Key Takeaways
- • InterTradeIreland's All-Island Venture Capital Conference returns to Belfast on 5 March 2026 at ICC Belfast, marking the event's first return to the city since 2020, with free attendance and limited places remaining available.
- • Venture capital funding for Irish SMEs contracted 23% in 2025, the first decline since 2018, creating a challenging investment environment that underscores the strategic importance of the conference for early-stage businesses seeking capital access.
- • The 2026 conference will feature its most ambitious programme to date, with three parallel stages including a Main Stage headlined by Angel Investor Michael Black and TeamFeePay Chief Revenue Officer Victoria Millar, alongside dedicated Knowledge Stage sessions on fundraising, scaling, and product development.
- • The conference attracted over 900 delegates to Dublin in 2025 and continues to function as a key networking venue for founders, investors, and business leaders across the island of Ireland and UK investor community.
- • The event's focus theme centers on adapting to market volatility, positioning it as a critical platform for SMEs and scale-ups to understand the evolving funding landscape and build relationships with active investors during a period of constrained capital availability.
Summary
InterTradeIreland's All-Island Venture Capital Conference will convene in Belfast on 5 March 2026 at the ICC Belfast, representing a significant gathering of the island's entrepreneurship and investment ecosystem. The event returns to Belfast for the first time since 2020 and maintains its positioning as a premier venue for venture capital deal-making and investor networking. The conference is being offered at no cost to attendees, though organizers note that a limited number of places remain available.
The timing of this year's conference coincides with a marked contraction in venture capital deployment across the island. Industry data reveals that venture capital funding for Irish SMEs declined 23% during 2025—a reversal marking the first such year-over-year contraction since 2018. This funding environment has intensified pressure on early-stage companies and scale-ups seeking to secure growth capital, making access to active investors and market intelligence increasingly valuable for participants.
The conference programme reflects an expanded agenda designed to address current market dynamics. The event will operate three dedicated parallel stages for the first time, including a Main Stage featuring Angel Investor Michael Black and Victoria Millar, Chief Revenue Officer of TeamFeePay, a football club management software company. Beyond keynote sessions, a Knowledge Stage will deliver practical guidance on fundraising mechanics, scaling operations, and product development strategies—resources particularly relevant for companies navigating the current funding environment.
The InterTradeIreland Venture Capital Conference has established itself as a cornerstone event on the entrepreneurial calendar across Ireland and Northern Ireland. The Dublin edition in 2025 attracted over 900 delegates, demonstrating sustained institutional participation. The conference functions as a critical nexus point where early-stage businesses, scale-ups, investors from across Ireland and the UK, and business leaders interact to build deal pipelines and share market intelligence. In a period characterized by reduced capital availability and heightened selectivity among investors, such direct-access networking infrastructure becomes strategically important for companies seeking to overcome funding constraints and connect with decision-makers.
The timing of this year's conference coincides with a marked contraction in venture capital deployment across the island. Industry data reveals that venture capital funding for Irish SMEs declined 23% during 2025—a reversal marking the first such year-over-year contraction since 2018. This funding environment has intensified pressure on early-stage companies and scale-ups seeking to secure growth capital, making access to active investors and market intelligence increasingly valuable for participants.
The conference programme reflects an expanded agenda designed to address current market dynamics. The event will operate three dedicated parallel stages for the first time, including a Main Stage featuring Angel Investor Michael Black and Victoria Millar, Chief Revenue Officer of TeamFeePay, a football club management software company. Beyond keynote sessions, a Knowledge Stage will deliver practical guidance on fundraising mechanics, scaling operations, and product development strategies—resources particularly relevant for companies navigating the current funding environment.
The InterTradeIreland Venture Capital Conference has established itself as a cornerstone event on the entrepreneurial calendar across Ireland and Northern Ireland. The Dublin edition in 2025 attracted over 900 delegates, demonstrating sustained institutional participation. The conference functions as a critical nexus point where early-stage businesses, scale-ups, investors from across Ireland and the UK, and business leaders interact to build deal pipelines and share market intelligence. In a period characterized by reduced capital availability and heightened selectivity among investors, such direct-access networking infrastructure becomes strategically important for companies seeking to overcome funding constraints and connect with decision-makers.
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