Meet the six groundbreaking startups selected for the Interceltic Startup Challenge 2025. These companies are solving global problems and will represent their nations at the Interceltic Business Forum in Lorient.
The Celtic nations are rich in innovation — but too often, their brightest startups remain under the radar. The Interceltic Startup Challenge 2025 set out to change that.
Launched earlier this year, the Challenge invited high-potential startups from Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Cornwall, Brittany, and the Isle of Man to compete for a spot on the global stage. After weeks of regional selection and jury deliberation, six standout companies have been chosen to represent the best of Celtic entrepreneurship.
On August 4th, these founders will take the stage at the Interceltic Business Forum in Lorient, France, pitching their ideas, connecting with investors, and building the future of cross-border innovation.
The Interceltic Startup Challenge is a one-of-a-kind program that brings together startups from across the Celtic world — not only to compete, but to collaborate.
Each year, one startup from each participating region is selected to join an international growth program. Winners receive:
It’s more than a competition — it’s a launchpad for scaling Celtic innovation globally.
The six selected startups each address pressing global challenges — from emotional intelligence in hiring to smart marine gear and inclusive digital identity. Here's how they’re reshaping industries, driving ROI, and elevating Celtic innovation.
sqr.id
As digital life accelerates, secure identity verification becomes more urgent — and complex. SQR is building low-friction, privacy-first solutions for individuals and organizations to verify identity safely and efficiently. Already deployed in regulated industries, their consent-driven tech enables trust and transparency in a remote-first world.
alkimii.com
Hospitality operations are often weighed down by fragmented systems and staff retention challenges. Alkimii solves this with an all-in-one, cloud-based platform that unifies HR, payroll, compliance, communication, and maintenance. Designed for both managers and frontline staff, it enables smarter scheduling, reduces admin burden, and supports multilingual teams — helping hotels boost performance without compromising guest experience.
engineeracareer.co.uk
The engineering sector is struggling with a talent pipeline issue. Engineer a Career addresses this by inspiring students and recent grads to see engineering as an accessible, impactful career path. It connects top talent with companies earlier and more meaningfully, helping businesses engage future engineers long before graduation — and shaping a more diverse and motivated workforce.
playerxp.io
Game developers often drown in player feedback without clear insight. PlayerXP uses AI to analyze sentiment from forums, social media, and reviews in real time — helping studios identify issues, predict retention trends, and optimize features. Used by global publishers, the platform has cut feedback analysis time by 80% and increased player retention by 12% following targeted updates.
cavefish.co.uk
In high-stakes settings — from interviews to investor pitches — emotional signals are often missed. Echodepth brings emotional intelligence to the table, using AI to analyze voice, video, and text for confidence, anxiety, and authenticity. The result: faster, more empathetic, insight-driven decisions in hiring, sales, leadership, and finance.
fendsea.com
Fenders are a necessary but clunky part of boating. Fendsea reinvents them with the world’s first inflatable fender with built-in storage, using patented dropstitch tech. Lighter, more compact, and sleeker than traditional models, Fendsea combines functionality and design to create a product that’s durable, space-saving, and elegant.
All six winning startups will be invited to Lorient, France to represent their region at the Interceltic Business Forum on August 4th. There, they’ll take the stage to present their companies, share their visions, and connect with a global audience of investors, policymakers, and business leaders.
Beyond pitching, they’ll explore new opportunities for international expansion, forge cross-border partnerships, and help shape a collaborative future for innovation across the Celtic world.
The 2025 Interceltic Business Forum brought Celtic innovators to Lorient for a high-energy day of ideas, connection, and cross-border collaboration.
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Tim Sayers of Isle of Man Creamery shares how the co-operative evolved from local milk to global exports, the advantages of being island-based, and why he’s attending his first Interceltic Business Forum in Lorient.
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John O’Loughlin, Head of Trade and Investment for the Welsh Government in Ireland, shares insights on Wales' sector strengths, diaspora engagement, and why events like Interceltic Business Forum are vital for trade and innovation.
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Kirree Gooberman, Head of Business Development at Business Isle of Man, shares how the Island is building a future-ready economy rooted in innovation, sustainability, and cross-Celtic collaboration.
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