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Helen McBreen is a Partner at Atlantic Bridge in Dublin, Ireland, where she oversees the spinout-focused University Bridge Fund. Backed by institutions including Trinity College Dublin and University College Dublin, she currently co-manages the €80 million University Bridge Fund II to commercialize deep tech research. Previously, she served as an Investment Director at the National Digital Research Centre, co-founding Europe’s first dedicated science ventures accelerator. Over her twenty-year career, she has invested in 45 deep tech companies since 2015, catalyzing over €1 billion in investments and achieving exits to Apple and other technology firms. She also holds board director seats at startups like Equal1 and CroíValve, and chairs Ireland’s Integrated Photonics Centre. Holding a doctorate in artificial intelligence from The University of Edinburgh, her current investment focus centers on scaling early-stage university spin-outs across quantum computing, cybersecurity, and medtech.
Helen McBreen stands as a distinguished Partner at Atlantic Bridge, a leading global growth equity firm renowned for its focus on technology companies. In her pivotal role, Helen is instrumental in identifying, evaluating, and nurturing high-growth enterprises that are poised to disrupt their respective industries. Her work at Atlantic Bridge primarily revolves around deep technology and enterprise software, areas where she leverages her extensive industry knowledge and strategic acumen to foster innovation and scale.
Helen's investment focus is broad yet specialized, encompassing critical sectors such as artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), Software as a Service (SaaS), semiconductors, and the Internet of Things (IoT). She possesses a keen eye for companies developing foundational technologies that address complex challenges and offer significant market potential. Her geographical scope includes both European and US markets, reflecting Atlantic Bridge's global reach and commitment to sourcing the best technological advancements wherever they emerge.
Before her tenure as a Partner, Helen McBreen built a robust career foundation that equipped her with a comprehensive understanding of the technology landscape. Her background includes significant experience in venture capital and technology roles, providing her with unique insights into product development, market strategy, and operational scaling. This blend of investment and operational experience allows her to offer invaluable guidance to founders and management teams, helping them navigate growth stages and achieve successful market penetration.
Throughout her career at Atlantic Bridge, Helen has been involved with numerous impactful investments that exemplify the firm's strategy of backing groundbreaking innovation. While specific individual investments are often a collective effort, the firm's portfolio includes notable successes in deep tech, such as Decawave (acquired by Qorvo) and Movidius (acquired by Intel). These examples highlight the type of transformative companies Helen and the Atlantic Bridge team are dedicated to supporting, focusing on those with proprietary technology and strong intellectual property. Her commitment extends beyond capital injection, actively engaging with portfolio companies to provide strategic direction, talent acquisition support, and access to crucial networks, ultimately accelerating their journey from promising startups to market leaders. Helen McBreen's dedication to fostering technological advancement makes her a key figure in the venture capital ecosystem.
Helen McBreen is a highly respected Partner at Atlantic Bridge, a global growth equity firm. She is known for her expertise in identifying and investing in groundbreaking deep technology and enterprise software companies.
Helen McBreen primarily invests in deep tech and enterprise software sectors. Her focus areas include artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), Software as a Service (SaaS), semiconductors, and the Internet of Things (IoT).
Helen McBreen works as a Partner at Atlantic Bridge, a leading global growth equity firm with offices in Europe and the United States.
