Irish Female-Founded Startups Secure €131m in Funding, Despite Market Bifurcation

Dublin, Ireland – A new report reveals that Irish female-founded startups raised a total of €131 million in funding in 2025, a slight decrease from the €145 million secured in 2024. While the number of companies raising capital reached a record 82 – almost double the previous year and the highest level since 2017 – a widening gap has emerged between those securing large investment rounds and those receiving smaller amounts, according to the TechIreland Female Founder Funding Review.

Funding Trends and Market Dynamics

The average funding round for female-founded startups decreased to €2.3 million in 2025, down from €3.9 million in 2024. The median funding amount also experienced a significant drop, falling to €100,000 in 2025 compared to €1.5 million in the previous year. This indicates a growing disparity, with a modest number of companies attracting substantial investment while a larger cohort relies on smaller funding rounds, often supported by Enterprise Ireland.

Brian Caulfield, Chair of TechIreland, noted the complex landscape: “2025 was an interesting year for female founders from a fundraising perspective. While it’s encouraging to observe so many female founded companies raising capital, it’s a concern that the market has bifurcated, a very small number of companies raising large rounds, and a very large number of companies raising very small rounds (largely led by Enterprise Ireland). The mid-market of seed and Series A raises is being hollowed out.”

Enterprise Ireland’s Role and Overall Activity

Sarah Walker, of Startups and Entrepreneurship at Enterprise Ireland, highlighted the positive increase in the number of companies raising funds. “The headline figure showing 82 companies raising in 2025 is almost double the previous and the highest level of activity since 2017 which is cause for celebration.” However, she also acknowledged the challenging funding environment, noting the overall decrease in total funding to €131 million in 2025 from €145 million in 2024.

Broader Irish Startup Funding Context

Recent data indicates a broader trend in the Irish startup ecosystem. In 2024, Irish startups secured a total of €978 million in funding, a 15% increase from the €849 million raised in 2023 [Business Plus]. However, the number of companies raising capital decreased by 23%, from 403 in 2023 to 307 in 2024 [Business Plus]. This mirrors the trend observed in female-founded startups, with increased activity at the early stages but a concentration of larger rounds.

a report from May 2025 revealed that Irish start-ups secured a total of €978 million in funding in 2024, with the first quarter of 2025 showing a record performance [TechCentral].

Key Takeaways

• The number of Irish female-founded startups raising capital reached a record high in 2025, with 82 companies securing funding.
• Total funding for these startups decreased slightly to €131 million, down from €145 million in 2024.
• A significant market bifurcation is emerging, with a widening gap between large and small funding rounds.
• Enterprise Ireland plays a crucial role in supporting early-stage, smaller funding rounds.
• The broader Irish startup ecosystem is experiencing similar trends, with increased activity at the early stages and a concentration of larger rounds.