This Wednesday evening, a new kind of startup event lands in Dublin. It’s called Pitch and Run, and it might just be the most energising idea to hit the local tech scene in years. Part morning jog, part networking sprint, part VC matchmaking, the concept is simple: founders, investors and startup supporters meet, run, and connect — no slides, no suits, and definitely no awkward conference coffee.
“I want to make this a platform to boost participation in the Irish startup ecosystem,” says organiser Niall Dennehy, serial entrepreneur, who first came across Pitch and Run in New York. There, he joined a few of the early runs, met people, got inspired — and brought the model home. Now, he’s launching the Irish version in Grand Canal Dock, a stone’s throw from the heart of Dublin’s tech community.
The inaugural run takes place Wednesday at 6 PM, kicking off from Caffè Nero, Gallery Quay. After a short round of intros, participants will head off for a 4.5-mile loop around the Docklands, with paces ranging from 9-minute miles to what’s delightfully called “party pace” — 11-minute miles and up. There’s even a planned photo stop at the Samuel Beckett Bridge , because even pitches on the move deserve a good backdrop.
And it’s not just cardio and conversation. Pitch and Run is already a proven platform. In New York, connections made on the move have led to funding rounds, co-founder pairings, customer wins, and new jobs. No slide decks. No pressure. Just trainers on, pace up, and pitch as you go.
“Many companies have raised their round, found customers, and even met co-founders through Pitch and Run,” Dennehy says. “I want to see the same happen here, helping more Irish startups get funded and boosting our national competitiveness and entrepreneurial spirit.”
The event is open to all founders, funders, and startup supporters, whether you’re in pre-seed stealth or post-exit mode. The only condition? Show up ready to run, share ideas, and support the startup ecosystem in a fresh, no-frills format.
And if this one goes well, expect more runs, more routes, and a growing movement that makes connecting in tech a little more human, and a lot more fun.
Lace up. Pitch in. And run with it.
