The verdict in three sentences
Irish business owners, M&A advisers and future recruits now ask AI assistants like ChatGPT which private equity firms in Dublin invest in their sector, at what ticket size and with what approach. A firm appears in those answers when its strategy, ticket size, sectors and team are described consistently on its site and in third-party sources, and when that information is current. As a 2026 ballpark, a diagnostic costs EUR 3,000 to 9,000 and ongoing work EUR 2,500 to 7,000 a month, measured through a dated record of the answers to the same questions.
The questions your counterparties ask
A private equity firm has several audiences: the founders and intermediaries who bring deal flow, management teams, investors and recruits. The questions they put to AI assistants differ for each.
| Question asked to an AI assistant like ChatGPT | Who asks it | What it reveals |
|---|---|---|
| Which Dublin funds invest in Irish SMEs with EUR 2m to 10m of EBITDA? | Owner, M&A adviser | Ticket and target size |
| Who finances a family business succession in Ireland without a trade sale? | Founder | Minority or majority positioning |
| Which Irish funds specialise in healthcare or software? | Adviser, owner | Clarity of sectors |
| How does a given firm support management after investing? | Management team | Value creation approach |
| Which Dublin funds back MBOs? | Finance director | Deal types |
| What do founders say about a given private equity firm? | Cautious founder | Third-party mentions, reputation |
| Private equity analyst roles in Dublin: which firms are hiring? | Candidate | Careers page, team |
These questions are asked well before the first call. A firm missing from the answers, or described with an old ticket size, loses deals without knowing it.
Why some firms appear and others do not
| Factor | Effect on AI answers | Common mistake |
|---|---|---|
| Explicit strategy and ticket | The AI can match the firm to a question with figures | 'We invest in ambitious businesses' with no figures |
| Real, consented portfolio | Concrete examples of sectors and deals | Exited holdings still shown, or none at all |
| Named team | Names and backgrounds picked up in answers | Team page with no roles or sectors |
| Third-party mentions | Business press, adviser announcements, deal databases | No news for 18 months |
| Consistency across sources | Same figures on the site, profiles and press | Ticket size differs between pages |
| Freshness | News, exits, new hires | Site frozen since the last fundraise |
A point of care specific to the sector: the public site serves owners and intermediaries, not fund marketing. Marketing to investors falls under specific rules, notably the AIFM Directive in the EU, and the Central Bank of Ireland supervises financial firms. LP-only content belongs in a gated portal, priced on quote. GDPR, the Data Protection Act 2018 and the Data Protection Commission govern forms, and the European Accessibility Act widens accessibility requirements. This is not legal advice.
What the work covers and what it costs on the market
In broad terms, this work covers recording current answers, aligning strategy, ticket size and team across all public sources, strengthening factual pages (sectors, consented portfolio, approach) and following third-party mentions. It is not a recipe to apply: the question is whether the stakes justify an investment.
| Item | 2026 range (ballpark) | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Initial diagnostic | EUR 3,000 to 9,000 | 20 to 40 questions, several audiences |
| Monthly follow-up | EUR 2,500 to 7,000 a month | Emerging market, wide spreads |
| Quarterly record only | EUR 1,500 to 3,500 | Same questions, dated |
| Written portfolio company page | EUR 400 to 1,200 per page | With the portfolio company's consent |
| Sector analysis article | EUR 600 to 1,500 | Signed by a partner |
| Gated LP portal | On quote | Outside the public site's scope |
These ranges come from typical European agency quotes and public rate pages. Kolonell's work is on quote.
Measuring what matters
Measurement relies on a dated record of the answers to the same questions, repeated monthly or quarterly. Three readings are tracked: the share of answers naming the firm, the accuracy of what is said (ticket, sectors, team, holdings) and the sources the AI appears to draw on. These records are then matched against inbound deal flow that mentions discovering the firm through an AI assistant. Answers vary over time; nobody can promise that an AI assistant will recommend your firm.
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Mini case study
Illustrative example: Liffey Bridge Capital, an Irish mid-market buyout fund with equity tickets of EUR 5m to 25m. The baseline record covers 24 questions: the firm is named in 5 answers, about 21%, and 3 of those answers repeat its old ticket of EUR 2m to 10m. The year's budget: a EUR 6,000 diagnostic, then follow-up at EUR 3,000 a month for 9 months, so 6,000 + 9 × 3,000 = EUR 33,000. Working assumption: if 6 conversations with owners come from this channel over the year, the cost per qualified conversation is 33,000 / 6 = EUR 5,500, an amount the partner considers modest against a single deal.
FAQ
Do Irish business owners really use AI assistants to find a fund?
Increasingly for a first shortlist, especially when thinking about succession. The final choice goes through advisers and meetings, but being absent from 4 answers out of 5 takes you off many lists.
What does a diagnostic cost for a private equity firm in Dublin?
As a 2026 ballpark, EUR 3,000 to 9,000 depending on the number of questions and audiences tracked. Kolonell's work is on quote.
Can we discuss performance on the public site?
With great care, because performance communication falls under fund marketing rules. Keep those elements for the LP portal and check with your compliance function.
Should we publish all our holdings?
Only those whose management has given consent. Two or three detailed, consented pages do more than 20 logos without context.
How long before answers change?
Often 3 to 6 months after aligning your information for a change that is readable across several records. No serious provider promises a recommendation from an AI assistant.
Find out how AI assistants describe your firm. We record what AI assistants like ChatGPT say about your strategy, ticket size and team to owners and advisers, then show you the gaps to close. Request a diagnostic quote: reply within 48 hours.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
