan, head of start-ups at Enterprise Ireland, said the new accelerator was shaped by founder feedback calling for earlier access to capital, specialist expertise and international networks.
“The new Startup Ireland National Accelerator tender will deliver best-in-class accelerator and training supports, with a strong focus on native AI, emerging technologies and specialist sectors, broader regional coverage, and fast-tracked access to funding and international markets,” he said.
Enterprise Ireland said further details on the tender process and programme structure would be issued shortly.
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