PorterShed’s AI Venture Forge accelerator, Ireland’s first programme dedicated exclusively to AI start-ups, concluded its international phase last week with a three-day trade and innovation mission to Paris, culminating in a pitch showcase at the Embassy of Ireland, Paris.
From December 3–5, six AI Venture Forge cohort companies, alongside representatives from the Irish Centre for High-End Computing (ICHEC ) and Enterprise Ireland, engaged in an intensive schedule of workshops, ecosystem visits, and Europe’s leading AI events. The Paris mission marks the final international chapter of the 6-month accelerator, following earlier global immersion in San Francisco.
The cohort visited STATION F, the world’s largest start-up campus, attended Scaleway’s AI-PULSE, Europe’s largest cloud and AI infrastructure gathering, and participated in closed-door meetings with AI experts, founders and market-entry advisors across France. The trip concluded with a private pitch session at the Embassy of Ireland, where founders presented to investors, AI leaders, and representatives from the French Ireland Chamber of Commerce.
“Paris is now one of Europe’s most influential AI hubs. Our goal was to give founders direct access to the people, insights, and infrastructure shaping that momentum,” said Dushyant Singh, Programme Manager, AI Venture Forge. “For early-stage AI companies, exposure to high-performance computing pathways, global partners, and new markets is critical. This Paris visit accelerated all three.”
During the embassy showcase, the cohort delivered investor-ready pitches following a fireside discussion between James Harkin (ICHEC ) and Cédric Auliac (GENCI ), who outlined the Ireland–France Antenna partnership, a collaborative initiative designed to unlock supercomputing access, secure data environments, and cross-border AI innovation.
“AI Venture Forge has been focused on deep technical innovation from the outset, supporting founders whose products are fundamentally driven by AI, not enhanced by it,” said Mary Rodgers, CEO of PorterShed. “This Paris mission demonstrates the value of building global ambition early. Ireland’s AI talent can compete internationally, and this cohort is proof.”
With the Paris mission complete, AI Venture Forge now enters its final wrap-up phase before transitioning into a three-month post-programme support cycle focused on fundraising and commercial expansion.
AI Venture Forge is Ireland’s first accelerator dedicated exclusively to AI-native start-ups - companies where AI is the core engine of the product. The AI Venture Forge cohort comprised of ten emerging AI-first companies from across Ireland, 80% from outside Dublin and 40% founded or co-founded by women. Operated by PorterShed, the programme supports technical founders with tailored mentorship, advanced computing infrastructure, international immersion, and a framework adapted from MIT’s Disciplined Entrepreneurship model. The initiative is delivered in partnership with the Irish Centre for High-End Computing (ICHEC ), MIT Orbit, and Enterprise Ireland. AI Venture Forge is made possible through funding from the NDRC Realisation Fund
