Alan Foy, Chairman and Managing Partner of Venturewave Capital, joined Patrick Collison, Co-founder and CEO of Stripe, for a keynote fireside during Impact Ireland 2025. The conversation explored innovation, AI, responsible capitalism, and Ireland’s position as a global centre for entrepreneurial talent.
Collison reflected on Stripe’s 16-year journey and its mission to “increase the GDP of the internet,” enabling frictionless money movement for millions of businesses worldwide. He discussed how humility and curiosity sustain innovation: “As soon as you lose humility, you lose curiosity — and that’s when you stop asking the right questions.”
The dialogue turned to Ireland’s potential as a European innovation hub. Collison urged the creation of a world-class university comparable to ETH Zurich or NUS Singapore, alongside decisive reforms in housing, energy infrastructure, and labour regulation. “Ireland could be the Silicon Valley of Europe but it requires intent and execution,” he said.
Foy and Collison also examined how artificial intelligence is reshaping science and venture capital. Collison introduced his research organisation, the Arc Institute, which funds scientists unconditionally to pursue breakthroughs in complex diseases such as Alzheimer’s. Arc’s team recently released the largest biology ML model predicting harmful genetic mutations — an example of AI’s transformative medical potential.
Both leaders emphasised the moral dimension of technology. “Economic growth has a moral importance,” Collison noted, “because it gives people the freedom to focus on what matters most.”
Patrick Collison in conversation with Alan Foy — Impact Ireland 2025, Mansion House Round Room Dublin
The Convention underscored Venturewave Capital’s conviction that Ireland stands at the centre of global impact, combining credibility, creativity, and conscience. The Global Advisory Council (GAC) sessions reinforced this momentum, bringing together international leaders who are shaping the standards of measurable impact.
Watch the full Impact Ireland 2025 Highlights Playlist
Read the full acknowledgements from the Global Advisory Council and Impact Ireland 2025 here
