Unlike other hubs that rely heavily on scattered angels, Dublin is anchored by a strong network of institutional VCs who work in lockstep with Enterprise Ireland. This state agency is statistically the most prominent seed investor in Europe, based on deal volume.
The investors winning in 2026 are building bridges to the US market, commercialising deep university research, and funding the next generation of life-saving biotech. From SaaS specialists to deep-tech visionaries, here are the 10 investment firms defining the Dublin market.
Atlantic Bridge
Founded by serial entrepreneurs such as Elaine Coughlan and Kevin Dillon, Atlantic Bridge is a titan of the Irish deep tech scene. With over €1 billion in assets under management across eight funds, they focus on scaling companies from the Golden Triangle of research in Dublin, Cork, and Galway, expanding them into global markets. They manage the University Bridge Fund, a €60 million vehicle dedicated to spinning out IP-rich startups from labs like Trinity and UCD. Their track record includes major exits, such as Movidius (sold to Intel) and Decawave (sold to Qorvo), making them the default partner for scientist-founders solving complex engineering problems.
Frontline Ventures
Frontline Ventures has carved out a specific niche as the transatlantic bridge. Partners Shay Garvey and Will Prendergast employ two distinct strategies: Frontline Seed for early-stage European B2B startups and Frontline X for US growth-stage companies expanding into Europe. This dual structure gives them a unique vantage point, allowing them to help Irish founders navigate the complex jump to the US market earlier than most. Their portfolio includes successes like Workvivo (acquired by Zoom) and Pointy (acquired by Google), validating their thesis that B2B software is Ireland’s strongest export.
Act Venture Capital
As one of Ireland’s longest-standing firms, Act Venture Capital has raised over €600 million across multiple funds to back visionary founders. Led by partners like Debbie Rennick and John Flynn, they are generalist tech investors with a high tolerance for ambition. They have supported category leaders like Cubic Telecom and Zwipe. Their recent activity focuses on platform technologies and cloud infrastructure, often leading Series A rounds that give startups the firepower to hire executive teams and scale internationally.
Elkstone
Elkstone occupies a unique space as Ireland’s leading multi-family office and venture investor. Led by Alan Merriman, they manage wealth for Ireland’s high-net-worth individuals and deploy it aggressively into the startup ecosystem. They are often the most active private investor in early seed rounds, co-investing alongside Enterprise Ireland. Their portfolio is vast, covering everything from AI (Manna Drone Delivery) to health-tech (LetsGetChecked). Elkstone brings a founder-friendly agility to the market, often moving faster than traditional institutional funds.
Enterprise Ireland
While technically a state agency, Enterprise Ireland functions as the engine room of the entire ecosystem. They invest in High-Potential Start-Ups (HPSUs) through equity stakes, often matching private investment euro for euro. This derisks early-stage companies for other VCs and ensures a steady pipeline of investable deals. For any Dublin-based startup, securing EI status is the first badge of validation, opening doors to a global network of trade offices and mentorship programs that purely private funds cannot match.
Sure Valley Ventures
Barry Downes founded Sure Valley Ventures to back the next wave of immersive technology and AI. Listed on the London Stock Exchange, the firm specialises in Deep Tech sectors, including the Metaverse, Generative AI, and cybersecurity. They are not afraid of hardware or complex R&D cycles. Their investment in companies like Getvisibility and Volograms highlights a thesis that the future of the internet is spatial and secure. They provide founders with direct access to capital markets and deep technical expertise in scaling AI platforms.
Fountain Healthcare Partners
Dublin is a global hub for the pharmaceutical industry, and Fountain Healthcare Partners is the financial backbone behind that reputation. Spun out of Elan Corporation, the team led by Dr Manus Rogan manages over €300 million dedicated to life sciences. They invest in therapeutics, medical devices, and diagnostics, often backing companies emerging from Ireland’s rich biotechnology research sector. Their recent exits, including the sale of Kaiku Health and Inflazome (sold to Roche for €380 million), prove that Dublin can build world-class biotech companies that attract global acquirers.
Delta Partners
Delta Partners is one of the most experienced early-stage investors in the country, with a history dating back to 1994. Partners Maurice Roche and Dermot Berkery focus heavily on seed and Series A investments in the technology and healthcare sectors. They manage the Bank of Ireland Seed and Early Stage Equity Fund, making them a critical source of initial capital for startups. Their deep experience enables them to identify unappealing but highly profitable B2B opportunities that newer funds might overlook, as demonstrated by their backing of companies like Luzern and Perigord.
Molten Ventures
Formerly known as Draper Esprit, Molten Ventures is an FTSE 250 company with deep Irish roots. While they operate across Europe, their Dublin office remains a powerhouse for growth-stage deals. They are one of the few investors capable of writing massive checks to scale-ups, thereby bridging the gap between late-stage venture capital and public markets. Their portfolio includes Irish unicorns such as TransferMate, and they are the go-to investor for companies that have outgrown local seed funds and are aiming for a valuation in the hundreds of millions.
MiddleGame Ventures
MiddleGame Ventures, led by Pascal Bouvier, brings a laser focus to the fintech sector. With offices in Dublin, Luxembourg, and Washington D.C., they invest in the intersection of finance and regulation (RegTech). They look for startups that are rewriting the plumbing of the financial system from blockchain infrastructure to embedded finance. Their specialised knowledge helps founders navigate the complex regulatory landscapes of the EU and US, making them a strategic partner for any fintech navigating the post-Brexit world.