The past few days have been packed with big news across the startup world. From fresh funding rounds and new partnerships to acquisitions, there’s been a lot happening all at once.
With so many updates, it’s hard to keep track of everything, and let’s face it, we’ve probably missed a few along the way.
That’s why we’ve put together this quick list. It covers the key news stories we almost missed but still matter, from companies raising money to new products and much more.
Do give it a read!
AURELIUS closes €830M fund V
AURELIUS, a global private equity firm, has closed its latest investment vehicle, AURELIUS Opportunities Fund V, at €830M following strong investor demand. The fund was oversubscribed and completed in just five months. Focused on corporate carve-outs and complex mid-market buyouts, Fund V will target companies with at least €100M in revenue, investing up to €150M in equity per deal. Backed by a majority of returning investors and new institutional LPs, the fund will be supported by AURELIUS’ 180-strong WaterRise operations team. (Read more)
Pelico raises €34.7M to expand AI-powered supply chain platform
Supply chain orchestration startup Pelico has secured $40 million in strategic funding to boost its rapid expansion across North America. The round was led by General Catalyst, with support from existing investors 83North and Serena, bringing Pelico’s total funding to $72 million.
Pelico’s real-time AI platform helps manufacturers like Airbus, Eaton, and Daikin tackle operational fragmentation, reduce shortages, and improve on-time delivery. With 300% revenue growth and deployments in over 15 countries, the new capital will accelerate U.S. hiring, product innovation, and further investment in Agentic AI for smarter supply chains. (Read more)
Jet HR raises €25M to become the OS for Italian SMEs
Italian HR tech startup Jet HR has secured €25 million in Series A funding led by BASE10, marking the U.S. fund’s first investment in Italy. The round brings Jet HR’s total funding to €41.7 million. BASE10 founder Adeyemi Ajao will join the company’s board.
Founded by Marco Ogliengo and Francesco Scalambrino, Jet HR has grown rapidly, now serving over 700 companies and scaling its team to 110 people. With 6x ARR growth in 2024, the company plans to double headcount and expand its platform into a full operating system for managing employee administration and labor relations across Italian SMEs. (Read more)
Ostrom raises €20M to expand smart green energy platform
Digital green energy provider Ostrom has secured €20 million in a Series B round led by Eneco Ventures, bringing its total funding to over €40 million. Existing investors SE Ventures, Union Square Ventures, and 468 Capital also joined the round.
Ostrom, a certified B Corp, tripled its customer base in 2024 and now operates Germany’s largest electric vehicle Virtual Power Plant. With this funding, the company will accelerate smart meter adoption, enhance AI-driven automation, and scale its NeoGrid VPP, all while redefining energy through transparent pricing and customer-first tech. (Read more)
UK’s Intelligent Energy Wins £17M to power aircraft with hydrogen fuel cells
Intelligent Energy has secured a £17M grant to speed up the development of its new hydrogen fuel cell system for aircraft. The funding comes from the ATI Programme and backs Project HEIGHTS, a three-year push to refine the company’s IE-FLIGHT 300 platform. Designed for eVTOLs and small commuter planes, the zero-emission system could enter early service by 2030. Intelligent Energy’s water-injection cooling tech cuts aircraft drag and boosts efficiency, a key hurdle in aviation fuel cells. The move signals growing momentum for hydrogen-electric flight as aviation seeks greener alternatives. (Read more)
Mercanis secures €17.3M to expand Agentic-AI procurement platform
Mercanis, a leader in AI-driven procurement software, has raised over €17.3 million in Series A funding to accelerate global expansion and scale its Agentic-AI Procurement Suite. The round was led by Partech and AVP, with continued support from Speedinvest, Signals.VC, and other early backers.
Founded in 2020, Mercanis automates supplier management, sourcing, and contract workflows using AI agents that reduce manual tasks and optimize decisions. Already delivering 12x ROI for clients like BASF-Coatings and Gasag, the funding will fuel product growth and a strategic push into the U.S. market. (Read more)
Artec 3D secures €15M from EIB
Artec 3D has received €15 million in venture debt from the European Investment Bank (EIB) to support R&D into next-gen 3D scanning and AI-driven data processing. The funding, backed by the EU’s InvestEU initiative, will boost innovation at Artec’s research sites in Luxembourg and Portugal. This marks the EIB’s first Luxembourg-based venture debt deal under InvestEU. Artec 3D will use the funds to enhance both hardware and software, cementing its role in Europe’s deep tech ecosystem. (Read more)
Swarmia raises €9.5M to bring AI-powered engineering intelligence
Developer productivity platform Swarmia has secured $11 million in Series A funding to expand its AI-driven engineering intelligence tools. The round was led by Karma Ventures and DIG Ventures, with participation from Alven, Lifeline Ventures, and notable angels from OpenAI, Slack, and Gorgias.
Used by teams at Webflow, Miro, and Superhuman, Swarmia helps organizations from developers to CTOs, track, understand, and improve software delivery. With this new funding, the company plans to advance AI features that turn data into actionable recommendations, helping teams measure and optimize the impact of tools like GitHub Copilot. (Read more)
NaroIQ Secures €5.6M Seed to modernise ETF Infrastructure
NaroIQ has raised $6.5M in seed funding to simplify how companies launch and manage ETFs. The round was led by Magnetic Capital, with participation from Redstone, 14Peaks Capital, Angel Invest, and returning backers General Catalyst and Discovery Ventures. NaroIQ’s platform helps traditional fund issuers transition into ETF providers, reducing costs and streamlining fund administration. (Read more)
DESKi raises €5.2M to launch AI-powered Heart Imaging tool
Healthtech startup DESKi has closed a $6 million seed round to support the global rollout of its FDA-approved cardiac imaging software, HeartFocus. The round was led by Racine², with participation from BNP Paribas Développement, Épopée Gestion, and others.
HeartFocus uses AI to guide healthcare professionals in capturing high-quality heart scans, making early cardiac diagnosis accessible beyond hospitals. With real-time support and minimal training, the tool bridges the specialist shortage gap, especially in rural and primary care settings. The new funds will fuel DESKi’s U.S. expansion and continuous software improvements. (Read more)
Sweden’s Embedl secures €5.5M to make AI models lighter and faster
Embedl, a deep tech startup optimising embedded AI models, has raised €5.5 million in fresh funding led by SEB Greentech VC, Fairpoint Capital, and Spintop Ventures. Embedl’s technology slashes energy use and memory demands for AI running on vehicles, drones, and robots, enabling up to 83 per cent less energy use and 18x faster inference speeds. Already gaining traction with clients like Bosch and Kodiak Robotics, the funding will fuel Embedl’s product growth and the launch of its developer platform, Embedl Hub. (Read more)
Germany’s Superscale raises $5M to revolutionize AI marketing
Superscale, a new AI-native platform simplifying digital marketing for startups, has secured $5 million in pre-seed funding. The round was led by Creandum with backing from Interface, s16vc, and high-profile angels from OpenAI, Anthropic, and ElevenLabs.
Superscale lets teams launch brand-aligned campaigns in minutes by analyzing product URLs and refining content through a chat interface. Initially targeting consumer apps and B2B startups, the platform learns from ad performance to improve future output, promising to cut marketing time, cost, and complexity for founders.
Greencode Ventures backs AI startup Renow with €1.8M
Greencode Ventures has led a €1.8M seed round in Renow, a promising AI startup aiming to reshape Europe’s second-hand electronics market. Superhero Capital and Street Smart Capital also joined the round.
Renow’s platform uses artificial intelligence to rapidly process and recondition returned electronic devices, making them resale-ready within days. This helps retailers recover more value from returns while offering consumers affordable, like-new gadgets. (Read more)
Traxlo Raises €1.6M to scale AI-powered task-based labor platform
Traxlo, a startup redefining how physical labor is sourced and paid, has raised €1.6 million in funding to expand its task-based work platform across Europe. The round was led by Coinvest Capital, with backing from Plug and Play, Bad Ideas Fund, DEPO Ventures, and others.
Traxlo’s model shifts away from hourly gig work, offering verified, outcome-based tasks via its app tasku.app, with AI-driven automation soon arriving through tasku.ai. (Read more)
Nvelop secures €1.2M to reinvent procurement with agentic AI
AI-driven sourcing startup Nvelop has raised €1.2 million in seed funding to scale its agentic procurement platform. The round was led by Failup Ventures, with continued backing from Antler. Nvelop’s end-to-end platform streamlines enterprise sourcing, from RFP creation to contract management by automating manual tasks and embedding compliance through a chat-first, AI-native interface.
Bitloops raises €1M to turn Figma designs into production-ready code
Bitloops, an AI-powered development platform tailored for frontend engineers, has raised €1 million in a pre-seed round led by Eleven Ventures, with support from Corallia Ventures and angel investors.
Unlike generic code generators, Bitloops bridges the gap between design and enterprise-quality code by transforming Figma layouts into scalable, responsive UI components without compromising engineering standards. Its AI-powered “Frontend Copilot” acts like a senior engineer, streamlining workflows and reducing rework for dev teams.
Punto Health wins €100K NN Social Innovation Award at TNW Conference 2025
Punto Health has been crowned the winner of the €100K NN Social Innovation Startup Award 2025 at this year’s TNW Conference. Chosen from over 300 applicants, the UK–Spain-based startup impressed judges with its mission to help families manage dementia care proactively.
Co-founders Anna Muñoz Farré and Jack Eckersley are working to transform support systems for millions facing dementia by 2030. Runner-up The Hacking Games received €50K, while four other impactful startups — naext, Juvoly, Morphoses, and iYoni, earned supporting grants. (Read more)
Munich’s alago raises Seven-Figure to automate construction workflows with AI
Construction tech startup alago has secured a seven-figure pre-seed funding round led by Realyze Ventures, with participation from D11Z, CDTM Venture Fund, and seasoned angels from the construction and venture space. alago’s AI-powered platform transforms complex construction documentation into actionable workflows, saving project managers up to two hours daily. (Read more)
CUBE acquires Acin
CUBE, a company specialised in Automated Regulatory Intelligence (ARI) and Regulatory Change Management (RCM), announces the acquisition of Acin, a London-headquartered RegTech and global operational risk AI and technology provider for the financial services sector. The acquisition further expands CUBE’s existing capabilities, with a proven regulatory controls data network and full traceability. (Read more)
Main Capital Partners acquires CarWise and AutoDisk
Main Capital Partners announced the acquisition of CarWise and AutoDisk, two integrated companies that hold a market-leading position in front–, mid-, and back-office ERP solutions for the leasing and car rental sector in the Benelux. Main and CarWise will jointly focus on further product innovation, internationalization, and enhancing customer experience through smart solutions for the leasing and rental markets. The founders of CarWise and AutoDisk will remain involved as shareholders in the business. (Read more)
Conscium launches AI Agent verification platform
AI safety startup Conscium has unveiled a platform to verify AI agents for accuracy, fairness, and alignment, marking its first commercial offering. The company has partnered with WPP to test and certify thousands of AI agents used in its WPP Open marketing platform. Founded by Daniel Hulme in 2024, Conscium’s platform places AI agents in gamified virtual environments to assess their readiness for real-world tasks. With AI agents expected to number in the billions by the decade’s end, Conscium aims to lead the emerging market for trustworthy AI deployment. (Read more)
