Articles tagged with "funding"
More than 10 European startups became unicorns this year
In the first half of 2025, twelve European startups achieved unicorn status by raising funding rounds that valued them at over $1 billion, signaling a robust funding environment despite fewer mega-rounds compared to 2021. These new unicorns span various sectors, with a notable emphasis on AI, biotech, defense tech, and renewable energy. Key examples include IQM, a Finnish quantum computing company preparing to deploy 150-qubit systems; Framer, a no-code website builder focusing on design and AI with a $2 billion valuation; and Lovable, a Swedish AI coding startup that reached unicorn status just eight months after launching. Other notable unicorns include Fuse Energy, a British renewable energy firm founded by ex-Revolut executives; Mubi, a film-streaming service valued at $1 billion; Zama, a French startup specializing in cryptographic data security; and Isar Aerospace, a German space startup linked to the Technical University of Munich. Additional companies like Tekever from Portugal,
energyrenewable-energystartupsfundingunicornsEuropeclean-energyMore than 10 European startups became unicorns this year
In the first half of 2025, Europe saw a notable surge in startup valuations, with 12 companies achieving unicorn status by raising funding rounds exceeding $1 billion. This trend signals a robust investment climate despite a decline in mega-rounds compared to 2021. Key sectors attracting investor interest include biotech, defense technology, and especially artificial intelligence (AI). Noteworthy unicorns from this period include Lovable, a Swedish AI startup that reached a $1.8 billion valuation just eight months after launching; Fuse Energy, a British renewable energy firm; and Mubi, a film-streaming service valued at $1 billion following a $100 million funding round. Other significant unicorns include Zama, a French startup specializing in cryptographic data security; Isar Aerospace, a German space company that secured €150 million through a convertible bond; and Tekever, a Portuguese defense tech company planning a £400 million investment in UK development. Additionally, Quantum Systems, Parloa, Isomorphic Labs,
energyrenewable-energystartupsfundingEuropean-startupsunicornsinvestmentStartups Weekly: Tech and the law
The latest edition of Startups Weekly highlights a busy week in the startup ecosystem, featuring notable lawsuit developments, mergers and acquisitions, and significant funding rounds. Key startup stories include Rubrik’s push to accelerate AI agent adoption with substantial but undisclosed funding, German fintech startup Kadmos’ $38 million raise linked to Japanese shipping expansion, and ongoing copyright lawsuits involving AI music startup Suno and Getty Images’ AI image generator Stable Diffusion. Despite challenges, Bill Gates-backed Airloom Energy continues its operations in Wyoming. On the venture capital front, several high-profile funding events stood out. Harvey AI, an AI-enabled legal tech startup, raised $300 million at a $5 billion valuation just months after a previous $300 million round at $3 billion. Abridge, an AI medical note automation startup, secured funding at a $5.3 billion valuation, while blockchain prediction market Kalshi and its rival Polymarket are also raising significant capital. Other notable raises include European challenger bank Finom, Indian
energystartupsAIfundingdronesblockchainmaterialsSam Altman-backed Coco Robotics raises $80M
Coco Robotics, a Los Angeles-based startup specializing in last-mile delivery robots, has raised $80 million in a new funding round, bringing its total capital raised to over $120 million. The round included returning angel investors Sam Altman and Max Altman, alongside venture capital firms such as Pelion Venture Partners and Offline Ventures. Previously, Coco secured a $36 million Series A round in 2021. Founded in 2020 by Brad Squicciarini and Zach Rash, the company’s zero-emissions robots have completed more than 500,000 deliveries since launching in 2020 and can carry up to 90 liters of groceries or goods. Coco partners with national retailers including Subway, Wingstop, and Jack in the Box. Sam Altman’s involvement extends beyond personal investment; Coco benefits from access to OpenAI’s technology, while OpenAI gains valuable real-world data collected by Coco’s robots to enhance its AI models. This symbiotic relationship underscores the strategic value of the partnership
robotlast-mile-deliveryautonomous-robotszero-emissionsAI-integrationfundingstartupRoboForce introduces Titan mobile manipulator, brings in $5M more in funding - The Robot Report
robotAImobile-manipulatorindustrial-automationroboticsfundingtechnologyLayoffs hit General Fusion as the fusion power startup runs short on cash
fusionenergystartupplasmacommercial-powerfundingGeneral-FusionChang Robotics announces $50M fund, 2025 strategic roadmap
robotelectric-vehiclesnow-removalmanufacturinginnovationstrategic-roadmapfundingNuvo, a network for B2B trade, has nabbed $34M from Sequoia and Spark Capital
B2B-tradefundingstartupSequoia-CapitalSpark-Capitale-commercetechnologyAI sales tax startup Kintsugi had doubled its valuation in 6 months
AIsales-taxstartuptax-complianceautomatione-commercefundingCast AI raises $108M to get the most out of AI, Kubernetes and other workloads
Cast-AIfundingAI-optimizationKubernetescloud-computingautomationworkload-managementIXI raises $36.5M from Amazon and more to bring the concept of autofocus to prescription glasses
IXIprescription-glassesautofocuseye-tracking-technologyliquid-crystal-lensesfundingstartup-innovations