Irish startup Assiduous has raised €1 million in seed funding to launch its flagship product, the Corporate Finance Autopilot—an AI-powered advisory platform aimed at revolutionizing how small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) access capital markets.
The oversubscribed round was backed by a mix of experienced business leaders, tech executives, and Enterprise Ireland’s High-Potential Start-Up (HPSU) programme, signalling strong investor belief in Assiduous’ mission to democratize corporate finance.
Launching the Corporate Finance Autopilot
Assiduous, based at NovaUCD in Dublin, is harnessing the power of agentic AI—a form of artificial intelligence focused on autonomous reasoning—to help SMEs navigate every stage of their corporate lifecycle. The Corporate Finance Autopilot delivers persistent, AI-guided financial advice without the traditional barriers of high cost and exclusivity.
Instead of relying on human advisors, SMEs can now tap into a virtual finance co-pilot that supports decision-making for strategic planning, funding rounds, liquidity events, and IPO readiness.
Funding to Power AI Innovation and Talent Growth
With this new funding, Assiduous will:
- Accelerate platform development through 2025 and 2026
- Expand its AI and engineering teams
- Focus on agentic AI for autonomous financial advisory
- Grow market presence across Europe and beyond
Strategic Partnerships Bolster Growth
Assiduous has also entered a strategic collaboration with Euronext Group, Europe’s largest exchange operator, through its participation in the EIT Digital Open Innovation Factory 2024.
This partnership seeks to make public markets accessible to SMEs earlier in their lifecycle, helping smaller firms prepare for IPOs and strategic moves with smart, AI-driven insights. Through its inclusion in EIT Digital’s Equity Portfolio, Assiduous gains access to key European innovation networks and long-term mentorship.
Reimagining Financial Advisory for the AI Era
Founded in 2023 by Fergal Meegan and Barry Murphy, two former investment bankers, Assiduous blends deep capital markets expertise with cutting-edge AI development. Its mission is to reduce the complexity and cost of accessing financial expertise, offering always-on support tailored to each SME’s goals.
The platform replaces outdated manual advisory with machine learning, delivering intelligent suggestions, risk assessments, and strategy recommendations in real-time. The AI is built to understand when and how SMEs should engage with capital markets, ensuring they are always transaction-ready.
Endorsements from Industry Leaders
“We are only scratching the surface of what AI can unlock for SMEs,” said Fergal Meegan, CEO of Assiduous. “Our platform brings high-value advisory services within reach of more businesses than ever before.”
“Assiduous is addressing a massive market gap,” added Conor O’Donovan, Head of Start-ups at Enterprise Ireland. “It’s exactly the type of innovation Ireland needs to compete globally.”
Dénes Csiszár, Interim Head at EIT Digital, noted, “Assiduous offers a bold solution to Europe’s SME financing challenges. We’re proud to support their journey.”
With strong public and private backing, a strategic roadmap, and a powerful AI engine at its core, Assiduous is set to redefine SME access to corporate finance in the years to come.
