Furthr appoints Deirdre Smith as chair to lead next phase of innovation acceleration
Deirdre Smith, newly-appointed chair, Furthr: 'We have an extraordinary platform to accelerate new ventures into the national and global enterprise ecosystem'
Furthr are thrilled to announce the appointment of Deirdre Smith as Non-Executive Chair of the Board. A pioneering technology entrepreneur and innovation leader, Deirdre brings deep experience in scaling global ventures and empowering founders to turn breakthrough ideas into world-class businesses.
Succeeding Michael Moriarty, we wish to warmly acknowledge Michael’s committed dedication to Furthr over the past decade, including his two years as Board Chair.
As co-founder and CEO of Zandar Technologies plc – a broadcast video system innovator that secured global clients including the BBC, Sky and CNN before its acquisition in 2007 by NYSE-listed Harris Corporation, Smith brings a founder’s perspective to the role, and that of an engineer. She’s a graduate of Trinity College Dublin, a Chartered Director (IoD) and currently serves on the boards of Anthropic Ireland, BRE Global Ireland, Kinaxis Ireland, and previously the National Standard Authority of Ireland (NSAI) and Globalization-Partners (G-P). Smith remains a passionate advocate for innovation-led growth, sustainability, and female entrepreneurship.
NeuroBell raises €1.5m to expand access to newborn brain monitoring
NeuroBell, a medtech company based in Cork, has successfully closed a €1.5 million funding round ahead of its planned €5 million Series A round set for next year.
Founded in 2023 in Ballincollig by Mark O’Sullivan, Alison O’Shea, and Colm Murphy, NeuroBell currently employs 12 staff members and has raised a total of €3.6 million to date, including the recent seed-plus round. NeuroBell has raised investment from Atlantic Bridge, Furthr VC, and HBAN, and is supported by Enterprise Ireland. Most recently, Mark O’Sullivan, Chief Executive of NeuroBell, was crowned the2025 HPSU Founder of the Year.
Furthr announces its latest partnership with Peninsula, Ireland and the UK’s largest HR outsourcing partner.
Peninsula is a leading provider of HR, employment law, and health & safety support services for businesses of all sizes. With a global reach spanning Ireland, the UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, Peninsula empowers companies from their earliest stages of growth to operate confidently, compliantly, and effectively. Its tailored advice, technology-driven solutions, and on-demand expertise enable founders and business leaders to focus on what matters most - growing their business, supporting their people, and building long-term success.
Peninsula Partnership Manager – Conal Joseph Caulfield said, Furthr are one of the leading startup support organisations in the country. Their deep experience in supporting startup successfully navigate the startup and funding ecosystem is invaluable. Peninsula have been supporting Irish businesses from startup’s to large corporates for over two decades. This partnership extends our reach into supporting early stage Irish businesses and complements our ongoing activity with them.
Announcing the partnership agreement, Furthr COO – Julian Seymour said, we are delighted to collaborate with Peninsula. In all businesses the team is central to the success or failure of a business. HR is one of the most critical elements that new businesses need to deal with from the moment founders set out to recruit their first employees. Peninsula brings a wealth of experience to Furthr clients, through its array of supports and services. We are looking forward to working with them in providing our clients with this critical knowledge and expertise in managing the people side of their business.
As part of the partnership, Peninsula will have a dedicated contact line for simple HR queries and guidance. Furthr clients will also be able to gain a 5% discount on Peninsula’s outsourced HR Services.
10 start-ups join new insurtech pre-accelerator programme
Ten start-ups have been selected to join a new InsTech.ie initiative supporting early-stage ventures innovating in the insurance industry. The not-for-profit’s first Foundry pre-accelerator programme is run in partnership with Irish start-up hub Furthr.
The programme is designed to connect founders with mentors, industry partners, and investors through a structured seven-module curriculum. Participants will gain access to tailored guidance, expert insights, and valuable networking opportunities to help accelerate their growth.
The diverse cohort includes start-ups developing new solutions in solar insurance, financial automation, eldercare, and cyber risk management, among other emerging insurance sub-sectors.
This collaboration reflects Furthr’s ongoing commitment to empowering founders and supporting innovation across Ireland’s evolving tech and financial ecosystems.
Founders, investors, and advisers recently gathered at Dublin’s Digital Hub for the first in a new series of events addressing two key themes from this year’s Founders’ Listening Tour with Enterprise Ireland: networking and access. The nationwide tour, run in partnership with Silicon Republic, travelled from Donegal to Wexford and Cork to Galway, engaging start-ups at every stage to understand their challenges and opportunities. The seven regional sessions concluded with a stakeholder event in Dublin, setting the stage for new initiatives to better support Ireland’s founders.
Join us on Thursday, 27th November, 5:00pm - 7:30pm at the Guinness Enterprise Centre for the last Pitch Jam of the year!
Pitch Jam offers a unique opportunity for Furthr-supported start-ups to showcase their pitch skills before a live audience of investors, industry experts, and fellow entrepreneurs.
The event provides a relaxed yet professional platform for founders to present their business ideas, receive valuable feedback, and make meaningful connections with potential backers. Each participating start-up is part of the Furthr community and will pitch to a panel of investors with the added excitement of a live audience vote to crown the evening’s top pitch.
Join over 7,000 Irish businesses that have partnered with Peninsula to streamline their HR and Health & Safety practices.
Take advantage of this complimentary session at the Guinness Enterprise Centre, where you’ll gain valuable insights and confidence in managing your HR and Health & Safety needs.
Spaces are limited, so be sure to register now to secure your spot!
Join us for two expert-led webinars packed with insights on the The EU AI Act with Dr Maria Moloney and How to set up a business and keep control of it!
Hear from industry leaders, gain practical takeaways you can apply right away, and connect with peers from Ireland’s vibrant startup community.
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