VC Funding into Irish SMEs Hits €533m in Q1 — But Smaller Firms Still Left Behind

Venture capital investment into Irish SMEs more than doubled in the first quarter of 2025, reaching a record-breaking €532.8 million, according to the latest Irish Venture Capital Association (IVCA) Venture Pulse survey, in association with William Fry.

The surge was largely driven by mega-deals over €30 million, including headline-grabbing raises by companies like Let’s Get Checked (€150m), Tines (€115m), and Protex AI (€31.8m). Funding in the €10m–€30m bracket also soared by 184% to €132m.

But for younger and earlier-stage companies, the story was less rosy. Deals under €1 million plummeted by 42%, and the number of small deals across the board fell sharply. In fact, just six deals were closed under the €1 million mark—down from 21 the previous year. Seed funding also slipped 3% year-on-year to €39.3m.

The takeaway? VC funding is flowing, but not everyone is getting a slice.

At BusinessLoans.ie, we’re seeing a growing wave of Irish SMEs that are generating strong revenue but are still in their early profitability journey—too big to be overlooked, too small to attract VC attention. For these businesses, debt-based alternatives like Recurring Revenue Finance and Merchant Cash Advance are increasingly powerful options.

These flexible funding solutions are designed for companies with solid revenue momentum, giving founders the capital they need to scale without giving away equity—or waiting endlessly for a VC meeting.

As international investors now account for 82% of Irish VC funding, local founders must be mindful of how exposed Ireland is to global market sentiment. VC funding can be game-changing—but it’s not the only path to growth.

If your business is starting to scale but struggling to secure equity investment, call the BusinessLoans.ie team on 01 55 636 55 or APPLY HERE. We’ll help you explore tailored finance options that align with your revenue and growth stage.