€24 million invested in start-ups in 2023 by Enterprise Ireland
Enterprise Ireland, the government agency responsible for the development and growth of Irish companies in global markets, invested €24 million in Irish start-ups and supported a total of 156 start-up companies in 2023. Investment was provided through Enterprise Ireland’s High Potential Start-Up (HPSU) and Pre-Seed Start Fund (PSSF) programmes.
Start-ups supported by Enterprise Ireland in 2023 include:
- 85 High Potential Start-Up’s (HPSU) with high growth potential
- 71 Pre-Seed Start Fund (PSSF) investments which inject critical early-stage funding into new businesses
- 55% of the companies supported were outside Dublin
- 45 women-led start-up companies were approved investment
- 12 HPSUs emerged from academic research
- 26 companies were spun out of third level institutions, 16 of which were supported through the Enterprise Ireland Commercialisation Fund Programme.
600 delegates recently attended the Enterprise Ireland Start-Up Day in Dublin Castle which brought together the ‘Class of 2023’ Start-Up companies and the wider Start-Up ecosystem including investors, state agencies and start-up accelerators. For the first time, Enterprise Ireland’s Start-Up Day included a ‘big ideas’ pitch element where the top 10 potential spin-outs borne out of Enterprise Ireland’s Commercialisation Funded Research in Irish third level institutions took to the stage to pitch their innovations.
Leo Clancy, CEO, Enterprise Ireland, said: “The ambition and capability of Ireland’s start-ups has never been higher than it is today. The evidence is clear in the calibre of talent and innovation demonstrated by the 85 high potential start-ups and 71 early-stage businesses from across the country, which we celebrate here at Start-Up Day 2024. Supported by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, we have three main pathways to assist start-ups: the High Potential Start-Up (HPSU) programme, Feasibility Grant support, and Pre-Seed Start Funding. We will continue to help drive the success of the most forward-thinking Irish companies, enabling start-ups to thrive and influence the future of global business – cementing Ireland’s reputation as a prime hub for international trade.”
CAPTION:
Pictured (l-r): Leo Clancy, CEO of Enterprise Ireland; Emma Meehan, Founder of High Potential Start-Up Precision Sports Technology; and Minister of State for Trade Promotion, Digital and Company Regulation, Dara Calleary TD.
