Non-bank lender Linked Finance said today that it has passed €400m in cumulative lending to small and medium-sized businesses since its launch in 2013, and has now backed over 5,000 Irish SMEs.
Linked Finance said the two milestones cap the company’s strongest start to a year in 13 years, with lending so far in 2026 running about 65% ahead of the same time in 2025.
The businesses Linked Finance has funded are estimated to have supported 50,000 jobs, it added.
When the company was established in 2013, the average loan was around €18,000 while today it is about €125,000,
Well-known Irish businesses Linked Finance has supported include VitHit, Cornucopia, Chopped, SchoolBooks.ie, Cloud Picker Coffee and Leo Burdock.
Linked Finance said that Irish businesses continue to navigate an uncertain economic environment marked by persistent inflationary pressures, geopolitical instability and global trade uncertainty.
But despite these economic headwinds, the lender said it was seeing a rebound in confidence among Irish SMEs.
It said that the strong demand for finance suggests more Irish businesses are moving ahead with investment and expansion plans, despite policymakers warning of slower growth.
Linked Finance said that alongside established demand from retail, professional services and hospitality, the company is seeing strong growth in newer categories – from gyms, data centres and wellness to childcare.
It also noted that almost two-thirds of borrowers are based outside Dublin, spanning every region of the country.
“Passing €400m in lending and backing more than 5,000 Irish businesses are milestones we are enormously proud of. When we started in 2013, the average loan was around €18,000; today it is approximately €125,000, which tells you how much more ambitious Irish SMEs have become and how willing they are to invest in their own growth,” Niall O’Grady, CEO of Linked Finance, said.
“With so many banks having stepped back from the Irish market over the past decade, Linked Finance is better placed than ever to back great Irish businesses,” Mr O’Grady said.
The Linked Finance CEO said he was encouraged by the momentum the company is seeing in 2026 after a weak 2025.
“Lending is running well ahead of where we were this time last year, applications are strong, and we are funding businesses in sectors that barely featured on our books a few years ago, from wellness to childcare,” he said.
“We now approve most loans within 24 hours, providing Irish SMEs with the speed, flexibility and certainty they need to invest and grow. That remains our focus as we continue backing ambitious businesses across Ireland,” he added.
