In other news this week: Granite Bio emerges from stealth with €87.6M, Didomi bags €72M, First Momentum Ventures closes €35M, and more

With the technology developing at breakneck speed, it’s nearly impossible to keep up with every breakthrough, funding round, or acquisition.

While major headlines dominate our news cycle, many significant developments often slip through the cracks.

In our “In Other News This Week” series, we at Silicon Canals give a concise yet comprehensive look at the stories that we have missed this week

Granite Bio emerges from stealth with €87.6M

Granite Bio is a biotechnology company developing first-in-class antibodies that target the root causes of a variety of inflammatory, autoimmune, and fibrotic conditions. Recently, the company emerged from stealth with $100M in funding. This includes a $30M Series A led by founding investors Versant Ventures and Novartis Venture Fund, and a $70M Series B led by Forbion and Sanofi Ventures. (Read more)

Didomi raises €72M funding

Based out of Paris, Didomi helps organisations collect, store, and leverage user choices across multiple channels, increasing precision in marketing and advertising operations. Recently, the company raised €72M from Marlin Equity Partners to support its growth strategy and acquire server-side tagging platform Addingwell. (Read more)

First Momentum Ventures closes €35M in Fund II

First Momentum Ventures is a venture capital fund focused on pre-seed startups in the Industrial Tech and Deep Tech sectors across Europe. Recently, they closed their oversubscribed €35M in Fund II to support Europe’s most technically skilled founders from the very beginning. Their limited partners include innovative family offices, tech entrepreneurs, and institutional partners. The fund invests between €200,000 and €1 million as a “First Check” investor and works alongside angel investors and other venture capital firms for co-investments and follow-on funding. (Read more)

Oryzon Genomics completes €30M capital raise

Oryzon Genomics, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company specializing in epigenetics, has completed a €30M capital raise through the issuance of 12,765,958 new shares priced at €2.35 each. The offer price represents a 15.44 per cent discount to the five-day volume-weighted average price and a 19.38% discount to the April 22, 2025 closing price. (Read more)

OKAPI:Orbits raises €13M funding

OKAPI:Orbits is the European provider of end-to-end Space Traffic Management solutions. The company has specialised in safeguarding space missions through its AI-based SSA and STM platforms. Recently, the company raised €13M in total seed funding led by Ventech, with support from Matterwave Ventures, Amadeus APEX Technology Fund. (Read more) 

Hokodo Raises €10M to expand digital trade credit solutions

Based out of London, Hokodo, a pan-European digital trade credit provider, has secured €10M in a new equity funding round co-led by Korelya Capital and Opera Tech Ventures, the venture arm of BNP Paribas. Existing Series B investors Mundi Ventures and Notion Capital also participated. The funding will support the development of AI-driven digital credit solutions and the onboarding of new merchants. (Read more)

Neurolabs raises €6.8M funding

Neurolabs, a deeptech company specialised in Image Recognition as a Service (IRaaS) for the CPG industry, has raised $7.8M in a Series A funding round led by Nauta, with support from existing investors LAUNCHub, Lunar Ventures, and Techstart.

European Commission has invested €6M into SPRINTER

The European Commission has invested €6M into SPRINTER, a new project backed by Photonics21, aimed at building ultra-fast, energy-efficient industrial networks to power the factories of the future. By combining laser-based optical communication with next-gen flexible wireless technology, SPRINTER is developing a new industrial internet designed to replace today’s slower, power-hungry systems.

Spotahome bags €5M to support

Madrid-based Spotahome, the European online rental platform, has secured €5M in new funding to support its growth. The Spanish company specialises in long-term rentals by offering a fully digital process, using “Homecheckers” — professional photographers who visit properties to create HD video tours, 360-degree photos, floor plans, and detailed descriptions. (Read more)

Ovo Labs raises €4.6M in seed funding

Based out of London and Munich, Ovo Labs is a biotechnology company dedicated to protecting human eggs against defects during the IVF journey. Recently, the company raised £4M in seed funding. The company builds on research from one of the world’s fertility experts Prof. Melina Schuh, and addresses the reason why a woman’s egg quality decreases with age.

Puresport secures €4.2M funding

London-based Puresport, a wellness brand, has secured £3.6M to further its mission of creating a new sports nutrition brand. The company is against quick fixes and prioritises long-term health, performance, and community. This funding will enable the company to expand its presence in the UK, launch in the US, and continue developing a product range that aligns with our values: science-backed, purpose-driven, and designed for those who are committed to their fitness journey. (Read more)

TaxDown raises €4M to advance AI-powered tax solutions

Spanish startup TaxDown has secured €4M in a new funding round led by Bonsai Partners, with continued support from Base10 Partners, JME Ventures, 4Founders Capital, ATRESMEDIA, Mediaset España, and Enisa.

The company, which simplifies tax filing for individuals and businesses through its AI-driven platform, will use the funds to enhance its technology, improve user experience, and drive sustainable growth. (Read more)

Capably gets €3.5M funding

Based out of London, Capably is the Intelligent Automation Platform that helps businesses adopt AI for smarter work delegation. The company enables professionals to automate complex tasks in minutes without technical expertise. Recently, the company raised $4M to help businesses delegate work to AI across their organisations. (Read more)

Made Smarter launches €1.1M funding to support SME manufacturers

Made Smarter, the Government-backed digital adoption programme, has launched a new £1M funding round to support technology projects among SME manufacturers in the North West. The initiative offers match-funded grants of up to £20,000 to help SMEs adopt advanced technologies including robotics, automation, the Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), and additive manufacturing.

Innovate UK has awarded €2M to TreQ

Innovate UK has awarded £1.65M to TreQ and its partners—Rigetti, Oxford Ionics, Q-CTRL, and Qruise—to develop an Open Architecture Quantum (OAQ) Testbed. Announced by Peter Kyle, the investment is part of a £121M initiative to advance quantum technology and support the UK’s National Quantum Strategy. TreQ will lead the project, creating a flexible system for integrating and testing quantum software and hardware components.

Pro Parents raises €1M funding

Pro Parents, the Dutch platform for Workplace Wellbeing and Women’s & Family Health, has raised €1M in fresh funding to accelerate its European expansion. The company aims to reshape workplace wellbeing and family health across Europe, betting on growing demand for more inclusive and supportive work environments. (Read more)

FINOM launches “Faxvertising” campaign

FINOM, the European digital banking solution for small businesses, launched an unconventional marketing campaign using fax machines to highlight Germany’s continued reliance on outdated administrative processes. The company’s message is that bureaucracy consumes valuable time that entrepreneurs could be spending on growth and becoming more competitive, and fintech solutions will help reduce that burden.

HeavyFinance rebrands to InSoil

HeavyFinance, a climate finance company enabling farmers to transition to regenerative agriculture, becomes InSoil. According to the company, the new identity reflects its belief that healthy soil is the foundation of a resilient food system and a powerful tool in the fight against climate change.

Cloud Retai raises $3M funding.

Based out of London, Cloud Retail empowers businesses to launch, scale, and optimise their digital operations with unprecedented speed and precision. Recently, the company secured $3M in seed funding to support its full-cycle operational retail management ecosystem. The round was led by Somersault Ventures with participation from Pre-Seed to Succeed, backed by AltaIR Capital, Yellow Rocks, Smart Partnership Capital, and I2BF Venture Capital, as well as AddVenture and business angels.

KickstartAI and AI Coalition 4 NL join hands again

KickstartAI and the AI Coalition 4 NL (AIC4NL) joined forces and launched the National AI Challenge 2025, announced today at the National AI Congress. Frans Muller, CEO of Ahold Delhaize and a founding partner of KickstartAI, officially unveiled the second edition of the flagship challenge, aimed at delivering real-world AI solutions to pressing societal and business problems. The initiative underscores the Netherlands’ ambition to position itself as a global leader in responsible and impactful AI development.

Rewire establishes new HQ in former Amstel Brewery stables

Based out of Amsterdam, Rewire specialises in designing, building, and implementing AI solutions for large international organisations such as KPN, Nike, ASML, and ABN AMRO. Recently, the company announced the opening of its new headquarters in the former stables of the historic Amstel Brewery. 

Revolut achieves $1.4B profit in 2024

Revolut Group released its Annual Report for the year ending December 31, 2024, posting its fourth consecutive year of profitability with profit before tax surging 149% to €1.2B and a net profit of €933M, achieving a 26% net profit margin. In the Netherlands, the fintech added over 350,000 customers in 2024, surpassing 1 million customers in early 2025.

Otrium launches automated warehouse in Almelo

Amsterdam’s Otrium has expanded its fulfillment capabilities with the launch of a state-of-the-art automated warehouse in Almelo — O-Mega Robot. Developed with logistics specialist Bleckmann and intralogistics provider Kardex, the 7,000m² facility features a high-density AutoStore system with 140,000 storage bins and room for 2.5 million products. Ranking among the top 1% globally in storage efficiency, the new setup allows Otrium to process orders up to five times faster and boost storage capacity by up to 400 per cent, meeting rising demand from customers and brand partners with greater speed, flexibility, and operational excellence.

Tella secures $2.1M funding

Tella, a screen recording and video storytelling platform, has raised $2.1M

in seed funding led by Gradient, with participation from AltaIR Capital, Mento VC, Lobster Capital, The Singularity Fund, and angel investors.

This follows a previously raised $1.4M from Y Combinator, Liquid 2, and Gradient.

Certo Aerospace Raises £3M to Advance CAPSTONE Flight Trials

Somerset-based Certo Aerospace Ltd has secured over £3M in an oversubscribed equity placement to accelerate the development and flight trials of CAPSTONE. CAPSTONE is a 600kg-class VTOL drone designed to replace manned helicopters in defense, disaster relief, and humanitarian operations. (Read more)

Inflowpay raises $1.1M to simplify global payments

Based out of Paris, Inflowpay has secured $1.1M in a pre-seed funding round, backed by investors including Rockstart, Gnosis VC, Alliance, Plug and Play Tech Center, and Stake Capital Group, along with notable angel investors such as Nicolas Bacca (Co-founder of Ledger) and Stéphanie Lacroix (Co-founder of Praemia REIM). The funding will support the company’s mission to create a self-custodial, cost-effective, and faster payment solution for freelancers and businesses in emerging markets to collect payments globally. (Read more)

Adaptavate raises £2.7M to scale low-carbon construction materials

Adaptavate, a leader in low-carbon and carbon-negative construction materials, has raised £2.7M in a pre-Series A funding round from Undivided Ventures and European VC Skreenhouse Ventures by SigmaRoc. The funding will support the commercialization of the company’s patented Carbon Capture and Utilisation (CCU) and Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) processes, which enable the production of sustainable construction products like Adaptavate’s flagship, Breathaboard. (Read more)

Cytovation ASA secures funding

Cytovation ASA, a clinical-stage oncology company, has raised NOK62M (approximately $6M) in a funding round led by existing investors, including Sandwater. The proceeds will support the advancement of its bifunctional peptide CY-101 into a multinational Phase 2 trial for adrenocortical carcinoma, set to begin in late 2025 with initial results expected in 2026. CY-101, a membranolytic inhibitor targeting the Wnt/β-catenin pathway, has shown early signs of antitumor activity in the Phase 1 CICILIA trial. (Read more)

Riptides launches with $3.3M pre-seed round to secure machine identities

Enterprise security startup Riptides has launched with $3.3M in pre-seed funding, one of the largest early rounds in Central and Eastern Europe. The company is developing cryptographically verifiable identities for non-human entities like machines, AI agents, and cloud-native services, aiming to replace traditional static credentials. The round was led by PortfoLion Capital Partners and KAYA VC, with participation from Hungarian and international angel investors. (Read more)

51toCarbonZero raises funding to scale net-zero platform

Climate tech company 51toCarbonZero has secured £3M in funding to expand its AI-driven decarbonisation platform. The round was led by Fuel Ventures with participation from angel investors. The company aims to support corporate net-zero efforts and reduce global emissions by 500 million tonnes of CO₂e. (Read more)

Sheblooms Venture secures €205K to support female entrepreneurs

Sheblooms Venture, a digital platform focused on empowering female entrepreneurs, has raised €205K in a funding round led by investors René de Jong, Fernando García Abasolo, Patrick Siegenthaler, Enrique Seligrat, and Annegien Blokpoel. The platform offers business development support, a network of partners, access to 900 active investors, and a partnership with a crowdfunding platform for launching funding campaigns. (Read more)

Ana app shuts down after struggling to meet growth targets

Tomas Dirvonskas announced the closure of Ana, a content-focused app designed to help users manage information overload. Despite early traction and strong backing from investors like FIRSTPICK and HEARTFELT_, Ana fell short of the growth needed to secure its next funding round. (Read more)

Thorizon join hands with Storabelle

Thorizon and Storabelle have partnered to promote carbon-free, flexible power solutions using molten salt technology. Thorizon, a startup specializing in small modular reactors, and Storabelle, an innovator in thermal energy storage, aim to address energy transition challenges and enhance the competitiveness of European industry.

Poland’s First Quantum Computer Set to Launch at Wrocław University

IQM Quantum Computers is set to deliver Poland’s first full-stack quantum computer to Wrocław University of Science and Technology in the second quarter of 2025.

The 5-qubit system, named “IQM Spark,” will support research and education initiatives in computer science and be accessible to researchers, doctoral candidates, and students, including members of the university’s quantum computing club. (Read more)

Acquisitions

Main Capital Partners Acquires Trace One

Main Capital Partners has acquired Trace One, a SaaS provider specializing in Product Lifecycle Management and compliance software, from previous owner STG Partners. The deal marks Main’s first platform investment in France, following the opening of its Paris office in February 2025. (Read more)

Datatonic acquires Syntio

Datatonic has announced the acquisition of Syntio, a data engineering specialist, strengthening its enterprise services and global delivery operations.

The deal improves Datatonic’s expertise in areas such as data ingestion, transformation, and business intelligence, while also adding new clients across sectors like telecommunications, finance, and retail in Europe. (Read more)

Senken Acquires Ivy

Senken has acquired Ivy, a specialist in early-stage climate project financing, to strengthen its support for climate projects from inception.

The acquisition allows Senken to offer forward purchase agreements, giving corporate buyers earlier, cost-effective access to verified carbon credits and complete visibility into project impact. (Read more)

Socket Acquires Coana

Socket has acquired Coana, a static analysis and reachability engine developed by researchers from Aarhus University, to enhance its Software Composition Analysis (SCA) platform.

This acquisition enables Socket to offer advanced static control flow and call graph analysis, helping security teams prioritize exploitable vulnerabilities and reduce “alert fatigue” caused by traditional scanners. (Read more)