As we wrap up the week, this edition of “In Other News This Week” brings you a roundup of significant developments across Europe, highlighting renewed investor confidence in various industries.
In the midst of a continuous flow of funding announcements, acquisitions, and innovations, some noteworthy stories may have flown under the radar. Join us as we uncover the highlights that are shaping the future and driving progress in the European tech landscape.
Zilch expands securitisation to €178.8M
London-based Zilch, a fintech known for its ad-subsidised payments network (ASPN), has expanded its securitisation facility to £150M (approximately €178.87M), securing an additional £50M (approximately €59.62M) in funding. Led by Deutsche Bank with participation from two major global credit funds, the expanded facility supports Zilch’s growth and capacity to handle £10B in annual transactions. (Read more)
Behavox secures €64.5M credit facility
Behavox has secured a $70M (approximately €64.59M) credit facility from Hercules Capital to bolster its liquidity for strategic expansion. Behavox specialises in AI-powered archiving, compliance, and security solutions, helping organisations safeguard communications and monitor regulatory and insider threat risks.
The funding will facilitate acquisitions and the development of new compliance solutions, such as Trade Surveillance, Control Room, and Sanction Screening, expected to launch in 2025. (Read more)
New home for Thuisbezorgd.nl and Just Eat Takeaway.com
Just Eat Takeaway.com, the parent company of Thuisbezorgd.nl, opened a new office in Enschede on De Ruyterlaan, with employees moving in on November 4. Founder and CEO Jitse Groen, alongside Enschede’s Economic Affairs Alderman Malkis Jajan, led the opening ceremony. Nearly 25 years after Groen launched Thuisbezorgd.nl in Enschede, the company has grown into a global platform connecting 14,000 restaurant partners with 6 million users in the Netherlands. (Read more)
Blue Earth Therapeutics Ltd raises €70.3M
Blue Earth Therapeutics Ltd has secured $76.5M (approximately €70.30M) in Series A funding to accelerate its PSMA-targeted radioligand therapies for prostate cancer. Led by Soleus Capital and Sands Capital Management, with Bracco Imaging and other investors participating, the funding will support advancements in Blue Earth’s precision radiopharmaceutical treatments. (Read more)
Blacklane secures its largest funding round to date
Blacklane has secured $65M (approximately €59.98M) in its largest funding round to date, led by TASARU Mobility Investments and supported by Mercedes-Benz Mobility AG and other partners. The funds will facilitate Blacklane’s growth in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East, with plans for a fleet of electric vehicles and an expansion of premium mobility services. (Read more)
NESR acquires stake in SALTTECH BV
National Energy Services Reunited Corp. (NESR) has acquired a minority stake in Salttech BV, a Dutch company specialising in thermal desalination through its Dynamic Vapor Recovery (Dyvar) process. The cash-funded acquisition strengthens NESR’s sustainable water solutions portfolio in the MENA region, following successful Dyvar pilot projects, including the Circular Water initiative with a key client.
This partnership aims to scale water sustainability projects in Saudi Arabia and beyond, with NESR holding an option to increase its stake in Salttech in the future. (Read more)
Randstad to acquire Zorgwerk
Randstad, a Netherlands-based talent solutions provider, plans to acquire Zorgwerk, a Dutch digital healthcare marketplace. This acquisition will bolster Randstad’s healthcare and care sector offerings, providing a specialised talent pool to meet rising demand.
Zorgwerk connects over 75,000 healthcare professionals with employers through a digital platform, enabling real-time job matching and flexible scheduling. The move aligns with Randstad’s strategy to support the growing need for healthcare talent in the Netherlands, expected to rise due to an ageing population. (Read more)
Blecon has raised €4.2M in seed funding
Cambridge-based Blecon has raised $4.6M (approximately €4.23M) in seed funding to enhance Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) technology for Internet of Things (IoT) connectivity. Blecon’s solution bypasses traditional 1:1 Bluetooth pairing, allowing smartphones and cellular hubs to act as hotspots, similar to Wi-Fi deployment models but with cellular network capabilities.
Led by MMC Ventures, the funding will support product development and expand customer collaborations as Blecon aims to bring scalable BLE solutions to commercial IoT applications. (Read more)
Filigran raises €32.19M
European cybersecurity firm Filigran has closed $35M (approximately €32.19M) in a Series B funding round, led by Insight Partners and support from Accel and Moonfire.
The funds will drive the company’s expansion into the US and Pacific regions and accelerate development in AI and data engineering within its product lineup. Founded in 2022 by Samuel Hassine and Julien Richard, Filigran focuses on proactive, open-source solutions for comprehensive threat management. (Read more)
Beyond Aero raises $20M in a Series A round
Beyond Aero, a hydrogen-electric aviation startup, has raised $20M in a Series A funding round, co-led by Giant Ventures and French sovereign fund Bpifrance. This brings its total capital to $44M, including debt and grants. Other backers include Initialized Capital, Airbnb and Dropbox founders, and prominent athletes. Beyond Aero aims to develop the first hydrogen-powered electric business aircraft, addressing climate change by targeting business aviation, the most emissions-intensive segment per passenger. (Read more)
Paretos raises €8.5M
Paretos, an AI startup based in Heidelberg, has raised €8.5M in its Series A funding round, led by Acton Capital. Existing investors UVC Partners and LEA Partners participated, along with new backers including Interface Capital and former Vodafone CEO Hannes Ametsreiter. Paretos offers a no-code Decision Intelligence platform that enables companies to analyse complex data and make informed decisions. (Read more)
Modash raises €11M in Series A round
Modash, a platform helping brands scale creator partnerships, has raised $12M (approximately €11M) in Series A funding. The funds will enable the startup to streamline administrative tasks for marketers, empowering them to focus on creativity and relationships.
The funding will also support Modash’s expansion in North America, new integrations for ecommerce, enhanced cross-border compensation for creators, and advanced AI-driven creator search. The round was led by new investors Jan, Mick, and henQ, with continued support from Icebreaker.vc and Change Ventures. (Read more)
Semble closes €13.8M
London-based healthtech innovator Semble has raised $15M (approximately €13.84M) in Series B funding led by Mercia Ventures, with contributions from Octopus Ventures, Smedvig Ventures, and Triple Point. Founded by Christoph Lippuner and Mikael Landau, Semble’s platform aims to streamline healthcare operations by reducing administrative burdens and improving data connectivity for enhanced patient outcomes. (Read more)
FYLD secures €9.2M
FYLD, an AI-powered platform designed to enhance fieldwork effectiveness in the global infrastructure sector, has secured $10M (approximately €9.22M) in growth capital from NatWest, one of the UK’s largest banks. FYLD enables field managers to make proactive, data-driven decisions in real time, improving operational processes. (Read more)
Auquan raises €7.3M in Seed funding
Auquan has raised $4.5M (approximately €7.38M) in additional seed funding, bringing its total seed funding to $8M. Led by Peak XV Partners’ Surge with participation from Neotribe Ventures, the financing will support Auquan’s mission to transform the work experience for finance professionals. The company aims to alleviate the burdens of monotonous tasks, enabling workers to focus on strategic decision-making and relationship-building. (Read more)
Vaxinano raises €6M
Vaxinano has raised €6M in a funding round led by TCD Capital and other investors, including Captech Santé and Nord France Amorçage, with backing from BPI France. The funds will propel the company’s vaccines and immunotherapies against leishmaniasis, toxoplasmosis, and other infectious diseases into clinical trials. (Read more)
Mento Labs raises €9.2M
Mento Labs has raised $10M (approximately €9.22M) to expand its decentralised stablecoin platform on Celo, targeting local currency stablecoins in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. With over 4 million users, Mento aims to enhance financial inclusion through its stablecoin offerings and trading infrastructure, supporting payments and micro-lending in emerging markets. (Read more)
GlassFlow raises €4.4M in seed round
GlassFlow has raised $4.8M (approximately €4.42M) in a seed round led by Upfront Ventures, with participation from High-Tech Gründerfonds, Robin Capital, TinyVC, and various angel investors. The startup focuses on simplifying event-driven data pipelines specifically for Python developers, tackling prevalent challenges faced by data teams. (Read more)
Challengermode raises €2.3M
Challengermode has raised SEK 27M (approximately €2.31M) in funding led by Back in Black Capital, with contributions from new investors Ballista Capital and Seeker. Challengermode currently supports over 120 games and hosts more than 400,000 competitions monthly, including major tournaments for titles like DOTA2 and CS2. (Read more)
KRNL Labs secures €1.5M
KRNL Labs has launched KRNL, a platform aimed at enhancing decentralised computing for dApps by allowing them to use modular, cross-chain architectures. The startup has raised $1.7M (approximately €1.56M) in a pre-seed funding round to support this vision. (Read more)
FreewayCamper secures €4M
FreewayCamper has secured €4M in funding from existing shareholders, following its recent merger with Campiri. The company specialises in camper rentals, offering a wide selection of the latest VW Bullis, campervans, and RVs in Germany and Italy. (Read more)
Linkbycar has secured €1.4M
Paris-based Linkbycar has secured €1.4M in funding to advance its smart platform, which harnesses connected vehicle data to offer tailored solutions for Europe’s mobility sector.
With backing from investors LeanSquare and Ethias Ventures, Linkbycar aims to make data-driven tools more accessible for fleet managers and insurers, enhancing innovation and efficiency across the industry. (Read more)
Freebird Club raises €500K in pre-seed
London-based Freebird Club, a social travel and homestay platform for older adults, has secured €500K in pre-seed funding from Enterprise Ireland and the Ageas Foundation. This investment will support the club’s mission to foster social connections and improve well-being among people over 50 through unique travel experiences.
Freebird Club enables members to travel, meet, and stay with each other, combining social networking with a homestay model. (Read more)
Ulrika Ringdahl, the new CEO of SmiLe Venture Hub
Ulrika Ringdahl has been appointed CEO of SmiLe Venture Hub, succeeding Ebba Fåhraeus, who is stepping down after 10 years. Ringdahl brings life science experience, including roles in innovation, commercialisation, and international partnerships. She has also led SmiLe’s strategic planning for the coming years. (Read more)
Whispp named TIME’s Best Invention 2024
Whispp, a voice technology company, has been announced as one of TIME’s Best Inventions of 2024 in the Accessibility category for its real-time assistive voice technology. Whispp’s app uses audio-to-audio AI to convert whispered or stuttered speech into clear, natural voice during phone and video calls, as well as in messaging, offering a communication tool for those with voice disabilities. (Read more)
iGent AI Launches Maestro
iGent AI has launched Maestro, a platform designed to enhance software development with advanced engineering intelligence. Backed by £6.3M from investors including HV Capital and XTX Ventures, Maestro aims to transform the software development process by integrating AI throughout the entire lifecycle, not merely assisting with coding. (Read more)
Rare Earth Global secures €1.1M
UK-based Rare Earth Global, a startup focused on increasing access to industrial hemp products, has secured £1M (approximately €1.19M) in a pre-seed funding round. The round was led by a UK family office, with contributions from an impact fund and angel investors, as well as non-dilutive funding. (Read more)
DeepL to Debut NVIDIA DGX SuperPOD
DeepL, a global language AI company, announced that it will be among the first companies to deploy the NVIDIA DGX SuperPOD with DGX GH200 systems, aiming to supercharge its computational capabilities for advanced research.
Expected to be operational by mid-2025, the NVIDIA DGX SuperPOD will provide DeepL with the enhanced computing power needed to train next-generation AI models and accelerate the development of new features. (Read more)
NetZero welcomes INNOVX as new shareholder
NetZero has partnered with INNOVX to boost the deployment of biochar in Africa as part of a strategic investment announced during the French President’s visit to Morocco. This collaboration aims to enhance carbon removal and restore soil fertility using crop residues. Founded in 2021, NetZero focuses on sustainable agriculture and rural development, operating in Cameroon and Brazil, and plans to remove over 5 million tonnes of CO2 by 2030. (Read more)
VibePay appoints new Head of Insights and secures €5.9M
VibePay has announced two key developments: the appointment of former Klarna executive Conor Tiernan as Head of Insights and a new £5M (approximately €5.94M) funding round from existing investors, including Nick Candy. The funding brings VibePay’s total capital raised to £12M and will support its growth in the UK’s real-time payments and data sector. These steps align with VibePay’s ambition to strengthen its role in Open Banking. (Read more)
Idealys secures €2.5M
Idealys has raised €2.5M to advance its development and strengthen its sales force. The company focuses on providing services for connected buildings, enhancing energy efficiency and technical management from the construction phase. Its SmartBuilding solution offers various services for residential and commercial managers and occupants, including access control and automation. (Read more)
Vamo expands seed funding to over €10M
Vamo has raised over €10M in seed financing, with more than €7M coming from a recent round led by Extantia Capital and GET Fund. The funding will expand Vamo’s partner network across Germany and enhance its digital services. Vamo aims to make heat pumps the standard heating system, promoting efficiency and sustainability while simplifying the transition for customers. (Read more)
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