[FiatLuxDave]

I love impossible ideas. I'm just finishing up executing one now. You may feel you've already received enough feedback, but running the idea by HN can't hurt. Care to share? You'll get better advice if you do.

There are a number of VCs in Dublin, which is a short drive (by American standards) from anywhere in Ireland. VCs like you to be local, but for a good idea they will be flexible on that, and 3.5 hours away is reasonably local. So, it might be worthwhile running your idea by the VCs in Dublin. Contrary to popular wisdom, it is actually possible to cold approach VCs, you just need the ability to hear 'No' a hundred times without giving up. Not everyone is cut out for this, but a deep belief in your idea can make even the most milquetoast of us into a good salesperson.

It's been a while since I did the cold approach method. The best thing to do is do your research and find which partners at the VC firms you approach are interested in the area you are working in. Then directly address your contacts to that person, instead of to the firm as a whole. That way, you will most likely at least get a read or a listen before you get the 'No'.

The farther along in development you are, the better your chances of getting funded will be. So, developing it on your own is good. They will ask how much you've done on your own. Your most important job before approaching a VC is to do work to reduce the risk to an acceptable level (both technical and market risk). Of course, you can spend 20 years doing this on your own, but then you don't need a VC.