Launching a start-up in Ireland has never been more challenging. With rising costs, the need for a rockstar team and finding a product-market fit, Irish companies are navigating a complex landscape in 2025. Add in the effects of inflation and global competition, and business owners need all the support they can get.

Fortunately, Ireland offers a great ecosystem of business supports for SMEs. From local enterprise offices to EU-wide funding programmes, there's a mix of grants, tax reliefs, loans, and private investment options designed to help businesses like yours thrive.

Government Grants and Supports

Local Enterprise Office (LEO) Supports

Your Local Enterprise Office is an excellent starting point for small business funding in Ireland. They provide supports ranging from a "First Stop Shop" service to financial and soft supports.

Your LEO’s “First Stop Shop” offers start-ups the chance to talk through all the options for support, including from Revenue, Education and Training Boards, Skillnet Ireland and Fáilte Ireland.

LEO’s also present funding options. Feasibility grants provide up to €15,000 to help you research and develop your business idea before fully committing. Priming grants are a start-up grant of up to €150,000 to help cover essential costs, from equipment to initial marketing efforts. These are supports available to companies who are still within the first 18 months of setting up.

Don't overlook the mentoring and training programmes either. While these aren’t direct financial supports, these services can save you thousands in consultancy fees while providing essential guidance from experienced business professionals.

Enterprise Ireland Programmes

With their “Start in Ireland” tool, Enterprise Ireland gives start-ups a way to check available supports without trawling through thousands of websites.

With their New Frontiers Entrepreneur Development Programme, start-ups get access to a comprehensive 12-month programme that combines mentoring, training, and potential investment. Participants often secure follow-on funding worth significantly more than the initial programme investment of €15,000.

Enterprise Ireland’s Pre-Seed Start Fund provides early-stage funding of up to €50,000 for innovative start-ups at MVP or Beta stage, particularly those in technology and manufacturing sectors.

Microfinance Ireland Loans

Not every business fits the traditional lending criteria that banks need. Microfinance Ireland fills this gap by providing loans of up to €50,000 for businesses that struggle to access finance.

These loans are valuable for companies without significant assets to offer as security. The application process is more flexible than traditional bank lending, matching the realities of small business cashflow.

Tax Reliefs and Incentives

While most people are keeping an eye on grants (free money, yay!), tax reliefs can often provide more substantial long-term benefits for growing businesses. Ireland's tax incentive landscape offers powerful tools for reducing your tax burden while investing in growth.

Start-Up Relief for Entrepreneurs (SURE) allows people starting a business to claim income tax refunds of up to €40,000 over four years. If you're leaving employment to start your own business, this relief provides vital cashflow in those challenging early days.

New companies can get corporation tax relief through the Start-up Company Relief (Section 486C), potentially reducing your corporation tax rate to zero for the first three years of trading.

R&D Tax Credits remain one of Ireland's most generous business incentives, providing a 30% tax credit on qualifying research and development expenditure. Many business owners assume R&D credits only apply to high-tech companies, but the reality is much broader. If you're developing new products, improving existing services, or solving technical problems in innovative ways, you may qualify.

EU and Green Transition Funding

Being part of the European Union opens doors to funding opportunities that extend far beyond national programmes. EU programmes like Horizon Europe provide substantial grants for research, innovation, and digital transformation projects.

The EU supports micro-enterprises through financial instruments via its InvestEU programme and the EaSI programme. The support includes loans and guarantees, along with training, capacity building and peer learning.

The Green Transition Fund, funded by the EU, represents Ireland's commitment to the move toward sustainability. With increasing regulatory requirements around environmental reporting and sustainability, this funding helps businesses invest in energy efficiency, renewable energy, and sustainable practices.

Green transition funding isn't just about environmental benefits. Many businesses find that investments in energy efficiency and sustainable practices deliver fast payback through reduced operating costs.

Private Investment Options

Government supports are excellent, but they're not the only game in town. Ireland's private investment landscape has matured significantly in recent years, and can represent a faster way to get funding.

Venture capital and angel investors provide equity investment for businesses with high growth potential. The HBAN network connects startups to individual angel investors and syndicates; over €200m has been invested across over 700 companies.

Crowdfunding platforms have democratised access to investment, allowing businesses to raise funds from a broader base of supporters. Partnerships and accelerator programmes offer a different model, providing funding, mentorship, and market access in exchange for equity stakes.

Practical Steps to Access Funding

With so many options available, how do you decide which scheme suits your business?

Start by assessing your business stage, funding needs, and growth ambitions. Early-stage businesses should focus on feasibility and priming grants from LEOs, while more established companies might benefit from Enterprise Ireland supports or R&D tax credits.

Preparing a solid business plan is always fundamental to accessing most funding sources. Your business plan should clearly articulate your market opportunity, competitive advantage, and financial projections. Don't underestimate the time required to prepare a compelling application – successful funding applications are rarely rushed.

Never underestimate the benefits of outside consultation; whether through mentorship schemes or through innovation funding advisors, getting guidance from someone with experience in your exact position can be invaluable.

Your Next Steps

The challenge isn't the lack of support – it's knowing which opportunities align with your circumstances and having the expertise to access them effectively.

If your business is investing in innovation, product development, or solving technical challenges, R&D tax credits could provide substantial benefits that many business owners overlook. Similarly, if you're exploring innovation grant opportunities for research or expansion, support in understanding the application landscape can make the difference between success and disappointment.

At Myriad, we specialise in helping Irish businesses navigate innovation grants and maximise their R&D. We've seen firsthand how the right funding support can transform business trajectories, and we're here to help you identify and access the opportunities that make sense for your specific situation.

Get in touch with our team for a consultation on how innovation funding and R&D tax credits could support your growth plans in 2025.