How to go about looking for investment for my company

Don't know much about investing in a start up but some suggestions below. Should look at an overall plan and ensure that €200k is enough. Developers are very expensive.

1) If your company has the potential to export then Enterprise Ireland invests in companies. They also give grants for development which would mean no equity given away.
2) Bank loans but would probably need some personal security
3) EII schemes (https://www.revenue.ie/en/personal-tax-credits-reliefs-and-exemptions/investment/relief-for-investment-in-corporate-trades-for-in/employment-investment-incentive.aspx). There are some funds that sepecifically only invest using EII schemes (think BDO have one).
4) Get advice from professionals like Davy's, etc but they are expensive.

Asking for €5m if your business doesn't have a legitimate need for it, and can't show how it'll sensibly use it to grow the company, could get you laughed out of a room, as quickly as you got into it.

You need to be realistic about what the business is worth, and what it would be worth, post investment. You also need to be prepared to give up equity in your company, unless you are fortunite enough to get Enterprise Ireland to invest, by way of Preference Shares (which can also be converted to ordinary shares, in certain circumstances).

Preparing a good business plan is definitely the right way to start. Give it careful thought and consideration, get advice from your accountant etc. In fact, Local Enterprise Offices give a grant (I think its €2,500) to help fund external professional advice, so check and see if you can avail of that.

Depending on what stage your business is at, it might qualify for a Bank loan. I know that you said you aren't making a profit, but ability to repay debt from future cashflow is also an important consideration, for the Banks. If so, take a look at the SBCI's Growth Loan. Even if this were to only offer part of the overall solution, there are benefits to this product (such as the SBCI providing security for the loan (or part of it)), and you not having to relinquish any equity in your business.

The EIIS schemes are worth exploring, as mentioned above.

Another option, if you do decide to go for a smaller sum than multi million Venture Capital investment, might be to look at Angle Investors. Like VCs, they'll want a healthy return on their money, but they do serve a purpose and you'll sometimes find selling investors that also bring skillsets to the deal, at a cheaper cost than say a VV appointing a Director to your company's Board. HBAN are one organisation that brings investors togeather with companies seeking investment.

While it would take a while, you might also want to explore doing some sort of partnership with a larger company, possibly one that can additional custom to you, by helping you sell to their existing customers.

Would offering an employee stock option plan to your developers work ? might be a way to lower your short term cash outflows ?

maybe start researching the angel investors network (as a start).

or look at the loan schemes like linked finance. it might get you enough to start moving in the right direction.


most important thing if you go to investors is to have a business plan. Know what you will spend the money on, and how it will generate a return so you can repay the investors (loan) or have some kind of exit mechanism for them.

Key things for investors are a return on investment and how to extract it once it reaches a certain point.