There’s a lot you can learn from how venture firms evolve — not just in what they invest in, but in how they run themselves. Take HV Capital. Late last year the firm completed a full handover from its four founding partners to a new generation of general partners, myself included — a process that many firms struggle with, but which, in HV’s case, was smooth, deliberate, and built for the long term.

I spoke to Partner, Barbod Namini to learn more about the Firm and his approach to investment.

A multi-generational Fund built to last

According to Namini, HV Capital’s generational transition “shows that we’re serious about being a multi-generational fund — one that can thrive for decades, not just the lifespan of its founders.”

“The founders built an incredible foundation over 25 years, but to keep growing for the next 50, you need new energy and perspectives.

It takes humility for founders to let go of something that’s their life’s work, but they understood that the only way to preserve HV’s success was to pass the torch.”

“It’s an honour to continue what they built and to help take it to the next level.”

Two decades of backing European innovation

Founded in 2000, HV Capital has a long track record of spotting Europe’s future winners at the Seed stage, backing the first generation of German billion-dollar businesses.

With over €2.8 billion under management and investments in around 250 disruptors across industries, HV Capital is one of the most active venture firms in Europe.

From early stage to growth, the Firm leads early-stage rounds from €500k to €10 million, makes growth investments of up to €60 million, and follows on with as much as €100 million per company.  Its typical partnership spans a decade or more, providing continuous support at every stage of a company’s journey.

In 2022, the firm launched a continuation fund — a first of its kind in Germany — to extend that commitment even further.

Further, over the years, HV Capital’s portfolio companies have collectively created more than 100,000 jobs — a testament to the enduring impact of long-term partnership and shared ambition. Investments include feld.energy, LAP Coffee, and Tzafon.

From coder to global investor 

Barbod Namini’s fascination with technology began early, when he taught himself programming and web design as a teenager.

After earning a Master’s in Software Engineering from Imperial College London and an MBA from Columbia Business School, he moved into investing roles spanning public markets, private equity, and venture building. Before joining HV, he worked on the first privately funded submarine cable on Africa’s east coast (Seacom) and later helped expand Rocket Internet’s investment portfolio as VP of Investment Management.

Namini recounts, “I did my MBA in New York, and Rocket was what brought me back to Germany — even though I was born here, I didn’t grow up here. “

“It really gave me the opportunity to see Berlin’s startup ecosystem up close, just as it was starting to take off. Sometimes you just need to be in the right place at the right time.”

That one year turbocharged his German network. Namini learned who was active in the ecosystem, what the key topics were, and how the scene worked. 

Joining HV afterward allowed him to combine that local insight with his international investing experience from London and New York. Namini joined during the beginning of Fund V, which was the Firm’s first fund as a fully independent VC with a diverse base of LPs. 

He recounts, “Our earlier generations were backed by a single LP, but we later restructured the firm. “It’s been a great journey — from Fund V onwards, we’ve grown into a broader platform, added co-investment funds, and built one of the most established track records in Europe.”

At HV Capital, he combines his background in finance with a deep understanding of emerging technologies to lead investments across fintech, insurtech, and B2B SaaS and has led early investments in companies including BUX, Penta, Yapily, and Solaris. 

Why raising €500 million no longer feels impossible

According to Namini, when he started, the German ecosystem was still very young. 

“If you go back to the dot-com bubble and its aftermath, there were only a handful of VCs in the country. Rounds were often in the hundreds of thousands of euros — mega-rounds were unheard of.

Berlin wasn’t what it is today. But over time, the ecosystem matured dramatically. The investor community evolved, and the willingness to take risk expanded.”

However, when the pool of capital is small, you’re forced to back business models that become profitable quickly — you simply can’t fund the journey to a multibillion-euro outcome. But that’s changed, and now according to Namini,

“Germany and Europe can absolutely support companies with global ambitions. You also start seeing the flywheel of success: serial entrepreneurs, experienced operators, angel investors — all recycling their knowledge and capital.

Successful exits create new networks of founders and investors. Just look at Sweden — Spotify and Klarna alone have spawned over 200 companies.

Once people see what’s possible and have worked inside hyper-scaling companies, their mindset changes. Raising €500 million doesn’t feel impossible anymore once you’ve seen it done.”

There’s often talk about German risk aversion, but Namini believes it’s changing quickly.

Noting, “it’s important to remember that risk appetite isn’t just about founders — it’s also about investors."

"You can only take as much risk as the capital available to you allows. If follow-on capital is scarce, startups have no choice but to reach profitability quickly.

Real innovation, though, requires investment into the future — which means burn. As capital markets deepen, so does the collective willingness to take those risks. The two things go hand in hand.”

Why investors are prioritising runway over uplifts

The last few years have been turbulent for the startup ecosystem, with some investors and many startups struggling to raise.  Namini explained that when public markets shut down, the impact rippled through every stage of venture investing. “Initially, people assumed the early stages would remain immune,” he said.

“But if exit windows stay closed for long enough, that changes investor behaviour all the way down the stack.”

He noted a recent tendency to “overfund strong teams” — giving startups more runway because investors are reluctant to play the old game of raising every 12 months at an uplift.

“In today’s market, to justify a higher valuation, companies need to hit much tougher milestones than four years ago,” he added. “You want to make sure they’re funded long enough to reach a real inflection point before coming back to market.”

For Namini, success in venture capital still comes down to returns — exits and capital back to LPs — but timelines inevitably stretch. “Venture capital is cyclical, and when exits slow, LPs naturally double down on established firms with strong track records,” he said.

“We’ve benefited from that. Our last fund was the largest we’ve ever raised, and with two and a half decades of proven returns, LPs have confidence to keep backing us even through tougher cycles.”

How HV Capital keeps evolving with the market

According to Namini, HV today is a very different firm than it was ten years ago. 

It now operates a dual-fund model — HV Early and HV Growth. That means we can invest from pre-seed all the way through Series C and beyond.

“We call ourselves a generalist fund, but that doesn’t mean we’re shallow. It means the fund invests across sectors, but within it, you’ll find partners who are genuine specialists in their verticals.

Founders who work with us also benefit from our large platform team, which supports them operationally from the earliest stages — we combine early-stage flexibility with the infrastructure of a large, mature fund.”

Further, he asserts that HV has always evolved with the market. 

Historically, HV was known for B2C, then we shifted early into B2B, SaaS, and fintech.

"Each shift aligned with where we saw the next opportunity emerging. But in recent times HV has seen a greater appetite for deep tech — “companies with more IP risk or longer paths to commercialisation, where value lies in invention rather than distribution,” shared Namini, detailing that the Firm is comfortable with technically challenging areas like robotics, advanced materials, and other deep-engineering companies that need patient capital.

He asserts that “when governments start announcing half a trillion euros in defence and security investments, you have to pay attention."

“Even if most of that goes to legacy players, the portion that goes to new innovation is still enormous — potentially larger than the entire European VC market in some years.

The question then becomes: where do we feel comfortable investing, and where do our LPs draw the line?

For us, the focus is on dual-use technologies — systems that enable data collection, monitoring, or logistics rather than weapons."

HV has invested in companies like Quantum Systems and ARX Robotics, which build critical capabilities but not armaments.

To Namini, it’s about technological sovereignty — ensuring Europe can develop and maintain strategic capabilities in a responsible way.

From Berlin to London

HV Capital’s recent expansion into London was, according to Namini, “a function of scale and ambition.” “When you’re a smaller fund, it’s fine to be based in one city and fly around for deals,” he explained.

“But once you reach a certain size — in both capital and team — being pan-European becomes essential.”

With the UK still Europe’s largest startup ecosystem, having a physical presence there was a natural next step. “Feet on the ground make all the difference in deal flow and perception,” Namini said.

“It shows founders and co-investors that we’re not just a German fund that visits occasionally — we’re a European fund with real local presence.”

HV has already built a strong team in London, including hires from other top funds. “We’re seeing the results of that investment already,” he added.

A UK cleantech startup HotGreen Solutions, has closed a £1.2 million pre-seed round, led by Empirical Ventures, with strategic participation from Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP), First Imagine! Ventures, The Conduit Impact Fund, and Almanac Ventures.

Industrial process heat accounts for over 20 per cent of global CO₂ emissions yet has seen limited innovation. As energy costs rise, industry needs solutions that cut operating expenses while meeting climate goals.

HotGreen Solutions is addressing this challenge by developing ultra-efficient, high-temperature heat pumps that produce low-carbon steam for industrial applications. The systems integrate with legacy infrastructure, deliver up to four times the efficiency of traditional boilers, and offer a commercially viable way to cut energy use and costs without costly facility overhauls.

Installations take 3–5 days and can help a typical industrial facility, such as a Brewery, Distillery, or Dairy processing plant, save around €0.5 million per year on energy costs versus traditional boilers, while avoiding around 3,000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions each year. With energy savings of this scale, facilities typically achieve payback in under two years, making this a financially compelling investment that delivers both immediate cost savings and long-term environmental impact.

With this new investment, HotGreen Solutions will accelerate its growth and scale up its ultra-efficient heat pump technology through pilot projects and commercial deployments in the food and beverage sector.

Fuvex, a Navarra-based drone startup developing long-range autonomous aerial systems, has secured €1.7 million in the first phase of its Series A funding round to grow into new verticals such as gas pipelines, agriculture, and security/defence, while also supporting international expansion across Europe and Latin America.

The raise is bolstered by an additional €1.5 million in public financing, with Sodena, the investment arm of the Government of Navarra, taking the lead by injecting €500k into the round.

“This was our first real round after more than a decade of development and production. We have managed to sign the largest drone inspection contract for the UFD-Naturgy electricity network, we have exceeded 25,000 km inspected, and we have generated interest from strategic investors that has pleasantly surprised us. This is just the beginning: we are already scaling up to gas pipelines, agriculture, and security/defense,” said Carlos Matilla Codesal, CEO and Co-founder of Fuvex.

Similar activity has been seen across Europe this year: Zurich-based Voliro raised €19.8 million to expand its aerial robots for infrastructure maintenance; fellow Swiss startup Flybotix secured €8.5 million to scale its confined-space drone inspections; and Germany’s Energy Robotics closed an €11.5 million Series A to advance its autonomous inspection software for energy and utilities.

Against this backdrop, Fuvex’s funding is smaller but strategically significant – marking Spain’s contribution to the growing European ecosystem of drone and robotic infrastructure inspection startups.

While its Swiss and German counterparts focus on industrial sites and confined environments, Fuvex differentiates itself through long-range aerial systems tailored to energy grids, pipelines, and security applications, expanding both the geographic and operational scope of Europe’s autonomous inspection capabilities.

Founded in 2013, the company specialises in drone-based inspection of critical infrastructure and has already logged more than 25,000 kilometres of power line inspections across Spain.

This marks Fuvex’s first external funding round following more than a decade of development and operations in a highly regulated and technologically demanding sector.

The company’s technology looks to replace traditional helicopter inspections with electric-powered, long-range drones capable of autonomous operations. Fuvex claims its aircraft deliver up to 92% cost savings while improving safety and data resolution – up to 1,000 times more detailed than satellite imaging.

These innovations have already attracted contracts from major energy players like UFD-Naturgy and Endesa.

“Supporting Fuvex in its growth is a clear example of how Sodena backs companies at all stages, reaffirming its commitment to establishing roots and generating value in Navarre through dual-use projects, both civil and defense, that apply technology and innovation to the development of high added-value solutions,” noted Iñaki Larraya Garayalde, managing director at Sodena.

The funding will enable Fuvex to cut operational costs by 33% this year, with projections to reach a 70% reduction by 2027. The startup aims to reach an annual inspection volume of 40,000 kilometres by 2026 and target a 71% market share in Spain by 2028.

Current expansion plans include entering the Portuguese, French, Italian, and Latin American markets.

Employing over 50 people, Fuvex expects to grow its team by an additional 15 to 25 hires in the next 18 months. These roles will focus on R&D, engineering, and drone operations.

The company’s strategic vision is to become the European leader in fully autonomous, long-range drones by 2030 – positioning itself at the crossroads of infrastructure safety, environmental sustainability, and wildfire prevention.

With seven patents under its belt and increasing institutional support – evidenced by a recent visit from Mikel Irujo, the Navarra Minister for Industry, Ecological Transition and Digital Business – Fuvex is shaping up as a notable player in Europe’s drone-based infrastructure inspection landscape.

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A UK startup which is developing brain monitoring and treatment technology which avoids drilling a hole into a patient’s skull has raised more than $100m in funding in total, it has announced.

Led by “generational founder” James Dacombe, the $102.5m funding includes a $60m Series A funding round in London-based CoMind which was led by Plural, the VC firm set up by Wise co-founder Taavet Hinrikus and other founders.

Other investors in CoMind include Angelini Ventures, LocalGlobe, Octopus Ventures, Crane, Backed VC and Entrepreneurs First.

Dacombe, who is now 25, founded CoMind when he was just 17.

CoMind's tech can measure core brain health indicators, such as cerebral blood flow, through non-invasive measures, as opposed to existing brain monitoring techniques, which require drilling a hole into a patient's skull, or "rely on inaccurate non-invasive monitoring that can compromise treatment decisions", CoMind said.

It claims its tech “has never been done before”.

CoMind says: “In the US alone, three million patients suffer traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) every year, but only 5 per cent receive an intracranial pressure test, which requires drilling a hole in the skull and carries a 15 per cent complication rate.

"The rest are treated with limited information, leading to worse data, worse outcomes and higher costs.”

CoMind aims to get approval for its tech from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) within two years, which it says will unlock access to "the huge ICU (intensive care unit) market in the US".

It also plans to expand its product portfolio with an AI platform that transforms sensor data into predictive insights, identifying complications early and personalising treatment.

Julia Hawkins, general partner at LocalGlobe said: ”James is truly a generational founder and partnering with him and his team has been one of our great privileges as investors. We couldn’t be more excited to continue supporting them as they redefine how the brain is measured, and, ultimately, how it’s treated.

“At LocalGlobe, we’ve always believed that the next wave of European technology will be defined not only by software, but by science and engineering breakthroughs that fundamentally reshape industries.

“CoMind is one of those companies, a pioneer redefining how the brain is monitored, entirely non-invasively, through breakthroughs in photonics.”

Plural said: “The company’s technology has the potential to dramatically improve how we monitor our brains, giving doctors better information and more choices for treating patients, building out a whole extra market by providing a far more affordable and safe alternative to existing solutions.

"This makes CoMind a classic Plural investment: a startup that can make a huge global impact, built in Europe.”

Heidelberg-based Enzo, a startup protecting homes from water damage, has closed a €4 million Seed extension, bringing its total Seed funding to €6.2 million to develop Enzo’s AI platform, expand partnerships with insurers, and prepare for international expansion.

The round was co-led by EquityPitcher Ventures and the Start-up BW Innovation Fund & MBG BW, with additional participation from Silence VC and the impact angel network better ventures, including business angels Gloria Seibert, Martina Steiner-Samwer, Peter Krachten, and Robert Levenhagen.

“Our solution delivers dual value: economic efficiency through massive claim cost reductions, and ecological impact by preventing unnecessary repairs and CO₂ emissions,” says Sascha Wolf, Co-founder and CEO of Enzo. “With this new funding, we’ll continue advancing our technology, expanding existing partnerships, and preparing for international rollout.”

Enzo’s Seed funding follows comparable early-stage rounds such as muffintech’s €3.5 million Seed and Afori’s €4 million pre-Seed, both in Germany, highlighting strong domestic momentum in the sector. Larger rounds, such as Baobab Insurance’s €12 million Series A in Berlin and Seyna’s €10 million raise in France, indicate continued investor confidence across Europe.

Enzo’s focus on AI-powered IoT sensors for property insurance complements these developments by addressing risk prevention rather than claims management or brokerage.

“Enzo demonstrates how technological innovation can solve a billion-euro problem – while delivering measurable environmental and economic impact. The team combines deep industry expertise with a strong entrepreneurial drive. These are exactly the kind of Founders we look for at better ventures,” says Tina Dreimann, Co-founder and Managing Director of better ventures.

Founded in 2021 by Sascha Wolf and Marvin Follmann, Enzo is is a brand of SafeHome developing IoT- and AI-based solutions for the safe and sustainable use of drinking water in buildings. With its one.drop technology, Enzo digitally monitors water systems and reports defects to minimise damage and water loss.

Its solutions help residential insurers lower claim ratios and promote long-term sustainable water management.

“Water is one of the largest insured risks – and Enzo offers a unique technological and strategic solution to dramatically reduce the enormous volume of claims,” adds Andrea Silberschmidt-Buhofer of EquityPitcher Ventures.

According to the company, water damage is the costliest category in residential property insurance: in Germany alone, such incidents cause €5 billion in damage annually. Repairs also carry a significant burden, involving energy-intensive drying processes, material replacement, and high resource consumption.

Enzo’s proprietary, patented sensors can be retrofitted within minutes without professional  installation, reportedly achieving 40 times higher precision in water damage detection compared to conventional water meters. Insurers benefit from up to 70% lower claim costs, while property owners and the environment see significantly reduced resource use.

Enzo collaborates with leading insurers such as BarmeniaGothaer, Alte Leipziger, INTER, Hiscox, and SV SparkassenVersicherung. The technology is already being deployed in several countries.

Frank Hummler, Investment Manager at Start-up BW Innovation Fund, emphasises: “Enzo delivers a smart, end-to-end solution for a pressing challenge – especially for insurers. The combination of patented sensor technology and AI analytics creates clear differentiation and enormous growth potential. Enzo has what it takes to become a leading player in the market.”

The post With €4 million in funding, German InsurTech developer Enzo looks to tackle water damage with their novel sensor appeared first on EU-Startups.

Cluj-Napoca-based DeepTech startup .lumen, known for its AI-powered glasses for the blind, has secured an €11 million grant for the project “PABLO – Autonomous Robots for Urban Delivery”, funded under the Intelligent Growth, Digitalization, and Financial Instruments Programme 2021–2027.

.lumen was also included in the weekly roundup of our sister publication HealthHack for its January €5 million funding round.

“We’ve proven that PAD AI technology can help visually impaired individuals move independently. Now, we’re extending it to reimagine how goods move in cities. Imagine humanoid and quadruped robots walking on sidewalks, delivering your food or groceries,”said Cornel Amariei, CEO and founder of .lumen.

While this is public grant funding rather than venture capital, it aligns with a wider European trend in 2025 of financing robotics and automation for logistics and inspection.

Across Europe, several robotics and AI ventures have attracted private funding this year. Warsaw-based Nomagic raised €41.5 million to expand AI-driven robotic arms; Munich’s Filics secured €13.5 million for autonomous load-carrying robots; Energy Robotics from Darmstadt raised €11.5 million Series A for inspection robots and drones; and London startup Synkka secured pre-Seed backing (c. €0.5–1 million) to develop an autonomous workforce for parcel delivery.

Within this landscape, .lumen’s publicly funded initiative is distinctive. Its €11 million project – driven by a research-industry consortium – positions Romania among the few European countries advancing humanoid and quadruped robotics for urban logistics.

Compared with the VC-backed rounds in Germany, Poland, and the UK, .lumen’s funding highlights how EU-supported R&D can complement private investment in building Europe’s autonomous mobility ecosystem.

“The PABLO project reflects our mission to turn fundamental research into real technological applications, through close collaboration between academia and industry. This synergy is an essential step in strengthening Romania’s ability to develop intelligent, sustainable, and competitive systems at a European level in robotics and autonomous mobility,” said Alexandru Gal, Researcher at IMSAR.

Founded in 2020, .lumen is a research startup developing Pedestrian Autonomous Driving (PAD AI), a technology first showcased through the .lumen Glasses for the Blind. Founded by Cornel Amariei, the company creates AI-powered mobility solutions that restore independence to the visually impaired – and now, autonomy to urban logistics.

The project will run from Sept. 2025 to Sept. 2028, bringing together a consortium led by .lumen, alongside the Institute of Solid Mechanics of the Romanian Academy (IMSAR), BreadCrumbs Interactive (fleet management software), and Linnify (responsible for the development of the delivery app).

Together, the teams are developing a new generation of humanoid and quadruped robots for urban delivery, designed to navigate autonomously on sidewalks and through crowded areas, offering a sustainable, efficient alternative to traditional delivery fleets.

The goal of the project is to develop an autonomous urban delivery solution, powered by intelligent humanoid and quadruped robots capable of reducing delivery costs and times, minimising environmental impact, and meeting the growing demand for fast, flexible, and sustainable services.

Expected outcomes include a complete software and hardware system for autonomous robots, the creation of three new R&D positions, a family of national and international patents, and copyright protection for AI-based pedestrian navigation software.

By automating last-mile delivery, the project could offer Europe a strategic advantage and transform Romanian DeepTech into a model of sustainable urban logistics.

The post From guiding the blind to delivering goods: Romania’s .lumen expands into urban robotics with €11 million grant appeared first on EU-Startups.

CoMind, a British neurological HealthTech startup, has secured over €85 million in total funding as it scales its neuromonitoring technology that measures critical brain parameters without the need for drilling into the skull.

The company’s most recent round brought in €51 million, led by Plural, with participation from longstanding backers including LocalGlobe, Latitude, Octopus Ventures, Crane, Angelini Ventures, and Lord David Prior. This investment will support the company’s US clinical trials, regulatory approval journey, and manufacturing partnerships, as CoMind prepares to scale globally.

“James is truly a generational Founder and partnering with him and his team has been one of our great privileges as investors. We couldn’t be more excited to continue supporting them as they redefine how the brain is measured, and, ultimately, how it’s treated,” said Julia Hawkins, General Partner at LocalGlobe and Latitude, in a public statement. Hawkins previously appeared in a 2024 episode of the EU-Startups podcast, where CoMind was mentioned among her portfolio companies.

Recent examples of similar funding in this sector include Switzerland’s Rhovica Neuroimaging, which raised €2.5 million to advance an emergency neurosurgical navigation tool; Spain’s Quibim, securing €47.9 million to expand its imaging biomarker and “human digital twin” platform; and the UK’s Neu Health, which closed €1.9 million for its AI-based Parkinson’s and dementia care app. Belgium’s Koios Care also joined the wave with €1 million to enhance passive neurology monitoring through smartphones and wearables.

Compared with these, CoMind’s €51 million round – bringing its total above €85 million – stands out as one of the largest in European neuro-device funding this year, underscoring both investor confidence in non-invasive brain technologies and the UK’s growing role in the continent’s HealthTech innovation landscape.

“CoMind is redefining how the brain is measured, entirely non-invasively, using breakthroughs in photonics, replacing a puncture through the skull,” added Hawkins.

Founded in 2018 by 25-year old James Dacombe, CoMind is aiming to revolutionise how clinicians monitor the brain – entirely non-invasively. Its flagship product, CoMind One, utilises low-power laser light to measure critical brain parameters such as cerebral blood flow and intracranial pressure without the need for drilling into the skull.

The device marks a leap in brain monitoring, especially for use in intensive care units, surgical theatres, and neuro-critical settings.

The company’s leadership team includes Frank Fischer (Chair), a Silicon Valley MedTech Founder, Dr Michael Tarnoff (Board Member), former CEO of Tufts Medical Center, and Professor Marc Bloom (CMO), Chief of Neuroanesthesia at the University of Miami.

In addition, CoMind is advised by clinical experts from Johns Hopkins, Harvard Medical School, and the Cleveland Clinic, lending credibility and depth to its medical ambitions.

The latest round follows a commercial collaboration with GE Healthcare in the US – an early signal of demand from major medical device players. Regulatory approval from the US Food and Drug Administration is expected by 2027.

CoMind’s initial market focus is traumatic brain injury (TBI), a space where current practice still relies on invasive procedures. With the potential to replace these techniques entirely, CoMind One could positively impact millions of patients annually.

The addressable market in neuro-critical care, including surgery and intensive care, reportedly exceeds 50 million patients per year in the US alone.

If Intuitive Surgical made robotic surgery mainstream, CoMind seems poised to do the same for non-invasive brain monitoring. The startup’s first-mover advantage, ability to create high-value medical datasets, and platform scalability are all factors that could propel it into similar territory, with the added benefit of enabling personalised medicine through AI.

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Toulouse-based Certificall, a trusttech company, has closed a €1 million seed round led by TomCat, Groupama, and InsurAngels.

Founded in 2022 by insurtech specialists Guillaume Laurent and Nicolas Chabauty, Certificall provides fast, certified, and cost-efficient visual evidence solutions for insurers, brokers, and large industrial clients.

In France, insurance fraud is estimated at about 5 per cent of P&C premiums, with over €695 million identified in 2023 and rising to €902 million in 2024, according to the French Insurance Fraud Prevention Agency. This is largely due to the increasing use of artificial intelligence tools.

Certificall addresses this issue with a technological architecture designed to guarantee the probative value of each piece of evidence from the moment it is captured. The architecture is based on four complementary pillars: geolocation, a tamper-proof certificate, qualified time stamping, and the eIDAS signature seal.

According to the company, each report takes about 90 seconds on average, and more than 3 million photos have been certified to date.

Guillaume Laurent, president and co-founder, explained:

The increase in fraud in 2021-2022 was just the beginning. Over the past two years, generative AI has become increasingly sophisticated and accessible to everyone. Today, our priority is to block fraud at the source.

As the EU targets 80 per cent adoption of a digital identity wallet by 2030, Certificall positions itself as a trusted third party fully compliant with eIDAS, the European regulation for electronic identification and trust services.

This compliance ensures that every digital proof issued by Certificall is legally valid across the EU, giving companies in document-sensitive sectors a reliable and compliant way to guarantee the integrity of their digital evidence.

The new funding will support further technology development and accelerate commercial expansion in Europe.

Across Europe, more people are choosing to drink less or not at all. Health, clarity, and balance have become priorities, and the rise of the “sober curious” movement is changing how we think about social drinking. Younger generations, in particular, are driving this shift, with many moving away from alcohol entirely; the reason probably lies in favour of mindfulness and well-being.

Personally, I have now gone a full year without drinking. Maybe I had three glasses of wine along the way on super special occasions, but that’s about it. What started as a personal experiment became a habit, and I’m far from alone; some friends joined, some judged, and many applauded the decision. The shift away from alcohol is no longer a quiet lifestyle; it’s becoming a broader cultural movement that values well-being, self-control, and connection without the hangover.

And, of course, there’s no shift without evolution. Throughout this journey, I’ve seen many traditional brands adapt to these changes and launch their own non-alcoholic beverages to continue serving people like me, because one thing is clear: we might not be drinking, but we’re still showing up at the bar.

For this article, I wanted to highlight 10 European startups reshaping what it means to raise a glass. These companies are crafting refined, flavourful, and modern non-alcoholic drinks that rival their traditional counterparts. Cheers to it!

Founded in 2021, Bemuse is a London-based company reimagining mead for modern tastes through its range of non-alcoholic sparkling honey wines. Crafted with natural, sustainably sourced ingredients, Bemuse combines the complexity of traditional mead with the lightness of a contemporary sparkling drink. Each variety, including Pomona Ginger & Cardamom Brut, Fiora Wild Raspberry Rosé, and Origo Original Brut, is low in sugar, low in calories, and gluten-free. Produced and canned in the UK, Bemuse offers an elegant alternative for those seeking a dry, refreshing beverage that pairs well with food or cocktails.

Inspired by the vital role of bees in biodiversity, Bemuse aims to promote sustainability and environmental awareness through its products and initiatives such as Pollinator Trails. The brand has received multiple awards and critical acclaim from publications. With €369K in funding, Bemuse continues to grow its presence across Europe, bringing a naturally inspired, alcohol-free fizz to the table.

Founded in 2024, Bolle Drinks offers non-alcoholic sparkling wines made using natural flavours and aromas. Based in London, the company employs an advanced de-alcoholisation process that maintains the sensory qualities of traditional sparkling wine while providing a healthier option for mindful consumers.

Bolle’s exceptional quality has earned its place at some of the world’s most prestigious establishments, including The Fat Duck, A. Wong, and the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection. The company’s focus on craftsmanship and sensory precision has positioned it as a leader in the emerging alcohol-free sparkling wine market. With its wines now served at Michelin-starred restaurants across Europe and the United States, Bolle continues to redefine luxury drinking experiences for the modern era.

Founded in 2020, French Bloom is a Paris-based company producing premium, alcohol-free sparkling wines that blend French craftsmanship with a focus on wellness. Created by friends Maggie Frerejean-Taittinger and Constance Jablonski, the brand was born from their shared desire to offer sophisticated, celebratory drinks for every occasion. Crafted from organic Chardonnay wines that are dealcoholised to 0.0% alcohol, French Bloom’s cuvées combine natural and organic ingredients, including lemon, and are free from added sugar and sulphites.

French Bloom’s award-winning range includes Le Blanc, Le Rosé, L’Extra Brut, and La Cuvée Vintage 2022, each reflecting the brand’s dedication to quality and French savoir-faire. With €8 million in funding, the company has gained international recognition, earning multiple titles at the World Sparkling Wine Awards, including “World’s Best Non-Alcoholic Sparkling Wine.” French Bloom continues to redefine the art of conviviality, offering a fresh, elegant alternative that celebrates inclusivity and the modern French lifestyle.

Founded in 2020, JNPR Spirits is a Normandy-based company developing alcohol-free drinks inspired by classic gins and cocktails. Created by Valérie de Sutter after a trip to the United States, the idea was to craft refined, sugar-free alternatives that celebrate flavour, craftsmanship, and choice. Partnering with bartender Flavio Angiolillo, she aimed to create complex, aromatic spirits that stand proudly alongside their alcoholic counterparts. The company’s name comes from juniper berries, gin’s signature ingredient, and JNPR has planted over 500 juniper shrubs in Normandy to promote biodiversity and secure its future supply.

Produced in small batches using a copper Charentais still, JNPR’s alcohol-free spirits combine traditional distillation methods with modern innovation. The result is a collection of sugar-free, vegan, and gluten-free beverages known for their depth and balance. Having raised €1.1 million, JNPR has become one of France’s leading brands in the 0.0% spirits category, recognised by Gault & Millau, Le Figaro Magazine, and Forbes for redefining the apéritif experience.

Founded in 2021, Mahala Botanical is a London-headquartered company producing non-alcoholic, triple-distilled spirits made with nine hand-sourced botanicals. Created by South African Master Distiller Danielle Schoeman, Mahala was born from her experiments at the Dona craft distillery in the Western Cape, where she developed a vacuum infusion process that preserves rich, natural flavours. The name “Mahala,” meaning “free” in Zulu slang, reflects the brand’s ethos — free from sugar, alcohol, colourants, and artificial flavours, while also being vegan and gluten-free.

Distilled in custom-built stills, Mahala’s range includes the award-winning Mahala Botanical Classic and the smoky, oak-infused Mahala Botanical Amber. The brand has earned international recognition, winning top prizes at the Michelangelo International Wine & Spirits Awards, the World Alcohol-Free Awards, and the Great Taste Awards. With €172K in funding, Mahala continues to expand its presence across Europe, offering consumers a sophisticated, all-natural alternative to traditional spirits.

Founded in 2020, NietsCo is a Brussels-based company crafting premium alcohol-free alternatives to traditional spirits. The brand combines innovation with authenticity, producing triple-distilled beverages that retain the depth and balance of their alcoholic counterparts. Its portfolio includes Botaniets, a 0.0% London-style spirit, Havaniets, a barrel-aged dark spirit made from sugarcane molasses and aged in oak barrels, and Aperiniets, a modern Italian-style aperitivo made with Sicilian oranges and aromatic herbs.

Positioned at the intersection of tradition and innovation, NietsCo has earned multiple international awards, including recognition from the IWSC in New York and Bartender London. The company has raised €1.94 million to expand its portfolio and strengthen its footprint across Europe. With its focus on craftsmanship, low-calorie recipes, and sophisticated flavours, NietsCo is redefining the art of alcohol-free distillation for a new generation of mindful drinkers.

Established in 2020, REBELS 0.0% is a Zurich-based company producing award-winning, alcohol-free spirits that celebrate freedom of choice. Handmade in Switzerland, its collection includes innovative alternatives such as Botanical Dry, Dolce Spritz, Sweet Amaretti, Malt Blend, Dark Spice, and Rosso. Each beverage is crafted from natural botanicals and double-distilled to preserve the depth, aroma, and complexity found in traditional spirits, offering a sophisticated drinking experience without alcohol or compromise.

Having raised €2.98 million, REBELS 0.0% has become one of Switzerland’s leading voices in the alcohol-free movement. The brand’s mission is to challenge conventional drinking norms and create inclusivity through mindful consumption. With multiple international awards and collaborations with top bartenders, REBELS 0.0% continues to expand across Europe, inviting consumers to join what it calls the “Cheers Revolution.”

Founded in 2020, Edinburgh-based Talonmore Drinks is a family-owned company creating alcohol-free spirits inspired by Scotland’s natural surroundings and festival culture. Its signature product is a fiery, ginger-infused blend crafted from rooted and plant-based ingredients to replicate the depth and warmth of traditional spirits. Talonmore is vegan, gluten-free, caffeine-free, and produced at a SALSA-certified site, offering a complex and versatile base for cocktails or a bold serve on the rocks.

Recognised by both Good Housekeeping and Men’s Health as the number one non-alcoholic spirit in blind taste tests, Talonmore has gained attention for its balance of spice, malt, and sweetness. With €88K in funding, the company continues to expand its partnerships and product range while promoting mindful drinking through natural ingredients and refined flavour.

Founded in 2021, Thrive is a Ghent-based company producing alcohol-free beers designed for active lifestyles. Developed in collaboration with scientists from KU Leuven University, Thrive combines brewing tradition with sports nutrition to create functional beers enriched with protein, vitamins, and magnesium. Each variant is crafted from natural ingredients to support recovery, health, and relaxation while maintaining the full flavour of traditional beer.

With €1 million in funding, Thrive has already sold more than three million beers and earned the endorsement of world-class athletes such as Ironman World Champion Jan Frodeno and Belgian climber Chloé Caulier. Brewed in Belgium and praised for its refreshing, citrusy taste, Thrive continues to bridge the gap between wellness and enjoyment, proving that beer can be both rewarding and good for you.

Founded in 2024, zerolabs is a Munich-based company redefining non-alcoholic beer through craftsmanship, technology, and a commitment to purity. Brewed in partnership with a historic Bavarian brewery, zerolabs produces sugar-free, low-calorie beers made only from water, barley, hops, and yeast. Its two varieties, Unfiltered 0.0 and Future Pilsner, follow the German Purity Law and use vacuum distillation to achieve a true 0.0% alcohol content without compromising flavour or aroma. Both are crafted using Hallertau hops, locally sourced barley malt, and spring water from Bavaria.

The company’s approach combines centuries-old brewing expertise with cutting-edge techniques, resulting in a full-bodied, refreshing taste that rivals traditional beer. Brewed over a six-week process for maximum quality, they prioritise transparency and sustainability, offering products that are entirely natural and free from artificial additives. With a growing community of mindful drinkers, the brand is quickly gaining recognition across Europe as a benchmark for next-generation alcohol-free brewing.

By the way: If you’re a corporate or investor looking for exciting startups in a specific market for a potential investment or acquisition, check out our Startup Sourcing Service!

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Copenhagen-based Jabbr.ai, an AI analytics innovator for combat sports, has announced a €4.3 million Seed round to accelerate their mission of becoming the ‘de facto’ OS for combat sports – bringing Silicon Valley-grade AI to an industry “still reliant on 1980s tech“.

The round led by Buckley Ventures, the fund of Josh Buckley, with participation from Seven Seven Six, the fund by Alexis Ohanian (Reddit), John Zimmer (Lyft), and Olympic gold medalist Andre Ward, alongside early backers like PSV Tech.

“Jabbr is basically a plug-and-play streaming and transparent live-scoring solution for combat sports. We let users record and live-stream all their fights and sparring, complete with highlights, stats, AI live scoring, and overlay graphics. It’s like a professional TV production, except better and at a 100x cost reduction,” said Allan Svejstrup, CEO.

Jabbr’s Seed round places it within a broader 2025 trend of European startups combining AI, computer vision, and sports technology.

Across the continent, funding rounds of similar scale have emerged – such as ReSpo.Vision’s €4.2 million to enhance football tracking and ScorePlay’s €12.5 million Series A for AI-driven media automation.

Smaller but notable raises include SponsWatch’s €1 million Seed in Sweden for AI-based sponsorship analytics, Sports Impact Technologies’ €650k pre-Seed in Ireland for impact detection wearables, and Model Health’s €800k pre-Seed in Belgium for video-based movement analysis.

Together, these rounds indicate steady investor confidence in AI-powered sports analytics and media automationacross Europe. While most focus on football, general sports performance, or content management, Jabbr distinguishes itself by targeting the combat sports segment, merging automated video production, real-time scoring, and analytics into one platform.

With backing from Silicon Valley and sports-industry investors, the company’s position reflects both technological maturity and recognition of an underserved market within sports tech.

Alexis Ohanian, Reddit Co-founder and Founder of VC firm Seven Seven Six, has seeded AI pioneers like Flock Safety and with founding control owner of Angel City FC, the most valuable women’s soccer team in the US adds: “I back Founders who break old systems. Jabbr isn’t just disrupting – it’s rebuilding the sweet science from the ground up.”

Founded in 2022, Jabbr is an AI startup building the future of combat sports. After years of R&D, Jabbr built the world’s first computer vision AI dedicated to combat sports: DeepStrike.

DeepStrike tracks every punch, block, and movement in realtime to deliver automated highlights, accurate analytics and transparent judging to the world. Since its public release Deepstrike has been trusted on the world’s largest stage, debuting its signature stats and highlights to millions on DAZN and TNT Sports. ​

EU-Startups previously covered Jabbr’s €685k Seed funding in 2023.

Lyft co-founder John Zimmer, who has long championed tech that increases access to opportunity, adds: “This is bigger than stats and video. It’s leveling the playing field, increasing accountability and giving fighters all over the world a fair shot.”

While other successful startups like VEO changed football by giving every club and team access to pro-grade video streaming and analytics, Jabbr targets combat sports’ €1.7 billion analytics and content creation gap. Their proprietary computer vision AI watches the fight like a coach, scores it like a judge, and produces it like a broadcast crew, automating streaming, highlights, stats, scoring, and overlays in real time.

Josh Buckley, whose early bets include Applied Intuition and AI safety pioneer Flock Safety, foresees how Jabbr: “seamlessly integrates hardware, software, and AI to create a new category experience for combat sports. Much like how Twitch unlocked a community-driven revolution in gaming, Jabbr’s platform can redefine how fighters, trainers, and fans connect and engage.”​

The funding round positions Jabbr at the intersection of Silicon Valley’s tech elite and combat sports royalty, and follows a series of viral moments where Jabbr’s tech and stats surfaced after controversial bouts, racking up millions of views and fueling global debate on judging fairness.

“Jabbr is like Plaid for combat sports, their hardware and API will power everything from automated broadcasts to betting. We’re backing the category king,” says Christian Dalsgaard, who first recognised Jabbr’s potential when their very first AI-generated fight metric tech demo went viral during late 2022.

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Leuven-based AI Planet, a DeepTech company specialising in enterprise Generative AI and Agentic AI platforms, today announced a strategic joint venture with InfoDrive Analytics who is also backing the move with a €2.5 million investment.

The move will establish an AI and digital transformation powerhouse in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Chanukya Patnaik, Founder & CEO of AI Planet, said: “The Middle East is at a defining moment in its digital and AI evolution. The region has consistently leapfrogged traditional transformation cycles through bold investments in innovation and AI will be the next major leap.

“Through this joint venture, we want to empower​ enterprises and governments to harness AI to transform sectors like manufacturing, healthcare, and financial services among others, making AI a true force for progress across the region.”

In Belgium, several startups have recently raised capital to advance AI-driven and agentic technologies.

For instance, Bizzy secured €4 million to expand its AI sales agent platform across Europe, while Eagl raised €825,000 to automate finance operations through AI agents. Another Ghent-based startup, Dalton, obtained €1 million in pre-Seed funding to develop its AI-powered optimisation engine for websites.

Across Europe, funding continues to support both application-layer and infrastructure-layer innovation. For example, Italy’s Lexroom raised €16.2 million to expand its Generative AI legal platform internationally, while Berlin-based Peec AI attracted €7 million for its “Generative Engine Optimisation” product. At the infrastructure level, DataCrunch in Finland raised €55 million to scale GPU and cloud resources across Europe.

Within this context, AI Planet’s €2.5 million UAE expansion aligns with Belgium’s broader push in enterprise and agentic AI, representing a mid-range yet strategically significant investment. It also highlights how European AI startups are increasingly coupling domestic R&D strength with international growth initiatives, particularly in high-demand regions such as the Middle East.

The official signing took place at GITEX Global’s MOU room in the presence of the Ambassador of Belgium & Flanders Investment & Trade team, marking a significant milestone in expanding AI innovation across the Middle East.

On the MOU signing Rino Sabatino, Group Chairman of InfoDrive Analytics and Vardan Global Group added: “We’re excited to partner with AI Planet to build the next chapter of digital innovation. The Middle East and more specifically the UAE’s – momentum in AI is extraordinary, driven by visionary leadership and strong government investment. Together, we’ll bring world-class expertise to help organisations and public institutions accelerate AI adoption, drive operational efficiency, and unlock new opportunities for growth.”

Founded in 2020, AI Planet is a DeepTech Generative AI and Agentic AI platform that enables enterprises to build, deploy, and scale autonomous AI solutions securely. With a strong footprint across manufacturing, finance, education, and public sectors.

Earlier this year, AI Planet built LuxLLama, the first of its kind LLM developed to preserve the culture and history of Luxembourgish language. The project was undertaken with support from Luxembourg’s sovereign cloud and a government innovation grant, marking a national milestone in linguistic AI innovation.

This JV marks AI Planet’s first official presence in the UAE, beyond its established entities in Belgium, Luxembourg, and India, reinforcing its commitment to building global AI ecosystems that enable large-scale digital transformation.

The JV will serve as AI Planet’s regional base in Dubai, focusing on enabling governments and large enterprises in their AI and digital transformation journeys. The investment will be directed toward accelerating market development efforts, strengthening customer acquisition strategies, setting up operations, and hiring regional talent.

In addition, the focus will be on building industry-specific Agentic AI solutions powered by AI Planet’s proprietary platform.

The partnership combines AI Planet’s deep expertise in enterprise-grade AI orchestration with InfoDrive Analytics regional reach and business acumen, setting the stage for scalable impact in enterprise and government ecosystems.

EU-Startups previously covered AI Planet (formerly DPhi) in 2022 when it raised €300k to develop a global community-based AI marketplace.

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