What stage does Kernel Capital invest at?

Kernel Capital invests at the Seed, Series A, Series B, Series C, Growth, Late Stage stages.

What is Kernel Capital's typical check size?

Kernel Capital typically writes checks of $1.1M – $5.4M.

Where is Kernel Capital located?

Kernel Capital is headquartered in Cork, IE.

Kernel Capital

Venture capital

Cork · Seed–Late Stage · 9 people tracked

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Investment thesis

Kernel Capital backs seed, early and growth-stage technology companies, positioning itself as an active partner rather than a passive capital provider. The firm emphasizes a process-driven, execution-oriented investment approach, offering due diligence rigor, strategic guidance, financial experience and access to a broad network of customers and co-investors. Its involvement extends through the full company lifecycle, including support during difficult periods such as receivership and M&A processes, and it has delivered outcomes including IPOs and trade sales (e.g. the sale of Straatum to Lam Research). It works closely with founders and management teams to shape business models and secure key accounts.

Invests inAdvanced Manufacturing Biotech Consumer Data & Infrastructure Deep Tech EdTech Enterprise Software Hardware Healthtech Medical Devices SaaS SemiconductorsGlobalIrelandUnited Kingdom

Source: firm website, verified Aug 3, 2026.

Stage

Seed–Late Stage

Check

$1.1M – $5.4M

Cork, IE

Instruments

Equity

Founded

2002

AUM

$186.8M

Tracked investments

Team · 9 people

from the firm's website & public directories

Denise Sidhu· Partner and Director· Irelandin

Denise Sidhu is a Director and Partner at Kernel Capital, where she serves on the Venture Capital Funds' Investment Committees. With over 20 years of venture capital experience investing in and advising early-stage technology companies in Ireland and the UK, she holds board positions with several portfolio companies including Cirdan Imaging, B-Secur, Nova Leah, and Kianda Technologies. She serves as a Council Member at The National Competitiveness and Productivity Council and previously chaired the Irish Venture Capital Association.

d•••@kernelcapital.iereveal

Ger Goold· Partner and Director· Irelandin

g•••@kernelcapital.iereveal

Niall Olden· Managing Partner and Director· Cork Metropolitan Areain

Niall Olden is Managing Partner of Kernel Capital, a Dublin-based venture capital firm regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland and authorised by the UK Financial Conduct Authority, operating offices in Cork, Belfast, and Dublin. He established the firm in 1999 and has led over 40 portfolio companies employing more than 1,200 people, completing 27 trade sales, two public listings, and raising approximately €1.5 billion across 250+ fundraisings for portfolio companies. Olden holds an M.Sc. in International Business from Trinity College Dublin and a B.Comm from the National University of Ireland, Cork, and is a Fellow of the Irish Academy of Engineers and Chartered Management Accountant.

n•••@kernelcapital.iereveal

Mark Glukhovsky

Investments · 27 tracked

founders shown can be your intro path

AES

AltraTech

Amartus

Arralis

High frequency semiconductor chips

Automated Intelligence

Information and data management software

B-Secur

ECG cybersecurity and biometrics platform

BioAtlantis

Biotech solutions for horticulture

Causeway Sensors

Certification Europe

Changeover Technologies

Converting waste to solid fuels

ChipSensors

CIRDAN

Cancer diagnosis and treatment

Code Institute

Corlytics

Analytics software for financial institutions

CrescentDX

Decawave

DisplayNote

Equiendo

Farran Technology

FeedHenry

FerFics

Radio frequency semiconductor component design

HiberGene

Molecular diagnostics for infectious diseases

MPSTOR

Pilot Photonics

Develops integrated photonics technology, including an Optical Frequency Generator Unit (OFGU) using optical comb lasers for next-generation satellite communications.

Radisens Diagnostics

ResourceKraft

Straatumacquired by Lam Research

Semiconductor company acquired by Lam Research Corp in January 2009.

Exits · 1

IPOs and acquisitions across the tracked portfolio

Straatumacq. by Lam Research

Frequently asked questions

What stage does Kernel Capital invest at?: Kernel Capital invests at the Seed, Series A, Series B, Series C, Growth, Late Stage stages.
What is Kernel Capital's typical check size?: Kernel Capital typically writes checks of $1.1M – $5.4M.
What sectors does Kernel Capital focus on?: Kernel Capital focuses on Advanced Manufacturing, Biotech, Consumer, Data & Infrastructure, Deep Tech, EdTech, Enterprise Software, Hardware, Healthtech, Medical Devices, SaaS, Semiconductors.
Where is Kernel Capital located?: Kernel Capital is headquartered in Cork, IE.

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