Championing founder led businesses
Ibec champions the ambition and resilience of Ireland’s founder-led businesses, recognising their vital role in driving local and national economic growth. These businesses are the backbone of their communities — creating jobs, sparking innovation, and delivering real societal impact. While Ireland has a strong base of exceptional homegrown enterprises — with over €7bn raised by indigenous Irish startups in the last five years — we must continue to foster the next wave by strengthening access to funding, investing in talent and skills, and building a more supportive innovation ecosystem.
As your representative voice, Ibec works with government to ensure business supports are fit for purpose and enable fast-growing Irish companies to scale. Our research highlights three priority areas where targeted action can make a real difference: simplifying access to funding, strengthening talent and skills development, and enhancing support for innovation.
Key Survey Insights
Confidence
81% of founders rate the current environment positively (up from 77% in 2025), while 67% maintain a positive outlook for the coming six months
Founder priorities
Revenue growth remains the primary focus (59%), followed by talent/culture (41%) and market expansion (39%).
Challenges
Attracting and retaining staff is the leading concern (61%), followed by regulatory compliance (47%) and access to funding (39%).
Capital access
Over half of surveyed businesses (53%) have successfully secured external funding within the last five years.
Tax and incentives
While most tax incentives received more critical feedback, the R&D tax credit was received more positively, with 35% rating them as good or very good compared to 14% rating them poorly. Other schemes, including Capital Gains Tax Relief, the Employment Incentive Investment Scheme, and the Key Employee Engagement Programme, were viewed less favourably overall.
Hiring
77% of respondents plan to increase hiring in 2026, jumping from 60% in 2025. Recruitment focuses heavily on Sales/Business Development (45%) and Operations (39%) indicating a pivot towards commercialisation and revenue generating.
To execute this, 42% are targeting a mix of senior and mid-level managers to secure strategic leadership, while a third (33%) lean toward mid-level and junior talent to build execution capacity cost-effectively.
Digital and AI acceleration
81% of firms are investing in digital transformation, and 90% are currently using or planning to adopt AI within the year. This indicates that AI is no longer optional, but a core necessity for driving 2026 growth. However, 48% cite a knowledge gap as the main barrier to AI adoption
Founder wellbeing
61% of founders report a negative impact on work-life balance (56% somewhat; 5% very). While high, this is a notable improvement from 71% in 2025.
What founders need / from policy makers
Recent Ibec research highlights innovation, funding, and talent as the top challenges facing founders in Ireland today — and the areas where change will have the greatest impact on their growth and long-term success.
Founders Voices / In their own words
Liam Irwin – Hotbox Saunas
Liam Irwin co-created this wellness company providing unique, wood-fired forest spa & sauna experiences that blend nature and heat therapy
Geraldine Magnier – Idiro Analytics
Geraldine Magnier leads this pioneering AI & data analytics company, providing unique customer behaviour insights & predictive solutions to major global enterprises
Derek Butler – GRID Finance
Derek Butler's microfinance company specialises in providing quick, flexible working capital and support to accelerate the success of Irish SMEs
Kealan Lennon – Clever Cards
Kealan Lennon leads this FinTech company enabling businesses to instantly issue & manage digital prepaid cards for staff benefits & business payouts
Ibec championing founders
Our scale is your leverage
Ibec connects your business to Ireland’s largest enterprise network to give you that backing. Through our 39 trade associations, we make sure your specific sector's priorities shape national policy, while providing the practical supports, industry best practice, skills development and peer support to help you scale your business.
How we back founders
Lobbying and policy representation
Founder voice: Direct founder representation on the boards and policy forums of our 39 trade associations to shape specific sectoral regulatory and policy issues affecting founders.
National voice: We combine this sector-specific focus with Ibec’s overall scale and influence to ensure government policies and state business supports are fit for scaling business.
Strategic intelligence: Access to cross-industry working groups, member only strategic briefings, tailored regulatory guidance, and detailed economic analysis to guide your business strategy.
Founder networks and events
Founder roundtables: Closed-door, founder-only roundtables for raw, honest knowledge sharing and supports.
Events & Networking: Access to major industry events, flagship dinners, and structured talks with leading business figures.
Brew networking: High-impact, intentional gatherings built with founders front of mind to share practical challenges and discuss trends happening on the ground.
Cross sectoral networks: Access to specialised Ibec Networks (including the Supply Chain, Risk & Compliance, and HR networks) so your broader management team can connect and share best practice across industries.
Operational scaling and supports
HR & legal representation: Protect your business with direct advice on daily workplace queries and formal representation at the WRC and Labour Court.
Regulatory guidance: Practical advice and best practice to help your business navigate complex industry regulations and compliance requirements across your sector.
Business tools: Access contract templates, hiring guidance, and salary benchmarking data to build your team.
Skills for growth: Subsidised training, leadership development, and AI readiness through Ibec Skillnet networks and MentorWorks.
Company profile: Raise your firm's profile through our industry awards and success stories.
Get in touch
For more than 30 years, Ibec and its 39 trade associations have delivered results for key sectors of the Irish Economy. We support thousands of businesses of every size, spanning every sector of the economy.
Together with our 39 trade associations, we promote a positive business environment in Ireland by campaigning for evidence-based policies that are formulated in consultation with our members.
For any questions or enquiries, please call us on 01 605 1500 or email us by clicking below.
Email us
Sharon Higgins
Executive Director, Membership & Sectors