There are some counterexamples, but every single one of those I can think of is self-funded and doesn't rely on VC or bank funding beyond what would be strictly necessary for any business.
You can do it, but it's a hard slog, and many of the success stories (Intercom, for instance) end up relocating out of the country once they look for VC funding because Irish (and European) VCs are so damned risk averse.
You can do it, but it's a hard slog, and many of the success stories (Intercom, for instance) end up relocating out of the country once they look for VC funding because Irish (and European) VCs are so damned risk averse.