Venturewave Capital presented the Impact Ireland Award 2025 to Patrick and John Collison, recognising global entrepreneurship, responsible innovation, and a lasting contribution to Ireland’s technology story.
The award was conferred during the closing gala of the Impact Ireland Convention & Global Advisory Council (GAC) 2025 at The Shelbourne, Dublin, an event hosted by Venturewave Capital and supported by Bank of America Corporation. Across the week, leaders from business, policy and culture explored how AI, sustainable finance and transparent governance reinforce one another. The Collison brothers’ recognition underscored the central theme: growth and integrity are not competing goals; the best systems do both.
The Impact Ireland Convention convenes investors, founders and policymakers from five continents to advance outcomes-driven investment aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Venturewave’s Impact Ireland Funds back companies across clean energy, health, agri-food, education and sustainable finance, using the Venture Impact Score (VIS) to track measurable progress.
Last year’s Impact Ireland Award went to former U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, the first U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate. The honour recognised decades of climate leadership—from signing the Paris Agreement on behalf of the United States in 2015 to mobilising public-private coalitions for the net-zero transition. In his remarks, Kerry warned that climate impacts are arriving “bigger, faster, more destructive” than predicted and stressed that the transition cannot succeed without private capital—themes that set the tone for this year’s focus on standards, accountability and intelligent capital.
“Growth and integrity are not competing goals the best systems do both.”
About the Award. The Impact Ireland Award recognises leaders who demonstrate that enterprise can scale outcomes as well as returns. Recipients exemplify responsible innovation, long-term stewardship, and a meaningful contribution to Ireland’s technology story, with a clear line of sight to measurable progress through the Venture Impact Score (VIS).
Highlights from this year’s programme — spanning AI & impact, energy security & affordability, and standards-based governance will be published over the coming weeks. For previous recipients and remarks, visit the Impact Ireland Award archive, and explore sessions from the Impact Ireland Convention.
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