InterTradeIreland’s Venture Capital Conference brings together more than 600 entrepreneurs and investors in Belfast
The conference, which provides valuable opportunities for early-stage and start-up businesses to network with the venture capital community, took place against the backdrop of a more selective and competitive funding environment, with founders facing longer fundraising timelines and increased investor scrutiny. Discussions throughout the day focused on how companies can position themselves to raise capital, scale sustainably and compete internationally.
Opening the conference, Dr Caoimhe Archibald, Minister for the Economy, said:
Small and medium enterprises are fundamental to growing a globally competitive and sustainable economy. It is essential that these enterprises have access to the knowledge, networks and funding opportunities available across the island so that they can turn their innovative ideas into world-class products, scale and thrive.
Events like InterTradeIreland’s Venture Capital Conference play an important role in bringing entrepreneurs and investors together and supporting their business growth.
This year’s conference featured its most ambitious programme to date with three parallel stages dedicated to investment trends, practical scaling advice and Life and Health Science – a priority sector across the island - all reflecting the growing scale and maturity of the all-island venture ecosystem.
Margaret Hearty, Chief Executive, InterTradeIreland, said:
For many indigenous early-stage and scaling businesses, access to finance remains one of the biggest challenges to growth and is a policy priority North and South. InterTradeIreland works closely with entrepreneurs across the island to help them strengthen their investor readiness, understand what investors are looking for, and build the connections that are essential to securing funding.
The Venture Capital Conference is an important part of that work, bringing founders and investors together in a practical setting where real conversations and real opportunities can emerge. As the funding environment evolves, those connections and insights are more important than ever for businesses that want to scale and compete internationally.
Michael Black, Angel Investor, who spoke at the conference, said:
Raising investment has become more challenging over the past year, and founders are having to work harder to stand out. Investors are looking for strong fundamentals - a clear solution to a problem, a realistic route to rapid growth and teams that can execute.
What events like this do well is bring founders and investors together so that they can discuss real business opportunities. Those conversations, and the insights founders gain into how investors think, can make a real difference when it comes to securing funding.
InterTradeIreland plays a key role in helping businesses across the island to become investor-ready and to access funding. The Venture Capital Conference, now in its 25th year, is a central part of that support, bringing founders and investors together to share insight, build connections and support the growth of high-potential businesses.
