Enterprise Ireland invested more than €25m in start-ups in 2024
Enterprise Ireland invested €27.6 million in Irish start-ups and supported a total of 157 start-up companies in 2024 through its High Potential Start-Up (HPSU) and Pre-Seed Start Fund (PSSF) programmes.
The results were announced today at Enterprise Ireland’s annual Start-Up Day Conference in Dublin. The event was attended by more than 600 delegates, including the ‘Class of 2024’ Enterprise Ireland supported start-ups, investors, state agencies and start-up accelerators.
2024 marked the final year of Enterprise Ireland’s three-year strategy Leading in a Changing World 2022 -2024 and in that period there were a total of 266 HPSUs and 213 Pre-Seed Start Fund approvals with half of the companies based outside of Dublin. During that time period over €78 million was invested in these start-up companies.
Enterprise Ireland’s Start-Up Day includes a pitching element, featuring top university (pre) spin-out ventures emerging from Enterprise Ireland’s Commercialisation Fund. These teams will pitch their visionary concepts, competing for an award and the prestigious opportunity to participate in UC Berkeley’s Venture Connectivity Program.
Opening Enterprise Ireland’s Start-Up Day in Dublin today, Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment Peter Burke said: “Today is about celebrating the spirit of Irish entrepreneurship. The strong pipeline of innovative start-ups emerging over the last three years demonstrates the extraordinary resilience and business ambition of Irish-founded start-up teams, particularly against the backdrop of a challenging global economic period.
“This government, through Enterprise Ireland, will continue to provide funding, mentorship, market access and tailored programmes as the stepping stones for success. Start-ups are critical to our economic future, our global reputation and our societal progress and we remain fully committed to fostering an environment where innovation flourishes, and where every entrepreneur has the tools needed to thrive and succeed.”
Looking forward, enhancing the pipeline of innovative and scalable start-ups is a key objective of Enterprise Ireland’s new strategy, Delivering for Ireland, Leading Globally sets a target to support 1,000 new start-ups over the next five-years.
Kevin Sherry, interim CEO, Enterprise Ireland said: “Start-up Day 2025 is a celebration of Ireland’s strong and dynamic start-up community and the start-up class of 2024 have and will continue to play a significant role in contributing to the vibrancy of Ireland’s start-up ecosystem. A key objective in our new strategy is to Accelerate Sustainable Irish Business so that in time exporting Irish companies will become the primary driver of the Irish economy.
“As part of our plan, Enterprise Ireland is undertaking a dedicated consultation process by engaging with the start-up ecosystem on the supports available for early-stage companies in Ireland. This aims to strengthen our pipeline of early-stage companies with the potential to scale internationally, furthering Ireland’s position as a global leader in entrepreneurship and innovation.”
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