With a thrilling economy, Ireland has become a hotspot for tech startups. Many of its cities are rapidly growing with new businesses being introduced. Similarly, Ireland’s Capital “Dublin” is rumoured to become the next European startup capital.

So, are there any angel investors in Ireland who are willing to support startups?

Yes! Many angel investors fund startups and promote business activities in Ireland. Here is the list of the top 10 angel investors in Ireland. 

Top 10 Angel Investors in Ireland

Following is a well-researched list of the top-ranking angel investors in Ireland along with additional details. 

Conor Stanley

Known as an internet entrepreneur, Conor Stanley has also started making investments in early-stage businesses. He co-founded Tribal.vc and previously served as a Partner at Bloom Equity. Conor acts as an advisor and investor in several tech startups, including Balcony TV, Intercom.io, StartupBootCamp, and Visible Thread.

As for investment activities, Conor Stanley prioritizes startups that have decent growth potential and are based on innovative ideas. He doesn't just invest but also guides his portfolio companies throughout the startup journey.

The investment range of Conor Stanley lies between  €20,000 to  €80,000.

Brian Caulfield

Brian Caulfield is a General Partner at DFJ Esprit, a venture capital firm. He actively invests in early-stage technology companies, particularly those with innovative ideas and growth potential. 

As for investment interests, Brian's focus spans various sectors, including software, hardware, and emerging technologies. He likes to fund businesses that do not have a lot of competition and also guides them through the early stages.

The investment range of Brian Caulfield is around  €100,000. 

Liam Casey

Liam Casey is the Founder & CEO of PCH International, a global product development and supply chain management company. As an angel investor, he invests personal funds into promising companies, typically in exchange for equity.

Moreover, Casey has lived for 23 years in China and is recognized as a thought leader in strategic sourcing, new product introductions, supply chain management, sustainability, and startup initiatives. He also has a similar investing approach and funds startups that can generate 4-5x ROI.

The investment range of Liam Casey is between  €25,000 to  €50,000. 

Linda Kiely

Being a co-owner of multiple VC firms, Linda Kiely is also one of the most experienced female angel investors in Ireland. She currently serves as a Board Member at Abodoo and Sisu Aesthetic Clinic. However, Linda Kiely also likes to make individual investments and has funded many startups in the country.

Like most other investors, Linda Kiely also wants to invest in startups that are bound to grow and can easily scale on an international level. Among all of her previous investments, most of her portfolio companies are software related which displays her investment interests.

The investment range of Linda Kiely is around  €70,000.

Ray Nolan

Ray Nolan is also a famous name in the Angel community of Ireland. He is the Founder and CEO at xSellco. Nolan prefers to invest in businesses that are related to innovative tech and can easily grow 2-3x within 2 years of initial investment.

Moreover, Ray Nolan is quite strict with his investment criteria and doesn't fund startups that are led by individuals who don't have at least 5 years of industry experience. Once a startup has been funded, Nolan helps it with additional mentorship programs and workshops.

The investment range of Ray Nolan is around  €50,000.

Shane Naughton

Shane Naughton is an entrepreneur and an angel investor. He is the Managing Partner of Inundata and Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer of Artech Holdings.

When selecting businesses for investment, Shane attends networking events, startup accelerators, and other programs to find deserving startups. Shane has invested in various industries, including media and information services, publishing, and buildings and property.

The investment range of Shane Naughton lies around  €75,000.

Tom Kennedy

Tom Kennedy is an individual angel investor and played a huge role in building a global e-commerce business from Dublin. He is best known as a co-founder of Hostelworld.com (Web Reservations International). In 1999, Tom achieved a successful exit from Hostelworld.com, generating an impressive  €500 million in shareholder value. 

When investing in startups, Tom Kennedy values startups that are working on unique ideas and can have a positive impact on the market. He highly values startups that are led by experienced entrepreneurs and can easily scale on an international level.

The investment range of Tom Kennedy lies between  €15,000 to  €50,000.

Gareth Lambe

Funding startups for almost 3 years, Gareth Lambe also seeks to actively fund Ireland-based startups. He is the Chief Executive Officer of Medihive, a health technology platform and previously worked at Meta as a member of the Board of Directors.

Like most other investors, Gareth Lambe also hunts for startups through public startup events and likes to meet startup leaders before investing in them. He conducts detailed investor meetings and has also made some of his investments through fundraisers. 

The investment range of Gareth Lambe is between  €10,000 to  €100,000.

Des Traynor 

Des Traynor is also a well-reputed angel investor and the co-founder of Intercom. His involvement often begins when he learns about a new product, starts using it, and contacts the founder via their Intercom messenger. 

Moreover, Des’s investments span various SaaS products. He believes that when certain features of a business are genuinely good and can make a good customer fanbase, there’s a huge growth potential.

The investment range of Des Traynor can range up to  €500,000. 

Bobby Healy

Bobby Healy is an influential angel investor. Previously, Bobby was a Board Member at CarTrawler. He is a Co-Founder and serves as a Board Member at Meili Travel.

And since he has worked at several companies, Bobby Healy knows how to spot a startup with the potential for massive growth.  Similarly, Bobby Healy makes his investments through investor meetings and selects most of the startups through startup events. 

He has an investment range of around  €150,000.

How To Prepare an Amazing Pitch Deck?

Once you’re done with the research process, the next big question that comes to mind is how to prepare an amazing pitch deck. And, let me tell you how.

Keep It Concise

Pitch decks are never supposed to be your life story. In this era, where angels have to deal with hundreds of applicants every day, try to keep your pitch deck concise and deliver the maximum value.

A general rule of thumb is to keep the initial part under 3 minutes and explain to the investor why your idea is worth funding.

Add Stats

Investors love it when they see a startup leader doing the hard work and ensuring maximum research. Add figures about the market competition and show the investors what your plan is about conquering the competitors and leading your startup towards significant profits. 

Read Examples

Although the list of such tips would go quite long, let me help you in short. Nothing helps better than seeing an example of a perfect pitch deck. That is why, try to see some examples of a great pitch deck and do side by side comparison. Add/remove points accordingly and give it one final try before finalizing. 

Wrap-Up

Even though it is true that Ireland has a thriving landscape for startups, there can still be challenges for fresh business owners. 

Startup leaders who are attending their first investor meeting are often confused and cannot convey the idea properly. That is why it is recommended to watch some tutorials and do some extra research on the specific investors to minimize the chances of error. 

Frequently Asked Questions