💡 From Cod to Code

PLUS: Realta Fusion Goes nuclear, Outmin cracks UK’s Top 25, Wrightbus Raise and Christy Moore Tribute

Author

Chris Mullan
May 21, 2025

Céad míle fáilte!

What do you get when a greengrocer who knows nothing about fish opens a shop in Coleraine? A €240 million food distribution giant, apparently.

Lynas Foodservice turns 75 next year, and under the third-gen leadership of Andrew Lynas, it’s gone from handwritten orders and haddock to AI-powered logistics and 700 staff across Ireland and Scotland.

The kicker? They lost 85% of their business in just 10 days during Covid — and clawed it back by embracing tech, not tradition. With AI voice ordering and smart expansion into Dublin and Galway, they’ve turned crisis into clarity.

It’s a masterclass in graft, grit, and good timing. More of this, please.

Andrew Lynas (Group Managing Director at Lynas) and EY Entrepreneur of the year finalist 2022.

⏳ Today’s dispatch takes 3 minutes 30 seconds to read. ⏩ Only got 10 seconds? Here’s what matters:

Enjoy ☕

NEWS FROM ABROAD
Realta Fusion goes nuclear (in a good way)

You might not have heard of Realta Fusion yet, but that’s about to change. Based in Wisconsin and founded by Wexford man Kieran Furlong, Realta just raised $36M from the same crew behind Tesla and SpaceX (Future Ventures).

💥 Realta’s building modular fusion reactors — think IKEA flat-pack, but for powering AI data centres and heavy industry without carbon emissions. Their WHAM experiment broke a global magnetic field record, and they’ve got big plans for their next prototypes: Anvil in 2029 and the future Hammir plant.

More stories you need to know 🔍

🇲🇾 Wrightbus raises £150M – From bust to boom
Northern Ireland’s Wrightbus isn’t just making hydrogen buses anymore — they’re going global. With a fresh £150M raise, they’ll ramp up production in Ballymena and Malaysia, aiming to conquer Asia-Pacific with zero-emission double-deckers.

🇬🇧 Outmin cracks UK’s Top 25 FinTechs
Bookkeeping is a pain. Unless you’re Outmin. Founded by Ross Hunt and David Kelleher, this Dublin startup is automating accounting for SMEs with AI — and just landed at #24 on TechRound’s FinTech50.

🇬🇧 Sidemen + a Dubliner = €25M Fund
Jamie Elliott, a Trinity grad and ex-operator, has teamed up with The Sidemen (YouTube gods, 150M+ fans) to launch Upside VC - a $25M consumer fund based in London. First bet? Ceartas DMCA — an Irish-led AI company fighting content theft and deepfakes.

DEEP DIVE
How Ireland Became a Sports Technology Powerhouse

If you're new to our community or missed our in-depth exploration of Irish sports tech, you're in for a treat!

Ireland isn't just a hub for unicorns in fintech and AI; we're quietly establishing a global sports tech powerhouse, a sector projected to surpass a staggering $79 billion by 2032!

Here’s a sneak peek of what’s in store for you:

🏉 Discover the unconventional journey of rugby stars making their way into boardrooms.

 💪 The Irish women at the forefront of athlete performance tech.

 🔥 And don’t miss our unique analysis and insights into the secret sauce driving this revolution and why we believe Ireland is poised to become a global leader in sports tech.

So grab your Lucozade and dive in—this is definitely a read you won't want to miss!

🧠 BRAIN FOOD
Christy Moore, Muck Work, Stripe Launch and The Immigrant Edge

Here is your quick serving of Irish Insights-related wins, trends, events, media and resources that we think you’ll enjoy digesting 🍽️

✈️ Our favorite post this week (also for the comments):

🎤 Christy Moore Hits 80 - Ireland’s national treasure just got a New York Times tribute. READ HERE

🤖 Latest Connected AI podcast just dropped, featuring Karen Church from Intercom — one of the sharpest minds in how AI actually gets used in customer support. LISTEN HERE

📦 A Northern Ireland company is using the Windsor Framework to smash export barriers and open new markets. READ HERE

🛠 Kill the Muck Work - Tines CEO Eoin Hinchy is on a mission to eliminate soul-crushing busywork with AI-powered automation. READ HERE

💸 Stripe just launched a lot. Stablecoins, AI APIs, and more tools for internet businesses. Feels like we’re seeing Act II of their global play. READ HERE

🧬 The Immigrant Edge New data shows foreign-born founders are behind America’s unicorn boom. READ HERE

📺 Cargo Heist Drama CNBC featured Irish Overhaul CEO Barry Conlon on the rise of cargo theft in the US. WATCH HERE

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