Young innovators gathered in Wicklow for Baltyboys Entrepreneur Forum
A dynamic new wave of Irish entrepreneurial talent gathered recently at the picturesque and historic Baltyboys House in Blessington, Co. Wicklow, for the second annual Baltyboys Entrepreneur Forum.
Part of Patch—Ireland’s premier summer accelerator for young entrepreneurs—this forum brought together the brightest 16–21-year-old innovators for a day of connection, mentorship, and inspiration.
The Patch Summer Programme is a seven-week accelerator that offers Ireland’s top young minds the opportunity to build projects, engage with world-class mentors, and immerse themselves in a supportive entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Established in 2019 by Tom McCarthy, with the support of Patrick Walsh of Dogpatch Labs, Patch is backed by international tech leaders including Stripe, OpenAI, the NDRC, and Dogpatch Labs.
It has become a launchpad for Ireland’s emerging founders, engineers, and scientists.
This year’s cohort is nothing short of remarkable: 12 founders, one of whom has already earned over €30,000 in revenue; four Olympiad participants; 12 BT Young Scientist Award winners; 10 Scifest awardees; and three individuals holding patents across five innovations.
Five delegates have also advanced scientific research through partnerships with universities and accelerators.
Their achievements go beyond the lab and boardroom. Among the group are athletes holding four national basketball titles, two inter-county Gaelic football players, and even an aspiring astronaut who completed training in Huntsville, Alabama.
The Baltyboys Entrepreneur Forum was introduced to the programme in 2023 to provide these high-potential young people with unprecedented access to top-tier innovators.
Through a series of fireside chats, one-on-one mentoring sessions, and networking opportunities, attendees gained valuable insights in a highly personal setting.
This year’s event, hosted by entrepreneur and Baltyboys House owner Brian Kingham, welcomed an exceptional lineup of speakers, including:
Eoin Hinchy, Founder of Tines, a cybersecurity automation company valued at over $1.125bn
Niamh Donnelly, CTO of Akara Robotics, Forbes 30 Under 30 honouree and EU Women Innovators Prize winner
Professor Luke O’Neill, globally renowned immunologist and science communicator
Also in attendance were leading entrepreneurs David Shackleton, Mark Cummins, and other long-time supporters of Patch.
Niamh Donnelly, founder of AKARA Robotics
Kingham said: “Ireland’s entrepreneurial spirit is deeply rooted in its culture and history... The Baltyboys Entrepreneur Forum is designed to nurture that spirit, connecting Ireland’s most promising young founders with those who have already walked the path.”
Patrick Walsh added: “What makes Patch special is the calibre of young people we attract and the depth of mentorship they get from the ecosystem... we’re just giving them the tools and connections to accelerate that journey.”
Photo: Professor Luke O'Neill
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