Global trailblazers in technology, innovation, and investment will gather in Dublin this May for the third annual TechFoundHer Summit, now reimagined as a truly international movement. The headline speaker? None other than Kelly Vero, game developer behind Tomb Raider and Halo 3, and a pioneer in the metaverse, NFTs and AI-led product design.
Some of the world’s most influential women in tech are coming to Dublin. On 14 May, the iconic Round Room at the Mansion House will host TechFoundHer Summit 2025 – Women Innovators Rise, a powerful global gathering that’s flipping the script on who gets to lead in tech.
At the forefront is Kelly Vero, the legendary game developer behind Tomb Raider and Halo 3, now a global voice for ethical innovation and AI-driven impact. Joining her are investors, founders, and visionaries reshaping industries and investment models.
TechFoundHer Summit 2025 is not just another ‘women in tech’ event. It’s a high-energy, purpose-driven gathering for women building and scaling tech solutions to solve real-world problems. This year, the message is clear: the future of tech must be diverse, daring, and driven by women.
“This summit isn’t just about tech – it’s about unleashing vision and imagination,” says TechFoundHer founder, Máirín Murray.
“It’s for women who want to tackle real-world problems with powerful tech tools – and have some fun doing it.”
What to Expect at TechFoundHer Summit 2025
This year’s summit showcases a global roster of speakers:
- Kelly Vero – Developer of Tomb Raider, co-founder of NAK3D, and a leading voice in gamification and the metaverse. Kelly Vero’s new book Breaking Through Bytes profiles pioneering STEM women from ancient Egypt to the modern games industry.
- Lata Setty – Serial tech entrepreneur turned investor and venture capitalist, Lata leverages her expertise in science, tech, law and business to rocket fuel female founded startups.
- Lesley Sackey – Former European boxing champion turned tech founder, building AI-powered platforms for survivors of domestic abuse.
- Wendy Ryan – U.S.-based investor and star of Show Her The Money, reshaping venture capital by backing women and BIPOC founders.
Irish tech leaders from across the island and beyond will take the stage, including Dr Patricia Scanlon, Áine Kerr, Barbara McCarthy, Áine Denn, and Naomh McElhatton, joined by over 300 women-led startups, funders and tech allies.
This is more than a conference, it’s a call to action with themes driving the day include
- Tech Has No Gender – From Ada Lovelace to AI: inclusive innovation starts here
- TechProduct Innovation – Go beyond the hype to get real-world strategies from global experts.
- Breaking Through – What it takes to grow your startup from kitchen table to IPO.
- Funding Forward – Demystifying the funding landscape, from angel to VC.
- Women Innovators Rise – A spotlight on homegrown tech talent across the island.
With only 2% of global VC funding going to women, the summit brings together more than 300 attendees to spark connections, unlock funding pathways, and make women-led innovation visible and unstoppable. Supported by Dublin City Council, it offers something rare: an ecosystem where diverse women tech founders are centred, supported and celebrated.
Mairin Murray, founder of TechFoundHer, said:
“The Summit is about inspiring women to step boldly forwards and use tech to solve big juicy real world challenges. It’s about motivating women to go for the moonshot – and to realise that tech is the catalyst – it’s the easy bit once you are clear on your vision. Everyone can innovate with tech no matter their background or previous experience!
“The TechFoundHer Summit is not about tech – it’s about vision and imagination – it’s for those who want to solve big problems and improve our world. Tech is your superpower to make it happen and scale your impact. It’s so powerful and it’s also lots of fun – but too often we’re told as women that tech is not for us -and we can feel like we don’t belong. It’s time to reimagine and redesign what tech innovation looks like and create a positive environment with the right tools, insights and role models – that’s where the magic happens. You don’t need to be a coder to start a tech company – tech is the easy bit once you have a roadmap and the right contacts..”
At this year’s TechFoundHer Summit attendees will also meet the island-wide graduates of TechFoundHer’s Innovation Labs – a programme designed to make tech accessible, impactful, and inclusive.
Other key supporters of the 2025 Summit include U.S. Bank Europe as Network Sponsor and WITS (Women in Technology & Science Ireland) as Community Sponsor. The TechFoundHer Innovation Labs Programme, which nurtures early-stage women-led tech ventures across the island, was proudly supported by InterTradeIreland (in partnership with Invest Northern Ireland and Enterprise Ireland) through the Shared Island Enterprise Scheme. KPMG Ireland is Lead Sponsor of the Labs programme, further strengthening its commitment to inclusive innovation and entrepreneurship.
There are three options for tickets:
- Solo Standard Ticket: from €105 + VAT
- Bootstrapping Ticket (for pre-revenue founders): from €40 + VAT
- Supporter Ticket (corporate & public sector): from €400 + VAT (subsidises other places)