Turn your ambition into reality: supports for your startup journey

Anna-Marie Turley

Department Manager, Entrepreneurship and HPSU Operations, Enterprise Ireland

Unlock your entrepreneurial potential with comprehensive supports. From pre-seed funding to mentorship, find helpful ways to drive your startup journey.

Enterprise Ireland is committed to supporting Irish companies to achieve their global ambition and provides a range of comprehensive supports for innovative entrepreneurs at every moment of their startup journey, including the crucial early stages of development.

Fostering entrepreneurial innovation

Known internationally for its spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship, Ireland’s economic success will continue to be driven by a diverse, skilled and ambitious population. Our focus is on nurturing this dynamic group of entrepreneurs and supporting a robust enterprise ecosystem, offering a broad spectrum of assistance to business founders and leaders.

Helping entrepreneurs and business leaders to scale and develop their ideas, startups and ventures is at the heart of our strategy, along with offering mentoring and expert advice. We are conscious that these individual business journeys are comprised of important moments — none more pivotal than deciding to turn your entrepreneurial ambitions into reality.

The funding is designed to help companies reach key
technical and commercial milestones required to
attract future seed funding within 6 to 18 months.

Leadership development and funding support

While the decision to pursue an entrepreneurial ambition can be daunting for some, Enterprise Ireland provides supports for early-stage companies and entrepreneurs to guide them with their business development needs at this important time. This can range from advice to leadership development, pre-seed funding and early investment.

A common hurdle often experienced by startups is securing funding — an area where we offer strategic supports. One such Enterprise Ireland initiative is the Pre-Seed Start Fund (PSSF), targeting high-growth, early-stage startups in the manufacturing and internationally traded services sectors.

Accessible funding for all Irish startups

Offering funding of up to €100,000, PSSF is open all year round to applicants from all sectors and aims to accelerate the growth of early-stage startup companies in Ireland with the capacity and ambition to succeed in global markets. This funding is in the form of Convertible Loan Notes (CLNs) with two options — €50,000 or €100,000, paid in two equal tranches, subject to key targets being met. The PSSF aims to support these companies with operational costs, develop market-ready products or solutions, conduct product testing and build critical skillsets within their teams. The funding is designed to help companies reach key technical and commercial milestones required to attract future seed funding within 6 to 18 months.