Gen Z entrepreneurs drive new wave of Irish business ambition

Irish Gen Z adults are twice as likely to start a business as the average adult, with technology, AI and e-commerce driving new entrepreneurship.

Irish Gen Z adults are twice as likely as the average adult to consider starting their own businesses, according to new research commissioned by Visa.

The study found that 18% of Gen Z adults in Ireland are considering entrepreneurship, compared with 9% of adults overall, highlighting growing business ambitions among younger generations.

The research was released as Ireland Fashion Week 2026 gets underway, where more than 40 graduate designers will showcase their work alongside established and emerging fashion brands.

Dedicated followers of fashion

According to the findings, nine in ten Gen Z adults believe technology has made it significantly easier to start and grow a small business. The results point to the role digital commerce, online platforms and technology tools are playing in lowering barriers to entrepreneurship.

Fashion is one sector already benefiting from this trend. A separate survey of designers participating in Ireland Fashion Week found that 92% believe technology has made entrepreneurship a reality for them, while 90% said being technologically savvy is now just as important as creativity when building and running a fashion business.

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The survey also revealed strong levels of confidence among designers. Some 92% expect turnover to increase over the next year, while more than one-third anticipate growth of more than 20%.

Visa cardholder data indicates that almost half of fashion transactions in Ireland now take place online. Payment volumes in the sector continue to grow year on year, creating new opportunities for designers and fashion businesses to reach customers beyond traditional retail channels.

Coming of age

Ines Obtinalla, head of Marketing at Visa Ireland, said: “The next generation of Irish entrepreneurs is coming of age in a digital-first economy. Technology is making it easier than ever for ambitious young people to launch businesses, reach customers and grow beyond traditional boundaries. The designers participating in Ireland Fashion Week show what is possible when creativity is combined with digital capability.

“Ireland Fashion Week is a powerful example of the intersection of culture and commerce, showcasing how creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship come together to create economic opportunity.”

Ashley McDonnell, Founder of Ireland Fashion Week, said the event was designed to help designers grow commercially as well as creatively.

“Ireland Fashion Week was born from a belief that Irish designers deserve a world-class platform to grow their businesses and reach new audiences. Seeing this cohort step onto the runway and into the spotlight is everything we set out to achieve, and having Visa’s support behind that journey makes it all the more meaningful.

“From equipping designers with the insights and tools to manage their businesses through year-round bootcamps to bringing potential customers to their shows, the partnership between Ireland Fashion Week and Visa extends far beyond the runway.”

The research also highlights the increasing role of artificial intelligence in the sector. Half of designers surveyed said AI is now an essential tool for fashion businesses, while 54% believe it is helping independent brands compete more effectively with larger industry players.

As more businesses move online, trust and security remain key concerns. Among designers surveyed, 84% identified secure online payment options as the payment capability they expect to be most important for fashion businesses over the next decade.

For emerging designer Bray Zhang, technology has become central to building a business and reaching customers.

“Social media has been crucial to growing my business. Before I had a website, it was how people discovered my work and contacted me, and even now it remains one of the easiest ways for people to find my brand and shop online,” he said.

“Technology has made the business side of being a designer much more accessible, from building my website to managing day-to-day operations, giving me more time to focus on the creative side of my work.”

Ireland Fashion Week runs from 7 to 12 October and will feature established, emerging and graduate designers across eight shows, industry events and development platforms. Visa, the event’s title sponsor, is supporting the Graduate Show on 10 October, which will feature more than 40 emerging designers, as well as a range of consumer experiences designed to connect the public with Irish fashion and creativity.

Image at top: Three Gen Z designers taking part in Ireland Fashion Week. Photo: Evan Doherty