Skillnet Innovation Exchange
Skillnet Innovation Exchange is an Ireland-based innovation marketplace founded in 2022 under Skillnet Ireland, connecting large corporates with scaling technology companies via a structured challenge-pitch-deal process, events, and learning programmes.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2022
- HeadquartersDublin, Ireland
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What Skillnet Innovation Exchange does
Skillnet Innovation Exchange (also operating as The Innovation Exchange) is an Ireland-based innovation marketplace founded in 2022 and headquartered in Dublin. The organisation operates a two-sided platform connecting large businesses facing digital transformation challenges with scaling technology companies and solutions providers. Corporate members post innovation challenges, and solutions providers pitch their offerings through a structured challenge-pitch-deal process. Beyond the core marketplace, the platform hosts masterclasses, bootcamps, webinars, networking sessions, and an annual Innovation Summit covering topics such as AI adoption, B2B sales, procurement, pitching, and international market expansion. The platform has engaged over 1,500 companies and facilitated more than 100 sales pitches and €5 million in deals between members.
The core product is the Innovation Exchange Marketplace, a self-service platform at theinnovationexchange.ie where corporates submit challenges and technology providers register to respond. The product portfolio is complemented by three adjacent offerings: the SME AI Accelerator (a programme co-sponsored with OpenAI and Booking.com, partnered with Dogpatch Labs and Retail Excellence Ireland, providing AI training to over 120 SMEs); Innovation Challenges (corporate-issued briefs with structured solution responses); and Learning Modules & Masterclasses covering procurement, pitching, sales strategy, market entry, and proposal writing. Corporate participants span enterprise, government, and non-profit sectors, including Intersport Elverys, Coleman Electronics, Ireland West Airport, Galway City Council, and several Irish sporting bodies.
The business model is membership-based, with members paying a €250 annual contribution for access to the marketplace and associated services — the only disclosed pricing tier, with no additional fees. Unlike a commercial venture, Skillnet Innovation Exchange operates as a non-profit industry programme under Skillnet Ireland, the Irish government's national learning and development initiative; Furthr provides operational support. The organisation has no external equity investors, no disclosed revenue figure, and no traditional commercial revenue mechanics beyond the membership contribution. Geographic scope is Ireland-only, with recent regional expansions into Counties Cavan, Waterford, and Meath.
Skillnet Innovation Exchange firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Skillnet Innovation Exchange
- Legal name
- Skillnet Innovation Exchange
- Website
- https://theinnovationexchange.ie
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2022
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Skillnet Innovation Exchange is an Ireland-based innovation marketplace founded in 2022 under Skillnet Ireland, connecting large corporates with scaling technology companies via a structured challenge-pitch-deal process, events, and learning programmes.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Skillnet Innovation Exchange industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Innovation Marketplace
- NAICS
- Computer Training (611420)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Skills & Microlearning Marketplaces (Bite-Sized Lessons) (EDAFAIAK)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Live Class & Webinar Marketplaces/Directories (EDAFAIAE), Interactive Practice & Skill-Building (Drills, Games, Mastery Practice) (EDAFACAC)
Keywords
Where Skillnet Innovation Exchange is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Dublin
- HQ country
- Ireland
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Skillnet Innovation Exchange business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Membership Contributions: Annual contribution from members set at €250 per year. No other costs associated with the programme. This is the primary funding model for Skillnet Innovation Exchange.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Standard Membership |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels5 records
Skillnet Innovation Exchange product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Skillnet Innovation Exchange operates Ireland's dedicated marketplace for innovation, connecting large corporates facing digital transformation challenges with scaling technology companies and solutions providers. The platform runs a structured challenge-pitch-deal process, complemented by masterclasses, bootcamps, and the SME AI Accelerator programme co-sponsored with OpenAI and Booking.com. Members pay an annual €250 contribution to access the marketplace, events, and learning resources.
Product overview
Skillnet Innovation Exchange operates as a single unified marketplace platform for innovation in Ireland, connecting large businesses facing digital transformation challenges with ambitious technology providers. The platform consists of the core Innovation Exchange Marketplace which facilitates Innovation Challenges and Sales Pitches, along with complementary services including the SME AI Accelerator programme (a co-sponsored initiative with OpenAI and Booking.com providing AI training to SMEs), and Learning Modules & Masterclasses covering sales, procurement, and market expansion topics. The platform has facilitated over 100 sales pitches, completed multiple deals, and engaged with 1500+ companies.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Innovation Exchange Marketplace Ireland's online marketplace for innovation that connects large businesses facing digital transformation challenges with ambitious technology providers through a structured challenge-pitch-deal process. Over 1500 companies are engaged and over 100 sales pitches have been facilitated.
- Innovation Challenges Corporate-issued challenges where large businesses post their innovation needs and technology providers submit solutions as part of the core marketplace offering.
- SME AI Accelerator A programme co-sponsored with OpenAI and Booking.com in partnership with Retail Excellence Ireland and Dogpatch Labs, providing hands-on AI training to SMEs with free online resources to follow. Designed to help over 120 SMEs adopt AI effectively.
- Learning Modules & Masterclasses Educational offerings including masterclasses on procurement, pitching, sales strategy, AI for business, proposal writing, and market expansion. Covers B2B consultative selling, positioning, pricing, and US/UK market entry.
Quantifiable outcome
- €5 million in deals facilitated between corporate members and solutions providers
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Skillnet Innovation Exchange
Customer profileNamed customers15 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Skillnet Innovation Exchange technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Skillnet Innovation Exchange partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Guaranteed IrishcorePartnership between Skillnet Innovation Exchange and Guaranteed Irish to launch the 'Digital for Growth' initiative, supporting Irish businesses with digital transformation.
- OpenAIcoreOpenAI co-sponsored the first European SME AI Accelerator programme in Dublin, delivered through The Innovation Exchange and Dogpatch Labs. The programme provided hands-on AI training to over 120 SMEs.
- Booking.comcoreCo-sponsor of the OpenAI SME AI Accelerator programme in Dublin, working with The Innovation Exchange to support Irish SMEs with AI adoption.
- Dogpatch LabscorePartner in the OpenAI SME AI Accelerator programme, hosting the hands-on AI training sessions in Dublin alongside The Innovation Exchange.
- Retail Excellence IrelandcorePartner in the OpenAI SME AI Accelerator programme, collaborating with The Innovation Exchange to provide AI training to retail sector SMEs.
- Skillnet IrelandcoreThe programme is run in partnership with Skillnet Ireland. Skillnet Ireland is the national learning and development initiative supporting Irish businesses through training and upskilling programmes.
- FurthrminorFurthr created the privacy statement for The Innovation Exchange and appears to be involved in programme delivery and member services.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Skillnet Innovation Exchange competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Station F: Largest startup campus in the world, hosting a marketplace of corporate-sponsored accelerator programmes that connect startups with enterprise partners. Operates a similar challenge-pitch-deal structure on a single campus.
- Plug and Play Tech Center: Global innovation platform that connects corporations with startups through accelerator programmes and curated deal-flow pipelines. Operates a similar challenge-pitch-deal model to the Innovation Exchange at significantly larger scale across multiple geographies.
- Startupbootcamp: Global network of industry-focused startup accelerators that connect cohorts of startups with corporate partners and investors. Directly comparable accelerator + corporate partnership model.
- Wayra (Telefónica Open Innovation): Telefónica's corporate open innovation arm running startup accelerators and corporate-startup matching programmes globally. Comparable hub-and-spoke model where a corporate parent provides infrastructure to source innovation from scaling technology companies.
- MassChallenge: Global non-profit startup accelerator and marketplace connecting early-stage companies with corporate partners, mentors, and enterprise customers. Directly comparable two-sided model that funnels startups into corporate pilots and contracts.
- MaRS Discovery District: Toronto-based innovation hub that curates startup-corporate partnerships, runs accelerator programmes, and delivers entrepreneur education. Comparable vertically-integrated mix of marketplace, training, and ecosystem-building.
Emerging players
- Dogpatch Labs: Irish startup hub and co-working campus that co-delivers the SME AI Accelerator with the Innovation Exchange. Comparable as an Irish ecosystem builder but focuses more on physical hub and venture programmes than corporate-startup matching.
- Wazoku (InnoCentive-style open innovation platform): Open innovation and idea management platform enabling enterprises to crowdsource solutions from external solvers. Comparable challenge-pitch-deal workflow, though primarily software-delivered rather than ecosystem-orchestrated.
Regional players
- NDRC (National Digital Research Centre): Irish government-backed digital startup accelerator and investor. Comparable as a state-supported Irish innovation intermediary, with overlap on supporting scaling technology companies but with an investment-led rather than marketplace-led model.
Broad incumbents
- Enterprise Ireland: Irish state agency supporting Irish enterprises and startups with funding, training, and internationalisation. Provides broader scope but overlaps with the Innovation Exchange on corporate-startup matching and skills development programmes.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Skillnet Innovation Exchange social profiles
Digital presenceSkillnet Innovation Exchange financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Skillnet Innovation Exchange leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Skillnet Innovation Exchange funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Skillnet Innovation Exchange M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Skillnet Innovation Exchange
What does Skillnet Innovation Exchange do?
Skillnet Innovation Exchange operates Ireland's dedicated marketplace for innovation, connecting large corporates facing digital transformation challenges with scaling technology companies and solutions providers. The platform runs a structured challenge-pitch-deal process, complemented by masterclasses, bootcamps, and the SME AI Accelerator programme co-sponsored with OpenAI and Booking.com. Members pay an annual €250 contribution to access the marketplace, events, and learning resources.
Is Skillnet Innovation Exchange a public or private company?
Skillnet Innovation Exchange is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was Skillnet Innovation Exchange founded?
Skillnet Innovation Exchange was founded in 2022. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Skillnet Innovation Exchange based?
Skillnet Innovation Exchange is headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, in the Europe region.
How does Skillnet Innovation Exchange make money?
One revenue line is on record: membership Contributions.
Who are Skillnet Innovation Exchange's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Station F, Plug and Play Tech Center, Startupbootcamp, Wayra (Telefónica Open Innovation), MassChallenge and MaRS Discovery District. Emerging players are Dogpatch Labs and Wazoku (InnoCentive-style open innovation platform). NDRC (National Digital Research Centre) is listed as a regional player. Enterprise Ireland is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Skillnet Innovation Exchange have an API?
No public API is recorded for Skillnet Innovation Exchange.
What industry is Skillnet Innovation Exchange in?
Skillnet Innovation Exchange's product category is Innovation Marketplace. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAFAIAK, Skills & Microlearning Marketplaces (Bite-Sized Lessons), with a secondary code of EDAFAIAE, Live Class & Webinar Marketplaces/Directories. Its NAICS code is 611420.