The global investment landscape is shifting. Demands for standards, measurement, and delivery are replacing the noise surrounding ESG and aspirational impact. At the heart of this transition is a simple conviction, catalysed during Venturewave Capital’s recent Global Advisory Council (GAC) and Impact Ireland Convention: Ireland is uniquely positioned to bridge capital, creativity, and conscience.
Over three focused days in Dublin, global leaders from finance, policy, and culture converged not merely to discuss the future but to build it. The consensus was clear: innovation and impact are not opposites, but allies. Furthermore, the power of the Irish diaspora was reframed not as nostalgia, but as a living commercial system, one that connects capital, innovation, and talent across global markets. That collective momentum underscored Ireland’s emergence as a credible hub for global impact capital, a meeting point between ambition, integrity, and purpose.
With government partners enabling policy clarity, banks and limited partners anchoring patient capital, and founders delivering measurable outcomes, Ireland is proving that integrity and innovation scale together.
As Kieran McLoughlin, Managing Partner of Venturewave Capital, framed the discussion: “Ignore the headlines and look at the trend lines, and the trend lines are incredibly positive.”
1. The Coalition of the Serious: A New Standard for Capital
The future of impact investing requires a global coalition of serious actors committed to tangible results. This “coalition of the serious”—investors, entrepreneurs, cultural icons, scientists, and policymakers defines the Venturewave ecosystem.
The Impact Ireland Convention demonstrated a critical alignment between policy and finance. Discussions at Iveagh House, home of Ireland’s Department of Foreign Affairs, focused on the pragmatic: regulation as an enabler, creating the investable certainty required for long-term commitments.
“Be open, be serious… and move ahead of the times, if you can.”
— Enda Kenny, Former Taoiseach and Chair of the GAC
This alignment is attracting significant institutional capital. A pivotal moment was Bank of America’s announcement of its expanded commitment to the Impact Ireland Fund. This signalled market confidence in this rigorous approach.
“As Edna [Kenny] said, we were a founding investor… and this year, we almost doubled that investment in the fund.”
— Paul M. Donofrio, Vice Chair of Bank of America
Impact is Infrastructure
Crucially, the coalition agreed that impact must be treated as infrastructure—the rails on which capital should run. This requires governance and transparent markets, facilitated by platforms like Venturebeam (a regulated digital marketplace for private markets).
Central to this infrastructure is the Venture Impact Score (VIS). The VIS served as the core measurement system throughout the convention. It provided a common language for due diligence, reporting, and course correction. This ensures that impact is measured, not just promised.
2. Innovation with Integrity: The Ethics of AI and Deep Tech
The conversation around Artificial Intelligence is often dominated by hype and spectacle. The GAC championed a more rigorous perspective. They argued that AI must be evaluated based on transparency, explainability, and outcomes, particularly in mission-critical sectors.
“A lot of money has been spent [on AI]… there really hasn’t been much of return on it in terms of economics.”
— Eileen Murray, Former Co-CEO of Bridgewater Associates
“I’m trying to figure out how AI plants lettuce.”
— Ron O’Hanley, CEO of State Street
The focus is shifting towards accountable AI. Portfolio companies like A-Eye Rev (a sovereign AI operating system for regulated sectors) and Medihive (digital-health infrastructure with built-in clinical governance) exemplify this shift. These are not generalised tools, but specific applications designed for auditability and control.
Building Boldly, Staying Ethical
The ethos of responsible innovation was captured in the fireside chat with Patrick Collison, co-founder of Stripe, who, along with his brother John, received the Impact Ireland Award 2025.
Collison’s lessons from scaling Stripe into global infrastructure emphasised that culture must expand faster than headcount. He advocated for thinking in systems: “build roads, not just cars”—platforms that enable others to amplify value.
On Ireland’s opportunity, Collison emphasised that regulatory clarity is already a significant advantage. The next step is to maintain integrity as a national asset—the brand that convinces founders and LPs that Ireland is the right place to build responsibly. He also called for investment in “patient science” and foundational education.
“I think the first thing would be to create a truly world class university in Ireland…”
— Patrick Collison, Co-founder, Stripe
3. Systems-Level Change: The Portfolio in Action
Venturewave’s philosophy is to back systems-level change, not just point solutions. The founders presenting at the Royal Irish Academy of Music demonstrated impact in motion across critical sectors:
- Sustainable Infrastructure: XOCEAN’s autonomous ocean-data fleets are critical for supporting offshore wind and marine stewardship while reducing emissions.
- Human Capital & Safety: PepTalk focuses on team performance and safety culture, while viAct utilises computer vision to make industrial sites safer in real-time.
- Education at Scale: The iSchool is enhancing youth employability across Africa and the MENA region through locally adapted STEM and coding curricula.
Science and Scale
A key highlight was the unveiling of Oath, a regenerative agriculture project introduced by The Edge, Anne Finucane, and Dr Jack Gilbert. In partnership with the Rwandan Sovereign Fund, Oath combines microbial science and AI to restore soil health and improve food security. They emphasise practical science with global implications.
“…this biology is absolutely crucial to planetary health.”
— The Edge
4. The Global Crossroads: Building Bridges Beyond Borders
Ireland’s strategic advantage lies in its position as a rules-based, open economy that collaborates effectively. It serves as an essential global crossroads connecting serious capital and visionary leaders. This includes connections across the US, Europe, the Gulf, and Asia.
“Ireland serves as an important transatlantic bridge between the US and Europe… creating enormous opportunities…”
— Paul M. Donofrio, Bank of America
A key initiative discussed was the Ireland Gulf Capital Corridor. Chaired by Kevin Holliday (Venturebeam) and featuring H.E. Mohammed Al Shamsi, Dr Tayeb Kamali, and Ahmad Younis, the discussion focused on a shared agenda. They covered responsible AI, education partnerships, and long-term, transparent capital.
“…linking those Irish innovation and human capital. With the Gulf scale and ambition… we can really deliver measurable impact…”
— Kevin Holliday, CEO EMEA, Venturebeam
Furthermore, the power of the Irish diaspora was reframed not as nostalgia, but as a living commercial system, one that connects capital, innovation, and talent across global markets.
“…doors have opened for us no matter where we are in the world, because there’s always an Irishman or Irish woman somewhere in the mix…”
— Adam Clayton, U2
5. Culture Multiplies Capital
Progress is cultural, financial, and technological in nature. To achieve lasting results, systems must inspire people, not just fund projects.
Over lunch, Adam Clayton of U2 provided a perspective beyond statistics. He discussed the economics of modern culture and the necessity of rewarding originality rather than commoditising it. Regarding AI, his caution was precise: technology should enhance human potential, not erase it.
Clayton highlighted Ireland’s cultural confidence, adaptability, and aversion to grandstanding as key assets. This cultural foundation sets the tone for the kind of growth society will accept, helping Ireland demonstrate what conscience-driven innovation looks like in practice.
The Future of Impact: Beyond Relevance to Capacity
The GAC and Impact Ireland Convention ultimately showed that Ireland is no longer just hosting the conversation on impact, it’s shaping it. As Micheál Martin, Taoiseach, noted, the Future Ireland Fund is a tangible expression of intergenerational responsibility, signalling a national commitment to sustainability.
Ireland’s challenge is no longer one of relevance; it’s one of capacity.
The alignment between policy, capital, and creativity is real and growing. For Venturewave, that momentum carries a clear responsibility. They aim to keep proving that disciplined innovation and measurable impact can move in step.
At Venturewave, the commitment remains clear: to support exceptional founders who solve real problems. They measure what truly matters and scale what works with clarity, humility, and rigour. The next phase isn’t just about scale; it’s about maintaining high standards. Dublin demonstrated that the world is ready to build them together.
Read our full Acknowledgements from the Global Advisory Council and Impact Ireland 20225 for the partners and leaders who shaped this initiative.
