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Niamh Sterling

Board Director | Entrepreneur | Advisor

Dublin, IE

Niamh Sterling

Konstantin Stetsenko

Niamh Sterling’s Biography

Niamh Sterling is an experienced founder, board director, and investor with over 26 years of board-level leadership across sectors including engineering, technology, and venture capital. Approved by the Central Bank of Ireland as an Independent Non-Executive Director (INED), Niamh has a proven track record in board governance, commercial strategy, innovation, and scaling high-growth businesses.

Niamh is a Director of HBAN, a government funded organisation managing the premier network of angel investors across the Island of Ireland. Under her leadership, HBAN was recognised as Europe’s best performing Business Angel Network in June 2025. She also serves as an INED with BVP, a multi-asset investment firm focused on venture capital and SME project finance, and is a Venture Partner at CircleRock Capital, Europe's leading Venture Capital Syndicate.

A successful entrepreneur, Niamh co-founded Interact and H2O Solutions, both acquired by South African company Bidvest in 2021, highlighting her strength in building, scaling, and exiting high-growth businesses. She served on the boards of... Niamh Sterling is an experienced founder, board director, and investor with over 26 years of board-level leadership across sectors including engineering, technology, and venture capital. Approved by the Central Bank of Ireland as an Independent Non-Executive Director (INED), Niamh has a proven track record in board governance, commercial strategy, innovation, and scaling high-growth businesses.

Niamh is a Director of HBAN, a government funded organisation managing the premier network of angel investors across the Island of Ireland. Under her leadership, HBAN was recognised as Europe’s best performing Business Angel Network in June 2025. She also serves as an INED with BVP, a multi-asset investment firm focused on venture capital and SME project finance, and is a Venture Partner at CircleRock Capital, Europe's leading Venture Capital Syndicate.

A successful entrepreneur, Niamh co-founded Interact and H2O Solutions, both acquired by South African company Bidvest in 2021, highlighting her strength in building, scaling, and exiting high-growth businesses. She served on the boards of both companies and is also a former board member and shareholder of Tier 1 engineering firm LeoLynch, acquired by US private equity firm Cathexis in 2022.

Niamh is a mentor and advisor to several initiatives including the European Innovation Council’s Women in Leadership Programme, and University College Dublin's AI Accelerator. She has received multiple accolades throughout her career, including Barclaycard’s Retail Woman of the Year in 2018, and is frequently invited to speak on entrepreneurship, investing, and leadership.

Niamh Sterling excels in communication and stakeholder management and understands how to get the right thing done with the wisest investment of time. She is commercially minded, committed, resourceful, adaptable, generating optimal results with a collaborative and positive work ethic, and clear focus to continually build on success. READ MORE VIEW LESS

Niamh Sterling’s Newsfeed

HBAN

HBAN becomes Europe’s Best Performing Business Angel Network

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Business Post

40 over 40: Ireland’s unstoppable movers and shakers in tech

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Niamh Sterling’s Background

Lynch Interact

Co-Founder

1997 - 2021

Dublin, IE

Lynch Interact was the leading and largest Irish-owned facilities management company, known for its excellence and outstanding client portfolio. In 2021 it was acquired by Bidvest Noonan for €12.4 million. Acknowledging the strength and market recognition of the Interact brand, Bidvest Noonan chose to retain it following the acquisition.

H2O Solutions

Co-Founder

2002 - 2021

Dublin, IE

H2O Solutions was established as a complementary business to Lynch Interact, delivering specialised water management services to both existing and new clients. Identifying a market opportunity, Niamh co-founded the company to enhance Interact’s service offering while unlocking significant upsell potential. It was acquired by Bidvest Noonan in 2021.

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Niamh Sterling’s Gallery

Current Board Positions

BVP (Business Venture Partners)

Non-Executive Director and Investment Committee member

Jan 2024 - Present

Business Venture Partners (BVP), founded in 2004, is an Irish multi-asset investment platform that evolved from a corporate finance advisory into a venture capital firm. Specialising in early and growth-stage investments, BVP focuses on sectors such as health, climate, mobility, and technology, providing flexible financing solutions including equity and debt to support the growth of impactful businesses.

Previous Board Positions

H2O Solutions

Board Director

2002 - 2021

Lynch Interact

Board Director

1997 - 2021

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Current Advisory Roles

CircleRock Capital

Venture Partner

London, UK

Founded in 2020, CircleRock Capital is a venture capital syndicate headquartered in London, with an office in Dublin. It acts as a co-investor alongside top-tier global VC firms, primarily in Seed, Series A and Series B rounds in technology and consumer brand companies, typically contributing €500K to €2M per deal.

Halo Business Angel Network (HBAN)

All-Island Director (Dogpatch Labs)

Aug 2017 - Present

Dublin, IE

HBAN is a government-funded initiative supporting the development of angel investor syndicates across the island of Ireland. Previously delivered by Furthr, the programme transitioned to Dogpatch Labs in 2023. Niamh has served as All-Island Director for HBAN under the Dogpatch umbrella since 2024.

Previous Advisory Roles

Furthr VC

Consulting Partner

May 2023 - Jan 2024

Dublin, IE

Niamh focused on identifying and investing in early-stage Irish SaaS and MedTech companies, supporting them through scaling and growth. Her responsibilities included deal origination, investment appraisal, portfolio management, and fund promotion, contributing to Furthr VC’s active investment strategy in high-growth sectors.

Media

The Irish VC: The Funding Landscape in Ireland

Podcast

Mar 2025

Dublin, IE

Recorded live at Google HQ Dublin, this podcast features Niamh and a panel of experienced funders and founders discussing the realities of raising and investing capital in Ireland. Covering everything from early-stage funding to venture capital, the conversation offers practical insights and advice for entrepreneurs and investors navigating today’s funding landscape.

Interviews

Real-World Advice for Startup Founders: Niamh Sterling

Interviewee

Mar 2025

In this edition of Expertly Put, Niamh offers candid advice on the emotional and strategic realities of founding a startup. She discusses the importance of emotional resilience, sustainable growth, and clear investor communication, emphasising that passion must be balanced with discipline, self-awareness, and data-driven decision making.

HBAN’s Niamh Sterling: ‘Hiring as a start-up is a lot like selling’

Interviewee

Apr 2019

In this Start-up Advice feature, HBAN’s Niamh Sterling shares practical insights from her career in angel investing and entrepreneurship, with a particular focus on the challenges of building and hiring within a start-up. She likens early-stage hiring to sales, emphasising the need for founders to sell their vision to attract top talent.

Accreditation

Central Bank of Ireland

Certified Independent Non Executive Director (PCF-2B)

Dublin, IE

A Certified Independent Non-Executive Director (PCF-2B) is a board member who is formally approved by the Central Bank of Ireland to serve as an independent non-executive director (INED) of a regulated financial services firm.

Memberships

Extraordinary Women on Boards

Member

New York, NY, USA

Extraordinary Women on Boards (EWOB) is a network of high-achieving women who currently serve, or are ready to serve, on corporate boards. Founded to accelerate gender diversity and effectiveness in boardrooms, EWOB connects its members with strategic opportunities, peer insights, and high-impact board education.

AllBright Collective

Member

AllBright is a global collective for women in business. It offers a blend of physical members' clubs, digital platforms, and learning programs designed to support women at every stage of their careers.

Awards & Recognition

TOP 100: Europe’s most influential women in the startup and venture capital space

Featured

2023

This list celebrates the women driving innovation, investment, and inclusivity across the European tech ecosystem. Published in recognition of International Women’s Day 2023, the list highlights female leaders who are shaping a more equitable digital future, despite ongoing disparities in funding, representation, and opportunity.

Barclaycard everywoman in Retail Awards

Winner: Woman of the Year

2018

London, UK

In 2018, Niamh Sterling was honoured as the Woman of the Year at the Barclaycard everywoman in Retail Awards.

Speaking Engagements

European Angel Investment Summit

Speaker

Oct 2025

Brussels, BE

Niamh Sterling is scheduled to speak at the European Angel Investment Summit (EAIS) in October 2025. Organised by European Business Angel Network (EBAN), EAIS unites early-stage investors, entrepreneurs, and EU policymakers to create a stronger innovation ecosystem.

The Funding Landscape in Ireland | Google & BVP Investor & Startup Event

Panellist

Mar 2025

Dublin, IE

Google and Business Venture Partners (BVP) co-hosted “The Funding Landscape in Ireland” at Google HQ in Dublin. The evening featured a live recording of The Irish VC podcast with a panel of prominent investors and founders, including Niamh Sterling.

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Mentoring

UCD: AI Ecosystem Accelerator

Mentor

May 2024 - Present

Dublin, IE

University College Dublin’s AI Ecosystem Accelerator is a six month programme offering early stage AI entrepreneurs sector agnostic support, from technical and business mentoring to investor readiness workshops and access to co working space and networks.

Endeavor Ireland

Mentor, Female Founders Programme

2023 - Present

Endeavor Ireland is a nonprofit organisation dedicated to supporting entrepreneurs across the island of Ireland. As part of the global Endeavor network, it helps founders scale their businesses by providing access to world-class mentorship, strategic guidance, and a global community of peers and investors.

European Innovation Council

Mentor, Women in Leadership Programme for Deep Tech

Sep 2021 - Present

Niamh Sterling was selected as one of the first 44 business leaders across Europe to serve as a mentor for the European Innovation Council’s Women in Leadership programme. This initiative supports first-time female CEOs in Deep Tech as they navigate the path to commercialisation, offering guidance and expertise on their leadership journey as they shape the future of the sector.

LaunchBox, TCD's Student Accelerator

Mentor

Oct 2017 - Present

Dublin, IE

LaunchBox is Trinity College Dublin’s student accelerator programme. Open to undergraduate and postgraduate students, it provides a structured environment for early-stage startups to develop their ideas into viable businesses. Participants benefit from expert mentorship, co-working space, workshops, and access to a network of advisors and investors.

Founder Institute

Mentor

Sep 2017 - Present

The Founder Institute is the world's largest pre-seed startup accelerator. Its 14-week programme is designed to help entrepreneurs and early-stage startups transform ideas into fundable companies through mentorship, hands-on assignments, and networking opportunities.

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Niamh Sterling’s Education

University College Dublin