1.7 million people who aren’t formally registered as visually impaired, but still suffer from sight loss severe enough to affect their daily lives. While services such as Be My Eyes – an app which connects blind and low-vision users with sighted volunteers and companies, through live video and AI to tackle the inaccessible parts of everyday life – do a stellar job in providing support for blind and low-vision people, there is always room for more, especially in real-time, hurried scenarios such as navigating public transport.

Many people in the UK struggle to navigate public transport because they simply can’t read the signage.  

Zooming in with a smartphone only distorts the text further, while mainstream transit apps often lag or fail to capture real-time updates. The result? Missed buses, wrong trains, the risk of getting stranded and dependence on strangers.

But now there’s a solution. Founded in March by UCL students, Solora has developed the RideOnTime app, which uses AI to translate transport signage into clear visuals—and audio if desired—in real time, offering people with sight loss a dramatically easier way to navigate bus and train stations.

Despite being in the thick of his dissertation in Human-Computer Interaction, CEO Jun Bak was kind enough to offer some insights into the solution and the company behind it.  

From academia to an app store

Bak has a background of around a decade in UX design and digital strategy, with deep experience in user experience, conversion optimisation, and product strategy across in-house and agency roles. More recently, he completed a Master’s in Human-Computer Interaction at UCL.

During the course, he met four classmates, and together they worked on a disability interaction module, co-designing an application with a visually impaired user, which eventually became Solora. The technology is both simple and powerful. The app detects the signboard using AI. 

“Then, we adjust technical factors like shutter speed and exposure to reduce distortion," explained Bak.

“Combined with additional coding and AI enhancements, we’re able to “fix” the display so users can clearly read the information. We’ve gone through several rounds of testing, and the results have been very positive.”

UX-testing with those with lived experience

I was curious about the UX testing, as I’ve unfortunately met a robotic wheelchair startup that only tested its tech in able-bodied people and a smart home platform for blind and low-vision people, which was only put forward for testing weeks before its launch. 

According to Bak, the team was fortunate that the project began as part of a disability interaction module, which allowed them to co-design the solution directly with a visually impaired user living with Stargardt disease.

“By learning about her daily transit challenges, we identified LED signboards as a major issue.”

For broader testing, Solora collaborated with Vision Ability, a nonprofit in East London. 

“We hosted a workshop with about 20 visually impaired users, took them to a station, and allowed them to try the app in real-world situations.  Their feedback was overwhelmingly positive.

Some participants told us they were just beginning to travel independently, and that this was one of their biggest frustrations.”

Solora launched on the UK App Store as a pilot and now has about 50 active users. 

“We’re continuously monitoring performance through analytics and recordings to measure accuracy and optimise further,” explained Bak. 

Why mainstream transit apps and support services aren’t enough

In the UK, disability rights in public transport are primarily protected under the Equality Act 2010 and the Public Service Vehicles Accessibility Regulations, which require transport providers to make reasonable adjustments, so I was curious why public transport authorities weren’t doing more about the problem.

According to Bak:

“Quite rightly, there is extensive guidance and regulation concerning the level of support that should be offered to sight-impaired and severely sight-impaired people on our transport network. 

And visual cues, such as a guide dog or mobility cane, mean it can be easier for passenger assistants to proactively identify when a sight-impaired or severely sight-impaired individual may require additional help in a bus or train station. 

But there is a massive group of underserved people in the UK who suffer from varying degrees of sight loss. 

We know that individuals with different forms of sight loss find it difficult to navigate the transport network, but for a number of reasons, they may be reluctant to ask for assistance."

Further,  some larger authorities may be aware of the specific challenge with the signage, but they often assume that having a live feed solves it. 

“The issue is that LED signboards display the most accurate, real-time information — based on the actual movement of buses and trains. 

Apps may lag or require multiple steps to check timetables, but with RideOnTime, users can just point their camera and instantly get the information.”  

Solora has already been recognised with awards, including Most Inclusive Product at UCL’s latest Venture Builder Programme and the SustainTech Pitching Competition, winning £1,500 and £1,000, respectively. Now its applying to UCL’s Hatchery program, which supports spin-off startups over two years.” 

In terms of business model, the app will always be free for visually impaired users. Long term, Solora is looking at white-labeling — integrating its solution into existing platforms run by transit authorities. According to Bak, the current UK launch is essentially a pilot to gather data, prove impact, and run focus groups. 

“We’re already in conversations with transport authorities about integration, and we’re actively seeking our first client.”

The team is also exploring EU mobility funding opportunities and ways to expand beyond the UK. However, the biggest challenge has been accommodating individuals with varying levels of vision loss — some people are severely visually impaired or blind, and they want to use the app too.

“We’re developing features like AI-guided detection: users can wave their phone, and the app will guide them with audio cues to point toward the signboard.  This requires extensive testing with blind users, but it’s our next major step,” shared Bak.

Solora is proving that startups can tackle real-world problems when they put lived experience at the heart of design. By working directly with people across different levels of vision loss to shape and test new features, the team is building technology that doesn’t just work in theory — it genuinely meets the needs of those who rely on it every day. Its a valuable playbook for all social impact startups.

Germany-based agricultural photovoltaics company feld.energy has closed a seed round of more than €10 million led by HV Capital, with participation from Future Energy Ventures, AENU, and Angel Invest.

feld.energy enables farms to grow food and generate solar power on the same land with modular, machine-friendly agricultural photovoltaics (Agri-PV) systems for arable fields, pastures, and speciality crops.

Operating end-to-end, from feasibility to construction, the company makes dual land use easy to deploy and economically attractive, even without subsidies. Under its lease model, farms can earn over €100,000 across 20 years while maintaining agricultural output. This supports the company’s vision to show that farming and renewable energy can reinforce one another to create lasting value.

By pairing clean energy with agriculture, feld.energy strengthens farm income and resilience, reduces water use, and advances Germany’s energy transition.

The opportunity is significant, as Germany targets about 60 per cent renewables in gross final consumption by 2050, and Fraunhofer ISE estimates 2,900 GW of technical Agri-PV potential nationwide.

Co-founder and CEO Dr. Adrian Renner says feld.energy aims to bolster agricultural resilience and accelerate the shift to a climate-neutral economy by enabling farmers to generate clean power without reducing food production.

This funding will help us strengthen our team and scale our solution so that farms everywhere benefit from this dual-use approach,

Renner added.

With fresh funding, feld.energy will accelerate growth, expand operations, and strengthen its team. Its long-term aim is to make dual-use farmland, boosting farmers’ income while helping the planet, the rule rather than the exception.

In its latest Seed round, Hamburg-based software company encentive has raised €6.3 million in fresh capital with its AI-driven platform that reportedly helps industries cut energy costs by up to 20% and reduce CO2 emissions.

The round was led by global investor General Catalyst and other existing investors. The funding will be used to expand their platform to connect to even more industrial assets, unlock new markets, and strengthen its technological leadership.

“Rising energy costs and mounting decarbonisation pressure are challenges faced by almost every industrial company today. Businesses unable to flexibly and intelligently manage their energy flows and adapt to the volatility and fluctuating prices of renewables are already putting their competitiveness at risk.

“Our solution enables companies to harness the economic potential of flexibility without interfering with existing processes. In doing so, our clients safeguard themselves against economic uncertainty and location disadvantages in the long term,” explains Torge Lahrsen, COO of encentive.

Industry is the world’s largest energy consumer and therefore a decisive lever for achieving a climate-neutral future. The electrification of industrial processes, which is essential for this transition, is further driving up electricity demand. At the same time, the expansion of renewables is making power supply and prices increasingly volatile.

In this environment, the ability to actively harness flexibility is becoming a key lever for the future of industry.

Founded in 2019, ecentie provides a solution that aims to reduce energy costs and emissions in industry. The company’s AI-based energy management platform automatically optimises electricity consumption so that companies use energy precisely when it is green and cheap.

The core element is the flexOn software, which acts as an intelligent control centre, coordinating energy flows bidirectionally with the availability of renewable energy locally at the company’s own site and in the markets and making targeted use of existing storage and flexibilisation potential.

The platform leverages latent flexibility in refrigeration, heating processes, batteries and production lines, generating intelligent schedules and automatically controlling these assets.

This allows companies to draw on on-site generation or tap into the intraday spot market exactly when wind and solar power are abundant and ​low-cost. flexOn is primarily used by medium-sized and large industrial players with annual consumption of at least two gigawatt hours (GWh).

“With the fresh capital, we are investing specifically in further developing our platform and expanding our team. Together, we are driving forward the only AI to date that is directly integrated into industrial machine rooms to actively control systems, thereby setting technological standards. Our vision is to become the leading address for controlling energy flows in industry.

The seven-figure order volume from our core industries underscores the success of our solution and confirms our commitment to establishing flexOn as the standard for intelligent energy management – scalable and deeply integrated,” adds Nicolás Juhl, CEO of encentive.

The solution is already in use at leading companies such as Metro Logistics, Dachser and Klingele, and is now also being deployed by well-known utilities as a flexibility platform.

To expand into further sectors and markets, encentive will invest the additional funds in new talent as well as in scaling core areas of the platform. This will enable major customers and partners to integrate flexOn independently via a dedicated onboarding suite.

“Energy has become one of the most decisive levers for competitiveness in European industry. It is no longer a background cost but a strategic factor in an era of volatility and sustainable transformation,” said Robin Dechant, Partner at General Catalyst.

He adds: “encentive turns this pressure point into an opportunity: its AI-driven platform helps industrials cut costs while enabling them to thrive on renewable power. What convinced us was what we believe is the team’s rare ability to bridge cutting-edge AI with the realities of factory floors, a capability that can strengthen Europe’s industrial backbone and accelerate the energy transition.”

Earlier in 2024, the company secured €2.7 million from investors such as Summiteer, S I Ventures, Vireo Ventures, Interface Capital, OMA Ventures, as well as business angels including Mario Götze and Christian Reber.

The post Germany’s encentive is using its recently raised €6.3 million to cut industrial energy costs by up to 20% appeared first on EU-Startups.

TAFALGIE THERAPEUTICS, a Marseille-based clinical-stage BioTech startup developing non-opioid treatments for pain, has secured €12 million in a Series A funding round – bringing its total raised since founding to €30 million.

The round attracted a mix of new business angels, particularly family offices, and returning investors. Previous investors include Bpifrance and the EIC.

“I would like to thank all the investors who participated in this new round of financing. Their commitment and trust reinforce our determination to provide safe and effective therapeutic solutions to the millions of patients suffering from pain as quickly as possible, without the harmful side effects of opioid-based medications.

“While many companies are struggling to secure financing, TAFALGIE THERAPEUTICS continues to strengthen its financial structure to support its roadmap and intends to extend this Series A round soon through an innovative arrangement,” said Eric Schettini, Co-founder and CEO of TAFALGIE THERAPEUTICS.

Founded in 2020 as a spin-off from CNRS and Aix-Marseille University, TAFALGIE THERAPEUTICS is focusing on the development of next-generation analgesics that modulate pain signals through TAFA4 protein-derived compounds. Its aim is to address acute, chronic, neuropathic, inflammatory, and post-operative pain without the risks associated with conventional painkillers such as respiratory issues, sedation, tolerance, and addiction.

This latest round, said to be an unusual funding strategy in the biopharmaceutical sector, reflects a growing interest from family offices in medium-sized, high-tech private equity investments.

The newly raised funds will be used to advance TT5, the company’s leading drug candidate derived from TAFA4 protein peptide, through Phase 2A clinical trials. Additionally, the money will support further development of two other candidates from its research platform and bolster its internal research and clinical teams as the company aims to establish a leading “Discovery Platform” focused on pain treatment.

The platform looks to tackle a serious public health issue. According to data provided by TAFALGIE, the United States has seen more than 727,000 deaths linked to opioid use between 1999 and 2022, with life expectancy dropping by 0.67 years in 2022 due to the crisis. In Europe, while the situation varies by country, opioid-related deaths increased significantly from 2000 to 2015. France has seen tramadol become the deadliest painkiller between 2013 and 2022.

“From an operational standpoint, the funds raised will enable us to continue developing TT5, which entered Phase 1 (TAFAFIRST study) this summer, until the completion of its Phase 2A trials, and to initiate clinical studies of our two other leads by 2027. At that point, TAFALGIE THERAPEUTICS should be ideally positioned to finalise discussions with pharmaceutical companies to finance the final clinical stages,” added Schettini.

The TAFAFIRST study, which began in Australia in partnership with CMAX and the Royal Adelaide Hospital, is evaluating TT5’s safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and biological response.

Conducted as a double-blind, placebo-controlled study, it involves 94 participants, starting with single ascending doses and moving to multiple ascending doses before testing TT5 in post-surgical settings. Initial results are expected between late 2025 and early 2026.

With additional non-dilutive backing totalling €6.5 million from Bpifrance and the EU, the company is on a strong path towards reshaping pain treatment across the board.

The post French BioTech startup TAFALGIE THERAPEUTICS locks in €12 million to tackle the opioid crisis with non-opioid drugs appeared first on EU-Startups.

German software company encentive has raised €6.3 million to expand its AI platform, connect more industrial assets, enter new markets, and strengthen its technological leadership. The round was led by General Catalyst, with participation from existing backers Summiteer, SIVentures, Vireo Ventures, HelloWorld, and angels Stefan Müller and Bernhard Niesner.

As industry, the world’s largest energy consumer, electrifies to reach net zero, power demand is rising, while expanding renewables increase supply and price volatility. In this environment, harnessing flexibility becomes a decisive lever for competitiveness and decarbonization.

encentive reduces industrial energy costs and emissions with its AI energy-management platform. Its core product, flexOn, serves as an intelligent control centre that aligns bidirectional energy flows with local and market renewable availability, automatically shifting consumption to green, low-cost periods and leveraging existing storage and flexibility.

By unlocking flexibility in refrigeration, heating processes, batteries, and production lines, flexOn generates optimised schedules and autonomously controls assets in real time, helping medium and large industrial users (≥2 GWh/year) cut electricity costs by up to 20 per cent while significantly reducing CO₂.

Already deployed at leaders such as Metro Logistics, Dachser, and Klingele, and now used by major utilities as a flexibility platform, encentive will use the new funding to hire talent and scale core capabilities. This will enable large customers and partners to integrate flexOn independently via a dedicated onboarding suite as it expands into new sectors and markets.

Evertrace – the founder detection engine for data-driven VCs – today announced the acquisition of Whisper AI. Whisper AI brings deep expertise in company data, trade registry integrations, and a strong foothold in the DACH market – a key step in Evertrace’s wider European and global expansion.

The acquisition accelerates Evertrace’s mission to give investors the earliest and most precise signals on emerging founders and companies. By combining Whisper AI’s registry and company data with Evertrace’s detection engine, the company moves closer to executing on this mission and be the key player in the market.

"Whisper AI’s expertise in company registries and their position in the DACH region give us access to a unique set of data sources and a crucial market. Together, we can strengthen our ability to surface the founders and companies investors need to know about - earlier than anyone else,” said Jacob Graubæk Houlberg, Co-founder at Evertrace.

We founded Whisper AI to make company and registry data more accessible and actionable to VC investors. Becoming part of Evertrace allows us to scale that mission significantly - and directly contribute to building the leading sourcing engine for early stage investors,” said Nikolai Niklaus, founder of Whisper AI.

Whisper AI’s technology will be fully integrated into the Evertrace platform, giving customers richer signals, faster updates, and broader geographic coverage.

About Evertrace

Evertrace is the founder detection engine for data-driven venture capital investors. Using machine learning and unique data signals, Evertrace helps funds identify founders earlier than anybody else

About Whisper AI

Whisper AI specializes in advanced company data and registry integrations, with a particular focus on the DACH market. Its technology enables the early detection of new companies and founders for European early stage investors by turning complex data pipelines into actionable insights

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The post Weekly funding round-up! All of the European startup funding rounds we tracked this week (Sept. 08-12) appeared first on EU-Startups.

This week, we tracked more than 95 tech funding deals worth over €3.1 billion, and over 10 exits, M&A transactions, rumours, and related news stories across Europe.

In addition to this week's top financials, we've also indexed the most important/industry-related news items you need to know about. If email is more your thing, you can always subscribe to our newsletter and receive a more robust version of this round-up delivered to your inbox. Either way, let's get you up to speed.

? Notable and big funding rounds

?? Mistral bags €1.7B funding round as ASML takes significant stake

?? EcoDataCenter secures €600M for sustainable high-performance AI and cloud growth

?? Fintech Factris secures €100M funding facility

??‍?? Noteworthy acquisitions and mergers

?? Bending Spoons to buy Vimeo in $1.38B deal

?? Hedepy acquires HearMe to become CEE’s largest online psychotherapy platform

?? fonio.ai acquires fluently to strengthen DACH presence

?? Opus acquires Embarc to accelerate early-stage entrepreneurship 

?? Opper AI acquires FinetuneDB for AI model tuning

? Interesting moves from investors

? Claret Capital Partners secures €350M second close for Fund IV

?Quadrille Capital raises €500M to invest in European and US tech

? From Lovable to ElevenLabs: Antler study charts Europe’s fastest-ever unicorn boom

?️ In other (important) news

?? OpenAI to roll out ChatGPT Edu in Greek schools and support startups

? ElevenLabs confirms employee share sale at $6.6BN valuation, double valuation of nine months ago

? BlackRock-backed Scalable Capital wins European banking licence

?? Quantum Systems commits €50M to UK expansion

?? AI coding assistants save UK government workers 28 working days a year, claims government 

---

? Recommended reads and listens

?? One year on from Draghi report: Europe’s innovation future hangs on the 28th Regime

? “European startups are asked to run a marathon with their shoelaces tied”

☕ The LAP coffee Berlin backlash: when innovation meets resistance

?? CUTISS secures €57.9M Series C to advance regenerative skin therapies

?? Innovation lives on: European startups shine at IFA 2025

? Beyond the hype cycle: Why retention and community will decide the winners in vibe coding

? European tech startups to watch

?? Kashimi raises $1.36M to expand alternative payment infrastructure

?? Renewcast raises €1M from 2C Venture to accelerate global expansion

?? Saltfish emerges from stealth with $730,000 in initial funding

??  uRoutine raises £555,000 to fight doomscrolling with a ‘productive social network’

?? Eterny raises €400,000 to tackle the problem of forgotten assets

?? Innovate UK backs Hormona with £100,000 grant for menopause diagnostics

PayPal-backed UK fintech Modulr has reported a reduction in annual pre-tax losses of £11m in 2024, as it targets US expansion and pulls back from working with crypto clients.

Modulr provides white-label payment infrastructure for businesses, calling itself an “embedded payments platform”. Modulr, which has an Electronic Money Institution (EMI) licence and employs over 300 people, provides payment services for the likes of Sage, Wagestream and HMRC. Modulr is backed by PayPal's VC arm.

Financial results for Modulr Holdings show pre-tax losses of £11m in the year ending 2024, a reduction compared to losses of £13.9m the year previous. Revenue came in at £52.8m, compared to £47.9m the previous year. Modulr says its losses were funded by its 2022 £83m Series C funding raise and that Modulr remained “well funded” at year-end 2024, with £31m of cash.

Modulr said that during 2024, it focused on client sectors of travel, merchant payments and lending but “ceased active marketing” into non-focus sectors, including crypto, remittance, and consumer banking. Modulr is understood to have previously worked with crypto outfit Ripple but it's unclear how many crypto clients it had. It does, however, have some crypto clients, it said.

It cited the “increasing complexities, risks and costs” of operating in these sectors as the reason for pulling back. Additionally, it cited new Consumer Duty rules, aimed at setting strict standards of consumer protection in financial services, and Authorised Push Payment rules, which it said “disproportionately impact those sectors”.

Separately, the UK fintech said it had made its first international move, securing a contract with a “major" US financial technology firm. Last year, Modulr acquired UK-based accounts payable fintech Nook. 

Modulr processes over 200m transactions and over £100bn of payment value on its platform, on an annualised basis. It has over 240 enterprise and over 4,000 SME customers.

Modulr said: "Our statutory group accounts for 2024 show double-digit growth and a strong balance sheet. We are growing strongly in 2025 and are on track to be profitable.

"We are scaling across a number of verticals and have seen particular growth in payroll, accountancy, travel and lending. In addition, we continue to serve some customers in other sectors, including crypto companies, remittance firms and consumer banking, which continue to become a declining proportion of our revenue."

Startup accelerators can play a crucial role in helping early-stage startups succeed. They are structured, time-limited programmes that typically last a few weeks or months. Accelerator programmes provide startups with mentorship, initial funding, office space and/or access to valuable investor and industry networks. Their goal is to help founders refine their business models, achieve product–market fit, and prepare for growth.

Over the past decade, accelerators in Europe have not just grown in numbers, but the type of available programmes out there, and their focus, is more diversified than ever before. Some are broad in scope, while others specialise in sectors such as fintech, healthtech, sustainability, or Web3. Together, they have become engines of innovation, producing success stories like Klarna, supported early by Sting in Stockholm, or Bolt, which was backed by Startup Wise Guys in Estonia, while strengthening Europe’s position as a global hub for startups.

In this article, we highlight 30 leading accelerator programmes across the continent, organised by country, showcasing the initiatives driving local ecosystems and shaping the future of European startups.

Austria

Hummelnest Accelerator: Founded in Graz in 2023, Hummelnest is the result of the cooperation between Transformation Lighthouse and Raiffeisen-Landesbank Steiermark. Hummelnest focuses its investment in sectors such as the future of work, sustainability, HealthTech, service-based tech (AI, blockchain), data-driven models, and FinTech.

Their programmes are highly personalised to each cohort of around five startups. Participants benefit from mentorship in business strategy, internationalisation, team development, green transformation, and access to corporate and SME partners in the region. At the end of the program, the selected startups become eligible for up to €50k in investment from Raiffeisen‑Landesbank Steiermark. The accelerator does not take equity only if the startup gets the Raiffeisen-Landesbank investment.

Culttech Accelerator: Headquartered in Vienna, Culttech is a six-month programme designed for early-stage startups working at the intersection of culture and technology. Its mission is to make creative culture more accessible and sustainable through innovation, supporting ventures in fields such as visual arts, performing arts, music, film, content and gaming, and cultural heritage.

The programme combines training in networking and communications, business validation, and investment readiness, requiring a weekly commitment of 3–5 hours, mentorship, and in-person meetups at European destinations. Startups gain access to expert mentors, a global community of cultural and creative industry professionals, and the opportunity to showcase at the Culttech Summit during Demo Day. Alumni include ventures such as Staxe, Ambistream, and OwnerChip, which are rethinking the future of creative industries through Web3 and digital innovation.

Female Founders: Launched in 2016 in Vienna, Female Founders is on a mission to create equal opportunities for entrepreneurial women in Europe’s tech ecosystem. It unites a values-driven community of founders, leaders and investors, working through advocacy, events, and education to ensure diverse perspectives are at the centre of building technology for the future.

Its flagship Grow F programme is a five-week, equity-free investment-readiness track for gender-diverse teams, offering expert sessions, hybrid learning, and access to top investors. A €900 commitment fee applies, along with a success fee if participants raise over €300k in equity funding within 15 months of joining. Female Founders also runs the Female Founders Experience (FFX), an exclusive networking event connecting selected founders with investors and ecosystem leaders.

Belgium

biotope by VIB: Based in Deinze, this BioTech accelerator focuses on planetary health. Founded in 2023, it offers pre-seed capital, tailored guidance, and access to a strong network, helping founders secure further funding. Most of their programs last 18 months, ensuring startups are scientifically supported, financially viable, and prepared for scaling, with a focus on intellectual property and regulatory compliance.

Biotope’s main programs include the Agrifood Biotech Program for startups in agriculture, food, and nutrition, and the Basecamp accelerator, which brings together new cohorts each season. The latest Basecamp started in June 2025, emphasising collaboration between technology, biology, and entrepreneurship. Through its Biotope Ventures fund, the incubator typically invests €350k per startup, usually as a convertible loan.

imec.istart: Launched in Ghent in 2011, imec.istart is a university-linked accelerator that provides pre-seed funding and support to tech startups across Europe. Recognised as the world’s first university-linked accelerator, it helps entrepreneurs transform innovative ideas into scalable businesses. They invest in industries such as AI, HealthTech, construction or immersive technologies.

They typically offer pre-seed funding starting at €100k per startup, typically structured as €50k in exchange for 6% equity and €50k as a convertible loan. The core program is the imec.istart Accelerator Program, which combines funding with tailored coaching, access to technology and office facilities, and a strong international network of partners and investors. For founders who may not yet have a proof of concept or minimum viable product, the imec.istart Launch Program offers a 10–12 week track to help them take the first crucial steps toward building their startup.

Birdhouse: Headquartered in Antwerp, the accelerator has grown into one of Belgium’s leading tech startup support engines, with a portfolio of more than 40 startups. Founded in 2016, they support tech startups with a particular focus on AgeTech.

They offer a 12-week accelerator program designed to help startups achieve product-market fit and prepare for funding rounds. The program includes mentorship from experienced entrepreneurs, access to a network of investors and partners, and an initial investment of €85k from Birdhouse Ventures without specified equity. Applications for Birdhouse’s accelerator program are accepted annually, with the next cohort (Cohort 18) set to begin in November 2025.

Bulgaria

Eleven Ventures: Launched in 2012 in Sofia, Eleven supports early-stage technology companies across Central and Eastern Europe. They aim to foster innovation and entrepreneurship, contributing to the region’s economic growth and strengthening its global competitiveness.

Eleven combines capital with hands-on strategic support, focusing on fintech, healthtech, the future of work, and climate and sustainability. The fund usually invests between €300k and €1 million in exchange for around 10% equity, while also connecting startups to a network of more than 250 investors. Its flagship Visa Innovation Program has already produced a unicorn (Payhawk) in less than four years, while creating valuable business opportunities for corporates and startups alike. Another notable initiative, the Elevate Program run with AUBG, has established the first university accelerator in the region, strengthening the pipeline of future founders.

Denmark

Accelerace: Copenhagen-based, Accelerace is an early-stage startup accelerator operating as the first stop for founders looking to launch ventures in the Nordic and Baltic regions. Launched in 2008, they primarily invest in sectors such as Life Sciences, FoodTech, CleanTech, MedTech, and BioTech, supporting young companies with both capital and guidance.

Its flagship initiative, Accelerace Allstars, is a seven-week pre-seed programme where founders refine their fundraising, pitching and storytelling skills while preparing for investor meetings. The programme, open only to startups that Accelerace invests in, offers €134k in funding through a convertible loan. Apart from Allstars, Accelerace also helps run acceleration programmes across Europe, such as Beyond, which is equity-free but can lead to later investment.

GreenUP Accelerator: Founded in 2021 within DTU Science Park, one of Europe’s largest life science clusters, this Kongens Lyngby-based accelerator is a dedicated growth programme for ClimateTech startups focused on CO2 reduction, playing a key role in scaling green innovations from Denmark’s DeepTech ecosystem. GreenUp empowers climate entrepreneurs to transition from early-stage startups to scalable businesses with actual and tangible environmental impact.

GreenUP runs an intensive 20-month cohort model that delivers tailored courses spanning business development, marketing, organisational structuring, IT, legal support, and investor readiness, designed to help startups scale effectively. Each participating startup receives a significant upfront investment of €2 million and non-disclosed equity.

Estonia

Startup Wise Guys: Based in Tallinn, Startup Wise Guys has become a cornerstone accelerator for B2B startups across Europe. Founded in 2012 with a focus on FinTech, cybersecurity, SaaS, PropTech, sustainability, Web3, and defence and security, they empower ambitious founders to scale high-impact ventures through a combination of mentorship, training, and global networking opportunities.

The accelerator¡s programmes are tailored to different stages of a startup’s journey: Building for early teams, Growing for bringing products to market, and Scaling for companies ready to expand. Each track usually runs as a six-month accelerator, sometimes preceded by an eight-week pre-accelerator. While economic terms vary by stage and sector, Startup Wise Guys typically invests around €100k as a convertible investment, with opportunities for follow-on funding.

Beamline Accelerator: Operating out of Estonia with a strong focus on the Baltics and Nordics, Beamline is a six-month cleantech programme dedicated to tackling climate change and environmental challenges. It supports early-stage startups working in energy, smart cities, waste management, carbon capture, and ESG solutions.

Beamline invests primarily at the pre-seed and seed stages, offering up to €60k per startup, alongside tailored mentorship and strategic connections. The programme is supported by the Environmental Investment Centre (KIK) and the EU’s Recovery and Resilience Fund, running both a Deeptech and an Energy Batch. As the official representative of InnoEnergy in Estonia, Beamline connects local pioneers with the wider European energy transition ecosystem. Alumni include HelioRec, Naco Technologies, and Renewcast.

Finland

DEFINE Accelerator: The Defence Innovation Network Finland (DEFINE) runs a three-month accelerator in Riihimäki focused on scaling defence, security, and dual-use innovations. Coordinated by the City of Riihimäki and backed by Redstone VC, DEFINE brings together the Finnish Defence Forces, leading industry partners, research institutes, and startups to strengthen Europe’s defence tech ecosystem.

The programme supports participants in turning their defence and dual-use technologies into scalable businesses by providing mentorship, funding opportunities, and access to global markets. Startups benefit from close collaboration with military stakeholders and industry leaders, ensuring solutions can meet both civilian and defence applications. The third batch runs from August to November 2025, culminating at Slush in Helsinki, one of Europe’s largest tech gatherings.

Northern Light Accelerator: Based at Maria 01 in Helsinki, Northern Light is a three-month programme designed to help international founders land, validate, and scale in Finland and the wider European market. The accelerator combines market access with a strong focus on founder resilience, aiming to reduce burn rates and build sustainable growth.

The programme offers hands-on support to achieve product–market fit, tailored introductions to customers, partners, and investors, and a soft landing into one of Europe’s most vibrant startup hubs. It is equity-free, providing office space, mentoring, and curated connections without taking a stake in participating startups. The first batch launched in autumn 2025, with Demo Day held during Slush week in Helsinki.

Supercell AI Innovation Lab: Run by Helsinki-based gaming giant Supercell, the AI Innovation Lab explores the intersection of gaming and artificial intelligence. This 11-week programme, held at Supercell’s offices, supports visionary founders and small teams building AI-powered gaming products that push the boundaries of entertainment.

Participants receive hands-on guidance from world-class gaming experts, uncapped resources to test and iterate, and access to Supercell’s global network. The programme culminates in a Demo Day, and promising teams may continue working with Supercell after graduation. Alumni include projects in AI-powered companions, open-world role-playing games, and AI-driven content platforms, with several continuing to develop under Supercell’s support.

France 

STATION F: Since its founding in 2017 in Paris, Station F has brought together more than 1,000 startups each year, establishing itself as a leading tech hub in Europe and home to the continent’s largest AI startup community. The campus supports founders by providing physical space, mentorship, funding opportunities and events.

Alongside over 30 programmes run in partnership with corporates, schools and networks, Station F also manages several in-house initiatives. Some of their programmes are: The Founder Program, which lasts between three and eighteen months, is designed to fast-track startups to leading VCs, with the possibility of receiving funding directly from Station F. The Fighters Program is a two-round track created for founders from less privileged backgrounds, while the Landing Zone serves as an entry point for early-stage startups wishing to discover Station F before committing to a programme. In addition, Station F invests directly in up to 20 companies per year, offering cheques ranging from €50,000 to €100,000 and takes 1% in equity.

HUB612: Launched in 2016 for early‑stage B2B startups, HUB612 is a Lyon-based accelerator and part‑investment fund structured as a subsidiary of Caisse d’Épargne Rhône‑Alpes, a regional banking group. HUB12 mainly invests in FinTech, InsurTech, SaaS, digital transformation, AI, and blockchain. They promote entrepreneurial growth by providing startups with workspace, funding, and mentorship, and backed by a trusted regional bank, their goal is to encourage long-term scaling of B2B tech startups.

HUB612’s main program, “Start to Scale,” is a five-month program for startups in the growth phase, designed to help startups that want to structure their organisation to support future growth. And “Accelerate Support” to boost startups in the hypergrowth stage. Every year, HUB612 invests in 6-8 seed-stage startups with initial tickets from €50k to €500k. However, it doesn’t mention the equity percentages.

SpaceFounders: Founded in 2021, SpaceFounders is a European NewSpace accelerator launched by leading institutions, including CNES, the Italian Space Agency, and the University of the Bundeswehr Munich. With hubs in Toulouse, Munich and Turin, it aims to fast-track the growth of Europe’s most promising space technology startups, fostering innovation in areas such as satellites, launch systems, data services and deep-tech applications.

The three-month programme runs twice a year and combines bootcamps, mentoring, and networking with investors, agencies and industry leaders. SpaceFounders does not take any equity. The program is free to attend and fully sponsored by their three implementing partners. SpaceFounders also has a dedicated VC fund based in Paris, which operates independently of the accelerator. They selectively invest in some of the alumni companies, though not all, and participation in the program does not require or guarantee investment.

Germany

AI.STARTUP.HUB: Based in Hamburg, this programme supports AI startups across Northern Germany with a mix of incubation, acceleration, and internationalisation support. The six-month accelerator offers tailored modules in investor readiness, product development, go-to-market strategies, and scaling, while also providing access to Hamburg’s wider AI ecosystem of corporates, research institutions, and investors.

The programme accepts startups from pre-seed to growth stages and focuses on fostering innovation in artificial intelligence across multiple industries. In addition to one-to-one coaching, workshops, and mentorship, participants benefit from corporate matching opportunities and connections to international markets, particularly in the US and Asia, through partnerships with German Accelerator and other networks.

BRYCK: Headquartered in Essen and launched in 2022, BRYCK positions itself as a flexible platform for startups tackling challenges in energy, health, livable cities, and hydrogen. Rather than a single programme, BRYCK runs several tracks tailored to a startup’s stage, including a 10-week Startup Sprint, an 8-week Startup Booster, intensive 5-day Bootcamps, and a Venture Client programme that connects startups directly with corporate partners.

Participation is free and equity-free, ensuring accessible support for founders. Through its extensive mentor and partner network spanning over 30 industries and 20 countries, BRYCK has already supported more than 80 European startups, many of which have gone on to secure funding or corporate collaborations.

UnternehmerTUM: Since 2002, in partnership with the Technical University of Munich (TUM) and entrepreneur Susanne Klatten, UnternehmerTUM has supported startups in DeepTech, ClimateTech, Mobility, Industrial Technologies, and Software/AI from its headquarters in Munich. Its mission is to turn technological research into market-ready companies by providing mentorship, tools, and ecosystem access.

Its startup programmes include the XPRENEURS Incubator, a three-month accelerator with two cohorts per year and up to €5k in prototyping support; XPLORE, a free online or hybrid programme for idea validation; TechFounders, a five-month accelerator for startups with a working prototype and first customers; and TUM Gründungsberatung, tailored guidance for TUM students and scientists. Through its venture capital arm, UVC Partners, UnternehmerTUM invests between €1 million and €10 million per round.

SpinLab – The HHL Accelerator: Founded in Leipzig in 2014, SpinLab has grown into one of Europe’s leading startup accelerators, supporting technology-driven ventures in sectors such as energy, smart cities, and health. Its mission is to support scalable growth across Germany and beyond by providing tailored mentorship, operational support, and access to a strong partner network built around industry collaborations.

SpinLab’s flagship programme is a six-month accelerator that offers startups €6k in non-dilutive funding to cover early expenses, along with free office space, coaching, and access to pilot projects with corporate partners. Startups can also compete for several awards supported by the city of Leipzig, and the programme culminates in an Investors Day, giving participants the chance to pitch to the wider investor community. Beyond the programme, alumni can continue to use SpinLab’s co-working space, and funding opportunities are available through Smart Infrastructure Ventures, an associated VC fund that invests up to €500k and may participate in future rounds.

ProVeg Incubator: Since its launch in late 2018 as an initiative of ProVeg International, the ProVeg Incubator has distinguished itself as the world’s leading incubator for plant‑based, fermented, and cultivated‑food startups. This Berlin-based incubator aims to reduce the global consumption of animal products.

ProVeg runs an accelerator programme of 5 months that provides each participating startup with up to €270k in funding, including €69k in expert-led workshops, use of Berlin-based co-working, test kitchen and event facilities, and ongoing strategic guidance through an extensive global network. The programme also includes mentorship from over 100 industry experts and culminates in a Demo Day to connect founders with potential investors and partners.

Hubraum Tech Incubator: Since its founding in 2012, hubraum has served as a bridge between early‑stage startups, companies and telco giants. Operating from innovation campuses in Berlin, Kraków, and Tel Aviv, its mission is to drive new business opportunities by focusing on emerging technologies such as 5G, AI, the Internet of Things (IoT), XR, and DeepTech in a broad sense.

Hubraum has many programmes, such as the Digital Innovation Program and First Mover API Program, both currently open for applications, alongside past initiatives like the AI Co‑Creation Program aimed at accelerating AI‑centric startups. Its campuses in Berlin and Kraków feature state‑of‑the‑art facilities, including 5G test labs, 3D printers, edge computing infrastructure, VR rooms, and makerspaces, where startups can test, refine, and scale solutions in real-world settings. Complementing this hands‑on support, hubraum also provides early‑stage financing through its investment fund, coworking space, expert mentoring, and direct access to Deutsche Telekom’s business units and networks, enabling startups to pilot and integrate innovations effectively. They don’t take equity.

Hungary

Rocket Up: Coordinated under the EIT Community’s Supernovas initiative, Rocket Up is a programme dedicated to supporting women-led technological ventures with international expansion. Based in Budapest, it helps growth-stage startups in sectors such as mobility, food, and manufacturing to enter new European markets seamlessly.

The six-month accelerator combines market analysis, strategy design, and tailored mentorship to guide participants through the process of identifying the right market, validating their product locally, and planning a successful entry strategy. Startups benefit from insights from business experts, peer-to-peer learning, and access to a European-wide network of investors and partners. By addressing gender imbalances in the tech ecosystem, Rocket Up aims to empower more women founders to scale globally and become role models for future generations.

Italy

Fashion Technology Accelerator: Founded in 2014 and based in Milan with a presence in London and Doha, Fashion Technology Accelerator (FTA) is a specialised investment and accelerator platform dedicated to fashion, luxury, and retail startups powered by digital innovation. They aim to advance the fashion industry through new business models and technology. FTA partners with global players like Hatcher+ to back top-tier fashion-tech ventures and shape the future of style.

FTA’s flagship Acceleration Programme spans six months and provides participating startups with €40k in cash plus €60k worth of services in exchange for a 10% equity stake. The programme supports revenue growth through business development, marketing, fundraising strategy, and industry introductions, leveraging a network of seasoned mentors and fashion-technology experts.

Techstars Transformative World Torino: Launched in Turin, this accelerator is part of Techstars’ global network and focuses on companies driving fundamental transformation and impact across industries and geographies. It brings together founders working on solutions in areas such as smart mobility, artificial intelligence, blockchain, and sustainability, while leveraging Italy’s growing innovation ecosystem.

The programme runs annually and follows Techstars’ well-known 13-week format, offering intensive mentorship, tailored support, and investment of up to €120k in exchange for 6–10% equity. Participants benefit from access to more than 120 mentors, including industry experts, investors, and corporate partners such as Compagnia di San Paolo, Fondazione CRT, and ISP Innovation Centre. The accelerator culminates in a Demo Day in Turin, where founders pitch to investors, corporates, and the wider ecosystem. Alumni include startups such as Sheeva, NATIX, Hive Power, Deliverart, and Wiseair.

Lithuania

FIRSTPICK: Founded in 2022 in Vilnius, FIRSTPICK is both a high-speed VC fund and an accelerator dedicated to supporting early-stage tech startups across the Baltics. With a focus on fintech, SaaS, deeptech, and consumer marketplaces, it aims to be the “first pick” for founders looking to turn ideas into scalable businesses.

The accelerator provides ticket sizes ranging from €50k to €250k, coupled with mentorship, early market access, and support from a growing community of experts and partners. Backed by private investors and Lithuania’s state-financed ILTE fund, FIRSTPICK has already invested in more than 38 startups, including notable names such as Samphire Neuroscience, Cyber Upgrade, and Handwave. Its mix of capital and acceleration makes it one of the most active startup engines in the Baltic region.

Netherlands

Rockstart: This early-stage accelerator and venture capital firm, founded in 2011 with offices in Amsterdam, Copenhagen, and Bogotá, supports startups across multiple sectors. It focuses on three core domains: Energy, AgriFood, and Emerging Technologies. They aim to accelerate the transition to a regenerative and sustainable future by boosting startups with expertise, investor networks, and operational support.

The accelerator offers tailored programmes that combine strategic mentorship, expert-led sessions, and market access with direct investment opportunities. Each programme typically lasts six months, though some may extend to a year depending on the cohort’s focus and needs. Startups accepted into Rockstart receive an initial investment through a SAFE (Simple Agreement for Future Equity), with the possibility of follow-on funding. Rockstart can continue investing in subsequent rounds up to Series B, with a total commitment of up to €2 million per company.

Startupbootcamp: Since its creation in 2010, and with its headquarters in Amsterdam, Startupbootcamp has grown into a global accelerator network with more than 150 programmes in over 20 countries and a portfolio of 1,600+ startups. It supports founders by providing deep industry expertise, access to a worldwide mentor and investor community, and strategic corporate partnerships.

Its flagship three-month accelerator offers coworking space in the host city, mentorship from hundreds of industry experts, curated investor introductions and corporate engagements, and culminates in an “Impact Day” pitch event. With an acceptance rate of just 1%, the programme has earned recognition as Europe’s leading accelerator and a pioneer in sustainability. Startups typically receive €25k in funding plus over €100k in partner perks in exchange for 6–8% equity.

PortXL: Launched in 2015 in Rotterdam, PortXL has established itself as one of the first maritime startup and scaleup accelerators. It operates in the B2B sphere, PortXL brings together startups, scaleups, corporate partners and mentors all collaborating to disrupt sectors such as maritime, logistics, green energy and process industry

PortXL runs a three-month acceleration program, where PortXL assesses, interviews, and selects the startups that will start the programme. The program consists of three weeks where participants get access to the PortXL network, industry mentors, and tailored training. It culminates in a Grand Finale, a showcase of participants’ innovation and progress. They don’t take equity.

Portugal

Lisbon Challenge: Founded as part of Beta-i, Lisbon Challenge is an accelerator aimed at empowering early-stage tech startups through a founder-centric approach. Launched in 2009, Lisbon Challenge has become a benchmark in Lisbon’s startup ecosystem, offering mentorship, structured methodology, and guidance to help startups achieve investment readiness.

The programme runs twice a year and begins with an intensive 10-week phase, followed by six months of continued support. The programme culminates in an Investment Day, where founders pitch to investors and selected startups gain access to incubation, extended mentorship, and potential long-term investment partnerships. Lisbon Challenge investment partners offer €70k for 7% of equity.

Spain

La Nave: Based in Madrid and supported by the City Council, La Nave is one of Spain’s largest innovation hubs. Its six-month acceleration programme targets startups with at least a minimum viable product (MVP) across six verticals: Smart City, eHealth & Sportstech, Sustainability & Circular Economy, EdTech, Fintech & Insurtech, and Retail, Tourism & Hospitality.

Selected startups gain free access to workspace, structured training, intensive mentoring, and La Nave’s active investor network. The programme also provides visibility through demo days, media coverage, and major national innovation events, making it a recognised launchpad for scaling within Spain and beyond.

Lanzadera: Based in Valencia and launched in 2013, Lanzadera has supported over 1,600 startups, earning recognition as Spain’s top startup hub. Its mission is fueled by a philanthropic vision, providing startups with funding, resources, and business know-how, aiming to boost job creation and sustainable startup growth in the country.

Its acceleration programme runs for six months, during which startups gain exposure to a network of fellow entrepreneurs and companies. They benefit from talks, training and personalised mentoring. Applications are currently open for the December cohort. Investment is managed through Angels, Lanzadera’s sister fund, which typically backs graduates of the programme with €200k in funding in exchange for a 7% equity stake.

Sweden

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Patents are the backbone of protecting innovation, yet the process of securing them in Europe can take years and cost founders precious time and money. 

Swedish startup Lightbringer, founded in 2023, believes it has a better way. 

I sat down with CEO and co-founder Dominic Davies to hear how his journey from software engineer to patent attorney — and a breakthrough moment with GPT-3 — sparked the creation of a category-defining legaltech company. 

Lightbringer aims to transform how patents are created and managed. It combines AI-powered tools with experienced patent attorneys to offer a faster, clearer, and more accessible patent process for innovators, startups, and tech teams.

I spoke to CEO and co-founder Dominic Davies to learn more.

A eureka moment with GPT-3 sparked Lightbringer’s creation

Davies originally studied software engineering at Imperial College London and started out working for Merrill Lynch. He admits,“after a few years in banking, I realised it wasn’t as exciting as I’d hoped. I wanted to work with cutting-edge technology, and one route was through intellectual property. So I retrained as a patent attorney at the world’s oldest patent firm in London and became fully qualified.”

Over the past 20 years, while practising as a patent attorney, he continued writing software to solve problems in his field. At one point, he founded a law firm called Invent Horizon, where he developed software to automate all administrative work so that the firm could operate with only lawyers and no administrative staff. 

He had also been working for years on software to write patents. 

According to Davies, “for nearly a decade, it didn’t work — the AI just wasn’t good enough yet.” 

“Then, in 2022, I read that GPT-3 was available via API. I plugged it into my project, and suddenly it sprang to life. 
That moment was both euphoric and terrifying. Euphoric because the software finally worked. 

It was terrifying because I immediately realised the key problem I’d spent ten years grappling with — and that underpinned my career—had just been solved. I couldn’t sleep for a month.

Eventually, I decided I had to act. I approached a couple of former founders, showed them a demo, and they said right away: “Let’s build this.” 

That was the beginning of Light Bringer.

Slow, costly, complex: the reality of filing a patent in Europe

The current patent process looks something like this:

Imagine you’re building a product and preparing to show it to customers, partners, or investors. Someone advises you that unless you file a patent application, you won’t be able to protect your technology.

All in all, patents are a laborious process. The European patent grant procedure takes about three to five years from the date your application is filed. It is made up of two main stages. 

The first comprises a formalities examination, the preparation of the search report and the preliminary opinion on whether the claimed invention and the application meet the requirements of the European Patent Convention. 

But before you get to filing your patent, you usually need to find a patent lawyer. You book a meeting, explain your business and your technology in detail, and only then does the lawyer begin drafting an application.

According to Davies, “it’s expensive because you’re working with highly qualified people, and it’s slow — it usually takes at least a month before you have a draft. The lawyer has to spend significant time building context for your invention and conducting research.”

Reimagining patents with SaaS-style onboarding 

Lightbringer aims to speed up the legal part of the process by replicating the seamless onboarding you’d expect from SaaS tools. 

“Think of signing up for Google or HubSpot—you just create an account and you’re off. That’s what we’ve built for patents,” explains Davies.

On the Lightbringer homepage, inventors can immediately begin describing their ideas. The system guides them through the process, helps them articulate the details, and explains how the patent process works. 

Drafts can be generated within hours instead of months. 

It’s largely self-serve, but with a human in the loop: qualified attorneys review the AI’s work, speak with inventors, and ensure everything is accurate and aligned with their needs.

Since launching its subscription model in May 2024, Lightbringer has already filed more than 100 patents, attracted over 500 users, including founders and legal teams, and achieved a 90 per cent success rate for patents filed within just 30 days. The platform reports 95 per cent user satisfaction and delivers workflows up to ten times faster than traditional drafting processes.

The company’s customers are early adopters, companies that want to buy legal services the way they buy SaaS. According to Davies:

“They’re used to tools like Vanta or HubSpot, so they expect a consumer-like experience. That’s what we deliver.” 

While the company is primarily working with smaller companies right now, it’s built an AI-first virtual patent department that can scale to any company.

Davies admits that the company would love to work more with law firms, but they can be conservative, and there’s an inherent business conflict. 

“Their model is built around billing by the hour, and we’re reducing the time it takes. Some firms are becoming more open, but our core users are technology companies themselves.”

How Lightbringer keeps startup IP safe

I was curious about data security in that founders are essentially putting their intellectual property into a startup’s software platform.

According to Davies, security was a priority from day 1.  Light Bringer is SOC 2 Type II certified. Customer data is protected and segregated. Its contracts with LLM providers, such as Google and OpenAI, ensure that it does not train on customer data:

“We actually have stronger data security provisions than many alternatives.”

That said, the company is very aware of developments — like the New York Times lawsuit against OpenAI that exposed private data — and for that reason doesn’t use OpenAI for certain key functions. 

Light Bringer raised a €4.2 million Seed round in 2024 and is growing quickly. It has over 70 customers, many of whom, explained Davies, previously worked with traditional firms. 

“They love being able to handle patents in a modern way.”

Lightbringer eyes expansion as patent automation takes off

Looking ahead to 2026, Davies believes companies will take a hard look at how they buy business services — legal, accounting, patents — and will demand more modern, efficient options. 

“We’re placed to meet that demand. We also plan to expand to the US, which we see as a key market. For now, our core market is northern Europe and the UK.”

Light Bringer describes itself as “category creators.” According to Davies, investors see what’s coming, sharing:

“They know the way business services are sold is changing, and they see us as well-positioned to grab the market.

It’s disruptive, especially for the patent industry, which could be one of the first legal sectors to undergo major automation.”

AI coding assistants are saving UK government workers 28 working days a year, the government claims, as it looks to leverage AI to save £45bn across the public sector. AI coding assistants are becoming increasingly common in the private sector, and the UK government is hoping to use them to make billions in savings across government departments.

New trial results from the UK government show that government coders and tech engineers have saved almost an hour a day by using AI assistants to help them write code and build new technology. This is equivalent to 28 working days a year, the government said.

The trial involved more than 1,000 tech experts using AI coding assistants across 50 different government departments. They used coding assistants such as Microsoft GitHub Copilot and Google Gemini Code Assist. It helped them build more tech like Whitehall’s Humphrey AI assistant and healthcare tech, the UK government said.

The government said savings from the AI assistants mostly came from using them to write first drafts of code that experts then edit, or using them to review existing code. It said just 15 per cent of code generated by the AI coding assistants was used without any edits.

The results show that 72 per cent of users said the tools offered good value, while over half ( 58 per cent), said they would prefer not to return to working without AI assistance, whilst 65 per cent reported completing tasks faster and 56 per cent said they could solve problems more efficiently.

Technology Minister Kanishka Narayan said: ”This is exactly how I want us to use AI and other technology to make sure we are delivering the standard of public services people expect – both in terms of accuracy and efficiency. With a £45 billion jackpot at stake, it’s not an opportunity we can pass up, as it can help cut backlogs and save money.”

Ukrainian defense technology company Falcons has raised funding from US-based Green Flag Ventures to scale production of its radio frequency (RF) direction-finding system and work toward NATO certification.

Founded in 2022 following Russia’s full-scale invasion, Falcons develops cost-effective systems designed for GPS-denied environments. Its flagship product, ETER (Direction Finder Set), helps detect enemy devices emitting radio signals, including drones, communication equipment, relays, and electronic warfare assets.

According to the company, ETER has already seen combat use and contributed to the destruction of a Russian system valued at around $90 million. Falcons positions the device as a compact, GPS-free alternative that is up to 30–50 times cheaper than comparable NATO systems, with operational coverage exceeding 600 km.

Falcons’ CEO and co-founder Yehor Dudinov, an active-duty serviceman with experience in strategic planning and product management, said the investment demonstrates the wider potential of technologies developed under fire in Ukraine.

The funding will support Falcons in scaling ETER’s production, growing its team of engineers and frontline practitioners, and developing a NATO market-entry strategy.

Green Flag Ventures, co-founded by Justin Zeefe and Deborah Fairlamb, invests in dual-use startups with both defense and civilian applications, with a particular focus on Ukraine’s defense technology ecosystem.

The investment comes as Western investors show increasing interest in Ukrainian defense startups, many of which have rapidly developed solutions in response to wartime needs. NATO nations have also signaled interest in cost-effective and agile alternatives to traditional, often slower-moving defense procurement.

French deeptech company Cailabs has raised €57 million to accelerate its industrial expansion and global growth. The round of structured financing, led by the European Investment Bank (EIB), combines a €37 million financing from the EIB and a €20 million investment from Definvest and Fonds Innovation Defense (Armed Forces ministry and Bpifrance), NewSpace Capital, the European Innovation Council (EIC) Fund, Starquest Capital, and CAIVE.

Cailabs is a deeptech photonics company founded in 2013, operating in France and the United States. Leveraging expertise in photonics and systems engineering, it designs and manufactures laser-light solutions for the space, telecommunications, industrial, and defence markets.

Its portfolio includes turnkey optical ground stations that use atmospheric turbulence compensation to enable high-throughput, low-latency links across space and terrestrial networks, with a focus on precise light control to deliver faster, safer, and more reliable performance.

Commenting on the strategic importance of Cailabs’ work and the rationale for the investment, Ambroise Fayolle, Vice-President of the European Investment Bank, noted that space technologies are increasingly vital for civilian, security, and defense applications:

As the bank of the European Union, the EIB supports Cailabs’ investments in manufacturing capabilities and in research & development of its laser communication technologies.

Fayolle added that the project fully aligns with the EIB’s strategic priorities in security and defence, as well as technological innovation, under its TechEU programme.

Securing this structured financing signals Cailabs’ growing commercial maturity, supported by a backlog of more than ten optical ground stations already under contract.

The funds will accelerate manufacturing scale-up and strengthen the supply chain. A new industrial platform, capable of assembling and validating five stations in parallel, will support the goal of producing up to 50 OGS annually by 2027.

The financing will also support international expansion and advance the product portfolio with turnkey 100+ Gbps solutions, transportable optical ground stations, and expanded orbit coverage.

This funding round reflects our solid fundamentals and the confidence investors have in our strategic vision. It enables us to scale up industrial capabilities and prepare for the next stage of growth,

concluded Jean-Francois Morizur, co-founder and CEO of Cailabs.  

MELP, an employee well-being platform, has raised €1.25 million in a new investment round led by Coinvest Capital and supported by business angels. The fresh funding will be used to strengthen the company’s position in the UK market.

The platform, launched in 2022, enables employers to engage their workforce through personalised benefits, internal communications, recognition programmes, and discounts from various providers. Its name stands for Medical services, Employee benefits, Lifestyle & Longevity, and Protection. MELP is certified to the ISO 27001 standard for information security.

Since its previous funding round in January 2024, MELP has expanded significantly. Its user base has grown from 16,000 to 68,000, and sales have increased more than 2.5 times. In 2025, the company signed an agreement with LTG Group companies to serve over 5,000 employees and implemented an international contract with Affidea Group across 15 European countries, providing access to more than 10,000 employees in 16 languages.

“The company is expanding not only geographically but also by successfully enhancing its functionalities and focusing on innovation through the use of artificial intelligence – from task automation to an interactive intranet for employees,” said MELP co-founder Robertas Šaltis. “The MELP e-shop service, which allows employees to independently select additional benefits, is also growing rapidly – we project €3 million in sales through our employee benefits marketplace in 2025.”

Šaltis added that the previous investment helped the company grow across the Baltic states and test other European markets. He noted that most of the new capital will go towards developing operations in the UK, particularly with mid-size companies employing frontline workers.

“Some teams simply stick to their established strategic goals, while others are able to adapt and revise those goals as the environment changes. I believe the MELP team belongs to the latter group, and their ability to respond appropriately and in a timely manner is one of the key reasons behind the company’s impressive growth. The founders’ experience and the team’s competencies have allowed them to identify and capitalise on opportunities in surrounding markets, without expending resources on less familiar territories. They have also recognised the potential offered by AI, and today MELP is equipped with valuable experience and the right tools for the next leap. We wish them continued success,” said Viktorija Trimbel, Managing Director at Coinvest Capital.

Coinvest Capital contributed €800,000 of the total raised. The fund, established by Lithuania’s national development bank ILTE, invests in promising European startups that create value for the Lithuanian market. Since its inception, Coinvest Capital and its partners have invested in 49 startups and exited six, deploying more than €57 million in venture capital.

MELP is already used by companies such as Ignitis group, Nortal, IKI Lietuva (Rewe group), Atea Baltic, Volvo Lithuania, City Service, and Vilnius City Municipality.

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