An estimated €31.5m has been raised at the AxisBIC Venture Academy over the last 15 years.
Eight high-growth start-ups seeking to raise €5.7m pitched recently to an audience of 100 investors at the AxisBIC Venture Academy.
The Venture Academy is part of the Growth Pathway Programme organised by AxisBIC with partners Cork City Council and Cork County Council.
“The eight high growth entrepreneurs have put an enormous amount of work into their pitches, and it is heartening to see such support and interest from the investors at this year’s event”
Half of the start-ups that participated in the event at the River Lee Hotel in Cork City last Thursday (10 April), are providing AI-driven solutions in areas such as Fintech, Aviation Procurement and Manufacturing. The other businesses pitching for investment were in the Life Science, Food Tech and Drinks sectors.
Valentia Island Vermouth was named Most Investible Company 2025 and Capisso was awarded Best Pitch 2025.
Innovation and expertise
Valentia Island Vermouth (Anna and Orla Snook O’Carroll) is a premium Irish vermouth made from locally sourced ingredients in Co. Kerry, crafted using environmentally friendly techniques like cold infusion, and designed to be enjoyed in classic cocktails.
Capisso (Pratheesh Chambeth) is revolutionising book-keeping and financial management with AI-driven solutions, offering automated transaction categorisation, fraud detection, and financial analytics to empower businesses and accounting firms with real-time insights and efficiency.
AxisBIC identifies and works with innovative entrepreneurs and provides them with support and essential business expertise helping them to grow and succeed.
The Venture Academy has been organised every year for the last 15-years with a total of €31.5m raised by high growth start-ups.
“Today we are delighted to showcase eight high-growth start-ups whose pitches reflect a remarkable level of innovation and expertise,” said Larry O’Donoghue, CEO of AxisBIC.
“The eight high growth entrepreneurs have put an enormous amount of work into their pitches, and it is heartening to see such support and interest from the investors at this year’s event. We would encourage any start-up who is seeking investment to get in touch with the team at AxisBIC who can support you on the next steps to growth and success.”
In preparation for The Venture Academy, the selected startups participated in a month-long mini-accelerator, which included one-to-one sessions and workshops where they received real feedback, advice and coaching from seasoned investors.
“We are absolutely over the moon to have been named Most Investible Company,” said Orla Snook O’Carroll of Valentia Island Vermouth.
“There were such incredible companies pitching here today and it highlights the importance of AxisBIC for so many companies. Their support is evident in all the pitches that were made and we’re really grateful for their help along the way. Today’s win has been excellent for our company and we already have interest from investors which is amazing.”
The other pitching companies were:
- CaraBia (Dr. Barry Kiely and Prof. Fergus Shanahan) – developing next-generation gut microbiome probiotic products targeting the aging population to promote health and longevity.
- OneBill (Adem Ergen) – a smart utility management app that streamlines bill aggregation, payments, and utility switching, using AI-driven automation to optimise costs and provide users with the best deals.
- Planufacture (Jason O’Regan) – a SAAS scheduling software for manufacturing SMEs, provides AI-driven solutions to easily schedule complex production processes and fulfill customer orders with three tiers offering varying levels of value.
- SAOL (Greg O’Gorman) – a turnkey digital platform that enhances customer and employee engagement, serving as a strategic tool for strengthening market positioning and driving revenue through wellbeing-focused initiatives.
- Spear (Noel Lourdes) – focused on becoming the leading provider of cognitive archiving, transforming B2B interactions into institutional intelligence, with an AI-driven solution that helps the aviation sector streamline sourcing and secure spare parts efficiently.
- TrustDish (Shannen O’Reilly) – provides a back-office platform for food service businesses to manage allergen information in real-time, ensuring compliance with regulations and reducing errors. It also offers a free app for individuals with food allergies or intolerances to filter menus and communicate directly with kitchen staff for safer dining experiences.
Main image at top: Pratheesh Chambeth, Capisso, winner of the AxisBIC Venture Academy Best Pitch along with Anna and Orla Snook O’Carroll, Valentia Island Vermouth, winner of the AxisBIC Venture Academy Most Investible Company. Photo: John Allen
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