Céad míle fáilte!

It’s that time of year again - when Irish ministers scatter across the globe, seizing the most significant political opportunity to fly first class to engage with international partners, support entrepreneurs abroad, and remind the world why doing business with Ireland makes sense.

The complete list of ministers and their destinations has been revealed, highlighting Ireland’s international reach for St. Patrick’s Day:

At the centre of these global engagements is the Taoiseach’s much-anticipated visit to the White House. However, with Trump at the helm, there is a bit of a diplomatic pantomime behind the scenes, with officials scrambling to secure the all-important golden ticket invitation.

But behind the pageantry, serious business is underway, especially as the Irish government reportedly seeks to draft Irish executives in the US into an advisory panel to counter potential trade threats from a second Trump presidency.

With looming tariffs on key sectors like tech and pharma, the future of FDI is a hot topic—perhaps no coincidence that IDA Ireland CEO Michael Lohan has been reinforcing the message that "US investment continues to find opportunities for growth in Ireland."

Meanwhile, in the realm of day-to-day politics in Ireland, there’s been no need for our usual meme this week because reality has provided itself:

This is a reassuring thought for an industry moving at breakneck speed…

Aside from this healthy dose of slapstick, here are the Irish tech stories from every corner of the globe:

• Tines Joins the Unicorn Club 🇮🇪

• We cover five Irish-affiliated startups that raised $141 million in funding in the last fortnight. 🚀

• Aussie EdTech Soars with Irish Founder at the Helm 🇦🇺

• Impress your friends with NINE pieces of the latest Irish brain food stories. 🧠

• EU-Startups: 10 Irish Startups to watch out for in 2025 🇮🇪

Enjoy ☕️

Tines Joins the Unicorn Club 🇮🇪 

Where else could we start?

Dublin-based automation software company Tines has officially entered the prestigious unicorn club alongside Workhuman, Intercom, Transfermate, and Wayflyer.

The company announced a $125 million Series C funding round, catapulting its valuation to an impressive $1.125 billion.

Founded in 2018 by Eoin Hinchy and Thomas Kinsella, Tines has rapidly become a major player in the no-code automation space. The company's platform, which automates over one billion tasks weekly for high-profile clients like Coinbase, Databricks, and GitLab, has clearly struck a chord in the market.

The investment round was led by Growth Equity at Goldman Sachs Alternatives, with participation from new investors SoftBank Vision Fund 2 and Activant, as well as existing backers. This diverse investor lineup underscores the confidence in Tines' potential from the globe’s top investors.

Tines plans to use the fresh capital to accelerate product innovation, with a focus on integrating AI and large language models to enhance operational efficiency. My favorite analysis of the story is by The Currency.

Of course, eagle-eyed followers of this publication will know this was predicted in our Irish Insights 2025 forecast (no pressure Imprint 👀):

Aussie EdTech Soars with Irish Founder at the Helm 🇦🇺

Keypath Education Australia, led by Irish entrepreneur Ryan O'Hare, has partnered with The Australian Financial Review to launch AFR Short Courses, an AI-driven platform powered by Keypath's StudyNext technology. This platform offers business professionals flexible, high-quality short courses from top institutions across Australia and New Zealand, including Microsoft, CPA Australia, UNSW, The University of Sydney, and Melbourne Business School.

Founded in Melbourne in 2014, Keypath collaborates with universities worldwide to develop and deliver market-driven online programs. The company has expanded to the U.S., Canada, the U.K., Malaysia, and Singapore, providing comprehensive services from market research and course development to student recruitment and career support.

Ryan O'Hare, a graduate of Ulster University, has over 20 years of experience in global online education. In 2019, he was honored as 'Entrepreneur of the Year' by the Irish Australian Chamber of Commerce. Check out our profile of him:

O'Hare stated, "By providing high-quality, career-relevant courses in high-demand fields, Keypath, in partnership with the AFR, is excited to help guide and empower professionals via the StudyNext platform—streamlining their learning choices, building valuable skills, and advancing their careers."

💰 That money was just resting in my account…

A massive congratulations to the Irish-affiliated businesses that have achieved an impressive total of €141 million in recent fundraising victories 🥂

🔐 Tines (Founders: Eoin Hinchy, Thomas Kinsella) – A Dublin-based no-code workflow automation platform for security teams. They recently raised $125M (Series C), achieving unicorn status. Read more

🛡 ZeroRisk.io (Founders: Gary Nolan) – A cybersecurity and compliance platform for merchant management. They raised $4M (pre-seed funding) to enhance risk evaluation, mitigation, and data analytics tools. Read more

💰 Swoop (Founder: Andrea Reynolds and Ciaran Burke) – A fintech platform that connects SMEs with funding opportunities. Secured $6M from Sandbox Industries to expand into the US. Read more

🏠 Boxcore (Founder: Sarah Nolan) – A Dublin-based construction tech startup. Raised €2M to double its staff and expand into the US. Read more

🏈 Output Sports (Founders: Darragh Whelan, Julian Eberlean) – A sports technology spinout from University College Dublin providing software for elite-level sports science has closed a €4.6M pre-A funding round. Read more

🧠 Brain Food

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

🔬 BT Ireland Ends Young Scientist Sponsorship
BT Ireland is stepping down as the organiser and sponsor of the Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition, sparking disappointment and opening the door for new corporate backers. READ MORE

📈 Stripe’s Valuation Rebounds
Stripe is facilitating employee stock sales at an $85 billion valuation, a strong recovery from its previous $50 billion low—showcasing its resilience in the competitive fintech space. READ MORE

🚀 Enovus Labs Innovates Space Cooling Technology
Inspired by how elephants regulate heat through their ears, Enovus Labs has developed cutting-edge radiator technology for space applications. READ MORE

💻 Squarespace Expands to Ireland, Adding 120 New Jobs
The website-building giant is hiring immediately for engineering and product roles. READ MORE

🏢 Crusoe Opens European HQ in Dublin, Plans 100 Hires
AI infrastructure company Crusoe is expanding into Europe with a new Dublin headquarters and 100 job openings as part of its growth strategy. READ MORE

🔐 Wavelynx Expands into Ireland & the UK
Security solutions provider Wavelynx is entering the UK markets to meet the rising demand for flexible access control systems. READ MORE

🚀 Klaviyo to Create 100+ Jobs in Dublin
Marketing automation firm Klaviyo is opening a new international office on Barrow Street, bringing over 100 new roles to the capital. READ MORE

🌍 Irish MedTech Makes an Impact in the Middle East
A delegation of 19 Enterprise Ireland MedTech companies showcased innovations at Arab Health in Dubai, aligning with the region’s healthcare priorities. READ MORE

🏗 Enterprise Ireland Kickstart Europe 2025
Enterprise Ireland hosted over 60 Irish client companies in Amsterdam in January for a high-tech construction networking event, strengthening international industry ties. READ MORE⁠

EU-Startups: 10 Irish Startups to watch out for in 2025 🇮🇪

Curated originally by Olga G. Codina for EU-Startups, here's what's catching her eye:

1. IMPT – Sustainability-focused startup leveraging blockchain for carbon footprint reduction.

2. Inspeq.ai – AI safety and compliance solutions for businesses.

3. Jentic – Platform for simplifying AI system integration.

4. Kota  – Fintech startup streamlining employee benefits management.

5. Mavarick – Carbon accounting platform for businesses, especially manufacturers.

6. Numra  – Automation of financial operations for businesses.

7. Octostar – Advanced intelligence platform for decision-makers and investigators.

8. Openvolt – API for smart meter data to manage electrified assets.

9. Solidroad – AI-powered HR platform for hiring, onboarding, and training.

10. Tribes Studio – Web3 gaming startup focused on community-driven experiences.

These startups span key industries such as sustainability, AI, fintech, HR tech, and gaming. Their strong investor backing, with funding rounds ranging from €1.1 million to €12.5 million, highlights the confidence in their potential to scale and disrupt their respective sectors.

According to Olga’s analysis Ireland’s startup ecosystem continues to thrive, fueled by government support through initiatives like the High Potential Start-Ups (HPSU) programme and the country’s strategic position as a gateway to European, UK, and US markets.

With innovation at its core, these startups are poised to shape the future of tech and business in 2025 and beyond.

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