Trinity College Dublin graduates founded more venture-backed companies than those from any other European university for the sixth successive year, according to independent research conducted by private equity and venture-focused research firm PitchBook.

Pitchbook’s 2020 Universities Report placed Trinity at number 49 in the global rankings for producing venture-backed entrepreneurs from its undergraduate programmes. Trinity is the only European university in the top 50.

Between the years of 2006 and 2020 – the period over which PitchBook conducted its latest independent analyses – Trinity alumni produced 277 entrepreneurs, formed 254 venture-backed companies, and raised capital of approximately US 4.8 billion.

The 277 entrepreneurs noted in this year’s report represent an increase from 251 in last year’s report; the company count of 254 is up from 228 in 2019 and the capital is up from $4.1 billion in 2019.

'Continues to excel in commercialising research'

Trinity Provost, Dr Patrick Prendergast, said: “Innovation and entrepreneurship are enormously important for universities all over the world and we are proud that Trinity continues to excel in commercialising research and educating students to be creative and entrepreneurial.

“The scale of our ambitions in this arena is reflected by our plan to develop a new Grand Canal Innovation District for Dublin, where universities, high growth companies and technology and creative startups are embedded in an amenity-rich residential and commercial location.

“The news that Trinity is Europe’s leading university for graduate entrepreneurship for the sixth successive year supports our ambitions and our role as a global leader in enabling the best students to become the best entrepreneurs.”

For more information, and to view the complete rankings, see here.