Donegal's startup scene presents a diverse mix of companies, from technology and healthcare to food and beverage.
Brindley Healthcare, a leading care provider, has secured €35M in funding. The region also has a growing spirits industry, with companies like Sliabh Liag Distillers raising $4.9M.
Below is our list of 50 Donegal startups worth keeping an eye on.
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Get the Sheet for $50Ride Today builds a software platform to help organizations launch and manage their own micromobility fleets. The company's technology is designed to make shared transportation like e-bikes and scooters more accessible and sustainable.
| Year Founded | 2023 |
| Founders | — |
| Funding Amount | €3M |
| Startup Size | Lean Team (11-50) |
| Last Funding Status | Seed |
| Top Investors | Pon Holdings, Davy EIIS Fund |
Sliabh Liag Distillers produces a range of Irish spirits, including whiskey, gin, and vodka, with a mission to revive Donegal's distilling heritage. The distillery crafts its products to have a distinctive character rooted in the local history and landscape of the region.
| Year Founded | 2015 |
| Founders | James Doherty, Moira Doherty |
| Funding Amount | $4.9M |
| Startup Size | Founding Team (1-10) |
| Last Funding Status | Equity Crowdfunding |
| Top Investors | Crowdcube, Pershing Ventures |
Cerebreon Technologies builds an AI-driven platform to automate processes for the debt recovery industry. Their software uses data analytics to help creditors and insolvency practitioners predict financial outcomes and manage cases more efficiently.
| Year Founded | 2016 |
| Founders | Charlie Faurisson, Gillian Doyle, Kenneth Doherty, Nicola Corrigan |
| Funding Amount | €1.8M |
| Startup Size | Founding Team (1-10) |
| Last Funding Status | Venture Round |
| Top Investors | Delta Partners, HBAN, NDRC, Western Development Commission, Consilience Ventures |
The Muff Liquor Company produces award-winning Irish gin and vodka inspired by traditional family recipes. Their spirits are crafted from potatoes and celebrate the heritage of the Inishowen peninsula.
| Year Founded | 2017 |
| Founders | Laura M Bonner |
| Funding Amount | $1.1M |
| Startup Size | Founding Team (1-10) |
| Last Funding Status | Venture Round |
| Top Investors | Crowdcube, MLM Distillery Investments |
Brindley Healthcare operates one of Ireland's largest private nursing home groups. They provide a full spectrum of residential services, including long-term, convalescent, and specialized dementia care.
| Year Founded | 2000 |
| Founders | Amanda Torrens |
| Funding Amount | €35M |
| Startup Size | Large Team (251-1,000) |
| Last Funding Status | Venture Round |
| Top Investors | Business Growth Fund, Ulster Bank |
Content Llama builds a software platform that automates how e-commerce retailers receive and configure product content from brands. Their technology is designed to help retailers get products to market more quickly and efficiently.
| Year Founded | 2019 |
| Founders | Karina Kelly |
| Funding Amount | €2.5M |
| Startup Size | Lean Team (11-50) |
| Last Funding Status | Seed |
| Top Investors | Elkstone Capital Partners, Western Development Commission |
Junk Kouture has created a global competition that fuses high fashion with sustainability for young designers. Through this program, students design and model couture outfits made from 100% recycled materials in a series of live runway events.
| Year Founded | 2010 |
| Founders | Troy Armour |
| Funding Amount | €850k |
| Startup Size | Lean Team (11-50) |
| Last Funding Status | Equity Crowdfunding |
| Top Investors | Justin Cullen |
3D Issue develops a digital publishing platform used to design interactive content such as online magazines and resource hubs. The software also helps businesses build and deploy their own custom branded applications.
| Year Founded | 2006 |
| Founders | Paul McNulty |
| Funding Amount | €750k |
| Startup Size | Lean Team (11-50) |
| Last Funding Status | Venture Round |
| Top Investors | Furthr VC, Western Development Commission |
The WiSAR Lab partners with companies to research and develop new Internet of Things products. Their team specializes in wireless sensor networks and embedded systems for applications in connected health and a range of other industrial sectors.
| Year Founded | 2002 |
| Founders | — |
| Funding Amount | €250k |
| Startup Size | Founding Team (1-10) |
| Last Funding Status | Grant |
| Top Investors | Enterprise Ireland |
FitPink creates functional fitness gear and athleisure apparel designed specifically for women. Their product line focuses on combining comfort with performance, featuring items like high-waisted leggings and supportive tops.
| Year Founded | 2019 |
| Founders | — |
| Funding Amount | €356k |
| Startup Size | Founding Team (1-10) |
| Last Funding Status | Equity Crowdfunding |
| Top Investors | Spark Crowdfunding |
40 Additional Donegal Startups Worth Following
Our top picks offer a glimpse into Donegal's growing startup scene, but there's much more to the story. Founders are building everything from fintech platforms to food brands, with some companies just starting out and others that have been part of the community for decades.
This mix of new energy and deep experience is what makes the area so interesting right now. Here’s a look at the other companies helping to shape Donegal's business landscape.