Irish AI companies attract nearly €1bn in VC investment since 2025

Irish AI companies secured €947.3m in VC investment across 182 deals since 2025, with Ireland ranking second in Europe per capita for AI deal activity.

Irish artificial intelligence companies have attracted €947.3m in venture capital investment since the beginning of 2025, according to new analysis from PitchBook.

The figures show that €691.3m was invested across 107 deals in 2025, a record year for Irish AI investment, followed by a further €256m across 75 deals in 2026 to date.

Ireland currently ranks ninth in Europe for AI venture capital deal count in 2026 and second on a per-capita basis.

PitchBook describes the 2026 market as “settling after a banner year for investment”, with the reduction from last year’s record levels representing “normalisation rather than retreat.”

The analysis is being published by Enterprise Ireland ahead of the International AI Summit in Dublin on 14 October, the flagship AI event of Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the EU. The summit will focus on harnessing AI to strengthen Europe’s competitiveness.

Investment moves towards later-stage companies

The PitchBook figures show increasing levels of capital flowing into later-stage Irish AI businesses.

Late-stage AI venture capital deal value reached a record €380.5m in 2025, while venture-growth investment reached €179m. These figures were 2.5 times and 1.9 times their respective 2024 levels.

So far in 2026, €135.5m has been invested across 18 late-stage deals, with another €61m invested across three venture-growth rounds.

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PitchBook says this reflects a shift towards fewer, larger rounds going to more established companies.

Some of the largest recent investments include Wayflyer’s €161.8m round and Tines’ €120.7m Series C in 2025. CameraMatics raised €49m in 2026.

International investors back Irish technology companies

The analysis highlights the international investor base supporting Irish technology companies.

International investors in Enterprise Ireland-backed businesses include Accel, Kinnevik, Tiger Global, Tencent, Summit Partners, 83North, Endeavor Catalyst and EQT Life Sciences. Strategic investors include ABB, Samsung and Yokogawa.

Ireland also has a significant domestic investment base. Act Venture Capital is the most active investor after Enterprise Ireland across the cohort analysed, followed by Elkstone and Atlantic Bridge. Delta Partners, Furthr VC and Irrus Investments are also active, while the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund provides a further source of domestic capital.

The breadth and quality of these co-investors point to investor confidence in the commercial potential of Irish technology companies.

AI activity spreads across sectors

Irish AI activity extends across enterprise software, healthcare, medtech, biotech and other applied sectors, according to the analysis.

Healthcare-related businesses are among the largest Irish AI venture capital deals recorded since 2020, including FIRE1 and Deciphex.

The research also identifies 360 active or pending patent filings associated with Enterprise Ireland-backed AI companies, covering areas including health diagnostics, imaging and security.

Enterprise Ireland has participated in 392 Irish AI funding rounds since 2020 and in nearly two-thirds of Irish AI deals in 2026 to date.

Jenny Melia, CEO of Enterprise Ireland, said: “PitchBook’s independent analysis shows the scale of investment now going into Irish AI companies, with almost €1 billion raised since the beginning of 2025.

“The level of investment reflects the calibre and growing maturity of Irish AI companies, the breadth of sectors they are operating in and the strength of the intellectual property being developed in Ireland.

“Investment is only part of the story. Our focus is on helping Irish companies start and scale internationally, build strong leadership teams, develop valuable IP and create jobs and economic value in Ireland. As AI moves further into areas such as healthcare, financial services and critical infrastructure, trust, governance, and assurance will also become increasingly important to commercial success.”

Niamh Smyth TD, Minister of State for Trade Promotion, Artificial Intelligence and Digital Transformation, said: “AI is moving rapidly into practical use across the economy. For Irish businesses, the prize is greater productivity, stronger competitiveness and new opportunities for growth.

“The International AI Summit will focus on how Europe can turn advances in AI into economic value, while building the skills, infrastructure and trusted regulatory environment needed to support adoption and investment.”

The International AI Summit takes place in Dublin on 14 October 2026 as part of Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the EU.