Céad míle fáilte!

We had big plans for a serious Christmas strategy summit to outline the future of Irish Insights for 2025. However, in true Irish style, it ended up with pints at the pub. The silver lining? Amid the rounds, we crafted some exciting predictions for the upcoming year.

Predicting the future isn’t a precise science; it’s part wishful thinking, part fortunate guess and part sheer amusement. As we embrace 2025, one thing seems inevitable: life will become weirder, louder, and unpredictably interesting.

But we’re not merely making these predictions for fun—we aim to hold ourselves accountable. We'll review them at the end of the year to see how accurate (or delightfully wrong) we were.

Enjoy ☕

🦄 Unicorn Stampede Incoming

Tines, the cybersecurity automation platform, continues to gain traction by enabling security teams globally to automate complex workflows without coding. With its remarkable growth and increasing client base, it seems a billion-dollar milestone is on the horizon.

Meanwhile, Imprint, the fintech innovator known for its branded payment and rewards solutions, has garnered attention through significant partnerships and rapid scaling in the U.S. market. In the last 24 months, Imprint has grown revenue by 100x and headcount by 2x.

Both companies exemplify Irish innovation that is making a significant global impact. We anticipate major valuation updates in the upcoming year.

Prediction #1: Tines and Imprint will be the next Irish startups to hit unicorn status.

⚔️ Meta's Shift could put Ireland in a Tough Spot

Mark Zuckerberg’s recent announcement on working with the forthcoming US administration to "push back on governments around the world" signals a changing relationship between Big Tech and regulatory authorities.

Ireland has traditionally been a tech centre and key European base for big US companies. However, a trend toward more aggressive regulatory stances—exemplified by Meta’s reported decrease in fact-checking—might ignite further discussions on data privacy, corporate taxation, and digital oversight.

Zuck’s shift is a process of aligning with the incoming US government. Trump, of course, has singled out Ireland as a target, and plenty of US media outlets have discussed the narrative that Ireland is almost taking advantage of Uncle Sam. This recent piece by the WSJ reveals the new US psyche. ⬇️

These emerging tensions could pose significant challenges for Ireland's tech sector as it balances its connections with the US and the EU.

Prediction #2: Tensions between the US and the EU over tech regulation will escalate in 2025, with Ireland caught in the middle.

💰 Stripe’s IPO Finally on the Horizon?

The fintech giant, valued at around $70 billion, has long been one of the most anticipated IPOs in the market. Recent tender offers have allowed early investors and employees to cash out some shares, but the next logical step appears to be a public listing.

Looming stock vesting dates were a factor for many of the biggest IPOs of the past 18 months, including Instacart, Klaviyo, and Rubrik. However, that has not stunted their success. Each company’s shares have risen significantly since their stock market debuts, likely giving Stripe confidence and a path to follow.

Co-founder John Collison has hinted that an IPO could happen "at some stage," with market conditions stabilizing and demand for significant listings rising and that 2025 could be the year Stripe leaps.

If it happens, Stripe’s IPO will likely be one of the year's most closely watched financial events, potentially cementing its place as Ireland's most successful tech export yet.

Prediction #3: Stripe will finally go public after years of speculation.

🕵️ Less Hype on AI, More Focus on Agents

In 2025, we predict a shift from the overused buzz around AI to a sharper focus on AI agents—specialised tools designed to autonomously perform tasks, connect with other systems, and deliver real-world results without the fluff.

A standout example leading this charge is Jentic, a Dublin-based startup that recently raised €4m in pre-seed funding led by Elkstone. Founded by Sean Blanchfield, Dorothy Creaven, Michael Cordner, and Dr. Tilman Schaefer, Jentic is developing a communication middleware layer that helps developers securely link their AI agents to external systems, making large-scale automation easier to manage and more reliable.

Tech visionaries like Mark Zuckerberg, Jensen Huang and Sam Altman highlighted 2025 as a turning point for AI agents. Their impact is expected across industries as they drive operational efficiency and transform workflows with practical, tangible results.

Prediction #4: Companies focusing on task-specific AI agents will start dominating the AI conversation in 2025.

💸 Bitcoin to Break $200k?

It’s time to grab your tin hats with this one…

This may seem audacious, but confident market analysts predict that Bitcoin will surpass the $200,000 threshold by 2025. Institutional investors' backing of crypto ETFs, the forthcoming Bitcoin halving that will limit supply, and the rising global adoption all make it harder to overlook these forecasts.

It's hard to believe, but several reputable people like us predict that Bitcoin can do it. 🚀

Bitwise anticipates that Bitcoin could exceed $200,000 by the end of 2025, driven by increased institutional investment and favourable regulatory developments. Similarly, Standard Chartered forecasts Bitcoin to reach $250,000 in 2025, citing growing adoption and market dynamics.

As of January 14, 2025, Bitcoin (BTC) is trading at approximately $94,318 for reference. 👀

Prediction #5: With plenty of volatility, Bitcoin will break $200k in 2025.

🏑 Obligatory All-Ireland Predictions

Kerry’s depth, experience, and scoring power make them hard to bet against for Sam Maguire. But Donegal, with the ever-tactical Jim McGuinness back at the helm, could be the ultimate disruptors—expect him to maximize the latest rule changes. And, of course, we can’t forget our beloved Tyrone—never a side to be underestimated. 😉

In the hurling, Limerick looks set to bounce back for another dominant run, but if you’re after pure chaos, Antrim, led by the unpredictable Davy Fitzgerald, could deliver a shock or two.

Prediction #6:

• Football: 

  • Chris: Kerry to win, Donegal one to watch.

  • Stephen: Tyrone (obviously), Donegal one to watch.

• Hurling:

  • Chris: Limerick to win, Antrim one to watch.

  • Stephen: Cork to win, Galway one to watch.

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