# Top 15 Publishing Startup Investors in Ireland in May 2026

## Act Venture Capital
- Type: VC Fund
- Location: Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
- Relevant deals: 4
- Stages: Seed, Series A
- Focus: Software, Information Technology, Analytics

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.

## Enterprise Ireland
- Type: VC Fund
- Location: Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
- Relevant deals: 4
- Stages: Seed, Series A
- Focus: Software, Health Care, Information Technology

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.

## AIB Seed Capital Fund
- Type: VC Fund
- Location: Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
- Relevant deals: 3
- Stages: Seed, Series A
- Focus: Software, Health Care, Medical

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.

## Tom Kennedy
- Type: Angel
- Relevant deals: 2
- Stages: Seed, Series A
- Focus: Travel, Video, Retail

Tom has a proven track record as an entrepreneur and in building a global e-commerce business from Dublin as a co-founder of www.hostelworld.com (Web Reservations International). Tom achieved a successful exit from Hostelworld.com in 1999, generating $500m in shareholder value. He previously owned Avalon House hostel in Dublin. When he’s notworking, Tom enjoys the gastronomic delights of life and the views of the Wicklow mountains from the saddle of his bicycle.

## Peter O'Grady Walshe
- Type: Angel
- Location: Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
- Relevant deals: 2
- Stages: Seed
- Focus: Video, Publishing, Social Media

Peter O'Grady Walshe - Chairman @ VideoElephant

## NDRC
- Type: VC Fund
- Location: Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
- Relevant deals: 1
- Stages: Seed, Pre-Seed, Convertible Note
- Focus: Software, Information Technology, E-Commerce

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.

## Barry Pitcher
- Type: Angel
- Location: Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
- Relevant deals: 1
- Stages: Seed
- Focus: Video, Publishing, Social Media

Barry Pitcher

## Finaves
- Type: VC Fund
- Location: Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
- Relevant deals: 1
- Stages: Seed, Angel
- Focus: Software, Recruiting, Information Technology

Finaves brings together IESE expertise, investors and entrepreneurs to foster new enterprises.

## Bloom Equity
- Type: VC Fund
- Location: Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
- Relevant deals: 1
- Stages: Seed, Pre-Seed
- Focus: Software, SaaS, Sustainability

Bloom Equity is a group of experienced entrepreneurs who invest as a type of angel network in early stage Irish Technology companies.The members of the group have already successfully founded, developed and exited from technology companies and try to bring this experience as a value add to their investee companies often in the form of a boardseat.

## John Corcoran
- Type: Angel
- Location: Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
- Relevant deals: 1
- Stages: Series A
- Focus: Video, Publishing, Social Media

Dublin-based John Corcoran (89) co-founded the hugely successful Paddy Power chain of bookmakers in 1988 along with David Power and Stewart Kenny. At a time when big brands were taking over the market, the three men joined their three independent chains to become a force to be reckoned with. Corcoran remains a shareholder in Paddy Power Betfair,although he has sold off tranches for 'estate planning' purposes in recent years. John died in June 2019.

## Paddy Bolger
- Type: Angel
- Location: Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
- Relevant deals: 1
- Stages: Seed
- Focus: Video, Publishing, Social Media

Paddy Bolger - Chief Financial Officer @ CWSI

## Enterprise Equity
- Type: VC Fund
- Location: Dundalk, Louth, Ireland
- Relevant deals: 1
- Stages: Seed, Series B
- Focus: Software, Information Technology, Medical Device

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

## Tony Smurfit
- Type: Angel
- Relevant deals: 1
- Stages: Seed, Series A
- Focus: Video, Privacy, Software

Tony Smurfit is the Founder & CEO of Smurfit Kappa.

## Dublin Business Innovation Centre
- Type: VC Fund
- Location: Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
- Relevant deals: 1
- Stages: Series A, Seed
- Focus: Software, Web Development, Analytics

Furthr provides long-term support to startups and SME businesses in Ireland. We support Irish entrepreneurs who excel in innovation and international trading.

## Gaingels
- Type: VC Fund
- Location: New York, New York, United States
- Relevant deals: 1
- Stages: Seed, Series A, Series B
- Focus: Software, Health Care, FinTech

Gaingels is a venture investment syndicate in service of the LGBT+ community and its allies, investing in companies with LGBT+ founders and C-suite leaders at all stages of growth, as well as in more established companies resolved on building more inclusive teams, with a global portfolio of 130+ companies and $70M in deployed investment capital todate. The Gaingels network also actively supports its portfolio in identifying and recruiting diverse talent to their C-suite and board leadership teams and fosters a vibrant global community of industry leaders, investors, operators, and entrepreneurs who share a common goal for positive social change through business and successful investments.

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