28 young companies pitch for fresh backing as UCD signals expanding ambitions in research commercialisation and deep tech growth.
NovaUCD gathered venture capital and angel investors in Dublin this week as 28 start-ups presented plans to raise a combined €70 million, reflecting a growing pipeline of companies emerging from University College Dublin’s research and innovation ecosystem.
Speaking at the 2026 Investor Day, Liam Cronin, UCD’s director of Innovation, said the university intends to strengthen its role in European innovation.
“Among the objectives outlined in UCD’s Breaking Boundaries strategy to 2030 is that UCD will be a leader in university innovation and entrepreneurship, supporting Irish and European industrial competitiveness,” he said.
“The University is committed to its key role in Ireland’s innovation and knowledge exchange ecosystem as an enabler of economic growth and development.”
Cronin said that NovaUCD plays a central part in that ambition, highlighting its recent recognition by the Financial Times as one of Europe’s leading start up hubs in 2024 and 2025. He pointed to companies such as Equal1, the quantum computing firm that recently secured a $60 million round, as examples of the scale that UCD backed ventures can achieve.
“During the 2026 Investor Day, attendees had the opportunity to meet with and hear from founders of early stage ventures and more established start ups who are collectively seeking €70 million in funding to support them to address global challenges, grow, scale and create jobs,” he added.
Backing tomorrow’s business leaders
The companies pitching span AI, AgTech, FinTech, life sciences, medtech and sustainability. Early stage ventures included Celtonn, MicroJect, Restore Blue and SelekTx, each targeting challenges in emerging communications, clinical delivery, biodiversity and immunology.
Celtonn develops high performance systems for future 6G and space communications. With the number of satellites in orbit expected to exceed 100,000 by 2030, the company says its manufacturing approach enables broader bandwidth at higher frequencies. Celtonn is seeking €1.5 million this year to expand its scientific manufacturing team.
Restore Blue, a nature inclusive technology platform, is working with offshore energy developers to integrate biodiversity into project design. Its software combines proprietary databases, AI driven environmental assessment and satellite based Earth observation. The company plans to raise €800,000 in pre seed funding to accelerate product development, hiring and commercial rollout.
MicroJect, a medtech spin out from UCD, is developing hollow polymer microneedles intended to modernise allergen skin prick testing in the NHS. Its founders argue the technology will replace the current reliance on metal lancets with a more consistent dosing method that is less painful and easier to scale. The company aims to raise €600,000 to progress regulatory, manufacturing and launch milestones with clinical partners.
Life sciences start up SelekTx is seeking €10 million in Series A financing to advance a new class of selective biologics designed to reduce the side effects associated with existing treatments for complex diseases such as Crohn’s. The funding will be used to move its lead programme toward Investigational New Drug readiness and to strengthen preclinical data across its wider pipeline.
Simon Factor, head of New Ventures and Investments at NovaUCD, said the event demonstrates the maturity of the university’s expanding portfolio.
“NovaUCD is more than just an incubator, it is a vital platform for innovation, connecting our community of ambitious spin out and spin in companies with the investor community to create high value start ups,” he said.
“Representatives of our start-up community which are currently seeking to raise €70 million pitched at this year’s Investor Day, which is an indication of the quality and ambition of the NovaUCD start up ecosystem.”
He thanked the investors who attended, noting the consistent involvement of Enterprise Ireland and the wider Irish investment community.
NovaUCD is currently accepting applications from early stage companies interested in joining its entrepreneurial community.
Top image: Lorcan O’Toole, MicroJect; Sarah Cosgrove, Restore Blue; Kyran McStay, SelekTx; Aoife Kelly, Celtonn and Simon Factor, NovaUCD. Photo: Paul Sharp/Sharppix
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