Threats to Ireland’s FDI model emphasise need to back SMEs as never before – IVCA annual dinner

The Invest Europe ESG Reporting Template is a voluntary tool provides a unified set of ESG reporting Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) applicable to the portfolio companies of venture capital and private equity companies.
The template adopts a proportional approach, gradually increasing reporting expectations across three stages, and includes a component tailored for seed and early-stage venture capital fund managers and their portfolio companies.
To assist early stage companies in meeting these reporting obligation, the IVCA with the support of some of their associate members have produced 9 standard templates for use by early stage portfolio companies. Adopting these policies will ensure that most early stage SME’s will be equipped to adhere to the requirements outlined in the reporting template.
These policies are hosted on the IVCA website, along with short webinar explainers on each policy and how to customise it for your company.

IVCA 38^th Annual Dinner celebrating 40 years

Record fourth quarter venture capital reaches €535m
Association bullish on AI despite recent Nasdaq sell offs
“Choppy” environment for SMEs looking to raise under €5m

Venture capital funding into Irish tech SMEs reaches €192m in third quarter

Dublin, Tuesday, 1st October, 2024: The Irish Venture Capital Association has welcomed what it calls “a very positive budget for Irish business and for individuals”.
“Budget 2025 has many measures which will enhance the environment in which businesses operate,” commented Sarah-Jane Larkin, director general, Irish Venture Capital Association.
She said that the planned investment of over €1billion in the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment’s jobs, enterprise development, innovation and commercialisation and regulation programmes “is a strong commitment to our enterprise sector”.
The IVCA also welcomed increases in the limit to the R&D credit from €50K-€75K. “This will be meaningful for early-stage knowledge intensive companies engaged in R&D activities and will have a very positive impact on cash flow at a critical point,” added Ms Larkin.
The IVCA commented that changes to CGT (Capital Gains Tax) treatment for qualifying investments by angels, and doubling the EIIS relief “are very positive and will result in mobilising private capital to innovative SMEs. The measures on listing expenses are positive and a step in the direction of creating an Irish investment culture in productive assets”.
The IVCA director general added: “While there was reference in Minister Chamber’s speech about future proofing the Irish economy, we strongly believe one of the best ways to achieve this is to broaden the capital base of institutional investment available to our indigenous companies. Increasing pension thresholds, while not enacting measures to encourage those institutional investors managing our pension savings to invest in the jobs of tomorrow is an opportunity missed.”
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We had the pleasure of bringing together another group of inspiring female funders and female founders.
Part of our wider ‘Road to VC Investment’ programme in partnership with Enterprise Ireland, the collaboration delivers mentorship, strategic workshops, masterclasses, webinars, and provides female-founders with access to leading VC/PE in the Irish ecosystem through the year.
Ultimately our collective goal is to smooth the path to investment by supporting, encouraging and connecting innovative female-led companies with high growth potential to VC and PE contacts, connections and opportunities.
Thank you to all the female funders and female founders who attended and thank you to our panel on the day including Elle Sander, CEO & Founder Lifelet Medical, Allison Liddy, CEO & Founder Relevium Medical, Denise Sidhu, Partner and Director Kernel Capital, and Michael O’Dea, Senior Development Advisor, Enterprise Ireland

Irish venture capital funding is second highest quarter on record

IVCA budget submission cautions over reliance on FDI
– Recommends measures to boost innovative, domestic SME sector
– Irish investors “besotted” by investment in property to detriment of productive sectors of the economy