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The Irish VC

The Irish VC

BVP

This podcast will bring you the latest interviews from some of the leading figures within the venture capital landscape in Ireland and abroad. Our interviews focus on a diverse range of people from founders to investors. The goal is to find out about the highs and lows of each individual's journey to date and to give our audience a unique insight into the different elements of our ecosystem.

40 - The Irish VC ep39: Building a Rare Disease Pharma Startup in Europe - Oranda Therapeutics
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  • 40 - The Irish VC ep39: Building a Rare Disease Pharma Startup in Europe - Oranda Therapeutics

    In this episode, Ahmed Alderzi, CEO and co-founder of Oranda Therapeutics, shares insights into building a biotech startup focused on rare diseases, the unique approach of Oranda, and lessons learned from his 30+ years experience. Discover how they navigate the complexities of drug commercialisation and their ambitious plans for Europe and beyond.

    Topics featured throughout the epidode:

    Oranda's unique platform for late-stage medicinesThe significance of market exclusivity and genericsBuilding a biotech startup in Ireland and EuropeThe importance of team and culture in startupsNavigating regulatory and market access in pharmaThe impact of rare diseases and patient needsFunding and investor relations in biotechOperational strategies for a virtual team"Both industries are needed to serve patients""Eighty percent of medicines in Europe are generics""There are seven thousand named rare diseases"
    Thu, 03 Sep 2026 - 43min
  • 39 - The Irish VC ep38:Can AI Fix the Broken Media Market? A Vision for the Future of Advertising with BuyMedia's Fergal O'Connor

    The Irish VC Podcast — Buymedia, media buying, and scaling from Ireland. In this conversation, Sarah Jane Larkin speaks with Fergal O’Connor, founder and CEO of Buymedia, about how he built the company from an early marketplace idea into an AI-driven media planning platform. The discussion covers start-up iteration, customer-led product development, funding in Ireland, and the changing media landscape across Ireland and the UK

    Key topics

    How Buymedia started and why the original marketplace concept changedMoving from inventory access to understanding where ideal customers consume mediaBuilding AI personas, media plans, marketplace buying, and performance feedback loopsThe impact of new media channels and the challenge of recency biasIreland’s start-up ecosystem and the role of Enterprise Ireland, local enterprise offices, NDRC, and grantsThe gap between early-stage funding and large-scale growth capitalScaling into the UK and learning a different go-to-market approachAI, agentic media buying, and the future of advertisingBuymedia began with the idea of giving buyers visibility into media inventory and pricing, but later pivoted to solving a deeper problem: helping brands understand where their customers actually consume media.The platform now supports the full workflow: building an ideal customer profile, creating a media plan, buying media, and measuring what works.Fergal described the company’s growth as a customer-driven journey, with products shaped by market feedback rather than built in isolation.He praised Ireland’s early-stage startup support but highlighted a funding gap once companies move beyond initial checks and need bigger growth capital.He believes the next major shift in media will be driven by AI, especially agentic systems that can automate media buying and selling.Customer discovery should happen before building the productRevenue generation early can make a startup more resilientFunding discipline matters as much as growthAI will increasingly shape how media is planned, bought, and measured


    Fri, 03 Jul 2026 - 37min
  • 38 - The Irish VC ep37: The Google Takeover - Founder Focus Live Panel on Startups, Scaling & AI

    Live from Google HQ Dublin! Delighted to introduce our 3rd Annual Google Takeover Live panel discussion for the Irish VC Podcast with the headline panel of:

    Host: Neil Lock - Google

    Guests: Mark Kirwan of Positive Carbon, Joseph Smyth of Joulica, Sean Mullaney of Seapoint& Portia Healy O’ Connor of Linda ai.

    Discover how AI-native startups are transforming industries with innovative solutions. This episode reveals how founders are reducing food waste, enhancing customer journeys, and revolutionizing healthcare with AI. Learn the secrets to building trust, managing rapid AI integration, and turning ideas into enterprise-ready solutions. Perfect for founders, investors, and technologists eager to leverage AI for growth without compromising trust or quality. Tune in to explore AI as the engine of growth and gain insights to accelerate your startup's journey.

    Tue, 16 Jun 2026 - 44min
  • 37 - The Irish VC ep36: Unlocking Ireland’s Renewable Future - An Interview with Pat Smith of Local Power Ltd

    Discover insights from Pat Smith, Managing Director of Local Power Limited, on Ireland’s renewable energy prospects, particularly in biomethane, solar PVs, and battery storage. This episode explores how farmers and rural communities can harness green energy, the importance of government support, and the role of innovative projects in shaping Ireland’s sustainable future.Main Topics Covered:

    Pat Smith’s background and journey into agriculture and energyThe Irish farming community’s role and challenges in renewable energy adoption.Current tensions between farmers and government, and what’s driving unrestThe potential of biomethane, solar PV, and battery storage for IrelandGovernment policies and the urgent need for clear support in renewable sectorsLocal Power’s projects and future plans, including Ireland’s first fully licensed biomethane facilityPractical advice for startups and young entrepreneurs in renewable energyLocal Power LimitedBVP Websitewww.bvp.ie

    Timestamps:00:00 - Introduction to Pat Smith and his journey from farm background to renewable energy innovator
    03:17 - The evolution from traditional farming into energy entrepreneurship with Local Power
    06:16 - Current tensions between farmers and government, and what’s driving unrest
    08:12 - The importance of diversification: energy solutions for farmers and rural communities
    10:28 - What is biomethane and its significance for Ireland’s energy independence
    12:37 - Challenges and policy gaps blocking biomethane industry growth
    14:24 - The stalled Carna Ross biomethane project – opportunities and government support needed
    15:52 - The philosophy behind Local Power’s mission to keep power within rural communities
    17:08 - Advances in battery storage technology and its role in renewable energy management
    19:00 - The growth of solar PV installations among farms and businesses in Ireland
    20:33 - The impact of government grants and incentives on accelerating renewable adoption
    21:36 - How businesses and farmers can get involved with Local Power and renewable projects
    23:23 - Advice for startups and young entrepreneurs in renewable energy
    26:44 - Key takeaways on resilience, pivoting, and smart work in building a successful business
    28:23 - The bright future for Ireland’s renewable sector, despite current setbacks
    28:58 - Insights on collaboration with BVP investor group and funding opportunities for biomethane
    30:17 - Ireland’s first fully licensed biomethane plant – ambitions and stakeholder benefitsResources & Links:Connect with Pat Smith.

    Wed, 06 May 2026 - 28min
  • 36 - The Irish VC ep:35 The Inside Scoop with BVP Director Stephen Burdock

    In this episode, Stephen Burdock, Director of BVP Investments, shares his extensive experience in banking, private equity, and investment strategies. He discusses what makes a compelling pitch, the importance of team versus idea, and insights into Ireland's emerging sectors like AI and health tech. Don't miss the upcoming Funder/ Founder event open to the public mentioned at the end of the episode!

    Chapters

    00:00 Introduction to BVP and Stephen Burdock

    06:03 Understanding BVP's Investment Offerings

    12:07 Crafting the Ideal Pitch

    17:46 Navigating Feedback and Future Opportunities

    23:47 Emerging Sectors for First-Time Founders

    29:48 Lessons from Missed Opportunities

    Fri, 06 Mar 2026 - 33min
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