14th May 2026

Start-ups around the country supported by Irish BICs (Business Innovation Centers) received €34 million in funding in 2025. This was made up of €26.5 million in Innovative High Potential Start-Up (iHPSU) funding and €7.5 million in Pre-Seed Start Fund (PSSF) funding.

The Irish BICs Annual Report for 2025 also shows that the group supported 110 start-ups in their applications for iHPSU and PSSF funding last year.

Irish BICs support start-ups to access funding, mentorship and specialised resources and is made up of four regional organisations including AxisBIC, Furthr, Propelor BIC and WestBIC. With over 35+ years of experience, the Irish BICs have supported thousands of founders in accessing funding, developing strategy, and scaling internationally.

            John Brennan, CEO, WestBIC; Rosemary Ward, Deputy CEO, Propelor BIC; Larry O’Donoghue, CEO, AxisBIC; Martin Murray, CEO, Furthr

Some of the companies supported by the group in 2025 include Valentia Island Vermouth, Reso Health, ALPACA, and Silicate.

The findings of the annual report have been released ahead of this year’s Dublin Tech Summit, where the Irish BICs will showcase and lead the first ever Accelerate Hub.

Dublin Tech Summit 2026 takes place in the RDS in Dublin on Wednesday 27th and Thursday, 28th of May. This will serve as a dedicated space on-site, connecting entrepreneurs with a network of advisors, mentors, and service providers. The initiative aims to provide practical, hands-on support across key areas of business growth, including funding, validation and scaling.

Alongside the hub, the Accelerate Stage, powered by the Irish BICs will feature a specially crafted programme of content covering the most pressing topics for founders in 2026. Sessions will explore areas such as raising funding, scaling sustainably, navigating competitive markets, and leveraging ecosystem support to accelerate growth.

To further support early-stage companies, Dublin Tech Summit has also introduced a dedicated startup ticket offering of €145 ex. VAT (RRP €445).       

Apply for a Startup ticket here.

Speakers will include:

● Mark Little, Tech Entrepreneur, Former Foreign Affairs Broadcaster & Journalist;
● Barry Downes, Managing Partner, Sure Valley Ventures (SVV)
● Rena Maycock, Founder, Chirp
● Faye Walsh Drouillard, Founder & General Partner, WakeUp Capital
● Liam Dunne, CEO & Co-Founder of Klearcom

Chair of the Irish BICS, Martin Murray CEO of Furthr, said: “For the Founders of highly-innovative start-up and scale-up enterprises, the pace of change has never been so fast, the level of disruption has never been so great. Technological, geopolitical, financial and social change are impacting every aspect of what you do. In this environment, even successful serial entrepreneurs require guidance, mentoring and support. The Irish BICs have been providing that support for almost 40 years. If you’re a Founder with big ambitions, come and talk to us at the Accelerate Hub. We work pro bono, so the only thing we are focused on is your success.”

The four Irish BICs are:

● AxisBIC – Clare, Cork, Kerry and Limerick
● Furthr – Cavan, Dublin, Kildare, Louth, Meath, Monaghan and Wicklow
● Propelor BIC – Carlow, Kilkenny, Laois, Offaly, Tipperary, Waterford and Wexford
● WestBIC – Donegal, Galway, Leitrim, Longford, Mayo, Roscommon, Sligo and Westmeath

                                                                                                                               ++ENDS++