TechFoundHer Summit 2026 – Programme

Programme TechFoundHer Summit 2026

Registration

09:00 Door Opens and Registration (Tea/Coffee served)

09:30 Take your seat!

09.30 – 11.15 Morning Session 1

Reset: Welcome to the Tech MnáoSphere Reclaiming the Future

A rallying call for women tech founders to refuse overwhelm and step into action. In a world of crisis, disruption and accelerating technology, the Tech Mnáosphere is where we gather our energy, sharpen our purpose and remember our power: to build with technology, to solve real problems, to create value-driven ventures, and to shape the future together. Máirín Murray welcomes us into the Summit by framing the urgency of this moment — and the possibility that opens when women tech founders act with optimism, clarity and collective force. Dr Niamh Shaw challenges us to stop shrinking our ambition and go for the moonshot. Professor Maura McAdam brings the radical lens of Permission Granted, asking what becomes possible when women stop waiting to be chosen. Dr Áine Kerr brings us back to purpose-led innovation — building technology with conviction, impact and intent.

This interactive morning is not about passive inspiration. It is a reset of ambition, agency and action — a call to challenge old narratives, claim our place in the technosphere, and reclaim the future we are here to build. Thank you to Máire Ní Churraoin and Kiki na Art who will share their music and art!

11:15- 11:30 Comfort Break (Time to refill your tea/coffee)

11.30 – 12.30 Morning Session 2

Reboot: Women Building What’s Next

Women are not waiting at the edge of AI, technology or innovation — they are already building, scaling and shaping what comes next. This session brings that reality into focus through practical insight and global ambition: Barbara McCarthy on agentic AI as a tool for action; Heidi Davis of Peri — Your Body, Decoded, Rosanne Longmore of Coroflo, and Maureen King of iTrust 6A™ showcasing innovation across perimenopause, the breastfeeding revolution, trust, data and accountability. We will also spotlight the Women Tech Dublin / Techstars Startup Weekend winning team.

12.30 – 13.15 Morning Session 3

Rise: Women Breaking Through.

Women backing women is how breakthrough gathers force. This session celebrates visibility, momentum and the power of collective support — with Catherine Gray, producer of Show Her The Money, bringing a powerful call to action on building a global movement for change. We will showcase three incredible Breakthrough Awards founders from the WeBuild programme, who have moved at breakneck speed — turning insight into action, momentum into progress, and ambition into breakthrough. The session also features This Is What an Innovator Looks Like, with Liana O’Cleirigh FRSA, Interactive Designer at Bentley Systems, and Brianna Power sharing what they are building, how they are innovating, and the spark behind their impact.

Lunch 13.15 – 14.00 (enjoy the spread of sandwiches, snacks and refreshments)

Over lunch we host the WeBuild Graduation with Meg Magill from InterTradeIreland, celebrating founders who are done waiting, done shrinking and ready to build what comes next.

14:00 – 15:30 Afternoon Programme

ReImagine: We Are the Cavalry

Reimagine is where we stop talking about the future as something far away and start claiming it as something women are building now. This session brings capital, courage, intention and next-generation innovation into the room: an investor panel with Lata Setty, Wendy Ryan, Erika Aquino and Drew O’Sullivan from InterTradeIreland, chaired by Jemma Simpson, asks what changes when women founders are backed properly, seriously and at scale. We spotlight innovators including Saoirse Murphy, Young Scientist, and Ava McGurk, showing that the next wave is already here. Then our Tech with Intention panel with Christine Nsubuga Noonan, Dr Claudia Igbrude, Angelika Sharygina and Adriana Ignat pushes us to ask not just what we can build, but what we should build, who it serves and what systems it has the power to change.

To round off the day, we bring serious energy, positivity and badass Mná energy to the room with the amazing Rose Silva and Samba Dance Brazil — a joyful, powerful celebration of women rising, moving and making noise together.

* Variations to schedule are possible

Takeaways

• Become part of our women led startup ecosystem and a community of support and valuable connections with signposting to opportunities and funding.
• Join an inclusive event that aims to bust tech jargon, where attendees feel comfortable to ask anything and build business and tech know-how and confidence.
• Highly motivational – exploring tech trends in particular AI and use cases.
• Be part of or gathering of women in tech leaders, founders and supporters as speakers, panellists and champions to share insights and practical tips on how to create tech products.
• Network with other tech driven founders and future founders from a wide range of diverse backgrounds and demographics.