With so many tech breakthroughs, funding rounds, and product launches happening each week, it’s easy to miss a few big updates. We get it — a lot is going on. So we’ve rounded up the key news we have overlooked. Here’s a quick recap of what’s been making noise across the startup world.
Stockholm-based Legora raises €71M to transform legal work with AI
Legora, the AI-powered collaboration platform for lawyers, has raised $80M (approx €71M) in Series B funding, pushing its valuation to $675M. The round was led by ICONIQ and General Catalyst, with continued backing from Redpoint Ventures, Benchmark, and Y Combinator. Built by former legal and tech insiders, the platform helps legal teams research, draft, and collaborate faster. The funding will fuel product development and international growth. (Read more)
ReproNovo raises €57M to advance fertility and women’s health treatments
Lausanne-based ReproNovo, a biopharma startup focused on reproductive medicine and women’s health, has raised $65M (approx €57M) in Series A funding. The round was led by Jeito Capital, with co-leads AXA IM Alts and M Ventures, joined by Ysios Capital and ALSA Ventures.
ReproNovo will use the funds to advance two Phase 2 clinical programs—one targeting male infertility (RPN-001) and the other, adenomyosis and ART success (RPN-002). The company aims to fill critical gaps in fertility care with first-in-class, orally administered therapies. (Read more)
Veesion raises €53M to scale AI that spots theft in physical stores
Veesion, a French startup using AI to detect suspicious behaviour in retail stores, has secured €38M in Series B funding, plus €15M in non-dilutive capital, bringing its total raise to €53M. Backed by White Star Capital, Red River West, and Bpifrance, the funding will support global expansion and tech development. Veesion’s gesture-recognition AI flags risky movements in real time, offering retailers smarter surveillance. (Read more)
Cologne’s Aufinity secures €23M for smart workforce planning
Aufinity, a Cologne-based startup has raised €23M in a round led by BlackFin Capital Partners, with continued support from our existing investors PayPal Ventures and Seaya.
Aufinity Group, through its products “bezahl.de” and “Aufinity,” is a FinTech company focused on transforming payment management in the European automotive industry.
It offers a comprehensive solution that automates, digitizes, and simplifies the entire receivables process, from payment requests to ensuring 100% data quality for automated posting in accounting systems. (Read more)
Kota raises €12.8M to simplify global employee benefits
Irish startup Kota has secured €12.8M in Series A funding to scale its insurance benefits platform, bringing its total funding to €20.2M.
Led by Eurazeo, with backing from EQT Ventures, Northzone, and others, the round comes as Kota also announces its authorisation by the Central Bank of Ireland.
Kota offers a seamless API and platform that integrates directly with insurers, helping companies roll out health, retirement, and insurance benefits globally. The company already supports clients like Remote.com, Carwow, and Protex AI across multiple countries. (Read more)
VOYA Games raises €4.4M to expand player-owned gaming with Craft World
Berlin-based VOYA Games has secured €4.4M to scale Craft World, its debut title blending casual gameplay with player-owned economies. The round was co-led by 1kx and Makers Fund, with backing from RockawayX and notable angels from Sky Mavis and The Sandbox.
Craft World, which saw over 240,000 users during its testnet, introduces asset ownership through a lighthearted rebuild-the-world narrative featuring friendly dinosaurs. (Read more)
Tilt Energy raises €4.3M to scale AI-powered demand-side energy platform
Tilt Energy has secured $5M in fresh funding to accelerate the rollout of its AI-driven energy platform, which connects buildings directly to energy markets. The company’s solution enables smarter, low-carbon energy use by tapping into underutilized electricity flexibilities.
With a team of engineers, PhDs, and business experts, Tilt aims to decentralize energy systems and optimize asset management for consumers and grids alike. The funding will support tech development, market expansion, and new partnerships as the company pushes toward a more resilient, sustainable energy future. (Read more)
MDA Analytics secures €3.3M to advance AI tools for hospital decision-making
MDA Analytics has raised €3.3M in seed funding to develop comprehensive surgical support systems from High-Tech Gründerfonds. The company has developed special software solutions that can be used to record the surgical techniques and decision-making routines of leading surgeons in detail and transfer them to AI-based assistance systems. (Read more)
Augmented Hearing picks up €3M to boost speech tech in critical spaces
Augmented Hearing, a Danish deeptech startup, has raised €3M to develop its AI-based audio solution that helps people hear speech more clearly in noisy environments.
The round is backed by PSV Tech, PreSeed Ventures, and Denmark’s Innovation Fund, with the funds going toward further product development and early pilots.
The company is focused on settings like hospitals, factories, and public areas where clear communication is essential. The system separates human voices from background noise in real-time. (Read more)
Forceteck raises funding to optimise professional sports through AI
Based out of Bath, Forceteck specialises in providing sports professionals with fast, accurate, and actionable data to guide critical decisions in return-to-play protocols, game readiness assessments, and talent identification. Recently, the company raised £550,000 in an oversubscribed round to transform performance optimisation and decision-making in professional sports with physics-informed AI. (Read more)
Estonia’s Income raises €540K to grow its non-bank lending investment platform
Tallinn-based fintech startup Income has secured €540,000 in funding to expand its investment platform that links retail investors with vetted non-bank lenders.
The platform enables users to invest in consumer and business loans across emerging markets, offering risk protection through a reserve structure. The funding round, led by existing investors and angels, will support product development and broader market reach.
Since its launch, Income has attracted over 5,000 investors and aims to position itself as a safer entry point into alternative lending. (Read more)
London’s Verdn shuts down
Chris Mjelde, co-founder of Verdn, announced that the company is shutting down. After four years of developing impact-tracking tech for e-commerce, the team is planning to start a new, undisclosed venture. While Verdn didn’t succeed as expected, Mjelde mentioned that they gained valuable lessons and are working on something “ambitious and personal.” (Read more)
Litehaus secures pre-seed funding
Based out of Lisbon, Litehaus is a pioneering property development company specialising in construction solutions, including 3D-printed modular homes and sustainable building technologies. Recently, the company raised a pre-seed round to simplify how contractors source and manage building materials. (Read more)
Penfold lands €4.6M investment to expand its digital pension platform
Workplace pension provider Penfold has raised £3.9M (approx €4.6M) in a round led by Gresham House Ventures, with support from existing investors. Penfold’s proprietary platform allows businesses to set up or switch pensions in minutes, and its user base has tripled since early 2024. The new funding will support expansion across the UK SME market and enhance the platform’s features for both employers and savers.
Seville-based Catalyxx raises €3M to scale renewable chemicals production
Spanish startup Catalyxx has secured €3M in funding led by Axon Partners Group to expand its facility in La Rinconada, Seville.
The company, which converts bioethanol into sustainable chemicals and aviation fuels, is backed by the Axon Desarrollo Andalucía fund, with support from the EIB and the Andalusian government.
Catalyxx’s patented process offers renewable alternatives to fossil-based products used in everyday industries. Founded in 2017, the startup has now raised over €18M, positioning itself as a key player in Europe’s sustainable chemistry space.
Luxembourg’s Kidola raises €1.3M to bring its childcare tech to France
Luxembourg’s Kidola, a childcare management platform, has secured €1.3 million in funding to support its expansion into the French market.
The startup offers digital tools that simplify communication, planning, and administration for daycare centers.
With the new funding, Kidola aims to strengthen its presence in Europe by onboarding more childcare providers and enhancing its product features.
PlaySafe ID raises €1M to fight cheating and abuse in online gaming
PlaySafe ID, a startup building a privacy-first identity platform for gamers, has raised €1M in pre-seed funding.
The round was led by Early Game Ventures, with backing from Hartmann Capital and Overwolf. The funding will support team growth, integrations, and a push toward 250,000+ users in the coming months.
The platform issues verified anonymised digital IDs that help developers block cheaters, bots, and online predators without compromising player freedom. With the Online Safety Act raising pressure on game safety standards, PlaySafe ID aims to become a default trust layer across multiplayer titles. (Read more)
Vilnius-based Astrolight raises €2.8M to build laser link between space and Earth
Astrolight, a Lithuanian startup focused on laser-based space communications, has secured €2.8M in seed funding.
The round was led by Balnord, with participation from EIFO, Coinvest Capital, and earlier backers 3NGLS and Rita Sakus.
The funding will support the development of Astrolight’s secure, dual-use optical communication system, connecting satellites to ground infrastructure. CEO Laurynas Mačiulis says the company aims to create a scalable optical backbone for space, starting with its ATLAS-1-based terminals and the launch of its first operational ground station.
Amsterdam’s Insiber.com joins Culttech Accelerator
Insiber.com, a cybersecurity and cyber-insurance management platform for SMEs, has been selected for Batch #6 of the Culttech Accelerator. Based in Amsterdam, the startup’s CyberControl SaaS helps organizations manage digital assets, track protections, and access cyber expertise.
Founded in 2022 and led by CEO Guido van Nispen, Insiber.com will now work alongside other ventures at the intersection of culture and technology as part of the Vienna-based six-month program.
Ten Dutch startups named finalists in Academic Startup Competition 2025
The Academic Startup Competition has announced the ten finalists for its 2025 edition, spotlighting the most promising science-driven startups in the Netherlands.
Chosen from over 85 entries, the selected teams offer innovative solutions in health, sustainability, energy, agriculture, and deep tech. As part of the program, they participated in expert-led sessions and an international visit to the U.S. innovation hubs. The winners and audience choice awards will be revealed on June 2.
Finalists include:
- ATA Mute B.V.
- Carapace Biopolymers
- CIWI
- FlowBeams
- IMChip
- MimeCure
- MycoFarming
- QT Sense
- VirXcel
- YSVOGEL
Derby City Council launches UK’s first generative AI phone assistant for public services
Derby City Council has introduced the UK’s first generative AI phone assistant for the public sector, developed in partnership with ICS.AI.
The AI-powered voice system, an advanced version of the Council’s digital assistant Darcie, now handles resident enquiries in ten languages, including Urdu, Polish, and Arabic.
The assistant provides natural, human-like responses to questions on services such as council tax, bins, and social care. On its first day, Darcie deflected or resolved 57 per cent of calls, cutting peak switchboard volumes by 84 per cent, making public services more accessible across Derby.
Charité and Cure51 join forces to create the world’s first cancer outlier database
Biotech firm Cure51 has teamed up with Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin to launch the
German arm of the Rosalind Study, the world’s first database of cancer outliers.
Charité will lead the small cell lung cancer cohort, contributing survivor tumor samples and clinical data to help uncover how rare “super-responders” overcome aggressive cancers.
With over 1,000 samples being analyzed globally, the initiative aims to identify new therapeutic targets. This move makes Charité the study’s largest partner to date, deepening Germany’s role in Cure51’s international cancer research network.
Freshflow secures €6.5M to scale AI platform tackling fresh food waste
Berlin-based Freshflow has raised €6.5M in seed funding to expand its AI-powered solution for fresh produce supply chains. The round was led by World Fund, with support from Capnamic, Venture Stars, and Caesar Ventures. Freshflow’s platform automates daily ordering for perishable items, cutting waste by over 20 per cent and boosting revenues by up to 5 per cent.
Ekco acquires Predatech to expand UK cyber security footprint
Dublin-based Ekco, a managed service provider focused on security, has acquired Manchester-based cyber consultancy Predatech to strengthen its UK presence. Predatech, founded in 2020, is known for its CREST-accredited penetration testing and cyber assurance services, including Cyber Essentials and ISO 27001 support. With over 250 clients and strong retention, the firm has now become part of Ekco’s broader strategy to grow its capabilities and geographical reach. This marks Ekco’s fourth acquisition in 18 months and adds a North-West hub to its UK operations.
Photoroom acquires GenerateBanners, launches GenAI tool for automated ad creatives
AI photo editing firm Photoroom has launched Visual Ads Automation, a generative AI tool that transforms entire product catalogs into ready-to-use, branded ad creatives. The rollout is supported by Photoroom’s first acquisition—GenerateBanners, a startup known for precision image and text generation. The acquisition follows Photoroom’s recent $43M Series B round, bringing its total funding to $64M. GenerateBanners’ tech is now integrated into the Photoroom API, marking a major step in automating visual content production for e-commerce. (Read more)
01
These are the top UK-based PR agencies for startups and scale-ups in 2025