The past few weeks have been buzzing with activity in the tech world. Startups, scaleups, and established players have been busy raising fresh rounds of funding, announcing strategic partnerships, and making acquisitions to strengthen their market positions.

With so much happening at once, it’s easy for important stories to slip past even the most dedicated news followers.

That’s why we’ve compiled this roundup to spotlight some of the recent developments. Here’s a look at the key news updates we might have missed.

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Billions raises €27.2M to build universal human and AI verification network

Billions, a global network designed to establish trust between humans and AI, has secured €27.2M in total funding. Backed by investors including Polychain Capital, Coinbase Ventures, Polygon Labs, Liberty City Ventures, and BITKRAFT Ventures, the company aims to create the first universal human and AI verification system. Using mobile-first, privacy-preserving verification, Billions requires only a passport and smartphone to confirm identity without proprietary hardware. (Read more)

Bling Energy secures €15M to scale solar subscription model

Lisbon-based Bling Energy, a startup offering solar energy through a subscription-as-a-service model, has raised €15M from venture capital firm BlueCrow Capital. The funding will support the installation of 20 MW of solar and battery capacity, equivalent to 11 MWp of solar and 9 MWh of storage, and help the company reach 3,000 new residential customers. (Read more)

Crypto firm BOB raises €8.8M

BOB, a platform combining Bitcoin’s security with Ethereum’s DeFi innovation, has completed multiple strategic funding rounds since December 2024, raising a total of €19.4M. The latest €8.8M strategic round saw strong participation from existing backers, including Castle Island Ventures, Ledger Cathay Capital, RockawayX, Asymmetric, Hypersphere, IOSG Ventures, Bankless Ventures, Sigil/Zeeprime, CMS, and Daedalus, alongside new investors such as Amber Group, Sats Ventures, and Anchorage Digital CEO Nathan McCauley. (Read more)

Adanola secures minority investment from STORY3 Capital Partners

Manchester-based Adanola, a cult womenswear brand known for its versatile active lifestyle collections, has received a significant minority investment from Los Angeles-based STORY3 Capital Partners.

The deal, which values Adanola at around €487M, will support its international expansion, strengthen its position in the activewear market, and grow its retail presence alongside its direct-to-consumer and wholesale channels. (Read more)

Qbeast raises €7M in funding

Barcelona-based Qbeast, a data optimisation platform spun out of the Barcelona Supercomputing Center, has secured €7M in seed funding. The round was led by Peak XV’s Surge, with participation from HWK Tech Investment and Elaia Partners. The capital will accelerate team expansion, broaden product support, and advance its multi-dimensional indexing technology for Delta Lake, Apache Iceberg, and Apache Hudi. Qbeast’s platform reduces compute waste by prioritising only relevant data, delivering faster queries and lower costs without vendor lock-in, and integrates with engines like Spark, Databricks, and Snowflake. (Read more)

Duality Healthcare secures €5.3M to expand clinics

Newry-based Duality Healthcare, Northern Ireland’s largest private GP service, has raised €5.3M in a funding round to expand its clinic network and grow its virtual care offering. The investment will help open new locations beyond its current sites in Newry, Ballymena, and Omagh, with additional clinics planned for 2025 and 2026. Founded in 2023, Duality offers same-day urgent care, scans, and ear care services, aiming to complement NHS capacity with faster, patient-focused care. (Read more)

PeroCycle opens €4.7M in seed round.

Birmingham-based PeroCycle, an industrial decarbonisation venture focused on closed-loop carbon recycling for steelmaking, has appointed Grant Budge as CEO and opens a €4.7M seed round.

The funding will support the company’s first pilot unit, capable of processing 1 kilotonne of CO₂ per year, and expand its technical and commercial teams. (Read more)

Bisly raises €4.3M to expand smart building automation

Tallinn-based Bisly, a company specialised in smart building automation, has secured €4.3M to grow its operations in Central and Western Europe. The round was led by 2C Ventures, with participation from Aconterra, Pinorena, Foxway founders, and SmartCap’s Green Fund. Bisly’s AI-powered automation platform delivers up to 40 per cent energy savings, integrates with third-party devices, and uses patented digital twin technology to optimise building performance while reducing installation costs by up to 50 per cent. (Read more)

PropHero secures €2.5M from BBVA Spark

Madrid-based PropHero, a digital platform using AI to connect property investors with high-yield opportunities, has raised €2.5M in financing from BBVA Spark, backed by the EU and European Investment Fund through the InvestEU programme. Founded in Australia in 2021, PropHero leverages AI to analyse market trends and optimise property selection, aiming to double business volume by 2025. (Read more)

Wanda Health raises €2.1M to scale remote patient monitoring

Bristol-based Wanda Health, a healthcare technology company focused on remote patient monitoring, has secured €2.1M to expand its capabilities and reduce hospital readmissions. Wanda Health’s platform uses data analytics to detect high-risk patients and improve treatment adherence. (Read more)