Tag: #kpmg

KPMG’s Global Tech Innovator 2026 opens for entries

KPMG in Ireland has opened entries for the 2026 Global Tech Innovator (GTI) competition. Now in its sixth year, KPMG is inviting ambitious Irish technology and tech‑enabled companies to compete for the chance to represent Ireland at the global final in Lisbon this November.
Commenting on the 2026 launch, Anna Scally, Global Head of Technology, Media, and Telecommunications at KPMG said:
“Dublin healthtech company Akara’s achievement in Lisbon was one of the competition’s strongest years for Ireland. Akara finished as first runner up at the 2025 global final and it showed the world that Ireland punches well above its weight in
technology. We now want to find the next Akara, an ambitious Irish tech founder ready to compete on the world stage.”
Reflecting on last year’s journey, Niamh Donnelly, co-founder and CTO of Akara, said:
“Winning the Irish competition validated years of hard work and confirmed that what we’re building at Akara genuinely matters. But representing Ireland on the global stage and finishing as first runner up out of 21 of the world’s most promising tech startups has opened doors we couldn’t have imagined. For Akara, this competition wasn’t just an award, it was a launchpad.”
Who can enter?
The competition is open to pure technology or tech enabled, tech driven, or tech led businesses which have operated for seven years or less, have generated revenue of between USD $1–15m, or have raised at least $500,000 in equity, and are registered and based in Ireland or Northern Ireland.
Shortlisted entrants will pitch their innovations and present their growth ambitions to a panel of judges – including successful entrepreneurs and investors – for the chance to be crowned Ireland’s winner and to compete at the global final.
Applications must be submitted by 22nd of May 2026 and you must be available to appear in-person for the Ireland final, which will be held in Dublin on the 30th of June 2026.
Benefits for the Irish winner include:
  • National and global exposure: Showcasing your innovation to industry experts, investors, partners, and customers; boosting local profile via media and social coverage. The Irish winner advances to compete globally in Lisbon in November.
  • Networking opportunities: Connecting with fellow tech innovators, join local and global peer networks, collaborating, and gaining insights from seasoned professionals.
  • Mentorship and growth: Accessing KPMG mentors and advisors for guidance on scaling; receiving ongoing feedback from judges and peers to refining your innovation and presentation skills.
Previous Irish finalists
Ireland’s track record Irish finalists and winners to date reflect the breadth of the country’s innovation, from Niamh Donnelly of Akara (2025 Irish winner) and Emma Meehan’s Precision Sports Technology (2024 Irish winner) to Conor Sheridan’s AI powered hospitality platform Nory, Barry Lunn’s accident prevention firm Provizio, and Terry Canning’s Belfast based CattleEye, the world’s first hardware independent autonomous livestock monitoring platform.
To enter, find out more about the competition and watch all the previous Irish finalists’ pitches, visit www.kpmg.ie/GTI

KPMG Global Tech Innovator Competition returns for 2025

KPMG today kicked off its annual search for Ireland’s next top tech innovator. Now in its fifth year, KPMG’s Global Tech Innovator competition is open to Irish tech founders and entrepreneurs who are pure technology, tech-enabled, tech-led, or tech-driven and ready for their next stage of growth.
Are you Ireland’s next tech giant?
Ambitious Irish tech companies are invited to apply for their chance to be crowned Ireland’s winner and represent Ireland at the prestigious global final in Lisbon in November. Shortlisted entrants will pitch their innovations and present their growth ambitions to a panel of judges, including successful entrepreneurs and investors.
 
Commenting on the launch of this year’s competition, Anna Scally, Ireland and EMA Region Head of Technology Media & Telecoms, KPMG, said: “In times of global uncertainty and shifting trade dynamics, it is essential to proactively support Ireland’s entrepreneurs and the builders of the next wave of successful tech businesses. Targeted initiatives and investments will ensure that our tech sectors continue to innovate and grow, safeguarding its vital contribution to the Irish economy. We invite all tech innovators across Ireland to participate in this competition.
It provides them with a platform to showcase their innovations on a global stage, elevate their businesses to new heights and connect with fellow tech innovators and join a global peer-to-peer network to share ideas and build important connections in a growing community of high-achieving tech entrepreneurs.”
 
The Irish winner will advance to the Global Tech Innovator final in Lisbon in November. Additional prizes include representing Ireland on the global stage, receiving mentorship from KPMG professionals, and gaining access to exclusive networking events.
Previous Irish finalists
Last year, Emma Meehan, Founder, CEO and CTO of Precision Sports Technology took the top spot in the Irish competition and went on to represent Ireland, competing against 22 other country finalists in the global final. Reflecting on her experience, Emma Meehan, said: “The opportunity to represent Ireland on a global stage was invaluable and provided us with an excellent opportunity to showcase our cutting-edge software. My advice to companies considering entering the competition this year would be to do it and enjoy the experience.”
Other previous Irish finalists include Conor Sheridan, founder and CEO of Dublin-based Nory, an AI-powered operating system for the hospitality industry, Barry Lunn from Limerick-based Provizio, an Irish accident prevention technology firm, and Terry Canning from Belfast-based CattleEye, the world’s first hardware-independent autonomous livestock monitoring platform.
Emma added, “Being a finalist and the overall Irish winner in the 2024 KPMG GTI competition was transformative. The mentorship and guidance from KPMG experts were excellent and the networking opportunities and national and global exposure significantly boosted my business profile and connected me with key industry influencers.”
Qualifications and eligibility criteria
Registered and based in Ireland or Northern Ireland, applicants are typically technology entrepreneurs who are successfully making the transition from the startup phase to the next stage in the growth of their businesses. They have developed innovative, proven technologies, established robust business models, demonstrated traction and have the potential to scale up globally. From the initial application to the regional and global pitch presentations, the competition can be a significant learning experience. Feedback from judges and interactions with other participants can help refine your innovation and presentation skills.
To be eligible for the competition, you must:
  • Be a registered company in the country/region where the country/region final is being held.
  • Have been actively operating for 7 years or less (in the current form).
  • Have generated revenue of between US $1 million and $15 million; or have raised at least US $500,000 in equity.
  • Be either a pure technology or a tech-enabled, tech-driven or tech-led business.
  • Not be majority owned by a large corporate.
  • Applications must be submitted by 23 May 2025.
  • Available to appear in-person for the Ireland final, which will be held in Dublin on the 17th of June 2025.
The 2025 global competition will include technology innovators from 20 countries and regions, including Austria, Brazil, Colombia, East Africa, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Ghana, Ireland, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, Philippines, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, Southern Africa, Sweden, Turkey, UK and the US.
To enter, find out more about the competition and watch all the 2024 Irish finalists’ pitches visit www.kpmg.ie/GTI

Majority of Irish businesses have either adopted or plan to integrate a clear AI strategy

Ireland’s Research, Development & Innovation (RDI) sector continues to drive growth and employment, but without funding it risks dependence on foreign technology and diminishing competitiveness, according to the Ireland’s Innovation Index Pulse Survey, which surveyed over 500 Irish companies.

IRDG and KPMG conducted Ireland’s Innovation Index pulse survey in October and November and this pulse survey aimed to capture the latest trends, challenges, and opportunities faced by companies in Ireland active in Research Development and Innovation.

The research found that nearly two-thirds (65 percent) of businesses plan to increase RDI spending in response to challenges like AI and talent shortages, with the recent R&D tax credit rate increase to 30 percent continuing to drive growth. However, this is down 12 percent from 78 percent in comparison to a similar question that was asked in the main Ireland’s Innovation Index 2024 survey in May 2024. This may be a sign of decreasing confidence in Ireland’s RDI environment.

At the same time, it found that over 6 in 10 cited a lack of funding as the primary barrier to increasing innovation, while 43 percent of businesses identify time constraints and one third (34 percent) said difficultly recruiting talent as significant challenges.

The administrative burden related to the R&D Tax Credit claims and grant applications remain an issue with 80 percent of respondents reporting that the administrative burden has remained the same, and 14 percent reporting that it has worsened, while only 6 percent saw an improvement over the past six months.

R&D of green and sustainable technologies

Over half (51 percent) are currently involved in the R&D of green and sustainable technologies.  Many of those companies (95 percent) already involved in the R&D of green and sustainable technologies plan to further invest in the coming year. Only 2 percent of companies which are not currently investing in developing these technologies plan to do so in the future.

Adoption of AI

Some 39 percent of organisations claim to have adopted or are currently adopting AI with a clear strategy, nearly one third (32 percent) plan to integrate AI within the next 6-12 months, and 3 in 10 have little or no AI strategy and no current plans to adopt AI.

Ken Hardy, Head of KPMG’s RDI Incentives Practice noted: “Investment in RDI is critical for long-term economic growth and job creation across the country. Notably, 65 percent of businesses plan to increase RDI spending, driven by many factors including recent increase in the rate of the R&D tax credit to 30 percent. Issues such as the high cost of innovation have led to concerns about decreasing confidence in the RDI environment. We need to continue to improve the attractiveness of investing in RDI to maintain Ireland’s competitive position.“

Dermot Casey, CEO of IRDG, remarked: “Ireland is at a critical juncture. Business is eager to embrace AI and green technologies, but high costs and funding gaps are holding us back. Innovation is the lifeblood of our economy and the key to tackling global challenges like climate change. We need immediate action to break down these barriers. It’s time to radically improve Ireland’s RDI environment and claim our position as a global innovation leader.”

More than half of organisations in Ireland now using AI

New research from KPMG reveals the extent to which artificial intelligence (AI) is being deployed in Irish organisations’ finance operations – with compelling levels of ROI and a wide range of benefits including better data and decisions, lower costs, and greater ability to predict trends. Over half of organisations in Ireland (54 percent) are now using AI across their finance function, lower than 71 percent seen globally. Meanwhile, over two-thirds (66 percent) are implementing some level of workflow automation in financial reporting. The report, titled “AI in finance”, covers 2,900 organisations across 23 countries and includes 100 responses from Ireland.

Commenting on the research findings, Keith Stafford, IT Audit Partner at KPMG in Ireland, said, “Our research confirms AI is continuing to have a profound effect on how companies operate, including their systems, processes, controls, and governance over all areas of the finance function, and this is set to accelerate in the next few years. AI will transform not only the technical aspects of financial operations but also fundamentally reshape strategic decision-making and risk management practices. The increasing adoption of AI reflects its critical role in driving efficiency, accuracy, and predictive capabilities, which are essential for staying competitive in an ever-evolving marketplace.

The integration of AI in financial services is not just a trend but a transformative shift. Our research highlights the significant strides companies are making in AI adoption, as well as the challenges they face. It is essential for organisations to invest in talent development and establish robust guidelines to harness the full potential of AI responsibly.”

AI Adoption Trends

The research indicates that AI adoption is most prevalent in Treasury Management, followed closely by Financial Planning, Accounting, Tax, and Operations and Risk Management. This trend underscores the growing adaptation of AI to streamline and enhance financial processes. The research also finds two-thirds (66 percent) of companies have implemented some level of automation in their financial reporting workflows. Additionally, 25 percent of respondents plan to adopt automation in the near future. This shift towards automation reflects the industry’s commitment to improving efficiency and accuracy in financial reporting.

The top benefits of AI identified in the research include:

  • Enabling better data-driven decisions (38 percent)
  • Lowering operational costs (37 percent)
  • Enhancing the ability to predict trends (36 percent)

ROI of AI Initiatives and Investment

Almost half (49 percent) of those surveyed reported that the return on investment (ROI) of their AI initiatives is meeting or exceeding expectations, compared to 65 percent globally. This highlights the tangible benefits that AI brings to the financial services sector, encouraging further investment and innovation. AI is also now reported to account for nearly 15 percent of the IT budget for businesses, with projections indicating that this figure is set to double within the next three years.

Challenges and Guidelines

Despite the promising trends, the research highlights limited AI skills and talent as the biggest barrier to AI adoption. Companies are facing challenges in finding and retaining skilled professionals who can effectively implement and manage AI technologies. Nearly half (45 percent) of the surveyed companies have established AI control guidelines to ensure the responsible use of AI. These guidelines are crucial in maintaining ethical standards and mitigating risks associated with AI deployment.

Finally, the study also reveals that companies are increasingly looking to auditors in particular to provide more communication and insights about AI. This demand for transparency and guidance emphasises the need for auditors to stay informed and proactive in their approach to AI-related matters.

Almost two-thirds of digital leaders say AI and cloud investment can increase performance and profitability

Digital leaders are confident that embracing technology across all facets of their business is bringing productivity gains, with nearly two-thirds (63%) surveyed reporting an increase in their profitability or performance by using XaaS in the past 24 months according to the KPMG global tech report. This new report, which surveyed more than 2,100 technology executives, explores the technology strategies employed by organisations across the globe as they embark on the next stage of their digital transformation journeys. It also examines the opportunity presented by emerging technology to drive value and gain a competitive edge during a sustained period of unprecedented market volatility.

Profit, performance and leadership

Respondents see technology investment driving profit or performance improvements of more than 10 percent, up from last year’s most common rate of improvement of around 2.5 percent. Buy-in across leadership for deploying emerging tools and technologies has more than tripled, with the top three areas of investment being artificial intelligence, data and analytics and Xaas.

“The survey results about AI echo the anecdotal sentiment among our client base. The biggest threat to many organisations’ digital transformation ambition is linked to poor collaboration across teams, so leadership and management style can also play a key role,” said Liam Cotter, Technology Practice Lead, KPMG in Ireland.

Advancing ESG priorities

Almost half of respondents (48 percent) agree that advancing their ESG priorities will be a primary innovation goal for their technology functions over the next two years; this is consistent regionally with 53 percent in ASPAC, 46 percent in the Americas and 47 percent in EMA.

Achieving short-term goals

Among those leading businesses where investment in technology is driving confidence and profitability most quickly, AI and machine learning are even bigger priorities. More than two-thirds (68 percent) say these technologies will be vital in helping them to achieve their short-term business goals, compared with 57 percent of the total sample.

The biggest threat to many organisations’ digital transformation ambition is linked to poor collaboration across teams – often due to negative work culture and poor communication. Nine in ten respondents think collaboration with the wider business would be stronger if their tech function were more diverse.

Exploring emerging technologies’ potential

This year, 96 percent of the leaders (the top 15 percent of those surveyed) say their technology function can help the enterprise confidently explore emerging technologies’ potential, compared with 81 percent of businesses overall. Two-thirds of these leaders have reached at least the implementation stage on projects connected to emerging technologies, XaaS, data and analytics, AI, and automation, compared with less than half of the total respondent base.

With 72 percent of digital leaders recording improvements in employee productivity from digital transformation, compared with only 48 percent of the other businesses, the potential benefits are huge. Seventy-one percent say they have enhanced customer engagement, compared with 49 percent.

For more information, visit our website: www.kpmg.ie/techreport2023

Nory wins KPMG Global Tech Innovator Ireland final

Nory, an AI-powered operating system for the hospitality industry, has won the KPMG Global Tech Innovator Ireland final. Conor Sheridan, Nory founder and CEO, will represent Ireland against 22 other country finalists in the global final in Lisbon on 15 November.

Conor competed against seven other innovative start-ups from across the island of Ireland, with solutions covering everything from diversity and inclusion and influencer marketing to child-protection and women’s health.

Anna Scally, KPMG’s Head of Technology & Media and member of the Global Tech Innovator judging panel said:

“The standard of entries to this years’ competition was excellent and each of our eight finalists challenged valiantly to be the winner. As judges, we had a really difficult job but ultimately Nory came out on top. We wish Conor the best of luck when he goes to Lisbon in November from everyone at KPMG in Ireland. It will be a fantastic opportunity to meet with investors, get mentoring from top CEOs, meet tech industry peers and be in with a chance to take home the global prize.”

From restauranteur to tech entrepreneur

Before founding Nory, Conor worked in finance before deciding to start his own restaurant, ultimately founding the popular and fast-growing independent Mad Egg restaurant group. As a restaurateur, Conor saw a gap in the market for an intelligent restaurant management system that could work with frontline teams to help them perform better.

Nory’s platform is purpose-built to help venues control their costs and perform consistently each day. Nory centralises core restaurant operations into one single control point. From sales analytics and forecasting to workforce management and inventory management. It uses proprietary AI models to analyse business data in each restaurant and recommend simple actions to help teams control costs, increase productivity and boost employee engagement. Nory works with several brands across Ireland, continental Europe and the UK including Stonegate Pubs, Jamie Oliver Group, Freshly Chopped and Dr. Juice. It has consistently delivered a 50%+ increase in net profit for its customers, proving to be transformational.

Earlier this year, Nory secured €7 million in a seed funding round co-led by Triple Point Ventures and Samaipata VC. Participating investors also included Playfair Capital, Cavalry VC and Circlerock Capital. The investment is being used to extend capabilities of Nory’s proprietary technology and accelerate its go-to-market strategy.

Conor Sheridan noted:

“We are pumped to be named Ireland’s KPMG Global Tech Innovator winner. The quality of the competition was immense, which is a testament to the level of innovation happening here at the moment. For Nory, our mission is to revolutionise how hospitality businesses are operated around the world. These businesses are currently being hit with a huge amount of operating pressures, it’s a tough trading environment. We’ve demonstrated that leveraging AI can be transformational for your bottom line, irrespective if you are operating in New York or Newcastle. I’m proud to be representing my peers in Lisbon and will try to bring it home for the Irish ecosystem!”

Conor’s winning pitch can be viewed here: Global Tech Innovator 2023: Nory pitch – YouTube

Ursula von der Leyen confirmed to attend 48th annual Business & Finance Awards

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has, this afternoon, been announced as the special guest for the 48th annual Business & Finance Awards. The event will take place at the Convention Centre in Dublin on Thursday, December 1st, and is expected to see more than 1,000 business, political and social leaders attend.

President Von Der Leyen, who has served as the Commission President since 2019, will travel to Ireland to accept the Sutherland Leadership Award. The accolade marks the 50th anniversary of Ireland joining the European Union, and recognises the EU’s contribution to the country across the last five decades.

Since its inception in 1974, the Business & Finance Awards Programme has honoured and hosted some of the most outstanding political and social leaders. This year, notable guests include:

  • An Taoiseach, Micheál Martin

  • Commissioner for Financial Services, Financial Stability and Capital Markets Union, Mairead McGuinness

  • Former Irish President, Mary Robinson

  • Former Taoiseach, Enda Kenny

  • Ukrainian Ambassador to Ireland, Larysa Gerasko

The Sutherland Leadership Award was established in 2018 with the support of the Sutherland Family to recognise outstanding international leaders who have embodied the values of one of Ireland’s and Europe’s finest leaders, Peter Sutherland. Since its inception, The Sutherland Leadership Award has recognised Henry (Hank) Paulson, 74th US Secretary of the Treasury & Founder of the Paulson Institute; José Manuel Barroso, former President of the European Commission; and Mario Draghi ,former President of the European Central Bank and Prime Minister of Italy.

Established in 1974, the Business & Finance Awards is the longest-running and most prestigious business awards programme in Ireland and is an important recognition platform for the Irish business community. The event serves to acknowledge and celebrate excellence in innovation, growth and scale of individual business leaders and their teams.

Now in its 48th year, the prestigious event will also see the winners announced across six categories – Company of the Year; Business Person of the Year; Diversity, Equality & Inclusion; ESG; Elevation; and FDI of the Year.

KPMG launches the Ireland qualifier for the KPMG Global Tech Innovator competition.

KPMG in Ireland has launched a search for Ireland’s next top tech innovator. The competition, now in its second year, is open to Irish tech entrepreneurs and start-ups businesses which are pure technology, tech-enabled, tech-led, or tech-driven.

Competition entrants will be shortlisted and invited to pitch their innovations and present their growth ambitions to an esteemed panel of judges. The judges, which will include successful entrepreneurs and investors, will be announced shortly.

The overall winner in Ireland will progress to the Global Tech Innovator final to be held during Web Summit 2022 in Lisbon in November. The prize also includes travel and accommodation to Lisbon, tickets to Web Summit as part of KPMG’s delegation, an exhibition stand for 1 day, and access to exclusive networking events and mentoring opportunities.

Last year, KPMG’s Ireland competition was won by CattleEye, a Belfast-founded company which has harnessed the capabilities of advanced AI in video analytics to deliver the world’s first academically verified autonomous livestock monitoring platform. Other Irish companies shortlisted in the 2021 competition included ApisProtect, CitySwift, Dataships, Equal1, ID-Pal, Singularity Alpha and Wrkit.

The competition is open to all technology companies which have operated for 5 years or less, have generated revenue between USD $1-10m (or have raised at least $500,000 in equity) and are registered and based in Ireland or Northern Ireland. Applicants must have innovative, proven technologies, robust business models, the ability to demonstrate traction in their activities and the potential to scale up. Applications must be submitted by 8th May 2022.

The global competition will include technology innovators from 21 other countries and jurisdictions across the world, including Africa, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, Denmark, Germany, Israel, India, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Taiwan, the UK and the US.

Commenting on the competition, Anna Scally, Partner, Head of Technology & Media and Fintech Lead, said: “Following the huge success of our inaugural competition last year, we’re back on the hunt for the next ‘big thing’ in tech. We have a thriving tech ecosystem here in Ireland and we’re looking to find emerging tech start-ups, with potential to be Ireland’s next unicorns. If your company is tech-enabled, tech-led or tech-driven, this is really an opportunity not be missed.”

Applications are now open for the competition at www.kpmg.ie/GTI.

KPMG announces 350 new tech jobs at launch of Platform X Global Innovation Hub in Dublin’s IFSC

Leading professional services firm KPMG announced its plans to expand its Digital Technology practice by adding 350 tech focused professionals in Ireland over the next year, and investing in a global market leading innovation hub in Dublin’s IFSC, Platform X. The new jobs will be a mix of graduates of STEM disciplines and experienced professionals, with the investment reflecting accelerated client demand for expertise in this space. The investment in Platform X aims to support businesses dealing with new and emerging threats driven by advancements in digital adoption following the Covid-19 pandemic, providing state of the art workspace and the latest in collaborative technology and design to accelerate growth ideas and incubate new products and services.

The new innovation hub was launched today by Minister for Finance, Paschal Donohoe and KPMG Managing Partner, Seamus Hand. Speaking at the launch, Minister Paschal Donohoe said; “The launch of this high-tech facility and the technology focused new jobs it will support is a vote of confidence in Ireland as a leader in global, technology led collaboration, and I welcome the investment and the high quality employment it will create.”

Global connectivity
Fully connected to the 32 Innovation Hubs in KPMG offices around the globe, Platform X facilitates KPMG in bringing its full global capabilities to clients on demand, reducing the previous essential need for travel and also contributing to its ESG ambition.

Platform X features a 100-seat auditorium, 5 Collaboration suites, multiple team break-out options, traditional meeting rooms with a technology difference, and an Innovation Lab that combines the latest in advanced electronic workspace technology with the latest visualisation and collaboration tools.

The future of work – right here in Dublin
KPMG’s Managing Partner, Seamus Hand said “This unique space leverages the latest collaboration and communications technology to support new levels of innovation, engagement and the latest emerging ways of working. Many of the challenges we’re helping our clients overcome are complex and benefit from a multidisciplinary approach – and Platform X really does support that approach to problem solving. Our clients are excited about how we are helping them bring the best thinking from around the world into the room – right here in Dublin.”

Despite recent KPMG CEO research reaffirming that the office is here to stay as the focal point of most organisations, Seamus Hand added that the reality is a lot more nuanced. “Flexible and remote working and tech led collaboration deepens the talent pool, so that’s a good thing. We also know that people are social and like to see each other and often collaborate better in person – Platform X delivers this flexibility for our clients and for our people.”