Mayo influence over launch of plan to strengthen next generation of high-growth businesses

The Minister of State for Employment, Small Business and Retail, Alan Dillon, has launched Startup Ireland 2026, a new government-backed initiative designed to strengthen Ireland’s startup ecosystem, support ambitious founders, and unlock the next generation of high-growth Irish businesses.

The launch took place at Enterprise Ireland’s annual Start-Up Day in Dublin, where the achievements of Irish startups supported in 2025 were recognised.

Enterprise Ireland invested €32.9 million in Irish startups in 2025 and supported 192 startup companies, including firms emerging from research, deep-tech, AI, High Potential Start-Up, and Pre-Seed Start Fund programmes.

Startup Ireland 2026 will focus on building a world-class startup ecosystem by connecting founders with funding, experienced mentors, specialist expertise and international markets. A key pillar of the initiative will be the new €21 million Startup Ireland National Accelerator Programme, which will support Irish founders to start, scale and internationalise.

Speaking at the launch, Mayo native Minister Dillon said: “Start-Up Day recognises the success of Irish startups in 2025 and the forthcoming establishment of Startup Ireland 2026, a major government priority to strengthen Ireland’s future economy. As global competition, technological disruption and geopolitical uncertainty continue to reshape the business landscape, we must ensure that Irish founders have the supports, funding and ambition needed to build sustainable businesses that can compete internationally.

“The new €21 million Startup Ireland National Accelerator Programme will support Irish founders to start, scale and internationalise, securing Ireland’s economic future both nationally and internationally.”

Minister Dillon said the initiative has strong relevance for regional enterprise development, including Mayo and the wider west of Ireland region.

“For Mayo and the west, Startup Ireland 2026 is about ensuring that opportunity is not confined to our major cities. We have outstanding entrepreneurs, graduates, researchers and early-stage businesses across our region who can build globally competitive companies from the west of Ireland.

“By improving regional access to accelerator supports, funding pathways, founder-led mentorship and international networks, this initiative can help more businesses in Mayo to grow, create jobs, attract investment and contribute to balanced regional development.”

Startup Ireland 2026 will also place a strong emphasis on AI-native innovation, emerging technologies, specialist sectors and stronger regional coverage. The initiative will aim to reduce fragmentation in the startup ecosystem, strengthen collaboration between government, Enterprise Ireland, Local Enterprise Offices, universities, accelerators, investors and industry, and create clearer pathways for founders at every stage of development.

The new National Accelerator Programme will provide best-in-class accelerator and training supports, including a focus on native AI, emerging technologies, specialist sectors, broader regional coverage and fast-tracked access to funding and international markets.

Minister Dillon added: “Ireland’s startup ecosystem is already producing companies with the ambition and capability to succeed on the world stage. Startup Ireland 2026 is about taking that ambition further by making the system easier to navigate, more founder-focused and more connected nationally and internationally.

“Whether a founder is based in Castlebar, Ballina, Westport, Galway, Dublin or Cork, they should be able to access the right supports at the right time. This is how we build a more competitive, innovative and resilient Ireland.”

Enterprise Ireland figures for 2025 show that: 192 startups were supported by Enterprise Ireland; €32.9 million was invested in Irish startups; over €23 million in equity investment was approved to High Potential Start-Ups; €9.55 million was approved through the Pre-Seed Start Fund; 90 new HPSU companies were approved for funding; 98 early-stage companies were approved for Pre-Seed Start Funding; 55 early-stage startups supported were female-led; 36% of startups supported were AI-native companies; 20 startup businesses emerging from the research ecosystem were directly supported; and 67 Commercialisation Fund approvals were made to third-level researchers, totalling €22 million.

The Startup Ireland 2026 initiative will be formally progressed in the coming weeks and is expected to become a central pillar of Ireland’s national startup support infrastructure.