Record Venture Funding Shows the Power of Investing — But Debt Financing Can Help You Grow Without Giving Up Control

In the first quarter of 2025, Irish tech companies set a new record — raising a massive €588 million in venture capital funding, according to a new KPMG report.
Deals involving Tines (AI security), Fire1 (medical devices), and XOcean (ocean data services) led the way, each raising around €110-€120 million.

It’s inspiring to see Irish innovation attracting global investment on such a scale. It’s proof that capital fuels growth — helping businesses develop new products, expand into new markets, and hire the best talent.

But venture capital isn't the only way to fund your ambitions.

For most Irish SMEs, debt financing offers a smarter, faster, and more flexible way to secure the capital you need — without giving up equity, control, or decision-making power.

Why Consider Debt Financing?

While venture capital has its place, it often involves giving away a piece of your company in exchange for investment. You’ll usually have to:

  • Hand over shares

  • Accept board oversight

  • Share profits down the line

In contrast, debt financing lets you:

  • Borrow the money you need today

  • Repay it over time at an agreed rate

  • Keep 100% ownership of your business

For many entrepreneurs and business owners, maintaining control over the company they’ve built is invaluable. You decide the strategy. You keep the profits. You steer the future.

Capital is Fuel — Choose the Best Type for Your Journey

Ireland’s record venture funding this quarter shows one key lesson: money is essential for growth.
Whether you’re:

  • Expanding your operations

  • Hiring new staff

  • Investing in new equipment

  • Rolling out a major marketing campaign

  • Building new technology
    — the right funding can unlock your next level of success.

Debt financing can provide that boost without the strings attached to outside investors.

Tailored Funding for Irish Businesses

At BusinessLoans.ie, we help ambitious Irish SMEs access flexible funding solutions that match their goals.
We can help you secure finance for:

  • Working capital

  • Stock & inventory purchases

  • Equipment upgrades

  • Expansion projects

  • Green and renewable investments

  • Tech adoption initiatives

  • And much more

Whether you need €25,000 or €2 million, we work with trusted lenders to get you the best rates and terms — quickly and efficiently.

Build Your Future — On Your Terms

The next generation of Irish business success stories is already being written.
With smart, strategic funding in place, your business could be among them — growing, innovating, and thriving on your own terms.

Ready to power your next move? Call the BusinessLoans.ie team on 01 55 636 55 or APPLY HERE.

Recent deal: Dublin scaffolding firm gets €300k equipment loan

BusinessLoans.ie is celebrating another successful loan. Our client was a large Dublin scaffolding business. They are very busy and experiencing good year-on-year growth. A purchase of €300,000 of scaffolding was required to service more contracts. Banks had been unhelpful. They also tried non-bank asset finance companies but scaffolding is considered unsuitable for hire purchase & leasing.

BusinessLoans.ie identified a non-bank lender who could quote them unsecured based on the strong performance of their accounts & bank statements. They were approved & funded quickly, at low rate on the €300,000 over a 3 year term. The business owner was pleased there was no early repayment penalty. If, during term, the company has excess cash reserves they can settle the loan and save on remaining interest.

Does your business want a fast finance quote? Call the Business Loans team on 01 55 636 55 or email hello@businessloans.ie.

Brexit & the Irish Company that got Asset Finance for a €1 Million Machine

Last year BusinessLoans.ie assisted with an asset finance deal for an Irish manufacturing company that was forward planning for Brexit. They are in the glass industry and their supplier for jumbo sheets of tempered glass was UK based. While the current situation meant they felt they were paying more than they should, the situation was manageable. However, they had identified that the pain of Brexit moved this machinery purchase from a want to a need.

The Issues

The specialist manufacturer was in China and the business had already made one stage payment of €200,000 for the machine out of working capital. They needed finance fast because another stage payment was falling due and their bank were not on board. If they made the next payment out of working capital it would have hurt their business. The risk was too much for their own bank to construct an asset finance deal with a Chinese specialist manufacturer when the asset was not yet in Ireland and hence no collateral they could rely on. Also, this company knew what it wanted and their machine was bespoke. It was being constructed to their specification with European parts. Any asset finance underwriting team has to consider, if they are left on the hook for this in the event the deal goes sour, how can they quantify the resale value & find a buyer? It seemed the pillar banks didn’t have the specialist asset finance teams able to find a solution while the business was already committed to this project.

The Solution

BusinessLoans.ie reached out to one of the best alternative asset finance lenders in Ireland to get feedback on a solution. They too felt a big level of risk in making stage payments on an expensive and unusual asset coming from China however, when they dug a little deeper they found that the business had significant assets already on their balance sheet & located in Ireland. They laid out a plan to use those assets as collateral to finance the stage payments. The business owner was confident in his relationship with the manufacturer and was comfortable with the level of risk in making the stage payments. Eventually the machine was finished, shipped and got to port in Ireland. Then the asset finance company was able to switch the collateral to the new machine at port and away from the machines the business already owned. The business had their machine and only had to worry about making their monthly payments going forward.

If you’re in the market for machinery, vehicles, equipment or any capital expenditure talk to us. There are currently some excellent solutions available to Irish businesses. You can benefit from low SBCI rates from the Credit Guarantee Scheme and get what you need to trade stronger through Brexit, the pandemic and whatever else 2021 beholds for the Irish economy. Call the BusinessLoans.ie team today on 01 55 636 55.