On May 20th, I attended The Irish Startup Conference 2025 — a packed event that brought together over 300 startup founders, CXOs, and investors from across Ireland. The atmosphere was buzzing with optimism, practical advice, and, importantly, real talk about what it takes to grow a business in today’s market.

Founders: Build with Intention

The first panel featured successful Irish entrepreneurs like Karen Clince (Tigers Childcare) and Jac Dunne (Dimply). Their stories hit home for any founder who's ever felt stretched thin. A few of their key takeaways:

Surround yourself with the right team — especially in areas like finance, strategy, or commercial leadership.
Ask for help — the Irish business community is more open and generous than many think.
Don’t fear investment — but do see it as a partnership, not just a transaction.
Stay aligned with your core values — it helps you choose the right collaborators and stay focused on your long-term vision.

These aren’t just feel-good sentiments. They’re grounded in the hard realities of scaling — and making time to work on the business, not just in it.

Investors: Capital is Out There — But It's Not One-Size-Fits-All

The second panel brought in voices from Enterprise Ireland, Molten Ventures, Endeavor Ireland, Delta Partners, and Sure Valley Ventures. There was no sugar-coating here either:

Now is a good time to start a business — capital is available, especially for those solving meaningful problems.
Venture capital isn’t for every business — it’s suited to tech startups with global ambitions and high-return potential.
Your story matters — clarity, intentionality, and knowing your numbers go further than hype.
Build long-term relationships — many successful raises come from investors who’ve watched you build over years.

VCs are backing a tiny percentage of the companies they review (Molten Ventures sees 2,000+ deals a year, invests in 12). That doesn’t mean your business isn’t investable — it just means you might need to explore other types of capital.

The BusinessLoans.ie Perspective

This is where BusinessLoans.ie comes in. We help founders and business owners access fast, flexible funding, especially when:

The business isn’t quite ready for VC — or may never need it
Traditional banks aren’t an option due to lack of collateral, trading history, or red tape
Timing is crucial — you need working capital to seize an opportunity, bridge a cash gap, or invest in growth

We work with Irish SMEs every day to provide funding that supports your vision, on your timeline — without the pressure of giving up control or waiting months for a decision.

Whether you’re in e-commerce, services, trades, or tech — if you’ve got a good business and a clear need, we’ll work with you to get it funded.

Final Thoughts

The Irish startup ecosystem is evolving — and the capital landscape is too. Events like this one are a reminder that there’s no one “right” path to growth.

But what’s clear is this: founders need the right support at the right time. Sometimes that comes from a VC, sometimes from a great team — and sometimes from a fast, practical funding partner who understands your reality.

If that sounds like you, we’re here to help. Learn more about how we work at BusinessLoans.ie or get in touch today.