Nautica Technologies, a Zurich-based robotics startup, has successfully raised €3.4 million to fuel the commercialisation of Nautica’s technology and support the first commercial deployments across customer fleets.

The round was led by b2venture, with participation from angel investors with backgrounds in shipping and robotics, as well as partners from Partners in Clime, Prequel Ventures, and Rethink Ventures.

“At Nautica, we’re transforming hull maintenance from a costly and reactive process to an automated, always-on system that enhances vessel performance while reducing environmental impact,” said Cédric Portmann, CEO and Co-founder of Nautica Technologies. “We’re happy to be backed by investors who believe in our mission to make shipping more sustainable and efficient. This investment marks an exciting step in bringing our technology to customers worldwide.”

Nautica Technologies is a robotics startup innovating hull maintenance in the shipping industry, it was founded in Switzerland in 2024 by Cédric Portmann (EPFL) and Mina Kamel (ETH Zurich), who bring together expertise in underwater and autonomous robotics.

Driven by a shared vision to tackle one of the shipping industry’s most significant challenges – hull maintenance – they sought to transform this multi-billion-euros challenge using robotics and innovative systems thinking.

Having remained fully bootstrapped until now, the founding team engineered, built, and tested their robots from the ground up, validating the technology in controlled environments, Swiss lakes, and currently in trials on maritime vessels trading globally.

The company’s mission is to combat biofouling and reduce fuel consumption through proactive, autonomous hull grooming robots.

Nautica’s technology uses a swarm of autonomous underwater robots that work together to continuously clean, inspect and maintain a vessel’s hull, preventing the buildup of marine growth before it affects the vessel’s efficiency.

Unlike traditional methods, which Nautica says are reactive or reliant on costly antifouling coatings & manual diver cleaning, Nautica’s robots reportedly offer consistent cleaning with minimal environmental impact.

Nautica Technologies solution is expected to deliver significant fuel savings, reduce GHG emissions and to improve regulatory compliance of vessels by minimising the risk of spreading invasive species.

“Nautica’s proprietary technology addresses a critical challenge in the shipping industry, and their approach aligns perfectly with the growing demand for automation and sustainability in global supply chain operations. We are generally excited for vertical robotics applications and Nautica especially has the potential to redefine how the maritime industry manages hull maintenance,” added Jan-Hendrik Bürk at b2venture.

The global maritime industry is under increasing pressure to decarbonise, optimise operations, and meet evolving regulations such as the IMO CII and EU ETS. According to data provided by Nautica, Biofouling remains a major challenge, increasing fuel consumption by up to 35% and contributing to billions of euros in costs annually.

With over 110,000 large vessels in operation worldwide and tightening climate regulations on the horizon, the demand for intelligent, proactive hull maintenance solutions is expected to grow rapidly.

The post Swiss robotics company Nautica Technologies raise €3.4 million for its underwater robots appeared first on EU-Startups.

French solar panel company Solarock has raised €7 million, backed by Pale Blue Dot, Noa, Ring Capital, and Kima Ventures. 

Founded by Laure Crémieux, Benjamin Barnathan, and Joseph-Marie Valleix, with a focus on residential and SME solar solutions, Solarock offers a comprehensive turnkey photovoltaic solution that goes beyond simple installation: precise sizing, the selection of durable equipment, integration of storage solutions (already adopted by nearly half of clients), monitoring of production, and guidance on maximising self-consumption. 

Solarock has developed a unique operational model based on ultra-local agencies. In less than six months, its first agency became profitable and has already enabled hundreds of households to make significant savings while maximising their energy autonomy. 

To scale this model, Solarock is launching its franchise model to structure, professionalise, and simplify a sector that is still too complex for individuals. 

This hybrid franchise model blends local and centralised operations: local, autonomous entrepreneurs grounded in their territory who build trust with customers, and an expert central team providing technical tools, administrative support, and rigorously selected products to ensure high-quality standards. 

This structure reduces costs and improves the customer experience. 

The company prioritises high-performing and durable equipment, such as DualSun panels – a well-known French manufacturer. By partnering with local and innovative suppliers, Solarock provides the best quality-to-price ratio on the market.

According to Laure Crémieux, CEO and co-founder of Solarock:

“We have built a healthy, virtuous, and efficient model that can be replicated in the form of franchises thanks to an expert central team and advanced technological tools. 

This fundraising will enable us to scale this success nationally. With only 3 per cent per cent of homes equipped for self-consumption, out of more than 13 million compatible homes, the French residential solar market represents a potential of over €200 billion – we have a bright future ahead of us!” 

“We are convinced that the future of photovoltaics relies on a winning combination: local and high-quality solutions, rigorous operational excellence, and cutting-edge technological innovations. Solarock embodies this vision perfectly, demonstrating both the rapid profitability of its model and its long-term positive impact,” says Heidi Lindvall, General Partner and Investor at Pale Blue Dot. 

The funding will also enable Solarock to enhance its R&D capabilities to design innovative tools, such as advanced monitoring systems and optimised storage solutions, promoting energy autonomy.

The brand is also developing a technological solution for smart control of home electrical equipment and storage, allowing customers to fully optimise their installations.

Lead image: Solarock. Photo: uncredited.

Solarock, a player in solar self-consumption in France, announced a first fundraising round of €7 million to launch a nationwide franchise network and develop innovative technological solutions to deliver an optimal and transparent customer experience.​

The round saw participation from Pale Blue Dot, Noa, Ring Capital, and Kima Ventures.

“We have built a healthy, virtuous, and efficient model that can be replicated in the form of franchises thanks to an expert central team and advanced technological tools. This fundraising will enable us to scale this success nationally. With only 3% of homes equipped for self-consumption, out of more than 13 million compatible homes, the French residential solar market represents a potential of over €200 billion – we have a bright future ahead of us!” said Laure Crémieux, CEO and Co-founder of Solarock.

Founded by Laure Crémieux, Benjamin Barnathan, and Joseph-Marie Valleix, with the ambition to become a reference player in residential and SME solar solutions, Solarock offers a turnkey photovoltaic solution that goes beyond simple installation: precise sizing, the selection of durable equipment, integration of storage solutions (already adopted by nearly half of clients), monitoring of production, and guidance on maximising self-consumption.

The company was born out of the desire to reconnect the French population with solar energy, especially relevant at a time when this power source is becoming key for households looking to increase their independence and reduce energy bills.

In less than six months, its first agency became profitable and has reportedly already enabled hundreds of households to make significant savings while maximising their energy autonomy.

To scale this model, Solarock is launching its franchise model in order to “structure, professionalise, and simplify a sector that is still too complex for individuals“. This hybrid franchise model blends local and centralised operations: local, autonomous entrepreneurs grounded in their territory who build trust with customers, and an expert central team providing technical tools, administrative support, and products.

This structure aims to reduces costs, improves the customer experience, and strives for operational excellence.

This funding will also enable Solarock to enhance its R&D capabilities to design innovative tools, such as advanced monitoring systems and optimised storage solutions, promoting energy autonomy.

The brand is also developing a technological solution for smart control of home electrical equipment and storage, allowing customers to fully optimise their installations. Additionally, clients can now access an in-depth technical study performed by an in-house research office, using AI-powered simulation tools for sizing and maximised self-consumption.

“We are convinced that the future of photovoltaics relies on a winning combination: local and high-quality solutions, rigorous operational excellence, and cutting-edge technological innovations. Solarock embodies this vision perfectly, demonstrating both the rapid profitability of its model and its long-term positive impact. We are proud to support this ambitious team that is redefining the standards of the French solar market,” added Heidi Lindvall, General Partner and Investor at Pale Blue Dot.

The post Paris-based Solarock raises €7 million to innovate solar energy with a new franchise network appeared first on EU-Startups.

Hardware startups today face a unique paradox: the problems they’re solving have never been more urgent, yet the traditional tools for bringing solutions to market have never felt more limiting.

Consider the scale of challenges confronting innovators worldwide. Electronic waste is projected to reach 82 million tonnes by 2030, growing five times faster than recycling efforts. Climate solutions require rapid iteration and global collaboration to achieve meaningful impact. Manufacturing inefficiencies continue to generate massive waste streams that forward-thinking companies are working to eliminate.

These aren’t problems that can wait for lengthy development cycles or be solved by teams working in isolation. They demand a new approach to hardware innovation – one where speed, collaboration, and global connectivity are built into the development process from day one.

The innovation ecosystem: Where world-changing ideas take shape

Across the globe, specialised accelerators and incubators are fostering startups that tackle humanity’s greatest challenges. From Carbon13 in Cambridge, supporting climate-focused ventures, to mHUB in Chicago, advancing manufacturing innovation, to SOSV’s global network backing deep-tech solutions – these programs share a common need: equipping their startups with tools powerful enough to turn ambitious concepts into market-ready solutions.

Onshape has partnered with these leading innovation hubs because we recognise that world-changing innovation requires world-class collaboration. Through the Onshape Startup Program, early-stage companies receive free access to Onshape Professional for at least a year, along with expert training and resources. For qualifying startups working on government or defence projects, the program also provides access to Onshape Government, ensuring teams have the right tools regardless of their regulatory environment.

But our support extends far beyond software access. We actively engage with these communities through personalised demos, workshops, lunch-and-learns, and hands-on training sessions, ensuring founders have everything they need to design at the speed their missions demand.

Real-world impact: Startups building a better tomorrow

The results speak for themselves. Across our global partner network, startups are leveraging Onshape’s cloud-native platform to create transformative solutions:

Tackling the e-waste Crisis: U.S.-based Red Wolf Technology is revolutionising mobile accessories through on-demand 3D printing. Their Primo Print3D system enables retailers to print custom phone cases and repair tools in just 15 minutes, eliminating the staggering 40% of inventory that major phone case brands typically destroy each year. “Every product is made with intent,” explains Marketing Director Jesse Cervantes. “We’re not guessing what someone might buy. We’re making what they’ve already asked for.”

Using Onshape’s real-time collaboration capabilities, Red Wolf’s globally distributed team can go from concept to printed product in under an hour. As Senior Product Engineer Scott Dayley notes, “We can have a designer in the U.S. make real-time edits with our customer in Europe, with a super short review and approval cycle. It’s like Google Docs for CAD.”

Advancing climate solutions: At Carbon13’s Cambridge accelerator, startups focused on carbon reduction and sustainability leverage Onshape to iterate rapidly on clean energy, carbon capture, and sustainable materials solutions. The cloud-native platform enables these teams to collaborate seamlessly across research institutions, manufacturing partners, and testing facilities worldwide.

Revolutionising manufacturing: Through our partnership with mHUB in Chicago, hardware startups gain access to both world-class prototyping labs and Onshape’s powerful design tools. This combination allows teams to streamline design iterations and move from digital concepts to physical prototypes with unprecedented speed and precision.

Scaling DeepTech innovation: SOSV’s global accelerator network, including programs like HAX and IndieBio, supports startups tackling complex challenges in mobility, energy, and life sciences. Onshape’s cloud-native architecture proves essential for these internationally distributed teams, enabling real-time collaboration between founders, engineers, and manufacturing partners across continents.

Why cloud-native CAD is essential for global innovation

Traditional CAD systems weren’t built for the challenges today’s startups face. Legacy software creates barriers through expensive licensing, complex IT requirements, and collaboration limitations that slow innovation when speed is critical. Onshape eliminates these constraints by offering:

Global real-time collaboration: Teams can design together simultaneously, regardless of location, which is essential when tackling global challenges that require international partnerships and expertise.

Instant accessibility: No downloads, installations, or hardware requirements. Access professional-grade CAD on any device, anywhere in the world, enabling startups to work at the speed of innovation.

Built-in security and compliance: From startups developing consumer products to those working on defence applications requiring ITAR compliance, Onshape’s platform scales to meet diverse regulatory needs without sacrificing collaboration or speed.

Integrated workflow: Seamlessly connect design, simulation, rendering, and manufacturing tools in one unified platform, eliminating the bottlenecks that traditionally slow hardware development.

The multiplier effect: Amplifying innovation globally

What makes Onshape’s approach unique isn’t just the technology – it’s the ecosystem effect. By partnering with leading accelerators and incubators worldwide, from ventureLAB in Ontario to Newlab in Brooklyn and Detroit, to Emera ideaHUB in Halifax, we’re creating a connected global network where innovation flows freely across borders, time zones, and disciplines.

When a climate tech startup in Cambridge collaborates with a manufacturing partner in Asia, or when a hardware startup in Chicago works with suppliers across multiple continents, Onshape’s cloud-native platform ensures that geographic distance never becomes a barrier to breakthrough innovation.

Join the movement

The challenges facing our world require unprecedented collaboration and speed. Whether you’re developing solutions for sustainability, revolutionising manufacturing, advancing healthcare technology, or working on defence applications, the Onshape Startup Program provides the tools and ecosystem support to turn your vision into reality.

Ready to accelerate your mission-driven startup? Visit the Onshape Startup Program to check your eligibility and join a global community of innovators building the future. Because when the world’s biggest challenges demand the fastest innovation, every minute – and every collaboration – counts.

The post Building the future: Hardware startups solving global challenges with Onshape (Sponsored) appeared first on EU-Startups.

German EdTech startup EDURINO has completed its Series B financing round totaling €17 million to become Europe’s leading platform for educational gaming for children.

The round was led by Ravensburger Next Ventures, the venture arm of Ravensburger AG. Also participating were Summiteer, the investment company of serial entrepreneur and Akasol founder Sven Schulz; DN Capital; Tengelmann Ventures; b2venture; Emerge; FJ Labs; G-FUND and Jens Begemann. Business angels Stefan Winners and Frederik Vollert also invested.

“We are not just creating learning products, we are building a platform that will accompany children for the long term, offering strong content, characters and experiences. EDURINO aims to set the standard for digital learning at pre-school and primary school age,” says Co-founder Franziska Meyer.

EDURINO was founded in 2021 by Irene Klemm and Franziska Meyer to give children a responsible, playful entry into the world of digital education. The platform unites educational games, ergonomic input tools and animated characters that teach classic school and future skills such as reading, logical thinking, coding and environmental knowledge.

They have an interdisciplinary team of over 40 educators, game designers, psychologists and scientists. Together with the University of Cambridge, the learning effects are scientifically evaluated and optimised.

EDURINO has already sold over one million products and is in use at more than 1,500 educational institutions.

EDURINO represents a new generation of learning: the platform combines playful learning content with digital innovation and creates interactive learning experiences that are intuitive, age-appropriate and educationally valuable.

Thomas Bleyer, Managing Director at Ravensburger, says: “EDURINO excels at aligning analogue play with digital education. With its clear educational concept and child-orientated design, the team not only wins over children and parents, but also us as a partner. We believe EDURINO has the potential to make a long-term impact on digital early childhood education worldwide.“

EDURINO’s strategy centres on creating an interactive learning world for children aged four to eight. The company takes a holistic approach: learning and playing are seamlessly intertwined and orientated towards children’s natural curiosity. The concept combines educationally based content with carefully developed characters, digital storytelling and physical elements such as figures and an ergonomic pen.

EDURINO is now planning new content such as video formats and other hybrid products that combine digital and analogue learning. At the same time, the platform is opening up to popular children’s brands that are integrated into its educational concept.

The aim is to create a new category that inspires families and makes education an emotional experience.

“By scaling up, we want to reach even more families with EDURINO – digitally, stationary and cross-media networked. In Ravensburger, we have found the ideal partner who wants to actively shape our vision of playful learning. Proximity to retailers and the expertise to develop products together are crucial for us,” explains EDURINO Co-founder Irene Klemm. 

The Series B funding will be allocated to three key areas of growth:

• Platform development: expansion of the digital ecosystem with new content formats, learning content and product categories
• International scaling: rollout in the UK and market entry in other countries
• Retail & visibility: doubling presence in bricks-and-mortar retail by the end of 2025

A technological centrepiece is the company’s own low-code system, with which learning content can soon be created completely without manual programming.

“EDURINO unites pedagogical expertise with state-of-the-art technology to create a learning platform that captivates children and earns parents’ trust. We see great potential in EDURINO to make a lasting impact on the educational landscape and look forward to actively shaping this journey as a partner,” says serial entrepreneur and Akasol Founder Sven Schulz.

The post Munich-based EDURINO raises €17 million to give children a responsible, playful entry into the world of digital education appeared first on EU-Startups.

Ukraine-born Liki24, a health and wellness marketplace with cross-country price arbitrage, has raised $9 million in a Series A round, bringing its total capital raised to over $16 million.

Liki24 was founded in 2017 to make health and wellness products more accessible and affordable. The marketplace features over 200,000 products, allowing customers to choose between lower-cost international options or quicker local delivery, saving up to 50 per cent on product prices. Its AI-driven delivery solution consolidates items from various sellers and countries into one parcel, with free delivery available.

Since 2021, the company has been expanding across Europe and now operates in nine countries in the region: Italy, Germany, Ukraine, Romania, France, Austria, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Spain. In 2024, the platform doubled its growth in the EU, with European operations now generating 60 per cent of the company’s total revenue. 

Anton Avrynskyi, CEO & co-founder of Liki24 shared:

We’re proud to have raised a full Series A from reputable international investors. This brings us closer to becoming Europe’s leading health marketplace. We’ve shown we can grow efficiently — now we’re scaling up.

Over 2.5 million people use Liki24 through its website and mobile apps, which collectively attract more than 3 million monthly visits. The platform connects over 13,000 sellers and more than 50 well-known health brands.

Users receive the best prices on health and wellness products, whether they are delivered from a local seller or shipped from another country.

Liki24 partners with manufacturers and global health brands to improve product promotion and distribution. It provides tools to increase brand visibility and lets brands run targeted campaigns that reach customers at the right moment.

The company also empowers sellers to increase their sales. By joining the platform, sellers gain access to new customers in new markets and can promote their health products to a broader audience.

Investors in the round include u.ventures, TA Ventures, iClub, N1 Ventures, SID Venture Partners, MA7 Ventures, DniproVC, Anton Borzov (WhatsApp’s first product designer), and others.

Lenna Koszarny, Executive Vice President of UMAEF, Founding Partner and CEO of Horizon Capital, said:

At u.ventures, we invest in bold founders who are creating scalable solutions with global impact. Liki24 is doing exactly that - redefining how health products are accessed and delivered across borders. Their platform is not only accelerating market integration in Europe but also setting a new standard for consumer-centric, tech-enabled healthcare. We are proud to support visionary entrepreneurs that combine deep purpose with operational excellence.

Viktoriya Tigipko, founding and managing partner at TA Ventures, shared:

We’ve been supporting Liki24 from its early days and continue to believe in the team’s bold vision and strong execution. The company is building a truly scalable, tech-driven platform that makes access to health products faster, easier, and more affordable across Europe. 

With impressive growth, trusted brand partnerships, and a clear path to profitability, Liki24 is well-positioned to become the go-to health marketplace for millions of Europeans.

Liki24 will use the new funding to enter additional European markets and enhance its platform.

Lead image: Anton Avrynskyi, Liki24 co-founder | Photo: Uncredited

French challenger business bank Qonto has applied for a French banking licence, as it looks to offer lending and a broader array of banking services in its ambition of reaching two million customers.

The Tiger Global-backed neobank said it now has more than 600,000 customers across Europe, eight years after its launch.

Qonto is focused on business bank accounts, zooming in on SMEs as well as freelancers and operates across France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Belgium, Portugal, and Austria.

It has an ambitious goal of hitting two million customers by 2030 and believes a banking licence will help it get there.

Qonto, which currently operates under a more restrictive payment institution licence, says acquiring a full banking licence will mean it can offer services such as lending, savings and investment.

It has applied for its banking license with the Autorité deContrôle Prudentiel et de Résolution (ACPR), France's banking supervisor. 

Revolut has also recently said it is applying for a French banking licence.

Alexandre Prot, CEO and co-founder, Qonto, said: "This application builds on our proven financial performance, having achieved profitability ahead of schedule in 2023, and supports our mission to create financial freedom for two million SMEs and freelancers across Europe by 2030."

In 2022, Qonto raised $552m Series D funding round, reaching a valuation of $5bn, with Tiger Global and TCV leading the round.

Image: Qonto

Swedish defencetech startup Nordic Air Defence (NAD) has raised $3 million in an expansion of its Pre-Seed funding round, bringing the total to $4.4 million — one of the largest Pre-Seed rounds for the sector.

NAD is a Stockholm-headquartered company developing high tech defensive solutions for both civilian and military use. It emerged from stealth in September 2024 when it unveiled its first product: the Kreuger 100 dual-use (civil and military) drone interceptor platform. 

The team features veterans from some of the world’s leading defence, drone, and tech companies, including Palantir, Kratos, Quantum Systems, FOI (the Swedish Defence Research Agency), Acast, Zipline, SAAB, and many others. 

By cutting much of the hardware previously required by drone interceptors, and replacing it with software, the Kreuger 100 is ten times cheaper to produce per unit than conventional anti-drone technology, such as interceptors or missiles. 

This allows for mass manufacturing, and results in customers being able to scale their arsenals of interceptors to meet threats. It is battery-powered and extremely lightweight for optimum portability. 

The nature of drone conflict is rapidly evolving, and traditional jammers and kinetic technology, as well as being expensive to produce, are becoming obsolete against modern threats. 

VC firm Inflection led the funding. 

According to Nordic Air Defence CEO Karl Rosander, what were once imagined as future conflicts are happening right now. 

“There can be no complacency: the world is rapidly changing and Europe must create new industrial might and deliver defensive hardware at-scale. 

Inflection recognises the urgency of the mission at hand and has invested in Nordic Air Defence; their investment brings us closer to bringing the Kreuger 100, our first product, to market and ultimately in the field. 

The race is on to deploy and have Nordic Air Defence providing protective cover. We must move fast in order to have an impact and save lives.” 

According to Inflection Partner Jonatan Luther-Bergquist, NAD has the entrepreneurial mentality and skills to fundamentally transform the defencetech industry.

“We are not only investing in the superb team at NAD, but also in Europe: for too long defencetech was stale and we cannot let the continent fall behind. 

Europe has storied engineering and defence heritage. Nordic Air Defence has captured its very essence, and we are excited to support them as they get closer to launching the Kreuger 100.” 

Effective immediately, the company board comprises the following members: Karl Rosander (NAD co-founder), Gustav Wiberg (NAD co-founder, also co-founder and chair of Katla Aero), Dr Jonas Dromberg (Revalence Ventures founder and NAD investor), and Hampus Särnbratt (NAD investor, also of EQT Ventures). Inflection will join as board observers. 

Alongside new board appointments, NAD has recruited multiple engineering hires, testament to its ability to attract the brightest minds as it continues its mission to provide homegrown cutting-edge drone defence technology, alleviating European dependence on US and global supply chains. The new engineering colleagues join from Anduril, Einride, and FLIR. 

Portugal continues to gain recognition as an emerging European startup hub. While it may not rank among the top 10 tech ecosystems, Portugal’s technology ecosystem contributed about 0.9 per cent of the total amount raised in the European tech ecosystem in 2024.

Additionally, the ecosystem demonstrated robust expansion, with the number of startups growing by 16 per cent to reach 4,719. Startups collectively generated €2.6 billion in turnover (a 17 per cent year-on-year increase) and employed over 26,000 people, despite a modest 4 per cent growth in the number of employees.

Portugal benefits from key enablers, including a strong education system, solid digital infrastructure, and growing R&D and patent activity. Growth is also evident in emerging regional ecosystems. However, challenges persist, such as limited collaboration between academia and business, and regulatory and bureaucratic hurdles that can hamper entrepreneurship and discourage investment.

Here are 10 Portuguese tech companies to watch in 2025.

Amount raised in 2024: €265M Powerdot is a company specialising in electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure. The company focuses on destination charging, installing EV chargers in everyday high-traffic locations such as supermarkets, shopping malls, restaurants, and hotels. Powerdot offers a turnkey solution by investing in, installing, and operating EV chargers at no cost to property owners, sharing revenue generated from the charging stations. Powerdot's mission is to accelerate sustainable mobility by making EV charging as convenient as charging a smartphone, integrating charging solutions seamlessly into users' daily routines. The company has attracted €265 million in investments over two rounds in 2024 to expand charging infrastructure, develop new technologies, and reinforce strategic partnerships across Europe.

Amount raised in 2024: €125M Greenvolt is a renewable energy company that specialises in three core areas: sustainable biomass energy, utility-scale wind and solar projects, and distributed generation solutions for businesses and communities. The company manages seven biomass power plants in Portugal and the UK, develops large-scale renewable energy projects with a pipeline of 9.3 GW, and offers decentralised energy solutions, including solar PV installations and energy communities. In 2024, the company completed a €125 million capital increase to bolster its financial stability.

Amount raised in 2024: €70M TEKEVER is a technology company specialising in unmanned aerial systems (UAS), satellite communications, and AI-driven surveillance solutions. The company offers integrated "Intelligence-as-a-Service" platforms that combine drones, satellites, and advanced data analytics to deliver real-time intelligence for maritime safety, border security, and environmental monitoring. TEKEVER's product lineup includes the AR3, AR4, and AR5 drones, designed for various missions ranging from short-range reconnaissance to long-endurance maritime patrols. These systems are equipped with features like vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) capabilities, satellite communication links, and modular payloads. The company's AI-powered platform, ATLAS, provides real-time and historical data processing, ensuring that decision-makers receive timely and actionable information. In 2024, TEKEVER secured €70 million in funding to accelerate R&D investments, foster product innovation, and expand its global production, delivery, and support operations.

Amount raised in 2024: €35M Indie Campers is a travel tech company that offers a global marketplace for campervan and RV rentals. With a fleet of over 7,000 vehicles, the company operates across more than 70 locations in Europe, North America, and Oceania. Indie Campers aims to democratize road trips by providing flexible, tech-enabled travel solutions, including short-term rentals, long-term subscriptions, and vehicle sales. Its digital platform simplifies the booking process and offers personalised travel advice, catering to a diverse community of travellers from over 130 countries. The company raised €35 million in 2024 and an additional €27.5 million in 2025.

Amount raised in 2024: €18M Infraspeak is a technology company specialising in intelligent maintenance management solutions. The company has developed a collaborative platform designed to streamline facilities management operations by integrating teams, assets, and processes into a unified system. The platform offers a suite of tools for preventive and reactive maintenance, asset management, compliance tracking, and real-time analytics. Its intelligent core, Infraspeak Gear™, leverages AI to automate tasks, provide actionable insights, and enhance decision-making processes. Additionally, Infraspeak Network™ fosters seamless collaboration between facility managers and service providers, ensuring efficient communication and workflow management. In 2024, Infraspeak secured €18 million in a Series B funding round to further its international expansion and enhance its platform's capabilities.

Amount raised in 2024: €17M Oceano Fresco is an aquaculture company pioneering sustainable and regenerative farming of native European bivalves. The company operates a vertically integrated system that includes a state-of-the-art hatchery at its BioMarine Center and the world’s first open-sea clam farm off the coast of Lagos in the Algarve. Oceano Fresco focuses on cultivating high-value clam species, which are currently in decline due to overexploitation and invasive species. These clams are bred in the hatchery and then grown in the open sea, feeding exclusively on naturally occurring microalgae, without the use of artificial feeds or antibiotics. This method not only produces a nutritious and sustainable protein source but also contributes positively to the marine ecosystem by enhancing biodiversity and capturing CO₂ in the clams' shells. In 2024, Oceano Fresco secured €17 million in funding to expand its production capacity and reinforce its position as a leader in regenerative bivalve aquaculture.

Amount raised in 2024: €15M CarboCode is a biotechnology company, specialising in the development, production, and commercialisation of human-identical glycosphingolipids and gangliosides. The company employs advanced biocatalysis and fermentation technologies to produce these molecules at an industrial scale. Their initial focus is on enhancing infant nutrition by supplementing formulas with gangliosides to more closely mimic the composition of human breast milk. CarboCode also explores applications in dermatology and cognitive health. In 2024, CarboCode secured €15 million to expand its production capacity and meet regulatory requirements in key markets, including the EU, USA, and China.

Amount raised in 2024: €15M Sensei is a deep-tech company specialising in autonomous retail solutions powered by artificial intelligence and computer vision. The company develops checkout-free shopping experiences that eliminate queues and scanning, offering real-time inventory tracking and actionable in-store analytics for retailers. Their proprietary technology integrates ceiling-mounted cameras, shelf sensors, and AI algorithms to create virtual baskets for shoppers, enabling seamless transactions without the need for additional apps or check-ins. In 2024, Sensei secured €15 million to support its expansion across Europe and Latin America. The company aims to transform traditional retail into a more efficient, data-driven, and customer-focused experience.

Amount raised in 2024: €10.85M Tonic App is a digital health company that offers an all-in-one mobile and web platform designed to support medical doctors in their daily practice. The platform provides access to clinical decision support tools, educational content, AI-powered assistance, job opportunities, and secure communication channels, all within a single interface. With a growing community of over 155,000 physicians across Portugal, Spain, Italy, and France, Tonic App aims to streamline healthcare workflows and enhance collaboration among medical professionals. The company serves various stakeholders in the healthcare ecosystem, including hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, and medical device manufacturers, by facilitating effective engagement with physicians. In 2024, Tonic App raised €10.85 million in Series A funding to further expand its services and reach.

Amount raised in 2024: $12.7M FRVR is a gaming technology company specialising in instant, cross-platform games accessible directly through browsers and messaging platforms. With a mission to democratize game distribution, FRVR bypasses traditional app stores by embedding games into everyday digital environments, partnering with platforms like Facebook, Snapchat, TikTok, and Samsung Game Launcher. FRVR has developed over 100 games, including popular titles like Solitaire FRVR, Basketball FRVR, and Krunker. The company has achieved significant reach, with over 2 billion lifetime players and more than 7 billion games played globally. In 2024, FRVR launched Upit, an AI-powered platform that enables users to create games without coding, furthering its commitment to making game development accessible to all. That same year, the company secured $12.7 million in funding to support its global expansion.

In this episode of the EU-Startups Podcast, Charlie MacGregor, Founder and CEO of The Social Hub, shares the story behind a bold reimagination of what hospitality, connection, and community can look like in the 21st century.

Founded in Amsterdam in 2012 (originally as The Student Hotel), The Social Hub is a hybrid hospitality brand that combines hotels, student housing, coworking spaces, coliving, event venues, and social impact initiatives. With locations across Europe, it is designed to bring together travellers, students, remote workers, and locals in shared spaces that foster meaningful connections.

Today, we explore the origin story behind The Social Hub, why belonging is the most underrated business model, how diverse communities can thrive in shared spaces, the role of design in shaping behaviour and connection, and how to build spaces where people actually want to connect. This episode is not just about hotels; it is about how we live, work, and learn, and what happens when you design spaces to bring people together on purpose.

Video version of episode 124:

Audio version of episode 124:



Key Takeaways 

• Hospitality is evolving from service to connection.
• Design is not just aesthetic – it’s behavioural architecture.
• Purpose and profit can scale together if culture leads the way.
• The best growth stories are rooted in human transformation.
• The future of hospitality is human and hyper-local.

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UK startups raised more than $8bn in VC investments in the first half of this year, more than double that of French startups, as the AI investment mania continues, new figures show.

As London and Paris thrash it out for European startup pre-eminence, new data from HSBC Innovation Banking UK and Dealroom shows that when it comes to VC funding, the UK still rules the roost.

The data shows UK startups raised more than $8bn in VC funding in H1 2025, triumphing over second-placed Germany ($4.4bn) and third-placed France ($3.2bn), meaning the UK has a 30 per cent market share across European VC investment in the period.  The UK figure was up three per cent on the previous half year.

Other European countries to make it into the top ten are Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Netherlands, Ireland, Malta and Italy.

The new data underscores AI’s dominance in VC funding in the UK, with UK AI startups bagging $2.4bn in VC funding in the first half of 2025, representing 30 per cent of all UK VC investment raised. 

Ten years ago, AI accounted for less than 13 per cent of UK VC activity.

Some of the largest rounds in the first half of 2025 included AI drug discovery company Isomorphic Labs ($600m), AI corporate video maker Synthesia ($180m), and autonomous shipping technology startup Orca AI ($72.5m).

While London remains a global AI hub accounting for 68 per cent of the 179 AI funding rounds across H1, activity beyond the capital is gaining pace.

A total of 57 AI deals were closed outside of London, with startups attracting investment from Bude to Paisley, and Diss to Castlereagh.

In the UK, outside of AI, health tech and fintech both raised $2.3bn in new funding, ahead of enterprise software which raised $1.9bn.

Notable rounds in the quarter came from fintech such as wealth management platform FNZ ($500m), remittance payments startup Zepz ($165m) and payments company Dojo ($190m).

The data noted that the UK has now produced 188 unicorns, with quantum outfit Oxford Ionics joining the ranks this quarter.

Of these, 117 have already realised their $1billion plus valuations via exits.

Simon Bumfrey, head of banking, HSBC Innovation Banking UK, said: “It’s hugely exciting to see AI investment gathering pace, as new and varied use cases with real-world impact continue to emerge, from breakthroughs in personalised medicine to smarter logistics and financial services. 

 “What’s especially encouraging is the diversity of innovative AI startups across the UK – not just in established tech hubs, but in towns and cities nationwide."

Zug-based Impossible Cloud Network (ICN), a data-sovereign Web3 cloud platform powering over 1,000 enterprise customers, today announced €28.8 million in total venture funding, propelling the firm to a post-money valuation of more than €398 million.

The oversubscribed financing combines new capital with previously unreported investments including earlier backing from 1kx, Protocol Labs, No Limit Holdings and HV Capital. The latest strategic round was led by NGP Capital.

This announcement is paired with the official launch of ICN’s native token $ICNT.

“In less than two years, we’ve proven that decentralised cloud can outperform big tech,” said Dr Kai Wawrzinek, Co-founder & CEO of ICN. “With $34 million raised and the biggest exchanges behind us, we’re set to bring sovereign, cost-efficient solutions to every enterprise and developer on the planet.”

Founded in 2024, ICN is building a permissionless, open cloud network with the goal of rivaling Big Tech giants like Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Google. With their decentralised cloud services, ICN looks to lay the foundation for a scalable, secure, and community-driven global cloud that supports enterprise, AI, gaming, applications, and end-users.

With real-world adoption generating €5.9 million of ARR (a 2000% YoY surge) and a vision for over 200 decentralised cloud services, ICN wants to position itself as a genuine alternative to “monopolistic hyperscalers“.

“ICN’s decentralised architecture answers the enterprise call for sovereign, high-performance cloud infrastructure. We’re excited to help scale a platform that’s already generating value for an industry that requires secure data solutions now more than ever ” said Ossi Tiainen, Partner at NGP Capital.

The fresh backing accelerates ICN’s mission to deliver enterprise-grade, decentralised storage and compute that’s reprotedly up to 80% more cost-effective than traditional hyperscalers, all while ensuring complete data sovereignty. 

“We invested in ICN because they’ve achieved what most infrastructure projects only talk about, real revenue, enterprise clients, and a clear roadmap beyond storage. Their ability to execute at scale, paired with a sharp go-to-market strategy, convinced us they’re building something durable in a decentralised cloud,” said Gin Chao, Founder of No Limit Holdings.

ICN has also confirmed that its native token, $ICNT, will debut on several centralised exchanges (CEXs), including Binance, Bybit, Kraken, Bitget, Gate, KuCoin, Bitvavo, MEXC, and Bitpanda, following the news of the funding milestone.

Each CEX has green-lit the listed and open global access to the token that underpins ICN’s decentralised physical infrastructure network (DePIN)-driven cloud marketplace.

“At 1kx, we back token networks that create solutions for real-world problems. ICN’s enterprise adoption rate demonstrates a significant demand for trust-minimised and cost-efficient cloud solutions. ICN’s demand traction and market leading GTM engine is their moat, and puts them already in a league of the likes of Amazon Web Services, Google Cloud Platform, and Microsoft Azure,” stated Christopher Heymann, Founding Partner at 1kx.

ICN has delivered over 80 petabytes (PB) of live storage capacity across enterprise nodes in Europe and the United States, with a further 250 PB set to come online across three continents.

“Protocol Labs has been championing open, verifiable storage for a long time, and ICN extends those principles to a complete cloud stack. We’re proud to support the team on its journey and look forward to seeing how far it can take us toward true full data sovereignty,” said Lacey-Ann Wisdom, General Partner at Protocol Labs.

While storage is the beachhead, the roadmap for ICN now spans over 200 planned services that will extend the platform into compute, AI inference, and edge networking. Guiding this expansion is a founding team with two prior nine-figure exits and over 20 patents in distributed-system design.

“We invest in leaders, and ICN is already the market-share leader in decentralised cloud. Its growth metrics are among the strongest we’ve seen, and with this latest valuation update, it’s clear there’s more growth to come. We’re glad to be part of that,” said Jan Miczaika, Partner at HV Capital.

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Spacetech company Open Cosmos has acquired Connected, a Portuguese startup pioneering affordable, standardised IoT connectivity from space.

As one of Europe’s fastest-growing space infrastructure companies, Open Cosmos designs, builds and operates complete satellite missions, with production facilities in the UK, Spain and Greece – and new operations launching in Portugal.

This transaction marks one of the fastest successful startup exits in European space-tech history and a major milestone for Portugal’s emergence as a leading innovation and manufacturing hub for the space economy. The amount involved in the operation was not disclosed.

“Connected has built in two years what takes others five. They’re one of Europe’s most capable space startups,” said Rafel Jordà, founder and CEO of Open Cosmos. 

"Their hosted payload model fits seamlessly into our OpenConstellation vision, accelerating our ability to deliver scalable, multi-purpose and mission-flexible space infrastructure that serves both institutional and commercial needs across Europe and beyond.”

Founded in 2023, Connected rapidly developed a proprietary hosted payload platform for narrowband IoT connectivity, launched pilots across Europe and secured strategic partnerships with EchoStar Mobile, Fraunhofer and other international partners. 

Its technology is based on standardised protocols such as 5G NB-IoT and mioty. It dramatically reduces the cost and complexity of space-based communications, enabling applications ranging from infrastructure monitoring to emergency response, ocean surveillance, smart agriculture, and off-grid renewable energy systems.

 In just two years, Connected has evolved from a research-driven idea into a commercially operational platform that is shaping the future of space-enabled IoT.

According to Tiago Rebelo, former CEO at Connected, now Chief Revenue Officer (CRO) at Open Cosmos and Managing Director at Open Cosmos subsidiaries in Portugal, the company was in the middle of raising our Seed round when the opportunity emerged. 

“The offer from Open Cosmos was simply too aligned — in mission, culture and ambition — to ignore. 

It was a clear recognition of our technology and of the real-world progress we achieved with limited resources and relentless focus.” 

The company also received strong institutional backing, including support from the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Portuguese Space Agency, strengthening its positioning as a key enabler of interoperable, sovereign space services.

Just months after incorporation, Connected raised €2 million in the largest Pre-Seed round ever by a Portuguese space startup. 

As part of the deal, Connected becomes Open Cosmos’ dedicated IoT connectivity unit. All 22 Connected team members join a growing Open Cosmos Atlantic team of 18. 

Open Cosmos now employs close to 200 people, has been profitable for the last 4 years with high growth, on top of raising more than 50 million Euros to date. The company maintains a 100 per cent mission success rate in orbit across all its satellite missions.

The acquisition also builds on Open Cosmos’ expanding presence in Portugal. The company has invested over €15 million in national operations to date, and that figure is expected to exceed €50 million over the next three years as its local presence scales. 

This includes the launch of a new satellite factory at IPN in Coimbra, where three Portuguese-engineered satellites will be assembled and operated starting in late 2025. These missions, powered by Connected’s payloads, will deliver integrated Earth Observation data and IoT connectivity from orbit.

Connected will now lead Open Cosmos’ connectivity strategy, offering scalable and affordable solutions for industries ranging from maritime to energy, logistics and beyond.

“This is just the beginning,” added Tiago Rebelo. 

“Together, we’ll be building a future where Europe leads not just in technology, but in industrial capability, delivering meaningful space services that solve global problems, connects people and assets, protects critical environments and reinforces regional independence.”

Lead image: Open Cosmos.