Silicon Republic

Revolut applies for US banking license UK fintech giant Revolut has applied for a US banking license, and has tapped former Visa executive Cetin Duransoy as its US CEO.

UK fintech giant Revolut has applied for a US banking license. If successful, Revolut would be able offer services such as personal loans and credit cards to its US-based customers.

Minister announces €12m in project funding and 23 jobs at Kerry’s Net Feasa Minister Dara Calleary has announced 23 new jobs in Kerry at Net Feasa, as well as €12m in funding for rural-based projects.

Dara Calleary, TD, has approved €12m in funding for a range of rural projects and has also revealed plans for 23 new jobs at Net Feasa, in Daingean Uí Chúis, Kerry.

Check out today’s Daily Brief for the latest sci-tech news, including:

Amazon cuts jobs in its robotics division
French quantum start-up Pasqal to go public via SPAC
Women-led Irish companies growing in south and mid-west

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Major phishing operation disrupted in joint Europol action A joint operation has disrupted one of the largest phishing-as-a-service platform worldwide, called ‘Tycoon 2FA’.

A joint cybersecurity operation has disrupted one of the world’s largest phishing-as-a-service platform, called ‘Tycoon 2FA’, used to bypass multi-factor authentication and hack accounts.

French quantum start-up Pasqal raises €340m, plans dual public listings French quantum start-up Pasqal raises €340m ahead of plans for public listings via a SPAC on the Nasdaq and Euronext exchanges.

French quantum start-up Pasqal raises €340m and plans dual public listings.

South and mid-west beating national average for women founders, finds AxisBIC AxisBIC have issued a report showing how women-led businesses in Ireland's south and mid-west are outpacing other regions in terms of funding.

The report identified an increase in the number of female entrepreneurs raising investments to expand their businesses.

The Leaders’ Room: Building belonging with Apple’s Cathy Kearney and Kristina Raspe The Leaders Room' podcast features longtime Apple lead in Ireland and VP of European Operations, Cathy Kearney, and colleague Kristina Raspe, VP of Places.

The Leaders Room Podcast: this episode is a little different. It features two leaders – Apple VPs Cathy Kearney and Kristina Raspe.

Amazon lays off more workers, this time in the robotics division In a new round of layoffs, Amazon said it is cutting a 'relatively small' number of jobs in its robotics division.

In a new round of layoffs, Amazon is cutting a 'relatively small' number of jobs in its robotics division. Reuters reported that the layoffs will affect at least 100 white-collar jobs.

Report: Women more likely to hold CFO or HR roles than CEO positions Grant Thornton has released data indicating how women are more likely to hold a CFO or HR position ahead of a CEO role.

Grant Thornton’s report highlights the challenges women face as they aspire to CEO roles.

'What matters more to employers, education or experience?' asks AI expert Aon's Joseph Holland discusses the opportunities open to those who may not want to take the direct route towards their professional lives.

Aon’s Joseph Holland discusses how taking the route less travelled can lead you towards the career you were meant to have.

Wearables company Whoop to create 600 jobs globally Wearables fitness and health monitoring platform Whoop is set to create more than 600 jobs globally, including in Limerick, Ireland.

Whoop, the human performance platform with Irish investors that include Rory McIlroy, Niall Horan and Shane Lowry, has announced plans to increase its global headcount by hiring more than 600 new employees.

NI start-up raises $590,000 for region’s first stem cell bank Stem cell storage provider LifeCellsNI is preparing to launch Northern Ireland’s first licensed stem cell biobank.

Stem cell storage provider LifeCellsNI is preparing to launch Northern Ireland’s first licensed stem cell biobank. The centre will be funded through a recent £590,000 pre-seed round the company raised, led by The AMP Angel Syndicate with support from Co-Fund III.

Ireland launches new offshore wind innovation centre Enterprise Ireland has launched a new centre called ‘Propel Ireland’ to develop the country’s offshore wind supply chain.

Enterprise Ireland, the Government agency supporting Ireland’s home-grown businesses, has launched a new centre called ‘Propel Ireland’ to develop the country’s offshore wind supply chain.

Check out today’s Daily Brief for the latest sci-tech news, including:

New hacking toolset targets outdated iPhones
UK industrial AV start-up Oxa raises $103m
Dr Craig Barratt appointed chair of Intel board

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UK industrial AV start-up Oxa raises $103m British autonomous vehicle (AV) start-up Oxa has raised $103m in a Series D funding round, with the UK government’s National Wealth Fund contributing almost half the total.

UK industrial autonomous vehicle start-up Oxa has raised $103m.

Craig Barratt to succeed Frank Yeary as chair on Intel Board of Directors Intel has announced a restructuring that will see Craig Barratt succeed Frank Yeary as a member of its Board of Directors.

Barratt is a longtime semiconductor executive and entrepreneur who will bring more than three decades of experience to the role.

Hacking tool with possible US origins targets outdated iPhones Outdated iPhones are being targeted by a new and powerful exploit kit called ‘Coruna’, with potential nation-state government origins.

According to Google Threat Intelligence Group, Coruna targets iPhone models running iOS 13.0 up to version 17.2.1. Essentially, the kit infects outdated iPhones visiting certain websites.

‘I’m happy to say my job has never been boring’ says director and head of data PwC's Katherine Leenhouts, the director and head of data, discusses the AI and data sector, skills needs and the challenges.

PwC's Katherine Leenhouts discusses her work in the data and AI space and offers her advice to professionals looking to emulate her career

AI and collaboration critical for cyber professionals in 2026 George O''Mahony and Ciaran Luttrell offer their upskilling advice to students looking for professional opportunities in cybersecurity.

Ciaran Luttrell and George O’Mahony discuss Ireland’s cyber landscape and the impact of AI on the sector.

SoftBank credit outlook hit after betting $30bn more on OpenAI Financial analyst S&P Global has lowered the Japanese investment firm’s long-term issuer credit rating from ‘BB+ stable' to 'negative'.

OpenAI is making SoftBank’s investment portfolio look bad, said financial analyst S&P Global, which lowered the Japanese investment firm’s long-term issuer credit rating from ‘BB+ stable’ to ‘negative’.

Anthropic sees major Claude outage after ‘unprecedented demand’ As Claude continues to beat ChatGPT at the top of the US Apple free download charts, it experienced a major outage yesterday.

As the US administration proceeds to drop Anthropic as a supplier, many are rallying around the AI company’s relatively ethical stance, creating ‘unprecedented demand’ for Claude.

Check out today’s Daily Brief for the latest sci-tech news, including:

Apple launches iPhone 17e
Anthropic sees major Claude outage
Italian health-tech platform Qura raises €1.5m

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Italian health-tech platform Qura raises €1.5m in pre-seed round Italian-founded AI preventative health platform Qura has raised €1.5m in a pre-seed funding round led by United Ventures to address “a significant gap in the European healthcare landscape”.

Italian-founded AI preventative health platform Qura has raised €1.5m in a pre-seed funding round to help address “a significant gap in the European healthcare landscape”.

Apple says new iPhone 17e is more bang for the same buck Apple launched the latest iPhone in its more affordable ‘e’ series, retailing at prices beginning at $599.

Apple launched the latest iPhone in its more affordable ‘e’ series, retailing at prices beginning at $599. Apple’s vice-president for worldwide iPhone marketing, Kaiann Drance, called this a model “that will last”.

For modern professionals AI is about smarter habits, not shortcuts Experts from Accenture, BearingPoint and Workhuman discuss how their roles are impacted by AI and automation, day-to-day.

Experts from Accenture, BearingPoint and Workhuman discuss how AI and automation can positively impact working life.

As sites attempt to block AI crawlers, is the ‘open web’ closing? Tai Neilson expores how the 'open web' is potentially being made inaccessible by companies looking to profit off of data and the AI wave.

Tai Neilson, a senior lecturer at Macquarie University explores how data has become a ‘hot commodity’ for companies training AI systems.

Novo Nordisk to invest €432m in Athlone facility Months after cutting more than 100 jobs at its Monksland facility, Novo Nordisk has announced a €432m investment at the plant to improve pill production.

Months after implementing sweeping job cuts at its Monksland facility, Danish drug-maker Novo Nordisk has announced a €432m investment at the Athlone-based plant to advance the its manufacturing capacity for GLP-1 drugs.

Check out today’s Daily Brief for the latest sci-tech news, including:

Nvidia partners with telcos for AI-ready 6G infrastructure
Research Ireland launches new five-year strategy
Pfizer launches apprenticeship programme in Ireland

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Pfizer launches science, engineering and manufacturing apprenticeship Pharmaceutical Pfizer has launced the 2026 Apprenticeship Programme, which will create 22 science, engineering and manufacturing jobs.

Open to both school leavers and those looking for a new career or educational achievement, those interested can apply for one of the 22 opportunities available across Pfizer’s sites in Grange Castle, Dublin, Newbridge, Kildare and Ringaskiddy, Cork.

Research Ireland’s new five-year strategy targets talent, economy, society Research Ireland has unveiled its inaugural strategy for development of the country’s research and innovation landscape over the next five years, ‘Curiosity, Capability, Competitiveness – Charting Ireland’s Research and Innovation Future 2026–2030’, to create “prosperity for the people of Ireland” through stronger enterprise performance and enhanced national competitiveness.

Research Ireland’s new five-year strategy targets talent, the economy and society.