Helsinki-based e-mobility tech company Donut Lab has raised €25 million in Seed funding. Donut Lab provides all the components needed to build an electric vehicle and makes them available to operators in all industries. 

The Donut Platform offers a high-quality range of inter-compatible components to make electric vehicle manufacturing both quick and economical. The modular platform encompasses essential components, including battery modules, computer units, and vehicle control software, with additional features to be introduced by the international R&D team in 2025.

The Donut Motor is the world’s first-ever in-wheel motor that combines maximum torque and power density with a lightweight design, eliminating the need for traditional drivetrain components. 

The systems are designed for versatile use across land, sea and air vehicles, serving automotive, aerospace, robotics, marine, and defence sectors.

Check out our interview this week with Michael Waksman, CEO of Donut Defence, a spin out of Donut Lab.

The funding follows the company’s launch of its five-motor line-up and new international senior appointments, bringing further breadth to the executive board and broader team. 

Serial tech investor Risto Siilasmaa joins the Board of Directors, having previously served as Chairman of Nokia and established several tech companies including successful cybersecurity firms WithSecure and F-Secure.  

International engineering and commercial teams have been bolstered with new appointments, including Neil Patterson, VP of Engineering Programmes (formerly of McLaren, Lotus and Aston Martin) and Craig Williams, VP of Business Development (formerly of BMW and Rivian) and others.

An R&D facility has been established in the UK in Chippenham, Kent.

The company can now confirm more than ten commercial contracts with OEMs across a range of industries have been signed, for full stack EV integration through adopting Donut Lab motor and platform technologies.

According to Marko Lehtimaki, CEO, the continued growth in demand, international expansion and interest from customers, investors and new recruits alike “demonstrates to us founders what we have always believed, that our tech solution is truly groundbreaking. “

“The performance, robustness, versatility and relative low cost of entry of our products really is a winning formula.

I cannot wait to showcase the latest applications and introduce new business divisions and partners of our growing group in the coming weeks and months.”

Biotech Booster, a Dutch valorisation programme that accelerates biotechnological innovations from idea to an investable proposal, was awarded €196.4 million from the National Growth Fund.

With this award, the previously conditional funding is final and the continuity of the programme is guaranteed until 2032. Partners include Oncode Accelerator, RegMed XB, NXTGEN Hightech, Hollandbio, DSM Firmenich and J&J.

Nettie Buitelaar, CEO of Biotech Booster said (translated): “We are very proud and happy with the award of this second tranche. This is not only a recognition of the hard work of all those involved and partners from the Dutch Biotech sector, but also an important signal that the government endorses the strategic value of biotechnology for the Netherlands. This impulse allows us to strengthen the international position of our sector.

“Investments like this are essential to bring innovations to society faster, create new business and develop solutions to major health, food supply and sustainability challenges. We look forward to further developing the programme in the coming years and supporting many more researchers and entrepreneurs in marketing their innovations.”

Founded in 2022, Biotech Booster is a national programme funded by the Dutch National Growth Fund that supports the commercialisation of biotechnological findings in the Netherlands.

Biotech Booster offers financial support, mentoring and networking opportunities to guide scientists and entrepreneurs from the idea phase to an investable or commercial proposal. The goal is to ensure that the benefits of biotechnology have a greater and faster impact on society.

In addition, Biotech Booster facilitates close collaborations between public and private partners in the biotechnology sector and has established five thematic clusters according to biotechnological focus areas:

• White: Industrial Biotechnology & Production (TC 1)
• Green: AgroFood Biotechnology (TC 2)
• Red: Human Health, Diagnostics, Therapies (TC 3, 4 & 5).

The second tranche is part of the total subsidy of €246 million that was reserved by the National Growth Fund in 2022. The award follows a positive evaluation of the first phase in which Biotech Booster successfully showed how the BioTech programme helps researchers and entrepreneurs to bring biotechnological innovations to market faster through financial resources, mentoring and network.

From the development of new medicines, to water purification by mushroom fungi to more sustainable agriculture through biodegradable seed coatings: the programme aims to support a wide range of BioTech innovations in their development to the market.

The plan for the Biotech Booster programme was submitted in 2021 by a coalition of umbrella organisations of Dutch knowledge institutions, Hollandbio, DSM Firmenich and J&J, and arose from the need to structurally improve the valorisation of biotechnological knowledge in the Netherlands.

In an international context, the Biotech Booster programme highlights that the Netherlands leads in biotechnology publications and patents. However, the translation and commercialisation of these innovations into market-ready applications is relatively lagging behind.

Minister Bruins, Ministry of Education, Culture and Science: “Better care, a healthier living environment or smart innovations for a better climate. We’ve seen before that Biotech Booster really works. Biotechnological inventions can really improve everyday life. Moreover, this type of research strengthens our science and economy. The knife cuts on two sides. I therefore think it’s really good that we can go through with this money from the Growth Fund.”

With the now final funding, Biotech Booster can further intensify its activities. The programme supports BioTech researchers and entrepreneurs in forming a business plan and bridging the so-called ‘valley of death’, the journey from promising discovery to application. This is done through mentoring, financial resources and a national ecosystem in which knowledge institutions, companies and industry partners work together.

Industry and academy are brought together at an early stage to ensure that scientific knowledge is translated into social application as quickly as possible.

So far, a total of 71 projects have been admitted to the programme, 54 of which are in the first round in 2024, and 17 in the second round this year. Biotech Booster is currently preparing the new round of 2026, in which a new batch of entrepreneurial researchers can join the programme.

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Plasmacure, a Nijmegen-based MedTech innovator and developer of the PLASOMA cold plasma system for complex wound treatment, today announced a €6 million Series A investment to scale globally and advance the adoption of PLASOMA as a next-generation solution for complex wounds, including diabetic foot ulcers, venous leg ulcers, and pressure ulcers.

The round saw participation from a strategic consortium led by U.S.-based Venture Medical, LLC. Venture Medical will also finance the regulatory and reimbursement pathways in the U.S. market, an effort expected to exceed €8.5 million. The funding consortium also includes Coöperatie VGZ, Noaber, and Stichting Triade, alongside existing shareholders EIC Fund and Oost NL.

“We are deeply motivated by the needs of the millions living with hard-to-heal wounds,” said Bjorn Sprengers, CEO of Plasmacure. “With this investment and our new strategic partners, we are in a strong position to bring PLASOMA to more patients worldwide. Our vision is to transform wound care; to improve outcomes and to give patients back their mobility, dignity, and freedom. With PLASOMA, we aim to set a new global standard in the treatment of complex wounds.”

Founded in 2014, Plasmacure B.V. looks to lead the shift from conventional chronic wound management to high-impact technological solutions. Its flagship product, PLASOMA, applies cold plasma to accelerate healing in complex wounds, reportedly demonstrating up to 2.5 times greater effectiveness than standard care.

Cold plasma is created by energising gas molecules, producing a highly effective antimicrobial agent capable of eliminating even antibiotic-resistant bacteria. It also stimulates blood flow and cell regeneration.

The PLASOMA pulser delivers controlled electric pulses to a disposable pad, generating cold plasma directly in the wound. According to the company, this initiates multiple healing mechanisms, accelerating recovery and reducing the burden of chronic wounds.

“We see PLASOMA as a transformative technology that redefines what’s possible in wound healing. By investing in Plasmacure and supporting its U.S. rollout, we are enabling clinicians to offer next generation care that is both innovative and accessible,” said John Schroeder, CEO of Venture Medical.

As global populations age and the prevalence of diabetes continues to rise, an estimated 5% of elderly individuals suffer from complex wounds; conditions that severely impact quality of life and often lead to amputation. Standard treatment approaches show limited effectiveness, contributing to wound chronicity and accounting for an estimated 2–4% of total healthcare expenditure – as per data provided by Plasmacure.

In a recent randomised controlled trial, PLASOMA demonstrated the ability to close up to 2.5 times more complex wounds than the current standard of care, according to the company.

Martijn Kers, Director of Healthcare Policy and Innovation at Coöperatie VGZ, added: “At VGZ, we are committed to meaningful care: care that demonstrably works and improves the quality of life for our members. Plasmacure is a prime example of this. Last year, we nominated Plasmacure for the VGZ Award: Healthcare Innovator of the Future, an initiative that recognises and encourages promising healthcare startups. We see great potential in PLASOMA to significantly improve care for people with chronic wounds.”

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Munich-based robotic startup Filics has closed €13.5 million to expand product development and the robotics platform, as well as to internationalise the business model.

Filics is a technology company that focuses on flat transport robots. It develops robots that can safely move weights of up to 1.2 tons, encompassing all standard weights, in intralogistics. The robots also operate autonomously and can flexibly drive under a wide variety of load carriers.

The “Filics Unit” is the first product and consists of two omnidirectional robots that have been specially developed for handling Euro pallets. The system moves autonomously through the warehouse, travelling under pallets and transporting them, thereby minimising the space required for manoeuvring. 

Gregor Kolls, co-founder and CEO of Filics, said:

With the new financing round, we are taking the next big step in our growth strategy. Thanks to the strong support, we can further optimise and scale the technology. The trust of our investors is both a tailwind and an obligation.

The technology enables space savings of up to 30 per cent and addresses key challenges in the logistics sector, including space constraints, capacity bottlenecks, and a shortage of skilled workers. The Filics Unit is the first solution in the world that can completely drive under and through pallets and load, carriers standing on the floor, allowing it to transport load carriers behind them.

The new investors include Sandwater, Alven, F-Log Ventures, and the Amazon Industrial Innovation Fund, alongside Bayern Kapital, business angels Andrei Danescu (founder and CEO of Dexory) and Helmut Schmid (CCO of Filics and former CEO of Agilox), and with continued participation from Capnamic and 10x Founders. 

According to Franziska Bossart, Head of the Amazon Industrial Innovation Fund, the company is continuously evolving and exploring innovative ways to use space, personnel, and energy more efficiently, which ultimately benefits both employees and customers. She shared: 

We are excited about Filics’ innovative approach to advancing the logistics industry by exploring significant space savings with more flexible and scalable automation.

Morten E. Iversen, partner at Sandwater, said that Filics technology offers not only substantial space efficiency but also a flexible, scalable path to the automation of warehouses: 

For Sandwater, it represents a transformative solution that can redefine warehouse operations—reducing space needs, boosting productivity, and achieving a smaller footprint through a smart hardware/software combination. "We have been truly impressed by the team.

The Filics Unit will be further developed for use in floor block warehouses by the end of 2025, enabling up to 66 per cent space savings to be achieved. In the medium term, the company plans to develop the technology further to enable fully autonomous truck loading in under five minutes.

Helmut Schmid, CCO at Filics, shared: 

Our goal is to redefine pallet handling and transform the logistics industry with comprehensive automation solutions. The strong demand for our technology confirms that we have hit the nerve of the times with our solution.

Lead image: The Filics’ management team: Julius Lutzer (CPO), Markus Weber (CTO), Gregor Kolls (CEO), Seyed Behbahani (Chief of Staff), Helmut Schmid (CCO) | Photo: Filics

Pimloc, an AI video privacy and analytics company, has raised €4.2 million to accelerate its global expansion as demand surges for privacy-first video and data intelligence.

The strategic investment was led by Amadeus Capital Partners and Edge Ventures with Zetta Venture Partners, MD One, and Symvan Capital.

“This is a pivotal moment for Pimloc,” said Simon Randall, CEO of Pimloc. “We’re scaling rapidly into new sectors, regions, and multimodal workflows, and this investment is a strong endorsement of the platform we’ve built and the category we’re defining. Each investor brings strategic insight – whether in AI, industry-specific domains, or international expansion – that goes well beyond capital. Their backing strengthens our ability to grow thoughtfully, unlock new high-impact use cases, and deliver the infrastructure the world needs for privacy-first AI.”

Founded in 2017, Pimloc’s multimedia AI redaction, privacy and intelligence platform aims to unlock commercial and societal value from large-scale video, audio and text – all while “protecting people’s freedoms“.

Secure Redact, a proprietary DeepTech AI platform developed by Pimloc’s specialist in-house AI and systems engineering teams, has been built for real-world multi-modal data – including​ CCTV, Body-Worn Cameras and Dash Cameras. Delivered directly through SaaS and APIs – and through specialist platform ecosystem partners.

“As AI matures, trust, control, and accountability become paramount,” said Nick Kingsbury, Partner at Amadeus Capital Partners. “Pimloc has built a platform that’s both technically sophisticated and commercially proven, with strong momentum across sectors and regions. We’re excited to back their global growth as Secure Redact becomes foundational infrastructure for privacy-first video intelligence.”

Video is now the dominant – and most sensitive – form of data, and organisations must navigate increasingly complex demands around its transparency, compliance, and security.

The global surveillance market reached €62.9  billion in 2024, with video analytics projected to grow to €80.6 billion by 2034. In the U.S., FOIA requests hit a record 1.5 million last year, while across Europe, rising cybersecurity concerns are intensifying scrutiny over how visual data is captured, stored, and shared.

Pimloc is scaling to meet that demand, with over 120% year-on-year growth in adoption of its Secure Redact SaaS platform, which leverages AI to automatically detect and anonymise sensitive content in video, audio, screens, and imagery.

Secure Redact is reportedly already trusted across law enforcement, healthcare, education, insurance, transport, and retail sectors via SaaS, APIs and private cloud deployments, to meet rising privacy, transparency, and compliance demands at scale. Built entirely in-house, the platform has already anonymised nearly half a billion instances of personally identifiable information (PII).

That trust is also fueling a solid channel partner network, with strong integrations already in place with Microsoft, Eagle Eye Networks, Milestone Systems, Rhombus Systems and more.

“Edge Investments is very pleased to co-lead Pimloc’s latest investment round as the company enters a pivotal phase of global expansion,” said Hugo Sunnucks, Investment Manager at Edge Investments. “Under Simon Randall’s leadership, Pimloc has built an outstanding platform that enables large-scale, highly accurate video redaction, a capability that is becoming increasingly vital across a wide variety of sectors. Their pace of innovation, combined with a clear and urgent mission, is transforming how organisations handle sensitive visual data in a privacy-first world.”

In one deployment, an infrastructure organisation used Secure Redact to process more than 1 million images, transforming how they meet internal privacy​ protocols. In another, users reportedly cut redaction time from over 8 hours to just 30 minutes, accelerating compliance in modern, high-volume video workflows.

Recent enhancements, like intelligent screen redaction, highlight Pimloc’s continued investment in expanding the platform’s real-world capabilities in lockstep with customer needs.

The company will scale its presence across privacy-critical sectors – from healthcare and public safety to insurance, education, and transportation – while deepening ecosystem integrations and advancing into high-growth use cases such as screen redaction, creative content compliance, and fintech workflows.

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Munich-based robotics company Filics, developer of innovative solutions for autonomous load carrier handling, today announced the successful completion of its €13.5 million financing round to expand product development and the robotics platform, as well as to internationalise the business model.

The new investors include Sandwater, Alven, F-LOG Ventures, and the Amazon Industrial Innovation Fund, alongside Bayern Kapital, business angels Andrei Danescu (Founder and CEO of Dexory) and Helmut Schmid (CCO of Filics and former CEO of Agilox), and with continued participation from Capnamic and 10x Founders.

“With the new financing round, we are taking the next big step in our growth strategy. Thanks to the strong support, we can further optimise and scale the technology. The trust of our investors is both a tailwind and an obligation,” declares Gregor Kolls, Co-founder and CEO of Filics.

Founded in 2019, Filics is a technology company that focuses on flat transport robots. It develops robots that can reportedly safely move weights of up to 1.2 tons, encompassing all standard weights, in intralogistics. The robots also operate autonomously and can flexibly drive under a wide variety of load carriers.

The Founders started at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) and have been developing the technology since 2021, with early-stage support from backers, such as Dr. Klaus Dieter Rosenbach, former Chief Technology Officer of Jungheinrich AG, Alexander Glasmacher of ELOKON , Arnold Vetter of Vetter Industries, Navid Thielemann and Christian Flick of ThielemannGroup as well as the ProGlove Founders with their investment vehicle OMA Business Angels.

The technology is being tested by companies such as Bosch GmbH, the DHL Group and the Nagel Group. The first industrial applications have already begun.

“Our business continues to evolve at a rapid pace and we are constantly exploring innovative ways to use space, personnel, and energy more efficiently, which ultimately benefits our employees and customers,” said Franziska Bossart, Head of the Amazon Industrial Innovation Fund. “We are excited about Filics’ innovative approach to advancing the logistics industry by exploring significant space savings with more flexible and scalable automation.”

The “Filics Unit” is their first product and consists of two omnidirectional robots that have been specially developed for handling Euro pallets. The system moves autonomously through the warehouse, traveling under pallets and transporting them, minimising the space required for maneuvering. The technology reportedly enables space savings of up to 30% and addresses key challenges in the logistics sector, including space constraints, capacity bottlenecks, and a shortage of skilled workers.

The Filics Unit is the first solution in the world that can completely drive under and through pallets and load carriers standing on the floor, allowing it to transport load carriers behind them.

Filics plans to make the Filics Unit available for floor block storage systems by the end of 2025 and to prepare for market entry in other European markets in 2026.

“The Filics technology offers not only substantial space efficiency but also a flexible, scalable path to automation of warehouses. For Sandwater, this represents a solution that can truly revolutionise how warehouses are run, requiring less building space, providing increased productivity and a smaller footprint form a genious neat hardware/software combo. We have been truly impressed by the team,” says Morten E. Iversen, partner at Sandwater.

The Filics Unit will be further developed for use in floor block warehouses by the end of 2025, enabling up to 66% space savings to be achieved. In the medium term, the company plans to develop the technology further to enable fully autonomous truck loading in under five minutes.

“Our goal is to redefine pallet handling and transform the logistics industry with comprehensive automation solutions. The strong demand for our technology confirms, that we have hit the nerve of the times with our solution,“, says Helmut Schmid, CCO at Filics.

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London-based Pimloc has secured $5 million in strategic investment to accelerate global expansion. 

As the most widely used and sensitive form of data today, video is pushing organisations to meet increasingly complex demands for transparency, compliance, and security. With the global surveillance market valued at $73.8 billion in 2024 and video analytics expected to reach $94.6 billion by 2034, the pressure is mounting. In Europe, growing cybersecurity concerns are placing a tighter focus on how visual data is collected, stored, and shared.

To meet this growing demand, Pimloc is rapidly scaling, driven by over 120 per cent year-on-year growth in adoption of its Secure Redact SaaS platform.

The solution uses AI to automatically detect and anonymise sensitive content across video, audio, screens, and imagery, helping organisations stay ahead of tightening compliance and security expectations.

Simon Randall, CEO of Pimloc, shared: 

This is a pivotal moment for Pimloc. We’re scaling rapidly into new sectors, regions, and multimodal workflows, and this investment is a strong endorsement of the platform we’ve built and the category we’re defining. Each investor brings strategic insight – whether in AI, industry-specific domains, or international expansion – that goes well beyond capital. Their backing strengthens our ability to grow thoughtfully, unlock new high-impact use cases, and deliver the infrastructure the world needs for privacy-first AI.

Secure Redact is already trusted across sectors, including law enforcement, healthcare, education, insurance, transport, and retail. It is deployed via SaaS, APIs, and private cloud to help organisations meet rising demands for privacy, transparency, and compliance at scale.

Built entirely in-house, the platform has already anonymised nearly half a billion instances of personally identifiable information (PII).

This trust is driving the growth of Pimloc’s channel partner network, with established integrations across major platforms such as Microsoft, Eagle Eye Networks, Milestone Systems, and Rhombus Systems. 

To support this next phase of growth, Pimloc secured backing from Amadeus Capital Partners and Edge Ventures, with participation from Zetta Venture Partners, MD One, and Symvan Capital.

Together, these investors bring extensive expertise across AI, cybersecurity, national infrastructure, and emerging sectors such as fintech and content compliance, strengthening Pimloc’s mission to set the global benchmark for privacy-first intelligence wherever sensitive data is captured, processed, and shared.

Nick Kingsbury, Partner at Amadeus Capital Partners, shared: 

As AI matures, trust, control, and accountability become paramount. Pimloc has built a platform that’s both technically sophisticated and commercially proven, with strong momentum across sectors and regions. We’re excited to back their global growth as Secure Redact becomes foundational infrastructure for privacy-first video intelligence.

According to Hugo Sunnucks, Investment Manager at Edge Investments, the company is proud to co-lead Pimloc’s latest funding round as the company embarks on a critical phase of global growth. He added: 

Under Simon Randall’s leadership, Pimloc has built an outstanding platform that enables large-scale, highly accurate video redaction, a capability that is becoming increasingly vital across a wide variety of sectors. Their pace of innovation, combined with a clear and urgent mission, is transforming how organisations handle sensitive visual data in a privacy-first world.

Driven by growing global demand and the support of mission-aligned investors, Pimloc is poised for its next phase of commercial growth. 

The company plans to expand across privacy-sensitive sectors, including healthcare, public safety, insurance, education, and transportation, while strengthening its ecosystem partnerships and accelerating adoption in high-growth areas like screen redaction, creative content compliance, and fintech workflows.

Lead image: Pimloc | Photo: Uncredited

18 months after its launch, Keenest, a French climate-focused investment club, has reached an important milestone: more than €5 million has been invested in impact startups to accelerate the transition to a carbon-free economy.

Jérémie Sicsic, CEO of Keenest said (translated): “Individual savings are a considerable lever for financing the sustainable economy. By investing directly in impact projects, every citizen becomes a driving force for transition, while participating in the creation of a greener, more resilient and more sovereign economy.”

Keenest is a platform for financing climate technologies created in 2023 by Jérémie Sicsic and Renan Labrunie, with the support of Mehdi Coly, CEO of Team for the Planet. Originally launched with 300 investors, Keenest now has 3,500 members. The club says their community is mainly made up of individuals who want to give meaning to their savings.

Sicsic is a serial entrepreneur. At 36, the former EM Lyon student has created several companies, ranging from tutored online training (Unow) to an employee engagement measurement platform (Briq). The latter was acquired in 2020 by Swile, which subsequently became a French unicorn.

With investment projects accessible from €500, the platform has helped finance startups such as Feedback, Sapiologie, Loewi, OpenClimat, Zilo Énergie, Kolverr, Arkeon Energy, Fenix Energy and Seaturns, all of which are players in the ecological transition.

Keenest innovates by offering climate dividends, paid according to the tonnes of CO₂ avoided by the projects financed. The greater the environmental impact, the higher the return. Keenest believes that this mechanism creates a virtuous circle for sustainable investment.

The club aims for an average annual return of 20% on investments made, while offering liquidity prospects.

Building on this momentum, Keenest aims to:

• Implement a non-financial dashboard by the end of 2025 for transparent monitoring of impact indicators, including the first climate dividends distributed
• Raise a total of €10 million by March 2026
• Finance 20 impact projects
• Launch a diversified fund to invest in all projects selected by Keenest by 2026

Keenest is a mission-driven company. The company’s ‘raison d’être’, within the meaning of Article 1835 of the French Civil Code, is “to work towards financing a carbon-free world“.

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In the quiet town of Riihimäki, 60 kilometres north of Helsinki, a new kind of defence innovation ecosystem is taking shape. Home to half of Finland’s defence industry, Riihimäki is positioning itself as a launchpad for next-generation dual-use technologies through an initiative called the Defence Innovation Network Finland (DEFINE).

I spoke with Teemu Seppälä, Technology and Innovation Director at the City of Riihimäki, and Michael Waksman, CEO of Donut Defence, a recent participant in the DEFINE accelerator program, to learn more. 

The City of Riihimäki features a garrison that hosts seven specialist Finnish Defence Force R&D units, focusing on specific areas such as communications research and military medicine. 

The region is also home to key industrial players such as SeCo, which was originally spun out from the Finnish Defence Forces in 2006. Following Finland’s accession to NATO, companies like SeCo are now expanding into international markets. It also hosts Sako, Finland’s leading rifle manufacturer, and Patria, the country’s largest defence prime contractor.

Seppälähas been building innovation ecosystems for 20 years in over 40 countries, including 10 years across 16 African countries. Back in Finland, he helped kickstart the startup movement around Aalto University and supported early entrepreneurship societies. But, he asserts, “the DEFINE project has grown faster and gained more recognition than anything I’ve done before.”

How DEFINE gives startups unprecedented access to Finland's military environments

DEFINE is an innovation hub that offers co-working spaces, 3D printing labs, and a generative AI lab. Crucially, it also provides a testing platform, allowing companies to obtain validation from end-users, such as the military.

DEFINE’s efforts include a 3-month startup accelerator focused on scaling defence, security and dual-use innovations. Part of its unique value is the test bed. 

Seppälä recalled: 

“A Berlin-based team asked if they could fly drones in our city centre. We said yes. 

Then, they asked if we could supply mines for testing. We managed to source mock mines from our Defence Forces for testing — something that would be almost impossible elsewhere.”

According to Seppälä

“We’re trying to create a space on the 'border' between the Defence Forces and the innovation ecosystem. It’s hard to just walk into a garrison — but our space is open, so people can test and iterate more easily.

And ultimately, the procurement might not come directly from the military. It could come from the broader government or through NATO partnerships.”

Donut Defence pushes the limits of military EV efficiency

One of those companies seeking procurement is Donut Defence, a Finnish technology firm focused on electric mobility innovations for the defence industry. It's a spin‑out of Donut Lab and operates under the umbrella of Verge Motorcycles, commercialising modular EV platforms for defence applications.

Donut Lab's flagship offering is the Donut Motor, an in-wheel electric motor that delivers exceptional torque and density, simplifying vehicle design and boosting payload capacity, while reducing weight, cost, and cooling needs.

The Donut Motor, often referred to as the “Donut Wheel”, is a donut‑shaped, in‑wheel direct‑drive electric motor engineered for military and industrial electric vehicles. 

Designed to fit within a standard wheel rim, it delivers up to approximately 630 kW of torque while weighing only 40 kg, effectively eliminating the need for conventional power transmission component. 

This enables significant reductions in drivetrain complexity, weight, and cost. 

The Donut Wheel is offered in a scalable family of sizes, from heavy-duty 21″ automotive motors to compact drone or scooter variants. 

According to Waksman, “it works for land vehicles, rotorcraft, boats, robots—even washing machines. (Yes, we’ve had inquiries!)

"It’s stealthy: quieter, with lower heat signatures, and uses fewer rare earth elements. That has obvious military advantages—lower detectability and better supply chain security.”

Donut Defence's initial focus includes land, sea, and air vehicles — such as drones, autonomous systems, and even electric VTOL aircraft.

According to Waksman, Donut Defence aims to address why militaries have been slow to adopt electric vehicles. 

The challenges are real: heavy systems, limited payload, short range, lack of modularity, and high cost. 

“Building EVs from mismatched components is like forcing Lego bricks from different sets to fit together—it’s inefficient.”

Donut Defence has built a modular EV platform where all components are made in-house and work seamlessly through a unified software layer. This cuts costs dramatically. 

According to internal research, “if a manufacturer used all our components, they could reduce development costs by up to 90 per cent.”

The company’s technology is being deployed at Oruga, initially built for hunters but now being explored for military use. It develops tracked vehicles designed for multi-terrain mobility, capable of operating in challenging environments such as snow, sand, mud, and rocky terrain. 

Its flagship vehicle is intended for dual-use applications, serving both defence and commercial sectors—including exploration, construction, and disaster response.

The integration of the Donut Motor has allowed Oruga to simplify its powertrain by removing traditional mechanical components. 

The in-wheel, direct-drive design offers high torque and improved traction, while reducing maintenance requirements — critical to demanding and unpredictable conditions, making it well-suited for both military and civilian use.

Further, HyperQ Aerospace is developing the RotorHawk, a heavy-lift, remotely piloted rotorcraft designed for vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL). The aircraft is intended for dual-use applications across defence and commercial sectors, such as supplying remote military locations or supporting logistics in hard-to-reach urban areas.

The RotorHawk incorporates the Donut Motor into its rotor head design, enabling high torque and precise control. This integration supports greater payload capacity and energy efficiency, which are important for operations in demanding or unpredictable environments.

According to Waksman, DEFINE provides access to potential users, partners, and even the chance to do near-real-world testing. 

“Also, the community matters. Being a startup in defence is borderline insane — you deal with long cycles, security compliance, and funding gaps.

DEFINE provides us with coaching from VCs like Redstone Capital, as well as genuine collaboration with fellow startups to explore integrating our technologies.

There’s a real openness and responsiveness here. DEFINE is about making innovation possible and fast.”

DEFINE Batch 3 launches with new wave of dual-use innovators

The DEFINE Accelerator Batch 3 will kick off in August. Its cohorts include: 

Alvidiotech

Al­vid­iotech: a Finnish deep tech company developing Kimberlite, a plug-and-play AI vision solution for non-digital environments like second-hand stores, recycling centres, and logistics. 

Kimberlite identifies items, generates pricing, and creates digital inventory without apps or IT integration. 

Designed for simplicity and scalability, it also has strong dual-use potential for defence, including mobile logistics, asset tracking, and perimeter monitoring. 

Delta Technics

Delta Tech­nics: a European defencetech company founded by veterans and engineers that develops advanced, modular robotic weapon systems purpose-built for unmanned platforms.

Manufacturing and R&D in Finland and Ukraine support ongoing integration and field validation phases necessary to progress toward operational deployment.

Eagle Ray Robotics

Eagle Ray Robotics: This Scottish company develops subsea drone systems for applications in maritime defence, energy, and infrastructure monitoring. The company’s submersible platforms are designed for extended underwater operation and can be deployed in groups to support tasks such as surveillance, inspection, and data collection.

The systems incorporate proprietary technologies, including passive stabilisation, acoustic imaging using multiple coordinated units, and autonomous tracking features. These capabilities aim to improve the efficiency and coverage of underwater operations while reducing the need for human intervention.

Lead image: Donut Defence. Photo: uncredited.

GetWhy, a Danish startup innovating consumer insights through generative AI, has raised an additional €17 million in funding to expand their market lead, and increases the previously announced Series A round – making this one of Denmark’s largest Series A financings.

The funding was led by PeakSpan Capital and Arbejdernes Landsbank.

”Traditional market research is broken. It’s slow, it’s expensive, and, most importantly, it’s disconnected from how modern enterprises build products and connect with their customers. This disconnect gives us a unique opportunity to redefine the entire insights industry, ” says Casper Henningsen, Co-founder and CEO of GetWhy, and adds: “This increased investment from PeakSpan Capital underscores how rapidly the field of consumer research is evolving and gives GetWhy the fuel to accelerate our mission and cement our leadership position globally. We see a clear opportunity to lead the enterprise market and drive AI-fueled transformation for a vast universe of global brands.”

Founded in 2011, GetWhy is a global consumer research technology company. Using generative AI, GetWhy aims to help enterprises carry out market studies and extract insights from video-based interviews.

GetWhy launched its AI platform in 2022. Over the past few years, the company has experienced notable growth and now partners with several global business-to-consumer companies. Its client list includes Heineken, Nestlé, The Coca-Cola Company, Adidas, MARS, eBay and Unilever.

Their aim is to become the standard in AI-driven consumer insights – a segment that has been assessed to bring in €119 billion in revenue, as per data provided by GetWhy.

”We see a tremendous potential in the market for AI-driven consumer insights, which we believe will fundamentally transform how global B2C and B2B brands operate. GetWhy is leading this transformation with their cutting-edge technology and an impressive track record of delivering results for customers of all sizes, especially enterprise. PeakSpan Capital is privileged to be GetWhy’s partner and was energised to expand our investment to enable this world-class team to continue to deliver value for leading brand s around the world,” says Phil Dur, Co-founder and Managing Partner at PeakSpan Capital.

Operating at the intersection of AI and market research, GetWhy leverages proprietary AI models to conduct and analyse qualitative studies for consumer brands at unprecedented speed.

“We have spent the past decade pioneering how Agentic AI and human empathy will shape the future of how enterprises can feel and understand their customers again. AI is not here to replace jobs, but to remove limitations, and that enables our customers to operate at unprecedented speed. They’re producing video interviews faster than surveys, running multiple studies simultaneously across markets , and putting real customer voices at the center of every decision. This isn’t just incremental change – it’s ​the transformation of an en tire industry. And we’re just getting started,” added Henningsen.

For eBay, the ability to quickly gather and act on consumer feedback with GetWhy has made a significant impact.

”We can provide consumer feedback, watch-outs and red flags within 48 hours. For instance, with GetWhy, we are able to bring the consumer voice into the meeting room in less than three days – some thing that wouldn’t have been possible before,” says Christine Moeller, AI Transformation Lead at eBay.

As part of its growth strategy, GetWhy will open a U.S. office in 2025 to strengthen its foothold in the world’s largest consumer market.

“It’s crucial for GetWhy to establish a presence in the U.S., and I’m very pleased that we’re now able to open an office there. Some 60 % of our revenue comes from the U.S., so this is a natural and necessary step for us to get closer to our current and potential American customers and solidify our position as a market leader driving the industry forward,” said Henningsen.

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GetWhy, a Danish company revolutionising consumer insights through generative AI, has raised an additional $20 million in funding. The new investment enables GetWhy to expand its market lead and increase the previously announced Series A round. 

Casper Henningsen, co-founder and CEO of GetWhy, shared: 

Traditional market research is broken. It's slow, it’s expensive, and, most importantly, it’s disconnected from how modern enterprises build products and connect with their customers. This disconnect gives us a unique opportunity to redefine the entire insights industry. 

This increased investment from PeakSpan Capital underscores how rapidly the field of consumer research is evolving and gives GetWhy the fuel to accelerate our mission and cement our leadership position globally. We see a clear opportunity to lead the enterprise market and drive AI-fueled transformation for a vast universe of global brands.

The extended Series A round will enable GetWhy to capitalise on its momentum and solidify its position as the global enterprise standard in AI-driven consumer insights – a fast-growing segment which has been assessed to bring in $140 billion in revenue.  

The round was led by PeakSpan Capital from its existing investors, PeakSpan Capital and Arbejdernes Landsbank.  

Phil Dur, Co-founder and Managing Partner at PeakSpan Capital expressed strong confidence in the future of AI-powered consumer insights, noting their potential to significantly reshape the way both B2C and B2B brands function worldwide. He added: 

GetWhy is leading this transformation with their cutting-edge technology and an impressive track record of delivering results for customers of all sizes, especially enterprises. PeakSpan Capital is privileged to be GetWhy’s partner and was energised to expand our investment to enable this world-class team to continue to deliver value for leading brands around the world. 

Operating at the intersection of AI and market research, GetWhy leverages proprietary AI models to conduct and analyse qualitative studies for consumer brands at unprecedented speed. 

The company has seen explosive growth over the past years through partnerships with leading global enterprise brands, including Heineken, Nestlé, The Coca-Cola Company, Adidas, MARS, eBay and Unilever. 

Casper Henningsen, co-founder and CEO of GetWhy, shared: 

We have spent the past decade pioneering how Agentic AI and human empathy will shape the future of how enterprises can feel and understand their customers again. AI is not here to replace jobs, but to remove limitations, and that enables our customers to operate at unprecedented speed. They’re producing video interviews faster than surveys, running multiple studies simultaneously across markets, and putting real customer voices at the centre of every decision. This isn’t just incremental change – it's the transformation of an entire industry. And we’re just getting started. 

For eBay, the ability to quickly gather and act on consumer feedback has made a significant impact. Christine Moeller, AI Transformation Lead at eBay, commented:

We can provide consumer feedback, watch-outs and red flags within 48 hours. For instance, with GetWhy, we are able to bring the consumer voice into the meeting room in less than three days – something that wouldn’t have been possible before.

As part of its growth strategy, GetWhy will open a US office in 2025 to strengthen its foothold in the world’s largest consumer market. Casper Henningsen, co-founder and CEO of GetWhy, commented on further plans: 

It’s crucial for GetWhy to establish a presence in the U.S., and I’m very pleased that we’re now able to open an office there. Some 60% of our revenue comes from the U.S., so this is a natural and necessary step for us to get closer to our current and potential American customers and solidify our position as a market leader driving the industry forward.

Lead image: Casper Henningsen, co-founder and CEO of GetWhy | Photo: Uncredited

Not long ago, we published The Business Side of TikTok, a curated list of 10 creators using the platform to share insights on startups, investing, and entrepreneurship. The response was clear: TikTok isn’t just for entertainment, it’s become a learning hub for builders and business minds alike.

This time, we wanted to zoom in on Europe. While the global stage is filled with well-known voices like Gary Vee or Codie Sanchez, there’s a growing wave of European founders, operators, and investors sharing practical, relevant advice in short-form video. Whether it’s fundraising tips, product growth tactics, or no-fluff breakdowns of market trends, these creators are using TikTok to open up the black box of entrepreneurship.

So, who are the top European TikTok creators sharing real business insights right now? From London to Madrid and Amsterdam to Berlin, here are 20 TikTok accounts worth following if you’re building in Europe or just want sharper business content in your feed.

20VC: The popular venture capital podcast hosted by Harry Stebbings now lives on TikTok, where clips offer sharp takes on startup growth, founder psychology, and investment insights. Perfect for anyone navigating fundraising or curious about how top-tier investors think.

AudaCity Capital: A proprietary trading firm with a growing TikTok presence, AudaCity Capital shares explainers on trading strategy, risk management, and how to get started in the financial markets. Their bite-sized content is geared towards aspiring traders and finance-curious professionals.

Ben Francis: Founder of Gymshark, Ben documents the journey of scaling a global fitness brand. His videos offer a rare behind-the-scenes look at leadership, culture, and long-term brand building, all with the calm clarity of someone who’s been in the trenches.

Business of Sport: From F1 revenue models to football club finances, this account dives deep into the numbers behind professional sports. Great for founders in the SportsTech space or anyone interested in how athletes and teams monetise influence.

Carsten Maschmeyer: German entrepreneur and investor Carsten Maschmeyer uses TikTok to share insights on startup investing, innovation trends, and personal development. His no-nonsense style makes complex topics easy to digest for founders and future founders.

Connect with Growth: A growth advisor and marketer, Martijn Douw, shares marketing tactics, SaaS growth tips, and funnel insights. His clips often centre around acquisition, CRO, and scaling strategies ideal for startup operators.

Conor Neill: A professor at IESE Business School and expert in communication and leadership, Conor turns timeless business lessons into memorable, metaphor-driven TikToks. His content often blends philosophy, emotional intelligence, and startup strategy.

David Macías AI: Focused on AI tools for productivity, David’s content bridges the gap between new technologies and real-world use. His tutorials are founder-friendly and show how to automate, streamline, and save time using the latest tech.

Dinushi Product Manager: Dinushi offers frameworks, templates, and insights for product managers and startup teams. Her tone is empowering, and her videos often tackle the “how” of product development, growth loops, and team communication.

Eugenio Oller: Founder of Emprende Aprendiendo and Area Academy, Eugenio shares entrepreneurial advice, branding tips, and motivational content. His delivery style combines energy with clarity, appealing to young founders across Europe.

Frank Thelen: Tech investor and entrepreneur Frank Thelen talks about innovation, startup strategy, and Germany’s role in the future of tech. His TikToks break down big ideas from AI to cleantech into practical founder insights.

Guillaume Moubeche: CEO of Lemlist, Guillaume shares tactical tips on growing a profitable SaaS company. From email automation to B2B marketing hacks, his content is gold for any founder looking to scale efficiently.

Iman Gadzhi: Co-owner of Whop and founder of multiple businesses, Iman’s content blends mindset coaching with startup know-how. His style is fast-paced, ambitious, and focused on helping people take ownership of their financial futures.

Jack Parsons: Founder of The Youth Group and Duvet Flip, Jack shares Gen Z-focused career and business tips. His upbeat content is full of practical advice, especially for young people navigating the job market or startup world.

Korosh Farazad: Investor and entrepreneur, Korosh Farazad blends financial literacy, motivational advice, and global investing insight. His tone is polished and professional, geared toward high-growth entrepreneurs and first-time investors alike.

Marco Montemagno: Tech entrepreneur and media personality Marco Montemagno shares daily thoughts on tech, AI, digital media, and entrepreneurship. His style is fast-talking and sharp, mixing commentary with tactical insights.

Steven Mellor: Former professional athlete turned business coach, Steven creates high-energy TikToks on leadership, mindset, and performance. He blends sports psychology with entrepreneurial lessons, making his advice widely applicable.

Trade Republic: Berlin-based investing platform publishes finance explainers, market updates, and long-term investing guides. Their TikToks are slick and informative, targeting both beginner investors and tech-savvy savers.

Zoe Peden: VC partner focused on impact investing, Zoe brings a fresh voice to the European investing space. Her content is still growing but already blends personal storytelling with practical insight on early-stage ventures and inclusion.

EU-Startups: Last but not least … us At EU-Startups, we use TikTok to share podcast highlights, event recaps, and startup tips from across the continent. Follow for a mix of founder stories, pitch moments, and what’s trending in Europe’s innovation scene.

Know someone we missed? Tag us @eustartups on TikTok and we might feature them in the next edition.

The post Europeans on TikTok: 20 voices reshaping how we learn about business appeared first on EU-Startups.

Amstelveen-based TravelTech startup GeniusTravel today announced the successful completion of a €2 million funding round to develop their AI-powered app designed to find and book complete travel packages.

Investors in this round have chosen to remain anonymous, but their contributions are set to enable the company to roll out the app in the Netherlands this year, with other European markets to follow.

“AI – and generative AI in particular – has proven its value in recent years by simplifying a wide range of manual tasks,” said one of the investors. “I strongly believe in the potential of applying this technology to the travel industry to better, faster, and more easily meet consumer needs. Most people book their holidays online, but many still turn to tour operators for guidance. Genius brings the best of both worlds together through smart technology.”

Founder Gennie Freen says the inspiration behind the company was his frustration at the hassle of comparing countless travel platforms, destinations, and prices. Determined to simplify the process of finding and booking affordable trips, he set out to build a one-stop travel app leveraging the power of AI.

This led to Genius, which is allegedly the first AI app for complete travel packages for the budget-conscious consumer.

The app allows users to create an entire trip – including flights and accommodation – based on personal preferences and budget.

The easiest option is to let the AI do the work: travelers simply send a message to, or start a chat with, Genius, the AI travel agent, to communicate their travel wishes. The app then automatically curates a personalised selection of travel packages.

“This feature makes finding the most affordable and suitable trip as easy as asking ChatGPT a question,” Freen explains.

In addition, Genius reportedly leverages AI to compile the best daily deals across different price ranges and categories, such as short trips under €120 per person (including flights and accommodation), weekend getaways, trips to popular destinations like party islands, departures within one week, and a daily top 10 deals list.

Those who prefer to search manually can use a range of filters. Travelers may enter just a budget – receiving a curated selection of global offers – or search more specifically by destination and/or travel dates.

Genius utilises Expedia’s database, with whom it collaborates with, to mix and match flights and accommodations for unique travel packages with a “best-price guarantee“.

Additional filters – such as accommodation facilities and amenities – will be added soon.

Following over three years of development and Beta-testing, the app is now available for free in the App Store (iOS) and Play Store (Android).

The post Dutch TravelTech platform GeniusTravel raises €2 million to roll out travel packages app appeared first on EU-Startups.

Netherlands-based traveltech GeniusTravel has raised €2 million funding. 

Frustrated by the hassle of comparing countless travel platforms, destinations, and prices, experienced entrepreneur Gennie Freen took matters into his own hands. 

Determined to simplify the process of finding and booking affordable trips, he set out to build a one-stop travel app leveraging the power of AI. This led to Genius, the first AI app for complete travel packages for the budget-conscious consumer.

The app allows users to effortlessly create an entire trip, always including flights and accommodation, based on personal preferences and budget. Travellers simply send a message to, or start a chat with, Genius, the AI travel agent, to communicate their travel wishes. 

The app then automatically curates a personalised selection of travel packages at the best possible prices. “This feature makes finding the most affordable and suitable trip as easy as asking ChatGPT a question,” Freen explains.

In addition, Genius leverages AI to compile the best daily deals across various price ranges and categories, including short trips under €120 per person (including flights and accommodation), weekend getaways, trips to popular destinations such as party islands, departures within one week, and a daily top 10 deals list.

Following over three years of development and extensive beta testing, the app is now available for free in iOS and Android app stores.

This funding, from investors who wish to stay anonymous,  enables the company to roll out the app in the Netherlands this year, with other European markets to follow.

German CarOnSale, a digital B2B marketplace for used car trading, has successfully closed a €70 million Series C round to expand across European markets, with the target to scale toward annual sales of 1 million used cars through their platform.

The round was led by new investor Northzone, together with existing lead investor HV Capital, and was further supported by Insight Partners, Stripes, and Creandum.

“This Series C is a major milestone for CarOnSale and a strong signal of trust in our business model and team,” says Tom Krüger, CEO and Co-founder of CarOnSale. “We would like to thank Northzone, HV Capital, and our existing investors for their support and shared confidence. With this strong backing, we now have the perfect foundation to accelerate our growth across Europe even faster.”

CarOnSale was founded in 2018 and is led by Tom Krüger, Fabian Roth, Oguz Özgüler, and Maximilian Schilling with the mission to digitise the professional used car trade across Europe.

The marketplace offers a fully integrated solution, including vehicle inspections, logistics, and payment processing, which the company is confident creates efficiency, transparency, and trust in the international B2B vehicle market.

Sanjot Malhi, Partner at Northzone, says, “CarOnSale is building a category-defining pan-European platform in one of the deepest markets on the continent. Their end-to-end software is transformative for small businesses and the world’s largest OEMs alike. It’s our privilege to partner with Tom and the team, and believe the company has the potential to bring AI to an archaic industry and create a truly generational outcome.”

CarOnSale is reportedly already working with major OEMs and thousands of dealers across Europe, processing significant transaction volumes through their platform, driving digital transformation of a traditional automotive trade sector that has, according to the company, long resisted modernisation.

CarOnSale aims to transform the professional used car trade through their fully integrated software ecosystem that connects professional car dealers and OEMs across borders.

With software solutions and services such as vehicle inspections, logistics, and payment processing, CarOnSale looks to streamline the entire transaction process, making it more efficient, secure, and transparent.

The company says they are targeting the massive €450+ billion European used car market that remains highly fragmented and largely offline, presenting numerous digitisation opportunities.

With this new funding, CarOnSale plans to drive its European expansion, significantly enhance its product and service offering, and further develop its position as the leading digital platform for professional vehicle trading. The company aims to deepen its presence in existing core markets while entering new countries.

In parallel, CarOnSale will expand its team and further develop its digital infrastructure to enable seamless and efficient cross-border vehicle transactions.

The post Berlin-based CarOnSale raises €70 million to develop their used car platform appeared first on EU-Startups.

Dutch AI startup Perry closed a €1.6 million investment round to help ease the pressure on Europe’s technical workforce. 

Founded by Laurens Feenstra and Arie Kuiper, in March this year, Perry develops AI-powered work instructions to empower technicians on the job.

The initiative comes at a critical time as Europe faces a persistent shortage of skilled technical workers. Over the past two decades, the number of people working in technical roles has dropped by around 15 million. This trend will continue in the next two decades due to an ageing workforce and limited new entrants. Sectors like renewable energy, telecom, and construction are under threat of stagnation.

Building on this urgency, Perry takes a radically practical approach to closing the skills gap. Rather than relying on complex manuals or outdated documentation, the platform delivers clear, visual instructions that use AI to adapt in real time to the task at hand. It also continuously improves based on field feedback.

According to Arie Kuiper, co-founder of Perry, the shortage of technical staff isn’t just a numbers issue; it’s also a qualitative challenge:

Getting the newest AI technology in the hands of technical workers will make a big difference. Using Perry, workers can get trained more effectively, work more safely and deliver higher quality work.

We’re seeing worker shortages and unemployment at the same time. That shows we need to train people smarter and support them more effectively. With Perry, we’re using technology to help new hires become effective very quickly.

Developed hand-in-hand with technicians through extensive on-site testing, Perry ensures its tools are designed for real-world use, not just for management dashboards. Its first customer, energy infrastructure firm Van Vulpen, is already using the platform to train and guide its workforce.

By leveraging AI, Perry automatically translates and adjusts instructions to each worker’s language level, making it easier for teams across Europe, from Portugal to Poland, to collaborate effectively on the ground.

Laurens Feenstra, co-founder of Perry, explains: 

Today, many technicians don’t get much support. They often have to rely on lengthy manuals. This leads to safety risks and error costs. Due to a lack of better options, some experts get called up to a hundred times a day to help out. Our solution makes the knowledge of experienced professionals available to everyone, exactly when it’s needed. Ultimately, we want both new and experienced workers to be supported through their tasks with live AI video calls.

The round was led by Berlin-based specialist fund Revent, joined by angel investors from companies like Google and OpenAI.

Lauren Lentz, founding partner at Revent, shared:

Perry’s mission addresses an urgent societal challenge. Without enough skilled professionals, progress in key sectors like the energy transition risks grinding to a halt.

This funding round is seen as a strategic step toward rapid scaling.

The company has already recruited an AI engineer and a user research specialist. With the investment, Perry will expand the team, continue developing its software and AI models, and expand into Germany, France, and the United Kingdom.

Lead image: Perry team | Photo: Uncredited

Berlin-based B2B marketplace for professional used car trading´CarOnSale has just closed a €70 million Series C round led by Northzone, with participation from existing investors HV Capital, Insight Partners, Stripes, and Creandum.

CarOnSale is transforming the professional used car trade through a fully integrated software ecosystem that connects professional car dealers and OEMs across borders. 

With software solutions and services such as vehicle inspections, logistics, and payment processing, CarOnSale streamlines the entire transaction process, making it more efficient, secure, and transparent in a market that has long been highly fragmented.

“This Series C is a major milestone for CarOnSale and a strong signal of trust in our business model and team,” says Tom Krüger, CEO and Co-Founder of CarOnSale.

“We would like to thank Northzone, HV Capital, and our existing investors for their support and shared confidence. With this strong backing, we now have the perfect foundation to accelerate our growth across Europe even faster.”

According to Sanjot Malhi, Partner at Northzone, CarOnSale is building a category-defining pan-European platform in one of the deepest markets on the continent. 

“Their end-to-end software is transformative for small businesses and the world's largest OEMs alike. It’s our privilege to partner with Tom and the team, and believe the company has the potential to bring AI to an archaic industry and create a truly generational outcome.”

With this new funding, CarOnSale plans to drive its European expansion, deepening its presence in existing core markets while entering new countries. In parallel, CarOnSale will expand its team and further develop its digital infrastructure to enable seamless and efficient cross-border vehicle transactions.

Dutch AI startup Perry makes its official debut today, announcing a €1.6 million investment round to help ease the pressure on Europe’s technical workforce by providing AI-powered work instructions

The round was led by Berlin-based specialist fund Revent, joined by angel investors from companies like Google and OpenAI.

“Getting the newest AI technology in the hands of technical workers will make a big difference. Using Perry, workers can get trained more effectively, work more safely and deliver higher quality work,” says Co-founder Arie Kuiper.

Founded in 2025 by Laurens Feenstra and Arie Kuiper, Perry develops AI-powered work instructions to empower technicians on the job.

The founding team brings diverse expertise from across the sector, Feenstra was formerly involved with Google, Waymo, and TomTom, while Kuiper has experience in McKinsey and BuyBay.

The company believes their offering comes at a critical time: across Europe, there’s a chronic shortage of technical personnel. Over the past two decades, the number of people working in technical roles has dropped by around 15 million – as per data provided by Perry. This trend will continue in the next two decades due to an aging workforce and limited new entrants.

Perry says that sectors like renewable energy, telecom, and construction are under threat of stagnation.

“Today, many technicians don’t get much support. They often have to rely on lengthy manuals. This leads to safety risks and error costs. Due to a lack of better options, some experts get called up to a hundred times a day to help out,” adds Co-founder Laurens Feenstra. “Our solution makes the knowledge of experienced professionals available to everyone, exactly when it’s needed. Ultimately, we want both new and experienced workers to be supported through their tasks with live AI video calls.”

Instead of complex manuals and outdated documents, Perry aims to offer clear, visual instructions that automatically adapt to the work situation using artificial intelligence. The software also reprotedly learns from real-world feedback.

Perry develops its technology in close collaboration with technicians, using field research and on-site testing.

The first customer, energy infrastructure company Van Vulpen, is already using the technology to train and support workers.

Thanks to AI, work instructions are automatically translated and adjusted to the user’s language level, enabling workers from across Europe, from Poland to Portugal, to collaborate directly and effectively.

“We’re seeing worker shortages and unemployment at the same time. That shows we need to train people smarter and support them more effectively. With Perry, we’re using technology to help new hires become effective very quickly,” adds Kuiper.

This funding round is seen as a strategic step toward rapid scaling. The company has already recruited an AI engineer and a user research specialist. With the investment, Perry will expand the team, continue developing its software and AI models, and expand into Germany, France, and the United Kingdom.

“Perry’s mission addresses an urgent societal challenge,” says Lauren Lentz, founding partner at Revent. “Without enough skilled professionals, progress in key sectors like the energy transition risks grinding to a halt.”

The post “From Poland to Portugal”: Amsterdam-based Perry raises €1.6 million to empower technicians across Europe with work instructions appeared first on EU-Startups.