Top 50 Hardware Startup Investors in Ireland in November 2024

Enterprise Ireland is the government agency responsible for the development and funding of the indigenous business sector. Their mission is to accelerate the development of companies to achieve strong positions in global markets resulting in increased national and regional prosperity. It was founded in 1998 and headquartered in Dublin, Ireland.

Kernel Capital is the independent manager of The Bank of Ireland Kernel Capital Venture Funds, one of the largest and most active sources of equity finance on the island of Ireland. Kernel leverage their extensive network to enable their portfolio companies recruit the highest caliber people, to break into new international markets and to generaterevenues of scale. It is the only investment firm with venture capital Funds dedicated to both jurisdictions on the Island. Kernel have raised over €210M from investors which including their strategic partner Bank of Ireland, Invest NI, Enterprise Ireland, Galway University Foundation, The University of Limerick Foundation, The New York State Common Retirement Fund and undisclosed Family Offices. Consistently delivering strong financial returns for their investors Kernel have led more than 20 substantial trade sales to NASDAQ, NYSE, and LSE listed corporations.

NDRC builds high-impact new ventures. By providing the people, time, space and investment needed at the earliest stages of dedicated commercialisation work, NDRC is creating companies worthy of commercial investment and with the ability to scale. The NDRC team has the breadth of knowledge and expertise in technology and markets. NDRC worksside-by-side with researchers, entrepreneurs and venture teams to turn great ideas into successful new ventures.By the end of 2014, NDRC’s portfolio of startup ventures had secured a cumulative €88m in follow-on investment from commercial investors, with a combined market capitalisation of approx. €220m.

Technology-focused, investing capital and expertise to fuel growth in the most promising ideas and companies. Raised c.€600m across multiple funds and invest from seed to growth.We look for companies with potentially cutting-edge, category-defining businesses in markets including application software, IT infrastructure, communications, Internetand mobile. We help founders create and scale businesses globally. We work as a small team with diverse strengths accessing a community of over 200 founders. The teams and companies we back scale their investor base as they scale their business execution and ambition. We work closely with them in this process. Over the past 25 years have built a broad network of US and European investors and founders that share our vision and approach.Act is based in Dublin, Ireland.Our most recent funds are supported by the European Investment Fund.

Early stage VC investments and funding for start-ups / founders in Ireland.

Elkstone is an investment firm, focusing on entrepreneurs, senior executives, institutional LPs, the venture community, and the Irish diaspora.The objective of the organization is to boost the economic value and overall well-being of the island of Ireland by expanding a network, facilitating deserving investments, and delivering excellentinvestment performance.

Sure Valley Ventures is an entrepreneur-led Venture Capital Fund that invests in early-stage software companies. Working in partnership with Shard Capital, a specialist broker and asset manager based in the City of London, Sure Valley Ventures specializes in investing in Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR), Financial Technology(FinTech), and the Internet of Things (IoT) Sectors.

Frontline is the venture firm for globally ambitious B2B companies on both sides of the Atlantic. Frontline Seed speeds up ideas at inception across Europe. Frontline X is a growth-stage fund, for fast and frictionless US-Europe expansion.

Enterprise Equity (or EEVC) is an excellent for providing capital to early stage and expanding business throughout Ireland.

SOSV is a global, deep tech venture capital firm that operates the HAX and IndieBio startup development programs focused on human and planetary health. SOSV invests $500,000 in startups at their inception as they onboard either HAX or IndieBio for a 4-6 month period designed to accelerate the raise of their next institutional round. SOSV joins thelater rounds of HAX and IndieBio graduates. HAX, based in a 35,000 sq ft facility in Newark, NJ, is equipped with machine tools, 3D printers, chemical, electrical and mechanical engineering labs, as well as on-staff engineering and design experts. SOSV's IndieBio has locations in NYC and San Francisco, both of which offer extensive services and facilities to founders including on-site BSL-2 labs, well equipped lab benches and hoods, and advanced lab equipment, such as chromatography equipment.

Atlantic Bridge is a Growth Equity Firm with a Cross Border Value Add strategy. We invest in deep technology companies in Europe and the US. Our team is made up of successful entrepreneurs and senior technology industry executives and we invest in strong ambitious entrepreneurs and management teams that have the passion and drive to scale up andexploit major growth opportunities. We help our portfolio companies expand and grow internationally through our global platform with our team and offices in London, Dublin, Munich, Paris and Palo Alto.Atlantic Bridge brings together a unique team of technology entrepreneurs, experienced managers, finance professionals, and investment experts. The team contains a wealth of international business experience across Europe, the UK and the US. They have worked together in various capacities for the last 30 years, bringing a true partnership approach to their firm and their investments. Its investors include the founders, leading institutional investors, and private investors with a track record of investment in successful technology companies.Atlantic Bridge has developed a unique and differentiated strategy that focuses on specific technology themes and the implementation of the “Atlantic Bridge Model” for scaling companies internationally. The “Bridge Model” accelerates the scale-up of technology companies in Europe and the US. This approach is highly differentiated and has delivered strong performance results to date.

The AIB Seed Capital Fund was established in 2007 to provide venture capital for companies at the seed and early stages of development across a range of sectors throughout the Republic of Ireland. The Fund was established under the Enterprise Ireland Seed and Venture Capital Programme 2007-2012.The Fund has a total of €30m under managementwith AIB and Enterprise Ireland both committing €15m. It is managed by experienced managers with extensive expertise in making seed and early stage investments, adding value and facilitating business success.The Fund managers are empowered to make seed investments of up to approximately €500,000. Furthermore, the Fund has the capacity to make investments in later rounds to support the continued growth of investee companies.The Fund will be managed by Enterprise Equity Venture Capital and the Dublin Business Innovation Centre. This unique partnership brings together extensive regional and investment expertise.Enterprise Equity will evaluate and manage all investments outside the city and county of Dublin, as well as investments that require in excess of €250,000 from the fund within the city and county of Dublin.Dublin Business Innovation Centre (DBIC) will evaluate and manage all investments within the city and county of Dublin when the initial investment amount required from the Fund does not exceed €250,000.

At Development Capital, they are aware of the significant growth opportunities available to mid-sized companies and understand the management teams’ unique requirement for not only finance, but also for a funding partner who will bring experience, expertise and international reach to assist secure and maximise the business growth opportunity.Development Capital provides investee companies with a unique and unprecedented partnership approach which will maximise the growth opportunity in the most prompt and efficient manner. In addition to their experienced Investment Directors, their partners include:High profile and experienced Industry Experts who will provide direction and support to investee companies; andMajor Irish Corporates who have committed not only funding but also their international experience.

HBAN is dedicated to raising the profile of business angel investment as an asset class on the island of Ireland and to promote the creation of business angel syndicates.

Supporting communities to grow, investing in businesses to scale and planning for the future of the western region.

Gareth Lambe is the Chief Executive Officer of Medihive. He previously worked at Meta as a Board Of Directors. Gareth Lambe attended the University College Dublin.

Molten Ventures is a venture capital company. They invest in software, telecoms, electronics, the internet, MedTech, and cleantech services. They support visionary entrepreneurs who will invent the future.

The Bank of Ireland Seed and Early Stage Equity fund is a joint fund built with contributions from the Bank of Ireland, the University of Limerick Foundation, and government-backed The seed fund will invest in export-oriented high potential firms that operate in the technology, food and financial services sectors, inaddition to supporting patent and patent pending projects within Irish universities, targeting investments between EUR 100K-500K. The new fund comprises of a €17 million investment by Bank of Ireland, along with funding of €8 million from Enterprise Ireland and € 1million by the University of Limerick Foundation. It will be managed by

Celtic House Venture Partners is an independent Canadian investment firm.Since 1994, Celtic House has been one of Canada’s most active investors in technology and innovation. Capitalizing on the deep domain expertise of its partners, Celtic House has consistently provided superior financial returns to its investors. Celtic House has collaboratedwith management teams and repeat entrepreneurs to develop technology companies from the inception phase through to exit, generating 25 initial public offerings and successful acquisitions.Celtic House has collaborated with management teams and repeat entrepreneurs to develop technology companies from the inception phase through to exit, generating 25 initial public offerings and successful acquisitions.From offices in Toronto and Ottawa, Celtic House manages in excess of $425 million across three funds. Celtic House is currently making new investments out of Celtic House Venture Partners Fund IV, which closed in 2012.

Business Venture Partners was founded in 2004 as a corporate finance adviser for SME/owner managed businesses. The investment team is comprised of Elliott Griffin, Ronan Smith, Edel Coen and Mark Ruane and the team skills combine deep industry knowledge with experience in venture investing, corporate finance and international expansion. Theteam works on behalf of its clients buying and selling companies, raising finances, working with start-ups and advising on strategic growth, business succession and owner exits.Since 2007, BVP has successfully raised and managed 10 Simple Green BES and EII Funds. They have invested, on behalf of their investors, in some of Ireland’s most innovative companies such as Celtic Bioenergy, EFT Controls, and UrbanVolt. Our investment strategy is to spread investments over project finance and a portfolio of high potential companies. Their philosophy is to work hard with each investment to deliver valuable support for the company promoters and build shareholder value for their investors.In 2016 BVP launched The 10th BVP Green EII Fund. The fund provides eligible investors with the opportunity to avail of up to 40% income tax relief and provides the investor access to a portfolio of cleantech companies and renewable energy projects. The 11th Green Fund will be launched in Q4 2017.

Investing in technical and repeat founders across Europe & US. Seed and early investors in Hopin, Pitch, MetaMap, Manna, Zapp, Crossbeam, Nothing, Standard and more.

TLcom Capital, is an Africa focused tech VC, with offices in Lagos, Nairobi and London. TLcom had been investing since 1999 in Tech, Media, Mobil and Internet companies across Europe, US and Africa, which is the exclusive focus of its most recent TLcom TIDE Africa funds. TLcom manages total commitments of approximately 300 million USD in thesesectors via a series of dedicated investment vehicles. Our investment strategy is to identify, back and assist world class entrepreneurs and management teams with disruptive technologies and business models, compelling intellectual property and deep market knowledge. We primarily target companies focused on Africa as a prime market, in the following investment themes: Access to Data Service; Financial Services; eCommerce; B2C applications (including but not limited to: health, education, energy, media and entertainment); and Software solutions to corporates and SMEs.

Michael Dwyer is a founder of Pigsback.com.

LVP is a venture capital seed fund with a difference - they're operating experts in the games sector, and they only ever invest in the games ecosystem. That means they bring real experience and deep understanding. They speak the same language, share the same references, understand the same challenges - and they believe in the same vision.They know instinctively where the opportunities lie; where there are strengths to be harnessed and exposures to be covered. In fine-grain, no-hiding, straight-talking detail. They know when to bide time, when to iterate and when to go wide. And how.They invest in people. That means founders with the potential to build the best in the world; teams with terrific, creative games development skills, or fantastic ideas for revolutionary games technology or services… and a vision that sets them apart.

Rob Hickey is Vice President of Engineering at Azuki Systems, responsible for product design and development. Rob brings more than 20 years of proven management and engineer experience in the areas of video distribution, signal processing and content-aware networking to the role.Most recently, Rob worked at Cisco Systems and was a member of theCisco New England Development Center Leadership Team. His responsibilities included leading the Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) Application development organization where he led the design and development of Label Switched Multicast for Cisco’s edge routing platforms. This technology is a key component of Cisco’s video distribution architecture. Prior to his current role, Rob managed a development and QA team responsible for the design and development of next generation security and content switching platforms. Prior to Cisco, Rob was a founding engineer at ArrowPoint Communications, which was acquired by Cisco in May 2000. ArrowPoint was a leader in the content networking space and pioneered the L4-L7 intelligent load balancer. At ArrowPoint, Rob held various roles in hardware and software development as well as QA.Before joining ArrowPoint, Rob held various engineering positions at Bay Networks and Raytheon Company.Rob received his BSEE from Northeastern University and completed the Global Leadership and Business Leadership Development Programs while at Cisco.

GAN Ventures is the investment arm of the Global Accelerator Network

We work with leading corporations, startups, universities, and growers to solve the biggest challenges facing the agtech and foodtech industries.

Summit Bridge Capital is a growth technology fund co-managed by Atlantic Bridge Capital and WestSummit Capital. The Fund targets fast growing technology companies with a presence or strategic interest in Ireland and China.

Nigel Byrne is an angel Investor and a former group CTO of Ooredoo.

We connect, support and invest in the world's top technologists.

We are a Venture & Innovation Platform Advancing the Food & Agriculture Industries We work with leading corporations, startups, universities, and growers to solve the biggest challenges facing the food and agriculture industries.

Draper Associates, founded in 1985, is a seed-stage venture capital firm that helps entrepreneurs to drive their businesses to greatness. We understand that a great company takes time to build and we'd like to ensure that entrepreneurs are in for the long haul.

Barry Lunn, the founder and CEO of Provizio (previously founder and CEO of Arralis) takes a design led approach to tech entrepreneurship. Barry’s approach to solving difficult technology problems is as much artistic as it is actual physics.

In the two decades since our founding, we have worked with hundreds of extraordinary European founders, and have raised eight funds totalling more than $3bn.

We are an early-stage VC fund investing in tech companies that meet future generation needs

Techstart Ventures is a leading investor of seed capital across Scotland and Northern Ireland. they are a trusted partner to ambitious founders on their journey to success.

Intel Capital invests in innovative startups targeting cloud and AI infrastructure, edge, 5G, autonomy, cybersecurity, client & gaming, enterprise applications, silicon design and manufacturing, and a wide range of other disruptive technologies. Since 1991, Intel Capital has invested US$12.9 billion in more than 1,582 companies worldwide.Intel Capital has adopted the Diversity Term Sheet Rider.

The wholly owned knowledge and technology venturing company of Ulster University.

Growing Capital is an early-stage investment firm specialized in supporting startups with their roots in Ireland.

We invest in extraordinary founders building startups in supply chain and mobility. We are equipped to support founders through the seed stage in their effort to transform global trade and commerce.

Focus Capital Partners We are a highly committed outcome-focused group of professionals. We bring to each project a powerful combination of deep technical and financial expertise, extensive commercial experience, strong networks and an entrepreneurial attitude. Learn More About Us International Network

EIT Urban Mobility is an initiative of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), a body of the European Union. Europe’s leading community for impact-driven start-ups and scale-ups in urban mobilityWe want to move cities toward a more sustainable future by partnering up with start-ups and scale-ups like yours. Our Impact Venturesdivision gives you access to funding and support channels to deliver financial, environmental and social impact on the urban landscapes around us. Our tools are: Funding through grants and equity investments, Knowledge and training through partner-led programmes, networking and introductions through dedicated support to our equity portfolio companiesOur investments provide you with a boost on your growth journey, and our network connects you with the right stakeholders in the public policy sector — on a regional, national and European-wide scale — to put your company on the map and bring your urban mobility services to the people who need it the most.If you’re like us and have a drive to shape the cities of our future, join our community of engaged and esteemed impactful ventures by applying for one of the many different programs we offer.

Based in Dublin, Ulster Bank Diageo Venture Fund supports management teams that need capital to expand their businesses into new markets.

ff Venture Capital (ffVC) is a technology venture capital firm investing in some of the strongest growth areas to date, including cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, machine learning, drones, enterprise cloud software, and crowdfunding. The firm identifies and invests in technology and technology-enabled companies at its inception acrossgeographies and emerging industries. With three partners and an acceleration team of 20+ investment and operations professionals, ffVC actively participates with founders to develop products, target markets, and accelerate growth. Since 2008, ffVC has invested in over 100 companies and has helped to create companies with an aggregate market value exceeding $6 billion.

Infinity Capital are hypothesis-driven investors - constantly calibrating ideas through a Silicon Valley/technology network that they've been building for over two decades. Their extensive technology and operating backgrounds, combined with over a dozen years each of successful startup investing, have been essential in buildingcredibility and a reputation that resonates with entrepreneurs.

Backing entrepreneurs to build Financial Technology market leaders in Europe and South East Asia. Finch Capital invests in financial services, real estate tech, insurance tech, etc.

Rocktop Partners is an alternative investment manager that specializes in distressed consumer credit markets, in particular, the acquisition of large pools of performing and nonperforming first lien residential mortgage loans with title defects, compliance issues, or other collateral defeciences. Rocktop has advised the Rocktop Funds in connectionwith the investment of over $3 billion in more than twenty-eight portfolio loan pool acquisitions. Rocktop is managed by a team of mortgage professionals with decades of trading, legal and servicing experience in the consumer debt and residential mortgage markets.

New Venture Partners is a venture capital firm specializing in corporate spinouts. It focuses on incubation, seed, and early stage investments. The firm invests in underleveraged or underutilized corporate assets; technology or concept ready for commercial product development that is not seeking capital for additional research; product andunderlying technology that is meaningfully differentiated along dimensions that matter to potential customers; and where preliminary research suggesting there are customers willing to pay for the product or service. It seeks to commercialize corporate technologies through the creation of independent ventures.

EdgeStone Partners is a private equity and venture capital arm of GMP Securities, specializing in direct investments and fund of funds investments. It seeks to make private equity, mezzanine, and venture capital investments in middle market, seed/startup, early venture, mid venture, late venture, industry consolidation, recapitalizations,roll-up strategy, management buy-in or buy-out, divestiture of non-core business and growth capital stages Within direct investments. EdgeStone Partners seeks to invest in venture capital funds and private equity funds within fund of fund investments. It specializes in investments in venture capital and buyout funds through its fund of funds. EdgeStone Partners manages and invests through its funds, Later Stage Equity (EdgeStone Capital Equity Fund); Mezzanine Debt; Energy Capital (EdgeStone Capital Energy Fund), and Venture Capital (EdgeStone Capital Venture Fund) funds. It prefers to invest in light manufacturing, business, and consumer and financial services. EdgeStone Partners seeks to invest in companies based in North America with a focus on Canada. It seeks to invest in Canada and focuses on primary investments, with a limited amount of capital allocated to secondary investments. It typically invests between $5 million and $15 million. EdgeStone Partners seeks to invest in companies with EBITDA range of $10- $50 million and Enterprise Value range of $50- $250 million. It seeks to invest in equity and equity related securities, and prefers majority ownership/control positions and active board involvement in its portfolio companies and targets an IRR of 20 percent to 25 percent per year. EdgeStone Partners exits an investment within a period of three to seven years. It preferred exit options include: sale to a strategic or financial buyer; share re-purchase by the company; initial or secondary public offering; and financial restructuring and targets an IRR of 40 percent. It prefers to invest between Cdn $25 million ($22.14 million) and Cdn $60 million ($53.15 million) and more through the Later Stage fund. EdgeStone Partners seeks to make subordinated debt, preferred share, and related equity investments in buyouts, going private transactions, growth capital financings, expansion capital, and acquisitions of middle market and later stage private and public companies through the Mezzanine Debt fund (EdgeStone Capital Mezzanine Fund). It seeks to invest in companies based in North America through the mezzanine fund. EdgeStone Partners typically invests between Cdn $10 million ($8.85 million) and Cdn $40 million ($35.43 million) in its portfolio companies and also considers higher investments. It seeks an IRR between 15 percent and 20 percent and exits its investment within a period of three to seven years. The fund also prefers to take a seat on the Board of Observers of its portfolio companies. Through its Energy Capital (EdgeStone Capital Energy Fund), the firm makes acquisition and organic growth investments in small and mid-sized public and private companies. The firm seeks to make equity and equity related investments in the exploration, production, and service sectors of the energy industry, oil and gas, and other energy-related sectors through the Energy Capital fund. EdgeStone Partners primarily invests in companies based in Western Canada. It prefers to invest $5 million to $10 million per transaction. EdgeStone Partners seeks to invest in common equity or equity-related securities, such as preferred shares or convertible debt. It seeks to exit its investments in three to five years; has an Observer attend at all the board meetings of portfolio companies. EdgeStone Partners seeks to invest in early and mid- stage technology companies through its Venture Capital fund (EdgeStone Capital Venture Fund). It seeks to invest in companies that sell technology solutions to the enterprise and where the intellectual property resides in the software. EdgeStone Partners typically invests between Cdn $3 million ($2.59 million) and Cdn $10 million ($8.65 million) in its portfolio companies. It typically holds its investments for three to five years, targets an IRR of 40%, and it also makes co-investments. EdgeStone Partners also seeks membership on the Board of Directors of its portfolio companies. It seeks to invest in the telecommunications and other high technology sectors. EdgeStone Partners began operation in February 1999. It has its headquarters in Toronto in Canada with additional offices in Montréal and Calgary in the same country.

We invest in entrepreneurs with the ambition to create world-class companies of scale.