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  1. 51M AGO

    Stripe publishes 2025 annual letter and announces tender offer to provide liquidity to current and former employees

    Stripe, the programmable financial services company, has signed agreements with investors to provide liquidity to current and former Stripe employees through a tender offer at a $159B (€135B) valuation. While the majority of funds for the tender offer are being provided by investors including Thrive Capital, Coatue, a16z, and others, Stripe will also use a portion of its own capital to repurchase shares. Stripe also published its 2025 annual letter to the Stripe community, detailing a strong year for businesses on Stripe and the internet economy overall. Businesses running on Stripe generated $1.9 trillion in total volume, up 34% from 2024, and equivalent to roughly 1.6% of global GDP. Beyond payments, Stripe's Revenue suite (comprising Stripe Billing, Invoicing, Tax, and more) is on track to hit an annual run rate of $1 billion this year. In the letter, cofounders Patrick and John Collison wrote: "Our programmable financial services now power more than 5 million businesses directly or via platforms, including all of the top AI companies, many of the largest blue-chip companies (90% of the Dow Jones Industrial Average), most of the biggest tech companies (80% of the Nasdaq 100), and a significant fraction of freshly minted startups (25% of all Delaware corporations are now created with Stripe Atlas) […] Stripe remained robustly profitable, allowing us to continue investing heavily in product development (with more than 350 product updates last year) as well as acquisitions. […] All in all, 2025 was a strong year for the internet economy, and we're delighted to see so many of Stripe's customers do so well." Kareem Zaki, partner at Thrive Capital, said: "After a decade of partnership and seeing their work up close, we believe Stripe has built the premiere financial infrastructure stack for the internet economy, relied on by the fastest growing companies for payments, billing, fraud prevention, tax, and more. While their core business has never been stronger, we believe their most transformative chapters are being written right now. We believe Stripe's lead will only expand across the future of money movement due to their leadership in agentic commerce, stablecoins, and more." New businesses on Stripe are scaling at record speed The 2025 cohort of new businesses on Stripe is the highest performing in the company's history. More new companies joined Stripe in 2025 than ever before, with more than half (57%) based outside the US. Businesses in the 2025 cohort grew around 50% faster than the 2024 cohort. The number of companies reaching $10 million ARR within 3 months of launch was double the 2024 count. Companies incorporated via Stripe Atlas are also monetising sooner: in 2025, 20% of Atlas startups charged their first customer within 30 days, up from 8% in 2020. Businesses on Stripe are increasingly global by default Over the last few years, the country-by-country expansion model has melted away. The "domestic market" for a new generation of internet businesses is the internet itself. Nearly every recognisable AI product launched globally by default, including ChatGPT, Claude, Replit, Lovable, Base44, Vercel, Cursor, Midjourney, and many more. Among Stripe businesses with mostly international revenue, 30% of that revenue comes from countries that are neither their home market nor one of the top 10 global economies. "This isn't merely about incremental revenue from a 'long tail' of international users. In many cases, the 'long tail' is much of the dog," the Collisons wrote. Building the economic infrastructure for AI Agentic commerce has moved into a phase of building and real-world experimentation. As with the early internet, the future success of agentic commerce is contingent on universal interoperability. To that end, Stripe has been working with a broad set of partners across AI labs, retailers, and leading ecommerce platforms to lay the groundwork for this generational shift: With OpenAI, Stripe developed the Agentic Comm...

    8 min

  2. 1H AGO

    The Wake of HMS Challenger, How a Victorian Voyage Tells of Our Oceans' Decline

    We look at The Wake of HMS Challenger, How a Legendary Victorian Voyage Tells the Story of Our Oceans' Decline. See more about the book here. The Wake of HMS Challenger, reviewed This is an important book, albeit a depressing one. Even a century and a half ago when this truly epic, multi year voyage took place, the seas had already been significantly impacted by humans and their activities. In the time since these voyages took place, and the author writing this book, even further environmental devastation has taken place, causing even more irrevocable damage. One surprise was that the phrase shifting baseline syndrome only appears for the first time on page 150. This is clearly a huge problem for humanity, both in terms of the scale of damage done to our oceans, and the fact that things have so completely changed that no one, in anyone life time, can realise or remember just how bad it has been. This book, with passion and interest showcases the impressive achievements of the Challenger. Crossing the major oceans many times, suffering tough weather and numerous deaths among it's crew and even the scientists too. Several years passed during the voyage, numerous crew members deserted, others drowned, swept away, or succumbed to tropical diseases. The distances covered were vast, and it took another fifteen years after finally returning to England for the fifty volume collected works, learnings and observations to be described, written up and published. The insights for science were massive, but, time and time again, as the author details, they were capturing a world, either lost, or soon to be, especially with the future wide scale dredging of the sea bottom that has destroyed so much sea life. This is an important, but sad book to read. In these crazy times of climate change denial, and the denigration of evidence based learning the efforts of the HMS Challenger show that the science is not wrong, rather that short term human profit is, time and time again destroying so much of the beauty and biodiversity of our planet. More about the author Gillen D'Arcy Wood is the Robert W. Schaefer Professor of Liberal Arts and Sciences at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. He is the author of the award-winning Tambora: The Eruption That Changed the World and Land of Wondrous Cold: The Race to Discover Antarctica and Unlock the Secrets of Its Ice (both Princeton). More about the book In December 1872, HMS Challenger embarked on the first round-the-world oceanographic expedition. Its goal: to shine a light for the first time on the mysteries of the deep sea. For the next four years, Challenger's naturalists explored the oceans, encountering never-before-seen marvels of marine life. The expedition's achievements are the stuff of legend. It identified major ocean currents and defining features of the seafloor, including the Mid-Atlantic Ridge and Mariana Trench. It measured worldwide sea temperatures and chemistry, creating baseline data for all ocean research since. And, most spectacularly of all, it collected nearly five thousand sea creatures and plants new to science. In The Wake of HMS Challenger, Gillen D'Arcy Wood looks afresh at this legendary scientific odyssey and shows why, 150 years later, its legacy looms larger than ever. The Challenger's scientists had no way of knowing that the incredible undersea aquarium they were documenting was on the verge of catastrophic change. Off Portugal, they encountered a brilliant starfish now threatened with extinction by microplastics; in St. Thomas, teeming coral habitats that today have been decimated by ocean warming; and at remote Ascension Island, the breeding grounds of the now-endangered green turtle. Lyrical and elegiac, The Wake of HMS Challenger offers a stunning before-and-after picture of our global oceans. It is both a reminder of what we have lost since the Victorian age and an urgent call to preserve what remains of the diverse life and wild beauty of our planet's fin...

    5 min

  3. 3H AGO

    Longford SMEs invited to cut costs, win more contracts and strengthen margins at Circular Advantage

    Rising input costs. Supply chain uncertainty. Tightening environmental regulation. Increasing sustainability criteria in tenders. For many Longford SMEs, these pressures feel like added burdens. But what if the same pressures could become a competitive edge? Circular Advantage is a practical, results-focused event designed to show Longford SMEs how circular economy practices can directly improve profitability, reduce risk and unlock new growth opportunities. Taking place during Enterprise Week and hosted by award-winning broadcaster Ella McSweeney, the Circular Advantage event will take place on Tuesday, 3 March from 10am-12.30pm in Longford Golf Club. This event moves beyond theory to focus on what business owners care about most: cost control, contract wins and long-term resilience. What's in it for SMEs? Attendees will leave with clear, actionable insights on how to: — Reduce material and waste costs and improve operational efficiency — Strengthen supply chain security by reducing reliance on volatile inputs — Win more public and private sector contracts by meeting evolving sustainability and procurement requirements — Avoid compliance risks and future penalties by staying ahead of emerging Irish and EU legislation — Unlock new revenue streams through reuse, repair, service models and smarter product design — Improve access to green finance and ESG-aligned funding — Enhance brand reputation and customer trust — Build a more resilient, future-proof business model This is not about adding cost. It is about designing waste and inefficiency out of your business. Expert Guidance, Local Relevance The event features practical insights from industry leaders: — Valentina Tarasco, Assessment & Metrics Lead with the Circular Economy Team at Irish Manufacturing Research, will break down the current policy landscape and explain how circular practices deliver measurable financial and environmental returns. — John O'Shanahan of LeanBPI will demonstrate how Longford LEO's Lean for Business and Digital for Business programmes can act as immediate, low-risk entry points to improving cost efficiency and embedding circular thinking. — Tim Murphy of Circular Economy Company will share a real-world case study showing how reducing waste to landfill translated into tangible cost savings for a local business. The event concludes with a panel discussion hosted by Ella McSweeney, focused on practical implementation and the funding supports available to help SMEs take the next step. Cathaoirleach of Longford County Council, Cllr Garry Murtagh, said, "Longford businesses are as capable as any in Ireland of leading the shift to a more resource-efficient economy. Events like Circular Advantage show our SMEs that sustainability is not an added burden — it is a sharper way to run a business, win more work and reduce exposure to cost shocks. I would encourage every business owner and manager in the county to take their place at this event." Chief Executive of Longford County Council, Paddy Mahon, said, "Small businesses in Longford are already living with the effects of higher input costs and more demanding procurement requirements. Circular Advantage gives them a direct route to addressing both — not through theory, but through practical tools they can use in their businesses. Supporting our SME base to be leaner, more competitive and better placed to win contracts is a most welcome investment from the Just Transition Fund." A Strategic Opportunity for Longford The Circular Economy Project, Circular Advantage, is co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union through the EU Just Transition Fund. The project aims to position Longford as a leading region in Ireland's shift toward a more resource-efficient and competitive economy. For SME owners and managers asking how to protect margins while staying ahead of regulatory and procurement demands, this event provides both the strategic clarity and practical tools to act now. Places are limited...

    5 min

  4. 4H AGO

    I-C3, The new National Competence Centre in Semiconductors for Startups and SMEs

    Ireland's National Competence Centre in Semiconductors (I-C3), a significant milestone in Ireland's commitment to semiconductor innovation and European collaboration under the European Chips Act, invites startups and SMEs to lead the future of chips innovation. I-C3 will focus on startups and SMEs by providing access to essential resources, including funding pathways, training, design tools and pilot line facilities. Its mission is to empower Ireland's startups and SMEs in the semiconductor sector with hands-on access to design, production, funding and training to accelerate innovation and growth in Ireland's semiconductor sector. National Competence Centre in Semiconductors for Startups Commenting on the launch, Peter Burke TD, Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment said: "As a hub for the semiconductor ecosystem, my Department is delighted that I-C3 will ensure that opportunities as part of the Chips for Europe Initiative are accessible for businesses of all sizes within the industry, along with bringing greater diversity of expertise and depth of innovation to the knowledge base of the semiconductor ecosystem in Europe. I-C3's launch is another significant milestone in the delivery of Silicon Island: Ireland's National Semiconductor Strategy. "With this launch, my Department is very excited about I-C3's ability to empower Irish SMEs to scale internationally, drive innovation across the semiconductor ecosystem and create high-value jobs. I-C3 will also facilitate the development of skills and talent, and build on our strengths by enhancing the relationship between infrastructure, industry, and RD&I capability to ensure Ireland leads in advanced manufacturing and chip design." Co-ordinated by Tyndall National Institute and supported by the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment (DETE) through Enterprise Ireland, with co-funding secured from the European Union under the Chips Joint Undertaking (Chips JU), I-C3 is a consortium comprising Tyndall National Institute, a research flagship of University College Cork (UCC), MCCI, MIDAS Ireland, NovaUCD, and University College Dublin. The new I-C3 Competence Centre is one of 30 being established across 27 EU countries to strengthen Europe's semiconductor ecosystem. The initiative builds on Ireland's vibrant and extensive semiconductor industry comprising over 130 indigenous and foreign subsidiary companies, employing over 20,000 people, part of a 175,000-person strong broader ICT sector with overall exports of €13.5 billion worth of products annually. Multinational leaders such as Intel, Apple, Qualcomm, AMD, and Analog Devices have long invested in Irish R&D. I-C3 aims to further elevate Ireland's global standing in semiconductor innovation. Professor William Scanlon, CEO, Tyndall, said: "I?C3 plays a key role in delivering Ireland's Semiconductor Strategy, Silicon Island, and it is fantastic to see the centre operational and actively supporting Irish start?ups and SMEs to accelerate and scale their businesses. I?C3 is helping companies across all sectors that use semiconductor technologies to secure investment, access specialist training, and connect to European pilot lines." Joe Healy, Divisional Manager, Research, Innovation and Infrastructure at Enterprise Ireland said: "With the support of I-C3, Ireland is set to double the number of people employed in semi-conductor startups and SMEs by 2030. The centre will act as a catalyst for innovation, collaboration, and growth, ensuring that Irish stakeholders, from academia to industry, can fully participate in the Chips for Europe Initiative." About Tyndall National Institute Tyndall is a leading European deep-tech research centre in integrated ICT (Information and Communications Technology) materials, devices, circuits and systems and a research flagship of University College Cork. Tyndall is Ireland's largest Research and Technology Organisation (RTO) specialising in both electronics and photonics. Tyndall works...

    7 min

  5. 21H AGO

    New €34m research-led HealthTech hub launched at University of Galway

    The new ARC Hub for HealthTech, a multimillion-euro Government investment to drive regional development by accelerating the commercialisation of cutting-edge, patient-focused research, has been officially launched at University of Galway. Focused on developing solutions to improve chronic disease management, the aim of the ARC Hub for HealthTech is to fast-track high-potential technologies in areas such as smart implants, advanced wearable medical devices, novel sensors and AI and machine learning-driven modelling. Hosted by University of Galway, in partnership with Atlantic Technological University (ATU) and RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences, the initiative forms part of Research Ireland's flagship Accelerating Research to Commercialisation (ARC) programme. Twenty-three projects are currently in the ARC Hub for HealthTech after being selected for their strong potential to improve patient outcomes. The launch of the ARC Hub for HealthTech – under the theme of 'Regional Roots. Global Presence' – included a showcase of some of the current projects which are being fast-tracked to commercialisation, including advanced sensory detection devices to prevent falls in elderly people and intelligent devices to help control blood pressure. Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, James Lawless, T.D., said: "The ARC Hub for HealthTech has the potential to deliver game-changing acceleration of research commercialisation that will directly benefit individuals and communities in the West and North-West and further afield. As it continues to ramp up its operations and establish partnerships, the ARC Hub's ambitions are clear and far-reaching. I look forward to seeing the Hub progress in its endeavours, outputs and impact over the coming years." Dr Diarmuid O'Brien, Chief Executive of Taighde Éireann-Research Ireland, said: "The ARC Hub programme is one of the most proactive, imaginative and potentially disruptive programmes ever delivered by Research Ireland. Bringing together our leading researchers, entrepreneurs, investors and industry to create an environment where our best research ideas can be translated from the lab to the market represents an inclusive and scalable model for creating companies of the future." Peter Power, Head of the European Commission Representation in Ireland, said: "The ARC Hub for Health Technology is an operation of strategic importance under the European Regional Development Fund programme for the Northern and Western region. It aligns with the objective of EU Cohesion policy to support thriving innovation ecosystems for all regions. Thanks to the ARC Hub for Health Technology research will be translated into marketable products, thereby boosting the competitiveness of both the Northern and Western region and European competitiveness.'' President of University of Galway, Professor David Burn, said: "Today we are announcing more than a research and innovation entity – the ARC Hub for HealthTech is a remarkable opportunity to create a global powerhouse for healthcare in the Northern and Western regions of Ireland. With our partners and regional collaboration, we are seizing the moment to push the commercial impact of research with new supports, at a faster pace, with the overarching aim of bringing new healthcare, treatments and therapies to patients." President of Atlantic Technological University, Professor Orla Flynn, said: "ATU is delighted to be involved in the ARC Hub for HealthTech, working with our partners to advance healthtech research and innovation. Through this collaboration, we are supporting the development of new technologies, strengthening research and creating clearer pathways for bringing scientific discovery into real-world healthcare solutions. I wish the team every success in these endeavours, and to thank the funders for their support." Professor Cathal Kelly, Vice Chancellor of RCSI, said: "Improving patient outcomes must always be at th...

    8 min

  6. 23H AGO

    HRLocker research finds majority of Irish SMEs risk GDPR and WRC breaches due to 'Document Disorder'

    Irish SMEs may be unknowingly breaching GDPR and failing to meet Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) record-keeping requirements due to widespread gaps in how HR documents are stored, accessed, and governed. That is, according to new findings published from the Irish SME HR Report, by Ireland's leading people management platform, HRLocker. The report, based on responses from professionals working on HR in organisations employing 20–249 people, reveals that document disorder has become one of the most significant, yet preventable, compliance risks facing Irish businesses. Two-thirds breach GDPR due to insecure HR data storage Under Articles 5 and 32 of the EU's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), employers must ensure the integrity, confidentiality, and security of employees' personal data. Yet 66 per cent of SMEs continue to store HR documents in insecure systems, including general cloud folders (32 per cent), local hard drives (11 per cent), paper files (11 per cent) and email threads (9 per cent). The Data Protection Commission has already investigated SMEs for similar failures. In a recently published case, an employer mishandled sensitive employment information during a data breach, prompting an official complaint and regulatory intervention. The DPC found that the organisation had not implemented adequate safeguards to protect employee data, providing a clear example of the real?world consequences of poor HR document governance. Under GDPR, failures of this kind can result in administrative fines of up to €10 million or 2 per cent of global turnover, as well as compensation claims from affected employees. More than half failing to comply with data protection regulations The report highlights that 59 per cent of SMEs lack accurate, formal version control, risking breaches of GDPR Article 5(1)(d), which requires organisations to maintain accurate and up?to?date employee records. Further, 56 per cent do not have a current retention policy for HR data, despite the GDPR storage limitation principle and obligations under the Data Protection Act 2018. Mid-sized SMEs (50–99 employees) are the least compliant, with over one-third (39 per cent) lacking any retention policy at all. Without version control or retention schedules, SMEs cannot demonstrate compliance during WRC inspections or GDPR investigations, leaving them exposed to enforcement action, compensation claims, and costly remediation work. More than one in three risks undermining accountability requirements There is a clear lack of auditability in the sector, with 26 per cent of SMEs reporting that they do not maintain an audit trail for HR document access and changes. A further 27 per cent are unsure whether one exists, meaning more than one in three lack robust processes. This lack and uncertainty place organisations at risk of breaching GDPR Articles 24 and 30, which require employers to demonstrate accountability and maintain clear records of processing activities. In the event of a data-access request, breach investigation, or WRC inspection, the absence of an audit trail can lead to immediate compliance failure. Non-compliance carries real financial and operational consequences Governance gaps fuelled by document disorder also undermine compliance with core Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) record-keeping obligations, including requirements to maintain accurate, accessible, and up-to-date records on: Working hours Annual leave and public holidays Contracts and terms of employment Payroll and remuneration Disciplinary and grievance procedures Under the Workplace Relations Act 2023, missing audit trails, outdated files, or scattered storage systems can result in fixed-payment notices of up to €2,000 per offence, in addition to compensation awards to employees and orders to rectify records at the employer's expense. These costs come on top of business disruption during follow-up inspections and reputational damage that undermines employee trust. A preven...

    7 min

  7. 1D AGO

    Dublin Tech Summit 2026 reveals early keynote speakers

    Dublin Tech Summit has revealed the first of its confirmed keynote speakers for Ireland's flagship tech event taking place this May. Returning for its tenth edition, Dublin Tech Summit 2026 will feature some of the world's biggest tech companies spanning sectors including AI and cybersecurity, fintech, new media, and more. The conference will serve as the marquee event during the second annual Dublin Tech Week, a week-long celebration of innovation, community, and collaboration running from 22 – 29 May. John Willett, co-founder and COO of Rogo, and one of fintech's emerging leaders, will be joining the conference this year. This January, Rogo raised $75 million from Sequoia Capital, a significant milestone. As the company opens its first international office in London to accelerate expansion across Europe, John is leading the charge on the ground, building strategic partnerships with European financial institutions and driving successful implementation and adoption. Recognised on the 2025 Forbes 30 Under 30 list, John represents a new generation of operators scaling high-growth technology companies onto the global stage. Dublin Tech Summit will also host Paul Hourican, Head of Creative Industries at Napier Capital Partners. Paul has extensive experience in the music industry, having acted as Global Head of Music at TikTok, Head of Talent and Music at MTV, and senior leadership roles at YouTube. His deep understanding of creative industries, digital transformation, and audience engagement positions him as a leading voice on the evolving relationship between music, media, and technology. Ken Moore, Chief Innovation Officer of Mastercard will also be joining Dublin Tech Summit as a keynote speaker. A veteran of the tech industry, Ken brings decades of experience leading large-scale digital transformation across global organisations. He is widely recognised for his expertise in driving innovation within complex ecosystems, advancing secure digital payments infrastructure, and embedding emerging technologies into enterprise strategy to deliver long-term growth and resilience. Other Dublin Tech Summit speakers will include Bianca Zwart, Chief Strategy Officer at Bunq, Thomas Zimmermann, CEO of FreeNow, Sigurdur Arnason, co-founder and CEO of Overtune, and Eric Mosley, founder and CEO of Workhuman, with more to be announced soon. With a lineup of top-tier speakers, the conference will feature impactful platforms that bring together high-growth startups, disruptive scaleups, and forward-thinking industry leaders to explore the forces shaping the tech world-and beyond. This will include the Tech Hive stage which, through a unique silent-disco format, will showcase deep technical content from areas of quantum computing, cybersecurity, and blockchain. The Tech Hive stage represents the cutting edge of deep tech exploration, where developers, engineers, and technical innovators come together to tackle complex challenges in AI, software development, and emerging technologies. Clare Kilmartin, Chief Operating Officer, Dublin Tech Summit, said: "Since the first Dublin Tech Summit ten years ago, we've grown into one of the impactful tech events in Europe, uniting thought leaders from across the globe to foster conversation, innovation, and collaboration. This year's line-up of speakers represents the forefront of technological innovation, and highlights the calibre of our event." Dublin Tech Week, 22 – 29 May 2026: A Collaborative Celebration Of Innovation In Dublin brings together the city's tech leaders, educators, creatives and public through a vibrant series of events, showcasing Dublin as a dynamic global tech hub. As the flagship event of the week-long celebration of all things tech, Dublin Tech Summit highlights STEM engagement, fosters connections and the intersection of tech, culture, work and everyday life. See more stories here.

    4 min

  8. 1D AGO

    We pride ourselves on efficiency Aonghus O'Donovan Co-Founder MyCelsius

    Late last year MyCelsius launched their cooling bracelet in the UK and they are planning to launch it in Ireland this year. I recently caught up with Aonghus O'Donovan the CTO and Co-Founder of MyCelsius Aonghus spoke about his background, how MyCelsius was founded, the technology behind MyCelsius, their plans to launch the Cooling Bracelet in Ireland in 2026 and more. More about MyCelsius: MyCelsius Cooling Bracelet is a groundbreaking innovation developed to support people affected by heat and hot flushes. At the heart of what they do, they developed one of the smallest and most powerful cooling systems in the world. Founded with the mission to close the gap in women's health innovation, the company has designed a stylish, science-driven wearable that brings comfort, confidence and wellbeing to women. See more podcasts here.

    1 min
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Audio versions of the articles from our news feed.

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  • Creator
    Irish Tech News
  • Years Active
    2018 - 2026
  • Episodes
    90
  • Rating
    Clean