💡 Wicklow Man vs. Cork Car Park

Céad míle fáilte!

Can you believe our intro used to be all insightful and informative? Let’s be real — you’re partly here for the quirky tidbits and shitty memes!

Speaking of which, this week we've come across this gem: A Wicklow man lost his car in Cork for nearly three weeks after forgetting where he parked during a stag do!

Seriously, what's more impressive — the lost car, the stag's incredible endurance, or that it took him 19 days to realise it was missing?

Anyway — moving on. This week’s dispatch only takes 3 minutes 15 seconds to read. ⏩ Short on time? Here’s the quick scoop:

• New York based, Irish founded AI One Cutting Through the Hype

• Irish Cardiac tech takes on the UK (and Beyond)

• Pipit Global acquired by Qenta

• €10 million in funding raised across five Irish-affiliated startups — including Roamr, co-founded by Stephen Dooley & Jason O’Gorman.

• Ten pieces of Irish insights brain food that you cant miss. 🧠

Enjoy ☕

NEWS FROM ABROAD
The Irish Startup Ditching AI Hype for Real Results

AI One has officially launched out of New York, with a platform that promises to simplify how enterprises adopt AI. Co-founded by Conor Twomey and Fergus Keenan, AI One connects directly to existing infrastructure — aiming to deliver automation and insights without the typical delays and complexity.

Their guiding principle? “Run like a one-person company.” A mindset that might resonate with anyone working in large, slow-moving organisations. (Or with one too many co-founders — finally, I found a way to replace Stephen Mullan!)

Early adopters in finance and healthcare are already reporting fewer errors and quicker decision-making, according to the founders. It’s early days, but if you’re curious about practical applications of AI — beyond the buzz — this one’s worth a look.

👉 Read more about AI One and the team behind it

More stories you need to know 🔍

🌍 HRI Goes Global: The Irish Healthtech Saving Hearts Worldwide
Heart Rhythm International is kicking off a major international expansion — starting with the UK and eyeing the US, Australia, and beyond. With AI-powered tools and real-time cardiac care, this could be Ireland’s next big health tech export.

🇺🇸 Chicago’s Portal Innovations Expands to Dublin
Biotech VC and lab operator Portal Innovations is setting up shop in Ireland, teaming up with Dublin City University to fuel the next wave of life science breakthroughs.

🇺🇸 Galway’s Pipit Snapped Up by U.S. Payments Giant Qenta
Pipit Global has been acquired by Qenta, with CEO Ollie Walsh becoming Qenta’s new President. The deal brings together Pipit’s cash-first model and Qenta’s blockchain infrastructure — a major step for Irish fintech on the global stage.

FUNDRAISING
5 Irish-affiliated businesses secure a combined €10 million in fundraising 🥳

✈️ Roamr (Founders: Stephen Dooley & Jason O'Gorman) – The alternative accommodation startup just raised another $2.3M (€2M), bringing total funding to $3M as it ramps up plans to shake up corporate travel. READ MORE

🔬 Hinalea Imaging (Founder: Barry McDonogh) – Established in 2018 and based in California, Hinalea specialises in hyperspectral imaging for enhanced food quality and safety. The deeptech firm recently raised $4.7M (€4.1M) in seed funding as it inches towards profitability. READ MORE

💊 AMPLY Discovery (Founders: Ben Thomas & Dermot Tierney) – Dr. Ben Thomas and Dermot Tierney founded AMPLY Discovery in Belfast to speed up drug development using AI. They’ve successfully raised $1.75M (€1.54M) in seed funding to support their growing drug pipeline. READ MORE

👩‍💻 Eve (Founders: Oana Rosca & Sarah-Marie Rust) – Founded by Trinity College Dublin alumni, Eve aims to fill gaps in electric vehicle charging infrastructure and has secured €100K in seed funding for its innovative charging ecosystem. READ MORE

🚚 Axe (Founders: James McElroy & Dan Quill) – Founded in 2024, Dublin’s Axe is revolutionising logistics with AI-powered autonomous agents. They’ve attracted €1.5M in pre-seed funding from investors including Pitchdrive and Accel Scouts. READ MORE

🧠 BRAIN FOOD
Garda Roots, Startup Struggles, Passport Surge & Rising Tech Stars

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

🇨🇦 Post of the Week: Canadian PM-in-waiting Mark Carney’s grandfather, proudly pictured in his Irish police uniform

☘️ Enterprise Ireland invested €27.6M in 157 startups through its High Potential Start-Up and Pre-Seed Start Fund programmes READ MORE

📝 Martina Devlin reflects on a forgotten work by Seamus Heaney, underscoring the poet’s lasting influence on Irish culture and the enduring power of art in public life. READ MORE

🏉 Coach Andy Farrell has placed record trust in Irish players for the Lions squad, highlighting the depth and promise within Irish rugby. READ MORE

💸 A new Scale Ireland survey finds that securing investment remains the top challenge for Irish startups and founders. READ MORE

🤖 Dublin-based Klas has been acquired by US defense tech firm Anduril, which plans to establish an Irish presence as it expands its AI-driven military technology. READ MORE

🧑‍🎓 Google Gemini has launched a homework-help chatbot for children under 13. READ MORE

📈 US applications for Irish passports surged to record levels in 2024, with over 31,800 applications-a 10% increase from the previous year READ MORE

🌎 Web Summit has signed a new five-year deal to keep its flagship tech event in Rio de Janeiro through 2030 READ MORE

🌟 30 under 30: Ireland’s top young tech innovators: A new list spotlights the country’s brightest highlighting their impact and fresh ideas in the Irish innovation ecosystem READ MORE

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