Full coverage: Start-ups

The fluids traditionally used in heating and cooling are notoriously energy-inefficient, yet there had been no progress for decades in this area. With an easy-to-use product, HT Materials has caught the eye of high-profile global investors.

Sligo-born Deirdre McGettrick swapped a corporate finance career to found Ufurnish, the UK's largest furniture comparison site. She talks to The Currency about purposefully bringing female investors on board and shifting the business plan through a turbulent market.

Retail consultant Tom Ryan was faced with a choice when the pandemic decimated his business in 2020: regroup or withdraw. He chose to regroup and his employee gifting management business is now shipping to more than 100 countries. The next step, he says, is funding to accelerate growth.

Bio-Marine Ingredients Ireland wants to replicate the dairy industry's success in turning milk into high-value ingredients – but with fish. A failed funding round last year led to a restructuring of the business, which its CEO says is now seeking to raise €3m.

Just months ago, Bank of America valued Marco Polo Network at €150 million. Now in liquidation, what went wrong with the company?

The deal presented as a routine private equity capital raise by the Tipperary agtech company late last year was anything but. There are big names – and big plans – involved.

By focusing on the heavy equipment niche, the Claregalway battery technology start-up has convinced investors to back its plans for a fully-fledged factory. The sums at stake had remained secret – until now.

The same-day grocery delivery start-up has raised €18m from backers. However, with the company impacted by the ending of pandemic restrictions and the cost-of-living crisis, it is set to be acquired by Dunnes Stores for a relatively small sum.

Brian McGovern had chalked up one “success” and one “failure” as a founder and went back to pen and paper to figure out his next move with his brother and business partner. The result is The Baby Academy, which has just registered its one-millionth user.

After years of cheap credit and relatively easy funding, we are now on the cusp of a new reality and start-ups will have to learn how to deal with it.