New generation of young ambitious Irish entrepreneurs and innovators gather at Baltyboys House, Blessington, Co. Wicklow for third annual ‘Baltyboys Entrepreneur Forum’

/in /by

  • Event was part of Patch, the summer accelerator programme for 36 of Ireland’s brightest young entrepreneurs, engineers and scientists – with many already filing patents, developing AI systems, medical devices, robotics projects and climate technologies

 

  • Forum heard from a range of entrepreneurs and ecosystem leaders including Mark Cummins, founder of Pointy, Debbie Rennick of ACT Venture Capital and more…..

 

  • Meet the 2026 Patch delegates at their demo Showcase Day in DogPatch Labs on August 14th

 

 

A new generation of determined Irish entrepreneurs and innovators recently gathered lakeside at the historical Baltyboys House in Blessington, Co. Wicklow for the third annual ‘Baltyboys Entrepreneur Forum’ which is a part of Patch, Ireland’s flagship summer accelerator programme for young entrepreneurs, engineers and scientists.

 

Patch brings together 36 of Ireland’s brightest entrepreneurial minds, aged 16–21, for seven weeks of intensive mentoring, project-building and networking. A launchpad for Ireland’s next generation of founders, builders and change-makers, Patch is run in conjunction with Dogpatch Labs, Ireland’s leading startup hub dedicated to accelerating the country’s startup ecosystem.

 

Designed to nurture ambition and turn ideas into action, Patch equips participants with the skills, confidence and connections to develop innovative ventures while learning from some of Ireland’s leading entrepreneurs, investors and business leaders.

 

This year’s exceptional delegates represent one of the strongest cohorts in Patch’s history. The group includes Olympiad finalists and Team Ireland competitors, Stripe Young Scientist winners, recipients of more than 20 national STEM and innovation awards, and young innovators whose technologies are already being used by Olympic athletes.

 

Many have already founded startups, filed patents, developed AI systems, medical devices, robotics projects and climate technologies, demonstrating an extraordinary combination of technical excellence and entrepreneurial ambition. Collectively, they have already built products reaching more than 500,000 users, amassed 13 million social media views and achieved more than 220,000 app downloads.

 

The Baltyboys Entrepreneurs Forum was added to the Patch schedule three years ago to offer talented Irish youth unparalleled access to insights and inspiration from top-tier innovators. A mix of fireside chats, one-on-one mentoring and networking opportunities reflect the uniquely personal and high-impact format that defines Patch.

 

This year’s Baltyboys Entrepreneur Forum, hosted by entrepreneur and Baltyboys House owner Brian Kingham, featured an exceptional lineup of founders, investors and ecosystem leaders including (in alphabetical order):

 

  • Debbie Rennick, General Partner at ACT Venture Capital, one of Ireland’s leading early-stage venture capital firms, who shared insights into what investors look for in the next generation of founders, highlighting the importance of resilience, vision and understanding the market opportunity. She told the gathering:

 

“There is no straight line in business, and founders need resilience, energy and a clear vision of what they want to achieve. A great idea is only the starting point – founders need to understand their customers, prove there is a real market need and be willing to adapt as that market evolves. The most successful founders are those who identify large and growing market opportunities, stay close to customers, listen, learn and have the courage to change direction when needed”

 

  • Mark Cummins, entrepreneur, investor and founder of Pointy, the retail technology startup acquired by Google in a $160 million deal. A long-time supporter of Patch, Mark also serves on the Patch board and is an active advocate for Ireland’s startup ecosystem through Scale Ireland
  • Special guests also included Liam Fuller, Co-founder and CEO of Source, an AI retail technology company that has raised €1.2 million in pre-seed funding; Garry Tiscovschi, Co-founder of AI startup Kreoh, a company helping Research and Development tax advisers produce accurate technical reports faster; and Sam McCay, Co-founder of Induct, a hardware startup modernising building access systems and one of the youngest companies accepted into the NDRC Accelerator

 

Brian Kingham, entrepreneur, Baltyboys House owner and longtime supporter of Patch, said: “Ireland has always been a nation of thinkers, creators and problem-solvers, and that entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well in this generation. Across the country, there are young people with bold ideas and fresh perspectives who are embracing the very latest technologies to ignite their ambition and make a positive impact. The Baltyboys Entrepreneur Forum is about role models providing attendees with the opportunity to learn from those who have founded successful businesses. It also offers the chance to build meaningful connections and test ideas that have the potential to shape the future.

 

Entrepreneurship is about staying open to opportunities, having the courage to take risks and building something with a clear sense of purpose. We want every young entrepreneur attending this forum to develop greater confidence, bigger ambitions and the belief that they can build something extraordinary.”

 

Patrick Walsh, CEO and Founder of Dogpatch Labs, added: “The energy and ambition we see from Patch participants each year is an important reminder of the talent and potential that exists among Ireland’s young people. The opportunity to learn directly from founders, investors and industry leaders gives these aspiring entrepreneurs a unique insight into what it takes to bring an idea to life. At its core, Patch is about creating a community where young innovators can challenge themselves, learn from others and build the connections needed to take their ideas further. The future of entrepreneurship in Ireland is incredibly exciting, and these young founders will play a key role in shaping it.”

 

For more information about Patch, please visit www.joinpatch.org

 

You can also keep up to date with Patch on their socials or

sign up to attend their Showcase Day on August 14th 2026