Over the next two weeks, we're sitting down with 10 Irish founders building remarkable companies around the world, all leading up to our St. Patrick's Day newsletter, where we reveal the results of our survey with over 120 Irish founders across the globe.

Today, we head to Los Angeles.

Niamh Donnelly is the co-founder and CTO of Akara. Akara is a AI and robotics company operating at the cutting edge of healthcare technology. Niamh has built her career across Dublin and the U.S., carrying that Irish drive and work ethic with her every step of the way.

She is exactly what Irish Insights was created for: an Irish founder building abroad.

I’m Niamh Donnelly, co-founder and CTO of Akara. I studied mechanical engineering, but I became increasingly drawn to computer science and began my career as a software engineer at Etsy. During that time, I became increasingly interested in artificial intelligence. It became clear the field was going to have a profound impact and led me back to university to complete a Master’s in AI and Machine Learning at UCD.

After graduating, I joined a robotics research group at Trinity College Dublin focused on building robotics technology to support frontline healthcare workers. The goal was to create new technology that could automate the burden of repetitive tasks in hospitals. In 2019, our work gained significant attention when one of our robots was featured on the cover of TIME magazine. Since then we’ve spun the research out into a company, which became Akara.

Akara develops AI and robotics systems that help hospitals operate more efficiently. We automate routine but essential tasks, such as documentation, communication, cleaning coordination, and scheduling, creating an infrastructure layer that improves visibility and workflow across clinical spaces.

Most of our focus right now is on operating rooms, where even small efficiency gains can translate into meaningful impact. By reducing downtime and improving coordination, hospitals can often increase case volumes. That’s especially important in Europe, where waiting lists are at record highs, and in the U.S., where surgery drives a significant portion of hospital revenue.

Yes, very much so. It genuinely feels like the timing is right for what we’re building.

Healthcare has historically been slower to adopt new technologies, but that’s changing quickly, especially for AI technology. We’re seeing rapid uptake of ambient AI tools, particularly audio-based systems that support documentation and note-taking. A significant amount of new technology adoption in healthcare right now is happening in the AI space. And because our systems are focused on operational efficiency rather than clinical decision-making, the regulatory barriers are much lower. That makes implementation faster and less complex compared to many other healthcare technologies.

The value proposition that our technology offers is also responding well. Hospitals are under enormous cost pressure, especially in the U.S. Margins are tight and staffing remains challenging, so leadership teams are actively looking for ways to operate more efficiently. Anything that can improve throughput and reduce wasted time is the main priority right now. What we’re building aligns very closely with those incentives.

We’re at an exciting stage. We’ve recently launched into the market, so the next 12 months are really about scaling.

Our primary focus is expanding deployments across the U.S. We’re currently live in seven hospitals, and our goal is to reach 25 by the end of 2026. Hitting that milestone would represent meaningful traction and demonstrate that the model is repeatable.

Alongside growth, building strong evidence is critical. With any new technology in healthcare, you need compelling case studies. We want to continue generating robust data that shows the operational impact, capturing how we reduce inefficiencies, improve frontline workflows, and alleviate some of the administrative burden on nurses and physicians. But equally important is demonstrating the financial side: productivity gains that translate into cost savings and, in some cases, increased revenue.

The third priority is strategic partnerships. We’re actively exploring relationships with larger multinational companies that already have established distribution channels in healthcare. The right partnership could significantly accelerate our reach and help us scale in a more capital-efficient way.

I’d probably say the biggest challenge comes down to two things.

The first is behaviour change. What we’re bringing to hospitals is quite different from what they’re used to. That’s a huge strength because it can drive meaningful improvements, but it also means asking people to work in new ways. And in healthcare especially, change can be slow. Processes are deeply ingrained, teams are busy, environments are regulated, and in some cases unionised. So even if the technology makes sense, helping people feel comfortable adopting it takes time.

We’ve had to learn how to introduce change in a way that feels supportive rather than disruptive. That’s not always easy, but once you figure it out, it becomes something quite defensible. If you can consistently help organisations transition successfully, that’s a real advantage.

The second challenge is standing out. There’s been an explosion of AI companies entering healthcare, and from a buyer’s perspective it can all start to blur together. Many hospital leaders are still getting familiar with what different AI tools actually do, so there’s a lot of noise. We’re also still growing, so we haven’t had the same resources as some of the larger players in the space. That means we have to be very clear about our value and very focused on showing real results.

I’d say it’s definitely a challenging environment to raise capital right now, particularly at an early stage. Coming from a DeepTech background adds another layer. In Europe especially, investors can be more risk-averse when it comes to hardware or healthcare, where sales cycles are longer and deployment can be more complex. In the U.S., there’s also increased uncertainty in healthcare right now, with cost pressures and funding cuts in certain areas, which naturally makes investors scrutinize opportunities more carefully.

What that means in practice is that the bar is significantly higher than it was in previous years. It’s no longer enough to have a strong team and a compelling vision. Investors want to see real traction characterized by customer adoption, revenue growth, repeatable deployments, and evidence that the model works.

Thankfully, we’ve been building toward that for some time. We are live in multiple hospitals, and we’re expanding our footprint. So while the environment is tougher, I’d say we’re moving in the right direction and are well positioned within it.

I’d say it absolutely has helped, particularly since we’ve been spending more time in the U.S.

There’s a large Irish diaspora here, and many people proudly claim Irish heritage. That often creates an immediate connection, which we’ve seen can help can open doors and create goodwill from the outset.

Here in L.A. where I’m based, there’s a vibrant Irish community and there’s even a WhatsApp group where people are quick to offer help. We’ve made key hires through that network, and we’ve also benefited from practical advice, everything from navigating visas to finding accommodation. When you’re building a company abroad, that kind of informal support system makes a real difference.

On a more formal level, Enterprise Ireland has been hugely valuable. They have a strong presence on the West Coast, both in LA and San Francisco, and they’re proactive about creating opportunities for Irish companies. They regularly include us in initiatives designed to accelerate growth. In fact, around St. Patrick’s Week this year, they organised a tour of three major U.S. health systems, and we’re fortunate to be part of that. Digital Irish has also been a great resource - they run frequent events in DC and New York that have been vital in helping us build our network here. We’re also grateful to Irish Insights for highlighting other US-based companies, which has helped us make several valuable connections since then.

Know a founder who deserves to be featured? Reply to this email. 🤝

Was this forwarded to you? Subscribe to Irish Insights and join the community.