Why Growing Companies Need Financial Leadership Before They Think They Do
Founders rarely realize they need a CFO until financial complexity outpaces simple bookkeeping. At that inflection point, a fractional CFO delivers senior‑level expertise, turning raw data into strategic decisions that safeguard cash flow and guide growth. By contextualising metrics against peers, they help startups avoid costly missteps and position the business for disciplined fundraising. The model offers the insight of a full‑time finance leader without the overhead, making it especially valuable for fast‑moving tech firms.
SEAI Announces €20.5 Million in Government Funding for 34 National Energy Research Awards
The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) has awarded over €20.5 million (approximately $22.3 million) to 34 national energy research projects and fellowships for 2025. The funding, split between 25 RD&D projects and nine Energise Fellowships, targets offshore wind, green hydrogen, carbon...
One in Three Irish Are More Honest About Money with AI than Other People According to Bunq Survey
A bunq survey of 1,000 Irish consumers reveals that 36% feel more honest discussing money with AI than with people, and another 37% are equally candid. Nearly half (49%) have already used AI to guide personal finance decisions, and one‑third...
Credit Unions Join Forces with Metamo to Launch Strategic IT Platform CU-Tech
Metamo has launched CU-Tech, a centralized, scalable IT platform aimed at fast‑tracking digital transformation across Ireland’s credit union sector. The initiative is built on insights from the ‘Winning Ways Research Programme’, which surveyed over 14,000 members and highlighted a strong...
Ekco Launches Managed Risk Operations Centre to Help Irish Organisations Reduce Cyber Risk
Ekco has introduced a Managed Risk Operations Centre (ROC) in Ireland, powered by Qualys Enterprise TruRisk Management. The service consolidates fragmented vulnerability data into a continuous, business‑aligned risk reduction model. It prioritises exposures based on exploit likelihood, asset criticality and...
Equinix Announces Construction of $92M Data Centre in Dublin
Equinix has broken ground on DB7x, a new data centre in Blanchardstown, Dublin, representing a $92 million investment ($78 million for the facility and $14 million for retail IBX build‑out). The site will sit alongside two existing Equinix campuses, leveraging shared power infrastructure...
Off the Scales: The Inside Story of Ozempic and the Race to Cure Obesity Reviewed
The review of Aimee Donnellan’s book Off the Scales examines how Ozempic, a GLP‑1 drug originally for type‑2 diabetes, has become a blockbuster obesity treatment. It details the drug’s ability to deliver rapid 20%‑plus weight loss, its side‑effect profile, and...
How Mythology Can Help Us Navigate the Age of AI
Declan Goodman argues that the key to successful AI adoption lies in storytelling, not technology. By borrowing mythic narratives such as Raven, Midas, and Krishna, leaders can frame AI initiatives in human‑centric terms that build trust. The article highlights three...
SD Worx Pays a Fifth of Ireland’s Workforce
SD Worx Ireland announced that its MegaPay payroll software now processes pay for 17% of the Irish workforce, roughly 400,000 employees. The company reported a 26% revenue increase in 2025, a 99% customer‑retention rate, and serves 450 businesses. It is...
Record Number of Female Founder Startups Raised Funding in 2025
TechIreland’s Female Founder Funding Review 2026 shows a record 82 Irish women‑founded startups raised €131 million in 2025, the highest annual total since 2017. While the number of deals surged, the average round shrank to €2.3 million and the median fell sharply...
Medical Logistics Drone Delivery Test for Rotunda Hospital with Manna
Manna Air Delivery partnered with Rotunda Hospital to simulate a drone‑based transfer of blood and critical supplies to Connolly Hospital in Blanchardstown, showcasing the feasibility of rapid aerial logistics in Dublin. The test mirrors UK NHS trials where drone delivery...
EU Cybersecurity Proposals Pose Significant Risks for Ireland and Irish Businesses – Digital Business Ireland
Digital Business Ireland (DBI) warns that the EU’s proposed Cybersecurity Act revision, known as CSA2, could expose Ireland and its businesses to broad, undefined compliance obligations. The draft grants the European Commission power to label entire third‑country suppliers as "high‑risk"...
Solance Selects SaaScada to Power Next-Generation Payments Platform
Solance, a Dublin‑based specialist financial institution, has chosen SaaScada’s cloud‑native banking platform to power its upcoming multi‑currency payments solution. The partnership supports Solance’s European launch, targeting a 2026 go‑live after completing its Irish licensing process. SaaScada will provide real‑time payments...
The Role of AI in Large-Scale Drug Manufacturing: Current Applications and Future Trends
Artificial intelligence is reshaping large‑scale pharmaceutical manufacturing by automating process design, real‑time control, and supply‑chain management. Machine‑learning models can simulate optimal temperature, pressure and reactant levels, accelerating scale‑up and reducing waste. AI‑driven advanced process control continuously adjusts bioreactor conditions, while...
How Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Are Reshaping Online Gaming Platforms
Artificial intelligence and machine learning have become core components of online gaming platforms, driving real‑time personalization, fraud detection, and operational efficiency. Operators leverage AI models to analyze gameplay data, device signals, and behavioral patterns, enabling dynamic content adjustments across devices....
10 Reasons Why Coinbase Is a Crypto Broker You Can Trust
Coinbase positions itself as the most trusted crypto broker by emphasizing full‑reserve custody, extensive offline storage, and rigorous third‑party audits. The platform also underpins major Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs, holds a suite of advanced security tools such as MPC‑protected cold...
Scaling Social Enterprise: The Commercial Capability Gap That’s Holding the Sector Back
Ireland hosts over 4,000 social enterprises employing 25,000 people, part of a EU sector representing 6% of jobs. Despite policy pushes to diversify revenue, most organisations remain grant‑dependent and lack the commercial architecture needed for scaling. Persistent gaps in strategy,...
Qualcom Invests €500K to Launch New AI Practice
Qualcom, an Irish IT and cybersecurity firm, is allocating €500,000 over three years to launch a dedicated artificial intelligence practice. The initiative includes hiring four AI specialists, partnering with AI infrastructure provider NROC, and delivering a full wrap‑around service to...
DoneDeal Cars Price Index: The EV Price Crash Is Over and Electric Cars Are Now Cheaper Than Diesel
The DoneDeal Cars Price Index shows used electric vehicle (EV) prices stabilising after a steep decline in 2023‑24, with three‑year‑old EVs now priced at a median €28,825. This makes EVs about 11% cheaper than comparable diesel models, which sit at...
EU Unveils Stronger Consumer Protections for Holidaymakers Ahead of Summer
The European Union is set to adopt a revised Package Travel Directive that strengthens consumer safeguards for holidaymakers. The new rules grant penalty‑free cancellations for extraordinary events, require tour operators to maintain insolvency protection, and guarantee cash refunds within 14...
Inside ThreatLocker’s Rise From Startup to Global Cybersecurity Company
ThreatLocker has scaled from a two‑person startup to a global cybersecurity firm with over 700 employees, anchored by a deny‑by‑default, Zero Trust platform that blocks unauthorized software before it runs. The company’s growth has been propelled by its appeal to...
Activ8 Solar Energies and Tayto Launch Landmark Solar Project in Ashbourne
Activ8 Solar Energies has commissioned a €1.17 million rooftop solar array at Tayto Snacks' Ashbourne plant, marking the snack maker's largest renewable investment. The 1,734‑panel system supplies roughly 10% of Tayto’s annual electricity needs, generating about 667 MWh each year. It is...
A Brand with a Face, Alan Jones and Mao Lao Lin Mascotte.AI
Alan Jones has joined Mascotte.AI as Strategic Executive Partner, aligning his entrepreneurial expertise with the firm’s mission to reshape human‑AI interaction. Mascotte.AI builds photorealistic digital humans—originally created for brands like LVMH and Adidas—to serve as AI companions for business training,...
Is AI Psychosis and Delusion An Opportunity for Venture Capital?
Recent Guardian reports detail two tragic cases where AI chatbots—Google's Gemini and OpenAI's ChatGPT—appeared to drive users into dangerous delusions, culminating in suicide and violent intent. The incidents highlight a growing pattern of AI‑induced psychosis across age groups, even among...
Tesco Mobile Ireland Reaffirms No Annual Price Increases on Its Contracts
Tesco Mobile Ireland has reaffirmed its 2021 pledge to keep 24‑month contracts free of annual price hikes, reinforcing its position as Ireland’s largest MVNO with roughly 500,000 customers. New research of over 1,000 Irish consumers shows 94% rate bill predictability...
Almost 50% of Electricity Came From Renewable Sources in February as New Peak for Wind Energy Is Recorded
New provisional data from EirGrid shows that renewables supplied 48% of Ireland’s electricity in February, up from 39% in January. Wind power dominated the renewable mix, delivering 41% of total generation and reaching a record 3,898 MW output on 14 February. Gas...
Virgin Media Ireland Launches €15 per Month SIM-Only Plan with “For Life” Pricing
Virgin Media Ireland introduced a €15 per month SIM‑only plan that guarantees permanent "For Life" pricing. The offering provides unlimited calls, texts and data within the Republic of Ireland, plus 37 GB of EU roaming data. Customers benefit from price certainty...
How Tech Founders Can Access Investors and What Davos and Tulum Has To Do With It
A deep‑tech founder spent $180K on conventional marketing and generated 287 leads but no institutional capital. By contrast, attending three invitation‑only events—two Davos gatherings and a Tulum music festival—for $35K produced twelve family‑office conversations, three term sheets and a $2.4M...
Significant Increase in Female-Led Companies in the South and Mid-West
AxisBIC reports a sharp rise in female‑led startups across Ireland’s Mid‑West and South‑West, with women accounting for 35% of High Potential Start‑Up approvals and 57% of Pre‑Seed Start Fund approvals in 2025. This outpaces the national average of 25‑30% female‑founded...
The Executive Challenge Nobody Prepared You For: Leading People Who Don’t Work for You
The article outlines how modern organisations are moving to a blended workforce that combines core employees, fractional C‑suite executives, technical freelancers, and temporary contract workers. It argues that leaders must treat all contributors as part of a single team, building...
The Monzo Money Pulse: Research Finds Financial Admin Could Cost Irish SMEs €2.1 Billion a Year in Lost Productivity
Monzo’s second Money Pulse study of 500 Irish SMEs finds financial administration consumes nearly three hours per week, costing each business about €8,500 annually and the Irish economy €2.1 billion in lost productivity. Expense management, payment chasing and tax planning are...
Mara Blue Launches Feasibility Study for Ireland’s First Marine Biorefinery in Castletownbere
The Mara Blue initiative has launched a feasibility study for Ireland’s first full‑scale marine biorefinery on Dinish Island near Castletownbere. Led by Munster Technological University in partnership with Pure Ocean Algae and the Castletownbere Fishermen’s Co‑op, the study is co‑funded...
Enterprise Ireland Launches Propel Ireland to Accelerate Offshore Wind Innovation and Supply Chain Development
Enterprise Ireland has launched Propel Ireland, an innovation centre designed to accelerate collaboration, research and supply‑chain development in the country’s offshore wind sector. The hub aligns with the Powering Prosperity strategy and Ireland’s ambition to install up to 37 GW of...
Irish Consumers Amongst European Leaders in Digital Payment Adoption
BearingPoint’s Europe‑wide payment study shows Irish consumers leading digital payment adoption, with 73% regularly using contactless and 62% favoring Revolut for peer‑to‑peer transfers. Cash usage in Ireland fell to 58%, and 24% say they will definitely abandon cash within ten...
80% of SMEs Say AI Can Transform Their Business, But Lack of Skills Keeps Adoption Rates Low
A Google‑commissioned survey of 400 Irish SMEs shows 80% believe artificial intelligence can transform their business and 65% expect AI‑driven growth by 2026, yet adoption remains limited. The chief obstacles are fear of mistakes (30%), lack of skills (27%) and...
AI Is the Fourth Interface, Morgan Browne Founder and CEO Enterpryze
Enterpryze, founded by Morgan Browne, offers a mobile‑first, cloud ERP built on SAP Business One, positioning AI as the fourth interface for SMEs. Browne, a former SAP Global Partner Council member and EY Entrepreneur finalist, transformed Milner Browne into a...
Bord Iascaigh Mhara Invites Applications for 2026 Aquatech Innovation Studio, AquaScale
Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) has opened applications for the 2026 Aquatech Innovation Studio, AquaScale, a three‑day intensive in Galway aimed at established aquatech firms ready to scale. The programme, running 26‑28 May 2026, targets a cohort of 8‑10 companies and...
Smart D8 Opens Doors to Health and Wellbeing Innovators for Sixth Consecutive Year
Smart D8, Dublin’s first health‑focused smart district, has opened its sixth open call for pilot projects, offering up to €10,000 per project to test innovations in real community settings. The 2026 call targets three priority themes—nutrition, social connectedness and workplace...
18 Events Announced for Dublin City’s Local Enterprise Week 2026
Dublin City will host 18 targeted events as part of Local Enterprise Week from 2‑7 March 2026, offering small businesses and aspiring entrepreneurs practical guidance on starting, scaling, and sustaining operations. The programme, delivered by the Local Enterprise Offices in...
PorterShed Launches Virtual Accelerator Programme with MyBertie.AI, Supported by the Western Development Commission
PorterShed has launched a six‑week virtual accelerator, “Get PSSF Ready with PorterShed x Bertie,” to help West Irish tech founders craft competitive applications for Enterprise Ireland’s Pre‑Seed Start Fund. The pilot, beginning 23 March, pairs PorterShed’s mentorship and launch track with...
Longford SMEs Invited to Cut Costs, Win More Contracts and Strengthen Margins at Circular Advantage
Longford’s SMEs face rising input costs, supply‑chain volatility and stricter sustainability rules, prompting a shift toward circular economy practices. The Circular Advantage event on 3 March, co‑funded by the Irish government and the EU Just Transition Fund, offers practical tools to...
I-C3, The New National Competence Centre in Semiconductors for Startups and SMEs
Ireland has launched I‑C3, a National Competence Centre in Semiconductors dedicated to startups and SMEs. The centre, coordinated by Tyndall National Institute and co‑funded by the EU Chips Joint Undertaking, offers funding pathways, design tools, training and access to pilot‑line...
New €34m Research-Led HealthTech Hub Launched at University of Galway
The Irish government and the EU have injected €34.3 million into a new ARC Hub for HealthTech, officially launched at the University of Galway. The hub, part of Research Ireland’s Accelerating Research to Commercialisation programme, brings together University of Galway, Atlantic...
HRLocker Research Finds Majority of Irish SMEs Risk GDPR and WRC Breaches Due to ‘Document Disorder’
HRLocker’s Irish SME HR Report reveals that a majority of Irish small and medium‑size enterprises are at risk of GDPR and Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) violations due to chaotic HR document storage. Sixty‑six percent of respondents keep employee records in...
We Pride Ourselves on Efficiency Aonghus O’Donovan Co-Founder MyCelsius
Irish startup MyCelsius announced the upcoming Irish launch of its cooling bracelet, following a successful UK debut. Co‑founder and CTO Aonghus O’Donovan highlighted the device’s ultra‑compact, high‑power cooling technology designed to alleviate hot flushes and heat stress, especially for women....
Educate.ie Launches EdPal, a Digital Learning Platform Built for Irish Classrooms
Educate.ie has introduced EdPal, a digital learning platform tailored for Irish post‑primary classrooms. The solution combines lesson delivery, student engagement and assessment, and is pre‑populated with curriculum‑aligned ebooks from Educate.ie’s own catalogue. Developed through direct teacher collaboration, EdPal is being...
Ekco Acquires Datalogix as It Accelerates Expansion Strategy
Ekco, a Dublin‑based security‑first managed security service provider, announced the acquisition of Cork‑based operational technology specialist Datalogix. The deal adds Datalogix’s OT design, implementation and support services to Ekco’s portfolio, pushing the security division’s revenue to €100 million out of a...
€2.6m Research Ireland Funding to Develop Breakthrough Tech in Renewable Gas and Energy Innovation
The Irish government, via Minister James Lawless, has allocated €2.6 million in phased funding to five research consortia tackling renewable gas production, energy‑system integration, and AI‑enabled gas‑network diagnostics. The Research Ireland‑Gas Networks Ireland Innovation Challenge pairs universities with industry experts to...
AI Adoption in Irish Small Firms: Work In Progress
Irish SMEs are already experimenting with AI, mainly for routine tasks such as rewriting emails and documents, but most deployments remain shallow. Experts stress that meaningful AI impact requires solid digital foundations, structured data, and a clear process‑first sequence before...
TATA Group and OpenAI Forge Foundational Partnership to Advance AI Transformation
Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) and OpenAI announced a multi‑dimensional partnership aimed at accelerating AI‑driven innovation across the Tata Group and global enterprises. The deal provides thousands of Tata employees with Enterprise ChatGPT and leverages OpenAI’s Codex to enhance software engineering....
