Enterprise Ireland launches Startup Ireland to help founders start, scale and succeed from Ireland

New national initiative aims to support 1,000 new startups

National Startup Hub to connect Irish startups with investors, industry and global opportunities.

New Startup Ireland AI Accelerator to connect Irish startups with global technology expertise and investors.

Enterprise Ireland today announced the launch of Startup Ireland, a new national initiative designed to make it easier for founders to start, scale and succeed from Ireland, alongside the publication of the Startup Ireland Roadmap which sets out its vision, ambitions and programme of delivery. The launch includes the announcement of the first major Startup Ireland initiatives, including the establishment of a National Startup Hub and the Startup Ireland AI Accelerator.

Led by Enterprise Ireland, Startup Ireland will bring together Government, agencies, investors, universities, industry and the wider startup community to create a more connected and founder-first startup ecosystem.

Startup Ireland aims to support the creation of 1,000 new startups and increase the number of startups reaching €1 million in turnover by 20%.

The initiative is focused on building on the success and growth of the startup ecosystem in Ireland, supported by Enterprise Ireland, with a clear ambition to help build the next wave of Irish startups. The Startup Ireland national initiative and roadmap incorporates extensive feedback gathered from founders on the need for a simpler, more coordinated and nationally integrated support system, with clear pathways to funding, mentorship, specialist expertise and access to international opportunities.

Startup Ireland will deliver through three interconnected pillars focused on building a high-performance startup ecosystem, accelerating startup and scaleup creation, and connecting Irish founders with international markets, customers, investors and opportunities.

Key Startup Ireland initiatives include the National Startup Hub, National Accelerator Programme, Startup Ireland AI Accelerator, new founder pathways, stronger startup supports, mentoring and enhanced international connectivity.

National Startup Hub

Startup Ireland will establish a National Startup Hub, co-located with Enterprise Ireland's new Dublin city-centre headquarters. The hub will connect Ireland's startup and innovation ecosystem both nationally and internationally, by providing a convening point for founders, investors, multinational companies, researchers and other partners. It will also make it easier for Irish innovation to reach the world, with a flagship venue and programme of events to showcase the best of innovation.

It will offer access to specialist expertise, networking and peer learning opportunities, and international connections, while providing a landing point for overseas entrepreneurs and investors seeking to engage with Ireland's startup ecosystem. The Hub will also connect startups with specialist infrastructure, innovation supports and regional partners across the country, helping Irish companies access the expertise and partnerships needed to scale internationally.

Startup Ireland National Accelerator Programme

The Startup Ireland National Accelerator Programme includes a funded National Company Accelerator with a €100k investment for participants to accelerate their growth and international scaling.

A dedicated Talent accelerator will provide experienced individuals that are pre-company and pre-idea stage, to validate opportunities, form companies and progress to pre-seed investment. An expanded regional pre-accelerator and early-stage activities network will encourage more founders to start up, validate idea and progress towards pre-seed investment. In addition, sectoral and specialist programmes will be developed to support startups in high growth sectors.

Together the programmes will create a national pathway that supports founders from idea and company formation through to investment readiness, growth and international scaling.

Startup Ireland AI Accelerator

The first specialist programme to be delivered is the Startup Ireland AI Accelerator which will bring together more than 30 partners, including technology partnersAnalog Devices, Inc. (ADI), Anthropic, Amazon, Crusoe, ElevenLabs, Fin, Google, Microsoft, NVIDIA, OpenAI, Stripe and Vanta, alongside investors and ecosystem partners. The Startup Ireland AI Accelerator will be delivered by Dogpatch Labs.

The accelerator also includes a two-day international trip to Paris, another of Europe's leading AI hubs, to connect with investors, customers and AI founders, including attending F/ai Deal Day at STATION F.

The selected companies will benefit from 12 weeks of direct access to technical expertise, customers and investors to help them develop and scale internationally. Eligible startups will also have access to over €1 million in potential technology and cloud credits.

Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland will also collaborate to connect participating startups with multinational companies both in Ireland and in international markets, opening up opportunities to access potential customers, technical expertise and commercial partnerships.

Startup Ireland Initiatives

Additional initiatives in the Startup Ireland Roadmap include:

• Startup Ireland AI-enabled digital platform to simplify applications and remove friction.
• Dedicated website and Founder Support Service, providing a single point of access to information, events, guidance and relevant supports from across the startup ecosystem.
• A new Startup Ireland Strategic Advisory Forum will bring entrepreneurs, investors, government representatives and ecosystem stakeholders together to inform future policy and programmes.
• A nationwide Founders Exchange will connect entrepreneurs with experienced founders, investors and advisors across Ireland.
• International Accelerator partnerships and Soft-Landing Zones in key markets that will help founders enter new markets and access international customers, partners and investment.
• A new Mentor Network will ensure access to experienced founders, CEOs and investors from Enterprise Ireland's international network.
• A strengthened New Frontiers programme designed to support founders with global growth potential through a refreshed programme model, an enhanced stipend and a clear focus on helping founders build innovative ideas into scalable and investment-ready startups.
• Startup Ireland will also place a strong focus on inclusion and regional development, with a target that 35% of supported startups will be female-led, and inclusive supports for under-represented founders.

Speaking at the launch, Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Peter Burke T.D. said: "Startup Ireland is a landmark initiative and a vitally important step in strengthening Ireland's future economy, creating a more connected and easier-to-navigate startup system. By speeding up founder access to support, funding and international connections, we can help more Irish startups grow into successful companies with global ambition. This initiative will bring greater coordination across the startup ecosystem and ensure that founders are at the centre of how supports are designed and delivered."

Minister of State for Employment, Small Business and Retail Alan Dillon TD. said,

"Startup Ireland is a key priority under the Programme for Government and is designed to strengthen and streamline Ireland's startup support ecosystem and unlock the next generation of high‑growth, globally scalable startups. Startup Ireland 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."

Minister of State for Trade Promotion, Artificial Intelligence and Digital Transformation, Niamh Smith TD, "Startup Ireland is designed to make it easier for founders to access support, expertise, funding and international opportunities. It represents a coordinated effort across government, enterprise agencies, investors, academia and industry and reflects a shared ambition to help more founders succeed internationally while remaining rooted in Ireland. The new Startup Ireland AI Accelerator brings Ireland's startup and multinational sectors together to provide our most innovative AI-native startups with direct access to the world's leading AI infrastructure providers, tools and investors and I look forward to following the companies that come through the programme on their growth journey."

Jenny Melia, CEO, Enterprise Ireland said: "Startup Ireland represents a major step change in how we support founders and build the next generation of Irish companies. Startups are central to Ireland's future economic strength, providing the pipeline of companies that will drive exports, innovation, high-value employment and economic growth.

"Our ambition is to help more Irish companies start and achieve international scale. Startup Ireland will back ambitious entrepreneurs, accelerate their path to scale and create a more connected and responsive system around them. The new national accelerator, including the Startup Ireland AI Accelerator, will help the next wave of companies develop new technologies and intellectual property in Ireland, access international markets and build globally competitive businesses from here."

Conor O'Donovan, Head of Startup Ireland at Enterprise Ireland said: "Irish indigenous companies are the lifeblood of our economy and will be central to Ireland's future stability, resilience and growth. We have the talent, ambition and track record to build the next generation of globally competitive Irish companies, but founders need the right conditions to move faster from idea to market, and from early-stage business to international growth.

"Founders have consistently told us that ambition alone is not enough. They need early access to capital, experienced mentors, specialist expertise, and stronger connections to international markets and investors.

"Startup Ireland, which was formally established by Government today, is designed to respond to those needs. Led by Enterprise Ireland, it will make it easier for founders to navigate the system, secure investment, access expert support and build companies that can scale from Ireland and compete internationally."

Development of Startup Ireland

The establishment of Startup Ireland has been informed by national and international research, including OECD recommendations on improving Ireland's startup ecosystem, which identified the need for stronger coordination, better internationalisation supports, improved mentorship, sector-focused programmes and clearer pathways for founders.

Its development was informed by extensive consultation with founders, industry stakeholders and Government partners, including Enterprise Ireland's 2025 Founders Listening Tour, which engaged more than 500 entrepreneurs.

Startup Ireland is a key part of Enterprise Ireland's Delivering for Ireland, Leading Globally strategy and supports the Government's focus on competitiveness, productivity and innovation-led growth.

The full Startup Ireland roadmap can be viewed here

Ends

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Notes to Editors

About Startup Ireland

Startup Ireland is a national, cross-government initiative led by Enterprise Ireland, designed to support founders at every stage of the startup journey, from idea validation and early-stage development to scaling and international growth.

The initiative forms part of Enterprise Ireland's Delivering for Ireland, Leading Globally strategy. Its development has been informed by national and international research, including OECD recommendations for strengthening Ireland's startup ecosystem.

Startup Ireland's 2026–2030 ambitions include:

• Supporting 1,000 new startups
• Ensuring 35% of supported startups are female-led
• Increasing the number of startups reaching €1 million turnover by 20%
• Strengthening Ireland's position as a globally connected innovation hub

About Startup Ireland AI Accelerator Programme

The Startup Ireland AI Accelerator gives founders hands-on access to the tools, engineering expertise and capital needed to build an AI company that can compete internationally.

The programme will run for 12 weeks on a non-equity basis. Each of the ten selected companies will have a named technical lead and receive at least three hours of one-to-one engineering support every week. A dedicated funding track will prepare companies for seed or Series A investment with the programme connecting founders with domestic and international customers and investors.

Technology partners:

The wider technology coalition includes Analog Devices, Inc. (ADI), Anthropic, Amazon, Crusoe, ElevenLabs, Fin, Google, Microsoft, NVIDIA, OpenAI, Stripe and Vanta. Partners contribute different combinations of engineering expertise, infrastructure, tooling, platform access, credits and commercial support.

Investor network

The programme's investor network includes ACT Venture Capital, Ada Ventures, Atlantic Bridge, Cherry Ventures, Earlybird, Elkstone, Episode 1, Frontline Ventures, Lightspeed, Playfair, Singular VC and Sure Valley Ventures. No investor partner receives privileged or exclusive access to participating companies.

Regional and ecosystem network

The programme will work with organisations across Ireland to support national recruitment and access to research, sector expertise and founder communities. These include Monzo, Bronto, Jentic, CeADAR, ESB, GreenTech HQ, Iarnród Éireann, ICHEC, PorterShed, RDI Hub, Republic of Work, The Mill Enterprise Hub, Transport Infrastructure Ireland, Trinity College Dublin and UCD.

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