Céad míle fáilte!

There’s a fascinating clash of money, power, and innovation happening in Ireland right now.

Apple’s staggering €13 billion tax bill could easily fund countless public projects, like the much-discussed bike sheds at Leinster House. Yet, the Irish government is under fire for spending a mind-boggling €336,000 on just one shed—fueling debates about fiscal responsibility and public spending.

Meanwhile, Irish businesses are thriving internationally, with Ireland now ranked sixth globally for foreign direct investment in the US—leapfrogging major economies like Italy, South Korea, and Mexico. Companies like Tines, a rising cybersecurity firm, are making their mark in the US market, proving that homegrown innovators can outpace even the largest global players.

Here’s a sneak peek of what we have in store from the global Irish tech and business scene:

Enjoy ☕️

Check out this amazing story! Damien Spillane, the Irish-born Chief Technology Officer of Australian company AirTrunk, played a key role in the company's unbelievable success. His leadership led to AirTrunk's acquisition by global investment giant Blackstone in a monumental AUD $24 billion deal, the largest buyout in Australia in 2024.

With over 16 years of experience in the data center industry, Spillane has been at the forefront of technical innovations at AirTrunk. His engineering expertise and strategic management have propelled the company to become the leading hyperscale data center provider in the Asia-Pacific region.

Working alongside AirTrunk's visionary founder and CEO, Robin Khuda, Spillane has been instrumental in guiding the company through acquisitions, investments, and pioneering data center designs. Their focus on sustainability, including innovations such as liquid cooling technologies and renewable energy integration, has significantly enhanced efficiency and reduced the company's carbon footprint.

Khuda attributes AirTrunk's phenomenal success to the increasing demand for digital infrastructure, driven by the rapid rise of AI and cloud services. AirTrunk continues to set new benchmarks in the data center industry, leading the way in sustainable, scalable digital infrastructure.

HSBC has just appointed Barry O’Byrne as the new CEO of Global Wealth & Personal Banking (WPB), based in Hong Kong. This is a big deal as Barry will be leading HSBC’s global wealth and personal banking operations, which is a major part of the bank’s future strategy.

Barry has really made his mark since joining HSBC in 2017, especially during his time as CEO of Global Commercial Banking. Based in Hong Kong, he led a division serving over 1.3 million business clients across 53 countries, focusing on digital transformation, cross-border trade, and sustainable growth. His leadership was crucial in helping HSBC grow internationally and meet the changing needs of its clients.

Now as the CEO of WPB, Barry's job is to boost HSBC's digital capabilities, expand in global markets, and further develop its environmental, social, and governance strategies. His promotion shows HSBC’s trust in his ability to lead the bank into its next phase of growth, emphasizing innovation and sustainability.

For Irish professionals and entrepreneurs, Barry’s journey is truly inspiring. Starting at the University of Limerick and rising to a top leadership role at one of the world’s largest financial institutions, his story showcases the power of adaptability, strategic thinking, and global ambition.

GTreasury, a Chicago-based company specializing in digital treasury solutions, has recently acquired CashAnalytics, a dynamic Irish-founded firm renowned for its groundbreaking cash flow analysis tools.

CashAnalytics was founded in 2012 by Conor Deegan, Martin Gillespie, Chris Blake, and Gareth Stenson. Their mission was clear: revolutionising how businesses analyze, forecast, and manage their cash flow. Through innovative tools that automate this critical financial process, CashAnalytics empowers companies to make intelligent cash flow management central to their decision-making. The company has an impressive client list, including Irish food and beverage giant Ornua and Swiss machinery manufacturer Sulzer, among others.

Understanding and controlling financial positions is crucial for businesses to thrive in the long term. CashAnalytics is trusted by over 1,000 businesses in 40+ countries, supporting over $100 billion in daily cash flow analysis. As CashAnalytics joins forces with GTreasury, it is poised to expand further and bring its cutting-edge technology to an even wider market. The future is bright as they strive to meet the increasing demand for automated and accurate cash flow analysis.

Dublin HQ’d Aryza has strengthened its presence in the APAC region by acquiring Australian-based Axcess Consulting. This acquisition is a key step in Aryza’s global growth strategy, allowing them to expand our footprint and bring innovative financial solutions to new markets.

Founded in 1991, Axcess Consulting has built a scalable SaaS platform designed for non-bank lenders, offering solutions for loan origination, servicing, underwriting, and investment portfolio management. Aryza, a leader in debt and loan management software, has now completed nine acquisitions since 2019, reflecting our commitment to serving the entire credit-debt lifecycle.

This acquisition represents another exciting milestone in Aryza's progression towards becoming the leading global provider of software solutions throughout the entire credit-debt lifecycle. With a demonstrated history of simplifying complex, regulated processes, Aryza is now ready to incorporate Axcess Consulting into its portfolio and broaden its range of services in the APAC region.

A massive congratulations to the Irish-affiliated businesses that have achieved an impressive total of €69 million in recent fundraising victories 🥂

🔌 ePower (Founders: Hugh Hall, Douglas Hall) provides EV charging solutions from home to public stations. They recently raised €16M in venture funding from Impax Asset Management.

🔋 Xerotech (Founder: Barry Flannery) delivers advanced thermally managed battery packs for EVs and energy storage, raising €44M in undisclosed funding.

🤖 Retrograde (Founders: Jake Browne, Grace Beverley) is an AI-powered talent agency for content creators, securing €1.8M in pre-seed funding from Elkstone and others.

🌍 Coras (Founders: James Bailey and Mark McLaughlin) drives ancillary revenue for major airlines with its Web3 loyalty platform, raising €1.3M in seed funding from DataOp and more.

📚 Grinds 360 (Founders: Ronan Murdock, Brendan Kavanagh) is a hybrid learning platform transforming education, with €3.2M in seed funding from notable angel investors.

📹 Giyst (Founders: Avril Power, Colm Murphy) uses AI to generate video summaries, improving content discovery, with €440K seed funding from Enterprise Ireland.

🎓 Educatly (Founders: Abdelrahman Ayman, Joan Manuel Sanchez Barbera, Mohmmed El Sonbaty) connects students with global education opportunities, raising €2.5M in seed funding from Enterprise Ireland and others.

Here is your quick serving of Irish Insights-related wins, trends, events, media and resources that we think you’ll enjoy digesting 🍽️:

💰 OpenAI’s new CFO, Sarah Friar, reveals the company is seeking new funding. CLICK HERE

🚜 This rugby-loving Irish man is disrupting agri-tech in Silicon Valley. CLICK HERE

🇵🇹 Web Summit is on the lookout for Irish Startups to join their flagship conference in Lisbon for free! APPLY HERE

🗺️ Map Of The Irish Diaspora across the globe. CLICK HERE

💰 How should a government with too much money handle a surprise €13bn rebate? CLICK HERE

🌹 The Financial Times reviews the Rose of Tralee CLICK HERE

🔥 Business Post: Ireland Hottest 100 start-ups CLICK HERE