The startup world has been full of action lately. Everywhere you look, companies are raising money, teaming up with new partners, or buying other businesses.
It feels like there’s something big happening every single day, and honestly, it’s hard to keep track of it all. Even if you try your best to stay updated, some news still slips by.
We know it’s impossible to catch every announcement as it happens. That’s why we put together this simple roundup of the news we almost missed ourselves.
Let’s dive in.
Zama raises €49M to launch FHE Blockchain protocol
Zama, the French startup specialising in Fully Homomorphic Encryption (FHE) for blockchain, has raised €49M in Series B funding, bringing its valuation above $1B. The round was co-led by Blockchange Ventures and Pantera Capital. Founded in 2024, Zama is making confidential onchain applications accessible through its FHEVM, which lets developers build secure smart contracts without learning new tools. (Read more)
Metaview raises €30.1M to scale AI hiring platform
Metaview, the AI platform transforming interviews into actionable hiring intelligence, has closed a €30.1M in Series B funding round led by GV (Google Ventures). Existing investors Plural, Vertex Ventures, Seedcamp, and others also joined the round. Founded by former Uber and Palantir leaders, Metaview captures and analyses hiring conversations to give recruiters consistent, real-time insights. Used by 2,500 companies including Sony, Brex, and Deel, the platform has processed over three million interviews to date. (Read more)
Boost inc raises €16M to expand unattended retail technology
Boost inc has closed a €16M in Series B funding round to fuel its international growth in unattended retail. The round was led by Direttissima Growth Partners, with participation from Capmont Technology, Kineo Capital, and existing investors. Founded in 2020, Boost inc provides smart vending systems, self-checkout kiosks, and its Vendlive cloud platform to brands like Coca-Cola, Hilton, and Siemens. The funds will support entry into new markets, product expansion, and scaling its connected retail technology. (Read more)
Lyceum lands €10.3M to build Europe’s AI cloud infrastructure
European cloud provider Lyceum has secured €10.3M in pre-seed funding to develop sovereign AI infrastructure. The round was led by Redalpine, with backing from 10x Founders. Lyceum runs European data centres and offers a platform that simplifies high-performance computing. Features like one-click GPU deployment, automated hardware selection, and upfront pricing help users train AI and process data quickly. (Read more)
Plena Education secures €10M to grow creative arts education
Plena Education, Italy’s third-largest private higher education group in creative arts, has landed a €10M financing package backed by KYIP Capital. The funds will help the group optimize its finances and complete the acquisition of Brescia’s renowned culinary school Cast Alimenti. With over €27M in revenues, Plena now plans to expand programs in design, fashion, music, and gastronomy across seven Italian cities. (Read more)
Unchained Robotics raises €8.5M to expand easy automation
Unchained Robotics has secured €8.5M in Series A funding to scale its smart factory automation. The investment was led by Direttissima Growth Partners and others. Founded in 2019, the company tackles the complexity of robotics with its LUNA OS software, which lets any user control robots easily, like a smartphone. Over 300 European companies already rely on the system. Now, Unchained Robotics is entering the U.S. market with Albéa Group. The fresh funding will help create a global standard for plug-and-play robot solutions. (Read more)
Chatlyn raises €8M to build the AI brain for hotel guest communications
Chatlyn, the AI platform transforming hotel guest engagement, has secured €8M in Series A funding led by Smedvig Ventures. Other backers include AnyDesk angel Andreas Burike, Blaguss, and Mathias Hiebeler.
Launched in late 2022, Chatlyn unifies guest communication across WhatsApp, email, and booking channels like Booking.com. Already used in 1,000+ hotels, including St. Regis Mauritius and InterContinental Vienna, the platform handles multilingual inquiries, automates bookings, and boosts revenue. (Read more)
PoliCloud raises €7.5M to build sovereign cloud infrastructure
PoliCloud, a French startup offering decentralised high-performance cloud solutions, has secured €7.5< in seed funding. The round was led by Global Ventures, with support from MI8 Limited, OneRagtime, Inria, and others. PoliCloud delivers secure, eco-friendly cloud computing that helps European businesses and public institutions reduce reliance on U.S. providers. Its modular infrastructure combines in-house hardware with Hivenet’s distributed technology. (Read more)
Swave Photonics secures €6M to advance true holographic display
Swave Photonics has raised an additional €6M ($6.97 million) in follow-on Series A funding to accelerate commercialisation of its holographic display platform. The round was led by IAG Capital Partners with new backing from Samsung Ventures. Swave’s HXR technology uses diffractive photonics on CMOS chips to create ultra-small pixels that generate high-quality 3D images without waveguides.T he new funds will fuel further development and go-to-market efforts as Swave positions itself at the forefront of next-generation displays. (Read more)
PhotonPath raises €5.1M to boost optical chip production
PhotonPath, a company specialised in integrated photonics, has secured €5.1M in Series A funding to scale production of its silicon photonics chipsets and expand its product range. The round was led by Join Capital and Deep Ocean Capital, with backing from investors including 360 Capital and Brembo Ventures. Founded in 2019, PhotonPath develops ultra-compact, energy-efficient optical solutions for data centers, telecom networks, and industrial monitoring. (Read more)
CloEE raises $600K funding
AI manufacturing startup CloEE has secured $600,000 in pre-seed funding to expand across the US, Nordics, and Italy. Backed by investors including Miro Vertanen, Innovestor Angel Co-fund, and Cariplo Iniziative, CloEE’s platform connects directly to factory machines to track performance, reduce energy use, and improve efficiency.
CloEE’s AI delivers real-time insights that help manufacturers boost productivity by up to 30% and cut emergency outages by 95%. The new funding will scale R&D and sales as the company targets its first 20 recurring customers this year.
Wibo raises €500K to reinvent corporate training
Wibo, the corporate learning startup blending real-world executive insights with practical training, has closed a €500,000 funding round. The investment was led by top business leaders including Oscar Farinetti (Eataly) and Andrea Incondi (Flix), alongside Talent Garden and Techstars. Founded by Tommaso Seita and Alessandro Busso, Wibo helps companies train teams through interactive programs led by executives from Nike, Google, and Airbnb. The funds will expand Wibo’s AI-focused content, grow its team, and develop proprietary learning tools to make training more impactful and immediately useful in daily work.
Cirquly AI wins €250K grant
Cirquly AI has secured a €250,000 grant from Kansen voor West to advance its smart automation tools for second-hand fashion retail.
The company’s AI platform helps shops process unique items in seconds by recognising products, suggesting prices, picking the best photos, and listing them online automatically. The solution is designed for second-hand stores, returns, and other operations with one-off pieces. (Read more)
Danone buys The Akkermansia Company
The Akkermansia Company, known for creating gut health solutions, has been acquired by food giant Danone. With this deal, Danone plans to boost its next-generation biotic products across Europe, North America, and Asia. TAC’s CEO said joining Danone will speed up the growth of their pasteurized strain and brands. (Read more)
Dutch Navy to use Lobster Robotics’ underwater drone
On June 24, during the 2025 NATO Summit, Lobster Robotics signed a major contract with the Dutch Ministry of Defence. The deal makes the Royal Netherlands Navy the first military customer for the company’s Scout underwater drone. Lobster Robotics will now adapt its civil drone for defence use. Both sides will test, improve, and develop the Scout into a military-grade system. The project is part of NATO’s Rapid Adoption Action Plan to accelerate the deployment of technology across member states. (Read more)
Mion raises millions to bring instant Bitcoin Payments
Norwegian-Austrian fintech Mion has closed a seven-figure seed funding round to revolutionise Bitcoin payments for European merchants. Backed by investors like Fulgur, Initial Capital, and Leo Capital, Mion will use the funds to scale its Lightning Network platform. Mion’s technology lets retailers accept Bitcoin and instantly convert it into euros, cutting fees by up to 80% compared to credit cards. The system settles payments within 24 hours without chargebacks or extra complexity.
Kraken Technology Group secures NATO and UK backing for uncrewed naval systems
Kraken Technology Group has announced fresh funding from the NATO Innovation Fund, the UK’s NSSIF, and Superangel to accelerate its uncrewed surface vessel (USV) programs. The investment will help Kraken scale manufacturing, R&D, and prototyping of its modular maritime platforms, like the K3 SCOUT and K4 MANTA, which enhance naval capability while reducing risk to personnel. (Read more)
Accelex and Quantyx join forces to automate private markets data
Accelex and Quantyx have announced a partnership to streamline data management for private markets investors. Quantyx will integrate Accelex’s AI-powered data extraction tools into its Quantyx RM platform, automating the capture of critical information from documents like capital statements and performance reports. The collaboration aims to boost transparency, reduce errors, and speed up risk analysis for alternative investment funds.
Pieter Post launches ‘Pay it Forward’
Dutch online postal service Pieter Post has introduced Pay it Forward, a new feature that lets users prepay for a reply when sending a letter. The recipient gets a QR code to answer for free, without needing a stamp or printer. Founder Bart Welzen said the idea came straight from customer feedback. Pieter Post blends old-fashioned mail with modern technology, helping people send letters worldwide through a simple web platform. With this update, replying to real mail is now faster and more accessible.
OutSee lands £1.8M to advance AI-driven genomic drug discovery
Genomics innovator OutSee has raised £1.8 million in seed funding to expand its predictive genomics platform, Nomaly. The round was led by Ahren Innovation Capital, joined by Kadmos Capital, Empirical Ventures, and Panacea Ventures. Nomaly uses AI to predict disease mechanisms directly from a single genome, helping uncover new drug targets beyond known genetic associations.
Revolut names Béatrice Cossa-Dumurgier CEO of New Western Europe HQ
Revolut has appointed Béatrice Cossa-Dumurgier as CEO of its new Western Europe headquarters in Paris. A veteran of McKinsey, BNP Paribas, and the French Ministry of Finance, she will lead Revolut’s expansion in France and neighboring markets. Her priorities include securing a French banking license from ACPR and the European Central Bank.
Main Capital Partners acquires majority stake in PRIM’X
Main Capital Partners has acquired a majority stake in PRIM’X, a leading French developer of encryption and data confidentiality software. PRIM’X, founded in 2003 by CEO Serge Binet, serves over 1,000 clients in defense, government, and finance. The deal marks Main’s second platform investment in France. PRIM’X will use the partnership to expand internationally, grow its product suite, and enter new sectors. The management team will stay on board with a significant minority stake, ensuring continuity as the company strengthens its role in European data sovereignty.
France’s Joue-La Comme launches app to connect pro athletes and fans
Sports tech startup Joue-La Comme has unveiled the beta version of its immersive fan platform, now live globally on iOS and Android. The app lets professional athletes share exclusive content and engage directly with fans. Debuting with footballers Over and Parfait Mandanda, the platform gives athletes control over their digital presence and new ways to earn from behind-the-scenes moments.
International Campus acquires Project Fascinatio in Rotterdam
International Campus Group has acquired Project Fascinatio, a major student accommodation development in Rotterdam. The project will feature 342 modern apartments and shared amenities, including a gym, communal kitchen, study spaces, and a rooftop terrace. Construction begins in August 2025, with completion set for summer 2027. Located five minutes from Erasmus University, the development aims to meet rising demand for sustainable student housing. This marks International Campus’s third asset in the Netherlands as it expands its European portfolio.
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