Ireland has launched Startup Ireland, a new national initiative designed to help entrepreneurs start, scale and succeed from Ireland. Led by Enterprise Ireland, the programme aims to support the creation of 1,000 new startups and increase the number reaching €1 million in turnover by 20%.
Announced on 13 October 2026, Startup Ireland is accompanied by a national roadmap setting out a more coordinated, founder-focused support system. The initiative brings together Government, investors, universities, multinational companies, agencies and the wider startup community.
Startup Ireland creates a national pathway for founders
The programme responds to feedback from entrepreneurs who called for simpler access to funding, mentoring, specialist expertise and international opportunities. Its delivery is built around three priorities:
- Building a high-performance startup ecosystem.
- Accelerating startup and scaleup creation.
- Connecting Irish founders with overseas customers, investors and markets.
Enterprise Ireland said the initiative will support founders from idea validation and company formation through investment readiness, growth and international expansion. The 2025 Founders Listening Tour, which engaged more than 500 entrepreneurs, helped inform its development.
National Startup Hub
A National Startup Hub will be located alongside Enterprise Ireland’s new Dublin city-centre headquarters. It will provide a meeting point for founders, investors, researchers, industry and international partners.
The hub is expected to offer networking, peer learning, specialist advice and events showcasing Irish innovation. It will also act as a landing point for overseas entrepreneurs and investors, while connecting companies with regional partners and innovation infrastructure across the country.
Startup Ireland accelerator programmes and AI support
The Startup Ireland National Accelerator Programme will include a funded National Company Accelerator offering participants a €100,000 investment to support growth and international scaling. A dedicated Talent Accelerator will help experienced individuals validate ideas, form companies and prepare for pre-seed investment.
Regional pre-accelerators and specialist programmes will also be expanded, creating additional routes into entrepreneurship and supporting high-growth sectors.
Startup Ireland AI Accelerator
Delivered by Dogpatch Labs, the Startup Ireland AI Accelerator is the first specialist programme under the initiative. It will bring together technology, investor and ecosystem partners, including Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland.
Selected companies will receive 12 weeks of technical, commercial and investor support, as well as a two-day trip to Paris to meet AI founders, customers and investors. Eligible participants may also access more than €1 million in potential technology and cloud credits.
The programme will connect Irish AI startups with multinational companies in Ireland and international markets, creating opportunities for commercial partnerships and customer development.
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What founders can expect next
The roadmap includes an AI-enabled digital platform, a Founder Support Service, a nationwide Founders Exchange and a new mentor network. International accelerator partnerships and soft-landing zones will help Irish companies enter new markets.
Startup Ireland will also refresh the New Frontiers programme, strengthen its stipend and focus on globally scalable, investment-ready ideas. Inclusion and regional development are central to the plan, with a target that 35% of supported startups will be female-led.
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Why Startup Ireland matters
The initiative supports the Government’s wider focus on competitiveness, productivity and innovation-led growth. It also forms part of Enterprise Ireland’s Delivering for Ireland, Leading Globally strategy.
For founders, the central promise is a clearer route from idea to market. By bringing funding, mentoring, technical expertise and international connections into a more coordinated system, Startup Ireland aims to help more indigenous companies build intellectual property, create employment and compete globally while remaining rooted in Ireland.
Key takeaway: Startup Ireland gives Irish entrepreneurs a national support structure designed to make starting a company easier and international growth more achievable.
Article/Image Courtesy: Enterprise Ireland
