Findings from the inaugural All In: Feminine Founders within the VC Ecosystem report have been showcased not too long ago at Enterprise Eire’s ‘Funding the Future’ occasion, which explored how female-led Irish companies are financing their journey to success.
The occasion was opened by junior minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill and noticed greater than 100 feminine entrepreneurs and members of Eire’s enterprise-funding ecosystem collect to study extra on VC funding.
In terms of funding in female-led startups, Eire is ranked third in Europe per deal depend on a per capita foundation, says PitchBook.
The ‘Street to VC Funding’ programme focuses on serving to feminine founders
The pan-European report additionally famous that Eire has constantly ranked within the prime 5 international locations in Europe for funding in feminine founders over the past 10 years. And it additionally discovered that VC companies invested €100m in Irish female-led startups in 2023.
To assist the ecosystem of feminine founders, Enterprise Eire and the Irish Enterprise Capital Affiliation (IVCA) launched a brand new section of their partnership on the identical occasion.
The ‘Street to VC Funding’ programme focuses on serving to feminine founders put together for the VC funding journey, aiming to extend the quantity of VC invested in female-led companies in Eire.
The founders who’re chosen to take part will get entry to mentorship, strategic workshops and masterclasses, and entry to main VCs within the Irish ecosystem.
The brand new section of this programme can even embody webinars on tax governance and authorized points, in addition to an fairness and pitching workshop, and a chance to additional develop pitching abilities and to obtain suggestions from members of Eire’s VC ecosystem and mentors.
Those that attended the EI occasion heard extra element on the All In report and the ‘Street to VC Funding’ programme throughout a hearth chat with Sarah Jane Larkin, director normal of the IVCA.
The occasion additionally included two significantly attention-grabbing panel discussions.
The primary targeted on the subject of closing the gender hole, from the attitude of traders, with a panel together with Helen McBreen (companion at Atlantic Bridge), Debbie Rennick (normal companion at ACT Enterprise Capital) and David Bowles (managing companion at Yield Lab Europe).
The second panel featured leaders from EI-supported corporations who’ve efficiently funded and scaled their companies, together with Caroline Sherry (CFO at Hostelworld), Orlaith Ryan (co-founder of Shorla Oncology), and Karen Might (CFO at XOCEAN).
In 2011, solely 7pc of high-potential startups (HPSUs) that Enterprise Eire invested in have been led by girls; however by 2023, that determine had risen to 31pc off the again of a targeted technique.
Enterprise Eire believes our nation’s financial success can be pushed by harnessing a robust entrepreneurial ecosystem which utilises the talents, ambition and expertise of the varied inhabitants.
We’re dedicated to championing this agenda and are working to realize an equal gender divide whereas fostering a enterprise ecosystem, the place feminine entrepreneurs can thrive and ship transformative improvements.
Anna-Marie Turley is division supervisor of entrepreneurship & HPSU operations at Enterprise Eire
