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Cybersecurity startup Snyk undergoes fresh wave of job cuts

Snyk, the London and Tel Aviv-founded cybersecurity firm, is understood to have undergone a fresh wave of job cuts, with sources saying over 100 workers have been axed. Snyk, which is now headquartered in Boston, helps companies ensure the software they write is up to scratch, safe, and not vulnerable to cyber attacks. It was founded in 2015 by Guy Podjarny, a former Israeli cyber expert who became its first CEO, and Assaf Hefetz and Danny Grander. It was valued at $8.5bn in 2021 at the height of the VC bubble. Snyk's latest round of job cuts is understood to have taken place in the past few weeks, and according to sources, between 110 and 130 roles have been axed. This figure has not been confirmed by Snyk. Jobs impacted include software engineers and product managers, sources say. Several Snyk employees have taken to LinkedIn posting about their recent departures from Snyk, which has around 1,300 staff, with offices also in other European cities such as Bucharest as well as Singapore and Tokyo. Snyk, which is backed by Tiger Global and the Qatar Investment Authority, underwent two rounds of job cuts in 2022. In 2022, Snyk raised $196.5 million in Series G funding led by Qatar Investment Authority, valuing it at $7.4bn, 12 per cent down from its 2021 funding round. Last month, Snyk acquired AI research firm Invariant Labs. Snyk was not available for comment.

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Two raises €13M to scale its B2B payments solutions

Oslo-based Two, a B2B payments platform, has closed a €13 million strategic funding round, bringing Two’s total funding to over €40 million to date. The fresh investment will fuel Two’s expansion into the US and select Western European markets.  Founded in 2021, Two set out with an ambitious goal: to make B2B transactions as seamless as consumer checkouts. Its platform provides instant upfront payments to sellers, flexible net terms for buyers, and AI-driven fraud prevention. With rapid adoption across both large enterprises and SMEs, Two’s infrastructure has already become the go-to standard for B2B commerce in Northern Europe. This momentum continues to build, with the company projecting more than 150 per cent year-over-year growth in revenue and payment volume for 2025. Over the past six months, Two has also secured major partnerships with Visa, ABN AMRO, Qliro, Avarda, and Wikinggruppen. The company is well-positioned within the broader digitisation trend in B2B payments, as businesses increasingly turn to scalable, modern solutions to replace outdated, manual processes, mirroring the transformation seen in consumer fintech over the last decade. Andreas Mjelde, CEO & co-founder of Two, said: We are the ‘Two’ in B2B, and we’re on a mission to make selling on net terms as easy as accepting card payments. We’ve proven that merchants want flexible payment solutions built for how businesses actually buy, not just consumer tools rebranded for B2B. We will leverage the capital injection to scale with large and global enterprise businesses, and we’re excited to add strong institutional investors with a long-term investment horizon like Investinor and Idékapital to the team. The round was led by Idékapital and Shine Capital, with participation from new investor Investinor and existing backers Sequoia Capital, Antler, Alliance Ventures, Arkwright, and Local Globe. Kristian Øvsthus, Managing Partner at Idékapital and incoming board observer, shared that their decision to invest in Two was driven by the founding team's outstanding ambition and talent, adding: With deep international experience and a diverse, world-class team, they are uniquely positioned to scale globally. B2B payments is a massive and still largely untapped market. Two stands out through their combination of a powerful and modular software, deep understanding of the network effects in their industry and their dedication to solving a big problem. We believe they have what it takes to build a global category leader. According to Egil Garberg, Investment Director at Investinor, Two is demonstrating that B2B payments can be just as advanced and seamless as consumer payment solutions: They’re tackling an underserved market with a world-class team and scalable technology. Together with Sequoia, Shine Capital, Idékapital, and Antler, we’re proud to back Two as they build the next global standout fintech success from Norway. Mathias Owing Maanum, Partner at Antler, highlighted B2B payments as one of fintech’s biggest untapped opportunities, pointing out that trillions in transactions still depend on outdated, manual systems with poor user experience and restricted credit access. He shared:  Two’s platform is at the forefront, making it as simple to offer instant net terms as it is to accept a card from consumers. What sets Two apart is their real-time underwriting engine, unique banking partnerships, and proven ability to scale rapidly - already serving more than 200 merchants across Europe. We believe they’re building the foundational infrastructure for the next era of global B2B commerce, and we’re proud to continue supporting this exceptional team as they realise their bold vision. Mo Koyfman, Founder & General Partner at Shine Capital, added:  The B2B payments market is approaching $100 trillion in volume, and is largely still processed with checks by Accounts Payable departments. Over the coming years, as we've increasingly seen with consumer payments, this market will also digitise. Two, and its experienced, ambitious team, is helping lead this transition with instant underwriting, seamless terms, and a global footprint, serving some of the largest companies in the world The funding will also fuel the continued development of Two’s fully productised B2B payments infrastructure. This includes proprietary risk engines, Frida and Delphi, a comprehensive business onboarding solution, and embedded deferred payment features designed specifically for B2B transactions, already adopted by more than 200 merchants across the Nordics and Europe. Lead image: Two founding team | Photo: Uncredited

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Berlin’s re:cap expands to UK with €125M credit facility

Berlin-based fintech re:cap has expanded into the UK with the launch of a new €125 million credit facility for onward lending provided by HSBC Innovation Banking and Avellinia Capital.  re:cap operates the tech platform and infrastructure on top of the facility, giving tech companies access to real-time capital planning and flexible funding.  Its Capital OS is designed to help high-growth companies scale without overreliance on equity or the inefficiencies of traditional lending. It combines flexible debt, real-time liquidity management, and capital planning in a single platform. This gives founders and CFOs full control over how capital is raised, deployed, and tracked. “Over the past four years, our platform has helped hundreds of tech companies in Germany and the Netherlands scale efficiently – with zero defaults and full transparency,” said Paul Becker, CEO and co-founder of re:cap. “Now we’re bringing that same infrastructure to the UK, supported by more capital than ever, provided by our strong existing and new partners.” The idea for re:cap was born when co-founders Paul Becker and Jonas Tebbe were consulting a private equity firm on digital due diligence. While prototyping financial tools, they saw an opportunity to integrate capital access with real-time analysis. Out of that insight, re:cap was born. Prior to re:cap, the founders built LIQID, Europe’s leading digital wealth manager. Since launching in Germany in 2021, re:cap has deployed more than €100 million in financing across Germany and the Netherlands. Testament to the quality of re:cap’s underwriting is the company’s track record with zero defaults which has impressed institutional investors. Phill Lovett, Head of Structured Finance at HSBC Innovation Banking, said, "It has been a privilege to partner with re:cap since 2022, providing warehouse funding to enable the business to build a high performing loan book underpinned by re:cap’s market leading credit decision-making software.” Julian Schickel, Founding Partner at Avellinia Capital, commented,  “re:cap is solving a major headache for tech founders. Traditional banks rarely lend to startup and growth tech companies, and venture debt is usually only available for later-stage companies. With re:cap, tech companies can easily and flexibly receive growth capital while benefiting from a powerful real-time analytics platform.  We’re pleased to commence our collaboration with re:cap, leveraging an innovative financing structure, as we enter this next phase together.” Lead image: re:cap. Photo: uncredited.

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The European tech ecosystem: H1 2025 Report

The mid-year mark is a great time to review numbers and highlight significant milestones and trends across the European tech scene, and what they mean for the remainder of 2025.Click to read the rest of the news.

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Nzyme closes €160M Fund to transform traditional Spanish businesses

Nzyme, the private equity Fund backed by Kibo Ventures, has closed at €160 million.  The capital will be used to invest in profitable Spanish companies operating in highly fragmented B2B sectors, with a focus on traditional businesses that have strong transformation potential through the adoption of technology and sector consolidation. Nzyme invests with a prudent and hands-on approach, focusing on well-managed companies with solid structures, supporting them in their expansion processes. The Fund aims to support companies that have proven their worth in their local markets, many of them located outside major urban centres, in scaling up, professionalising, and effectively adopting technology. The Fund provides key support in one of the most complex challenges of business growth: transitioning from structures of 20–40 employees to organisations of over 150 people, with scalable processes, integrated technology, and international ambition. Specifically, Nzyme targets companies with EBITDA starting at approximately one million euros or around 20 employees as a starting point to build sector platforms. The Fund anticipates a portfolio of 8 to 10 platforms, making individual investments of between €15 and €20 million through the acquisition and integration of multiple companies.  The strategy combines inorganic growth with the adoption of advanced technologies — such as Ai, big data, machine learning, IoT, edge computing, and cloud — to drive operational efficiency, scalability, and competitive differentiation. The Fund has already made its first investments, including a notable entry into healthcare distribution, integrated into Kuma Group, as well as several investments in professional services companies.  In April 2025, Nzyme completed the divestment of Kuma’s dental division, less than two years after its acquisition. Nzyme’s management team is made up of professionals with extensive experience in private equity, technology, and business transformation, including Fernando Díaz Solís, Vicente Vázquez Bouza, José Manuel Gasalla, Juan López Santamaría, and Pablo Campos, supported by the Kibo Ventures network. Oliver Wyman is the Fund's strategic advisor. The Fund has attracted support from a diverse base of investors, including the commitment of CDTI through its SICC Innvierte, as well as some of Spain’s most historic business families, successful entrepreneurs who identify with the fund’s strategy, several banks, and international family offices with interests in the country. According to Vicente Vázquez, Managing Director at Nzyme, the successful closing of this Fund, in a challenging environment, confirms investors’ confidence in the Nzyme team, its strategy, and the potential of Spanish SMEs to transform and grow.  “We are convinced that by combining business consolidation with technological innovation, we can create strong leaders in traditional and fragmented sectors.  We remain committed to generating sustainable value and contributing to the country’s economic development through strategic investments and a close, hands-on approach with the companies.” Lead image: From left to right: Guillermo Álvarez; Ignacio Pallás; Álvaro Fresnillo; Fernando Díaz Solís; Natalia Cedrés; Reyes Rubio; José Manuel Gasalla; Pablo Campos; Laura Olmos; Juan López; Juan Carlos Tapiador; Vicente Vázquez.

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Ageras snaps up Dutch payroll outfit Employes

Ageras, the acquisitive Danish accounting software fintech, has made its eighth acquisition, snapping up Dutch payroll software firm Employes. Founded in 2018 by Rob Kroezen and Marius van den Oever, Employes serves 6,000 firms with its “intuitive software”, which enables “do-it-yourself payroll in the complex Dutch regulatory environment”. It has around 450 employees, a number that has doubled since last year. The move marks Ageras’ second acquisition of the year. Kroezen, who will stay on in the combined entity, said: “We started Employes because we were frustrated with how difficult payroll management was for small business owners. "Joining Ageras gives us the scale, reach, and resources to bring our product to even more entrepreneurs, and we’re therefore very excited for what’s ahead.” Rico Andersen, CEO and co-founder of Ageras, said: “The acquisition doesn’t just make our Dutch offering much stronger but also gives us a proven, scalable platform to do even more with payroll - ultimately changing the way small businesses pay their wages and take the pain out of payroll. No doubt, this is our most significant acquisition since Shine joined us last year." Ageras, which is backed by Investcorp, Coller Capital and Lazard, is a pan-European software platform offering invoicing, accounting, banking and payroll features. It provides accounting software to over 300,000 European small businesses. Ageras integrates its solutions into a single cockpit for invoicing, accounting, payroll, banking and finance, enabling business owners to focus on running their business.  The fintech reported revenues of €31.7m in the year ending December 2023, on a profit of €1.2m. It says it is aiming to continue its acquisition spree.

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NUCLIDIUM raises €84M Series B to advance copper-based cancer therapies

NUCLIDIUM, a Swiss clinical-stage biotechnology company pioneering the development of next-generation copper-based radiopharmaceuticals for the diagnosis and treatment of cancer, has raised €84 million Series B funding.  Leveraging copper isotopes – Copper-61 for diagnostics and Copper-67 for therapeutics – NUCLIDIUM is creating a differentiated platform with the potential to overcome existing limitations in radiotheranostics.  The company’s operations in Switzerland and Germany combine innovative chemistry, deep clinical expertise, and strategic manufacturing capabilities to deliver scalable, accessible, and clinically superior theranostic solutions to patients worldwide.  NUCLIDIUM is committed to expanding the reach and efficacy of radiotheranostics, including addressing critical unmet medical needs in oncology and women’s health. “NUCLIDIUM is entering the next clinical phases with its lead compounds to diagnose and treat metastatic prostate, neuroendocrine tumours and breast cancer,” said Leila Jaafar, PhD, CEO and Co-Founder of NUCLIDIUM.  “Our copper-based radiotheranostics are developed for seamless use in hospital workflows, care delivery and waste management, making these therapies more accessible worldwide.  Our groundbreaking next-generation copper theranostic platform also allows us to rapidly develop new targets across a wider range of cancers, particularly those highly relevant to women’s health.” Kurma Growth Opportunities Fund, Angelini Ventures, Wellington Partners, and Neva SGR (Intesa Sanpaolo Group) led the round, with participation from DeepTech & Climate Fonds (DTCF), Bayern Kapital, Vives Partners, Eurazeo, NRW.BANK and HighLight Capital, as well as existing investors. In conjunction with the financing round, Daniel Parera, MD, Partner at Kurma Partners, Regina Hodits, PhD, Managing Director at Angelini Ventures, and Liliana Nordbakk, Partner Life Sciences at Neva SGR, will join NUCLIDIUM’s Board of Directors. “NUCLIDIUM’s platform stands out in a rapidly evolving field and will change how radiotheranostic care is delivered. This investment reflects our strong conviction in the future of precision medicine and our belief in NUCLIDIUM’s potential to scale as a next-generation company — an ambition shared across a strong European syndicate,” added Daniel Parera, MD, Partner at Kurma Partners, Regina Hodits, PhD, Managing Director at Angelini Ventures, and Liliana Nordbakk, Partner Life Sciences at Neva SGR for all participating investors. With this financing, NUCLIDIUM will continue expanding its worldwide production and manufacturing network for diagnostics and therapeutics, growing its international team, and strengthening strategic collaborations with hospitals and academic centres, initially across Europe and North America.

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Flyer One Ventures launches €50M Fund V to back CEE and Ukrainian startups

Ukrainian venture capital firm Flyer One Ventures has announced its new €50 million fund backed by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). The new Fund V will focus on supporting early-stage tech companies from Ukraine and across Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). “Founders across CEE — and Ukrainians in particular — have already shown they can build world-class products under the hardest conditions,” says F1V co-founder and partner Oleksii Yermolenko. “With this new fund we can double-down on the next wave and help them scale globally faster.” EBRD and IFC have already committed €6.5 million (to be potentially increased to €10 million at a later date) and €5 million respectively to the first closing of Fund V.  IFC's commitment includes up to $3 million — or its euro equivalent — from Japan through IFC’s Economic Resilience Action (ERA) Program. “We’re the first Ukrainian VC supported by both IFC and EBRD. It's a big responsibility, and an even bigger honor,” adds Yermolenko. F1V invests up to $1.5 million in software startups at pre-seed and seed stages. To date, it has invested nearly $45 million across more than 90 startups that solve real-world challenges in key industries. Its portfolio includes Fintech Farm, which builds neobanks in emerging markets, Liki24, which improves last-mile delivery of health products, Jome, an AI platform that simplifies buying new homes, and Mate academy, which trains people in tech for global jobs. The Ukrainian VC firm has already seen two exits: VOCHI (acquired by Pinterest) and Greenscreens (acquired by Triumph Financial). “We are proud to support F1V’s new fund and, in doing so, help local founders turn their ideas into reality. This partnership will help promising companies to take the next step — and that’s exactly what innovation needs. It’s what the whole region needs,” EBRD vice president, banking Matteo Patrone. “Our investment in F1V’s new fund is an important step in supporting Ukraine’s digital entrepreneurship,” says Ines Rocha, IFC’s division director for Europe. “By strengthening the local venture capital market, we hope to help keep talented people in Ukraine and draw more private investment into its growing technology sector.”

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Europe fights back In global tech conferences battle

While the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) has recently stepped up its investments in large-scale tech conferences, Europe still has an edge when it comes to its maturity, curation and deep-rooted ecosystem thinking. After the success of this publication's event in London earlier this year with more to come in 2026, recent proof of the centre of this European strength is Sesamers, a company that has quickly become the connective tissue between global event platforms and the continent’s most promising startups. This positioning was formalised last month, when SXSW, one of the world’s most iconic innovation festivals, appointed Sesamers as its exclusive European partner for the SXSW 2026 Global Innovations Expo. The partnership grants Sesamers the sole authority to recruit, coordinate, and support European startups exhibiting at SXSW’s expanded innovation showcase in Austin, Texas. For Europe’s exhibition industry, this isn’t just another partnership announcement—it’s a signal of validation at the highest level. A Global Stage, A European Voice In a year when SXSW launched its first London edition, this partnership reinforces the increasing importance of European innovators on the world stage. With the Global Innovations Expo becoming a central component of SXSW 2026, the appointment of Sesamers reflects a strategic move to elevate Europe’s presence in front of global investors, media, and decision-makers. “We’re proud to represent Europe’s diversity and ingenuity at SXSW,” says Ben Costantini, founder and CEO of Sesamers. “This isn’t just about bringing startups to Austin—it’s about helping them show up with the right positioning, storytelling, and partnerships to succeed globally.” With a deep history in curating conferences and advising founders on event strategy, Sesamers is uniquely suited to the role. What began as a smart newsletter tracking top-tier global tech events has evolved into a strategic B2B event platform, helping startups, investors and accelerators navigate the complex, and expensive, world of conferences. The European Model: Deep Distributed, And Durable European tech events are experiencing a new wave of momentum. VivaTech 2025 set records with 180,000 visitors, Techarena in Sweden recently raised €1.1 million to expand internationally and MWC Barcelona, still a powerhouse, now anchors a global circuit stretching from Kigali to Las Vegas. Meanwhile, Web Summit continues to scale globally from its Dublin base, adding new editions in Vancouver and Doha. Arda Kutsal is the Founder and CEO of Webrazzi Group, the company that owns Tech.eu. He shared his perspective on Europe’s evolving role in the tech world: “We believed in Europe’s potential to lead with depth and purpose. That’s why we acquired Tech.eu, and today that belief is stronger than ever. The momentum we’re seeing is not just about scale or visibility, it’s about building meaningful bridges between founders, investors and ecosystems. Europe is stepping onto the global stage with clarity, confidence, and a collaborative mindset. We’re proud to support that shift and help make sure Europe’s voice is heard where it matters most," he said. Unlike more centralised regions, Europe benefits from a distributed network of tech hubs—Barcelona, Paris, Helsinki, Berlin, Dublin, and others, each contributing to a wider, collaborative innovation landscape. This multiplicity drives specificity: events are often themed, industry-driven,and rooted in local strengths, whether it’s AI in Paris or digital health in Cologne. But this also creates fragmentation and complexity—precisely the problem that Sesamers set out to solve. Strategic Navigation in a Crowded Market Today, the exhibition industry is massive. According to the UFI Global Exhibition Industry Statistics, the sector welcomed 318 million visitors in 2024, involving 4.7 million exhibiting companies and generating a €368 billion economic impact. Europe remains a major beneficiary of that activity, but competition is increasing. The MENA region, especially Dubai, is rapidly expanding its presence. Events such as GITEX, which recently launched a Berlin edition, and the Doers Summit from the Reflect Festival organizers in Cyprus (now also in Dubai), show how the region is leveraging capital and infrastructure to attract global attention. Informa’s acquisition of a 50% stake in Dubai World Trade Centre further accelerates this trend, creating what some are calling a “MICE powerhouse.” But while scale and funding are surging in MENA, Europe still leads in depth—in program quality, attendee diversity, and ecosystem integration. With partners such as SXSW, Sesamers is proving that Europe doesn’t need to chase size—it can win with strategy. Beyond Booths: Building European Visibility As Sesamers prepares to lead European participation at SXSW 2026, the company is also developing services to ensure meaningful ROI for its exhibitors. This includes narrative positioning, investor matchmaking, and media strategy elevating startup booths into true business development opportunities. “In the age of noise, relevance wins,” says Costantini. “Startups no longer benefit from just ‘being there’—they need to be seen by the right people, with the right story. That’s what we do.” Sesamers is also targeting a $1 billion opportunity within the global exhibition space by leveraging data, community, and curation to better match exhibitors with high-impact events and partners. A New Era for Events The post-pandemic years have forced a reckoning across the conference world. Digital formats proved scalable, but less impactful. Attendees are now more selective, demanding events that deliver genuine value. Europe’s conference model, emphasizing substance over spectacle, is well suited to this shift. As global players such as CES and SXSW expand their European presence, and as local organisers scale globally, the next chapter of exhibitions will be defined not by who builds the biggest stage, but by who connects the right players on it. And with SXSW 2026 as its next canvas, Europe’s moment has never been clearer.

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BrachyDOSE raises €554K to advance radiation injury prevention in cancer care

Medtech startup BrachyDOSE has raised €554,000 to test its radiation measurement technology in a clinical environment.  BrachyDOSE is a patient-centric, data-driven measurement tool that helps doctors prevent up to 100 per cent of treatment-caused injuries in radiotherapy procedures. The solution combines hardware and software. The hardware comprises a sensor and a scanner used to collect the data, while the software utilises an injury prediction algorithm to provide decision support to doctors. BrachyDOSE saves hospital costs, makes radiotherapy more efficient and helps cancer patients to recover faster. The company has already collaborated with the National Cancer Centre of Vilnius University Hospital Santaros Clinics and the Oncology Hospital of the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences. “Our approach is based on the belief that knowledge only creates value when it is applied. That’s why we want to share our competences and knowledge – to make the work of hospitals and doctors easier. Our team includes experts in medical device engineering, data analytics, and medical physics. We are joined by medical oncologists who work directly with patients in hospitals. Soon, we will be recruiting a medical device salesperson,” said co-founder and CEO Neringa Šeperienė. Šeperienė holds degrees in applied physics and medical physics and earned a PhD in materials engineering from Kaunas University of Technology. The funding round was led by venture capital fund Coinvest Capital, with participation from BSV Ventures and business angel networks LitBAN and EstBAN. “We are grateful to the venture funds and angel investors who have supported us on our journey. This investment is a major boost that supports the BrachyDOSE team in helping cancer patients avoid the side effects of radiotherapy, while enabling hospitals and doctors to significantly improve the quality of cancer treatment,” said Neringa Šeperienė, founder and CEO of BrachyDOSE. “Once we obtain CE/MDR certification, we will be able to offer our product to both Lithuanian and international markets.” “Lithuania is recognised as one of the leading centres for training oncology specialists and scientists. We have modern infrastructure and decades of experience, yet Lithuanian-developed tools and technologies remain limited in this highly dynamic field. BrachyDOSE stands out for its versatility and broad applicability – the technology can be used in any oncology hospital worldwide. This is encouraging news for investors, but more importantly, it may be good news for cancer patients and oncology professionals alike,” said Viktorija Trimbel, Managing Director of Coinvest Capital. Coinvest Capital contributed €300,000 as the lead investor in this round. According to Sandra Golbreich, Partner at BSV Ventures, radiotherapy is a cornerstone of cancer treatment, but until now, doctors have had to rely on approximations of dose delivery, which can lead to unwanted side effects for patients.  “BrachyDOSE’s data-driven solution introduces a new level of precision that can significantly reduce these side effects. It’s a breakthrough for both patients and clinicians.  As early supporters of BrachyDOSE, we’ve directly seen Neringa and her team’s unique expertise and strong commitment to improving patient outcomes.  We are proud to continue supporting them and are excited to co-lead this round to help bring such an innovative solution to hospitals worldwide.” The investment will support BrachyDOSE in completing the CE and Medical Device Regulation (MDR) certification process required to bring its device to market. CE marking confirms that a product complies with European Union health, safety, and environmental protection standards, while MDR certification ensures adherence to regulations governing the design, manufacture, and distribution of medical devices within the EU.

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Norway: Sustainable, data-driven, and digitally ambitious

Norway’s tech ecosystem is maturing quietly but confidently. With world-class digital infrastructure, strong public trust, and robust government support, the country is well-positioned to lead in sustainable, data-driven innovation. Cities like Oslo and Trondheim are emerging as vibrant hubs for startups in clean energy, artificial intelligence, and health tech. Generative AI is reshaping the technological landscape, delivering major productivity gains and new forms of convenience, while also raising complex challenges. Alongside AI, other key technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), cloud computing, 5G, and beyond, blockchain, immersive experiences, and quantum computing are accelerating change across industries. Amid this wave of innovation, here are 10 Norwegian companies to watch in 2025. Amount raised in 2024: €30M eSmart Systems is a Norwegian technology company specialising in AI-powered solutions for the inspection and maintenance of critical energy infrastructure. The company leverages artificial intelligence and machine learning to provide utilities with advanced tools for monitoring and managing their assets. Their Grid Vision solution offers a data-driven, condition-based approach to infrastructure inspections. By transforming visual inspection data into actionable insights, Grid Vision enables utilities to conduct virtual inspections, create image-based digital inventories, and implement predictive maintenance strategies. In 2024, the company raised €30 million to enhance the inspection and maintenance of critical energy infrastructure. Driven by innovation and a strong focus on sustainability, eSmart Systems remains at the forefront of transforming the energy sector with its intelligent, AI-powered solutions. Amount raised in 2024: €22.9M Heimdall Power is a Norwegian technology company specialising in digitising and optimising electric power grids through advanced sensor technology and artificial intelligence. Heimdall Power's solutions enable utilities to implement Dynamic Line Rating (DLR) and Ambient Adjusted Rating (AAR), allowing for increased grid capacity utilisation without the need for costly infrastructure upgrades. This approach not only enhances the efficiency and reliability of power delivery but also supports the integration of renewable energy sources. The company raised €22.9 million in 2024, in a Series B funding round to scale the production and installation of its Neuron sensors. Amount raised in 2024: €14M Red Rover Interactive is a VC-backed game development studio founded in 2023. The studio focuses on creating innovative multiplayer experiences that emphasise player agency and social interaction. The company's debut title, Enginefall, is a multiplayer social sandbox game set aboard colossal trains in a post-apocalyptic world. Players can craft, fight, and strategise their way through various challenges, aiming to take control of the engine and build their own future. In April 2024, Red Rover Interactive secured over €14 million in a Series A funding round. This funding is aimed at accelerating the development of Enginefall and expanding the studio's team. Amount raised in 2024: $13M CardioMech is a medical technology company specialising in the development of minimally invasive solutions for treating degenerative mitral regurgitation (DMR), a prevalent and potentially fatal heart valve disorder. CardioMech’s main product is a small medical device that helps fix a leaky heart valve, a condition known as mitral regurgitation. Instead of needing open-heart surgery, doctors can place this device through a thin tube, making the procedure much less invasive. The company closed a $13 million financing round in early 2024 aimed at advancing the development and validation of its transcatheter mitral chordal repair technology. Amount raised in 2024: €9M Findable is a proptech company offering an AI-powered platform that transforms how building documentation is managed. Their solution automates the organisation, categorisation, and retrieval of building documents, enabling property owners, facility managers, and real estate professionals to streamline operations, ensure compliance, and enhance sustainability efforts. The platform's intelligent search capabilities allow users to query documents using natural language, providing instant answers linked directly to the source files. This functionality reduces the time spent navigating complex folder structures and minimises the risk of overlooking critical compliance information. In September 2024, Findable secured €9 million in a Series A funding round aimed at expanding the team, enhancing product capabilities, and accelerating growth in the UK market. Amount raised in 2024: €8M Muybridge is a deep-tech startup that is revolutionising imaging technology by transforming traditional cameras into software-defined platforms. By utilising arrays of compact, high-resolution sensors combined with proprietary real-time computer vision algorithms, Muybridge enables the creation of virtual cameras that offer dynamic perspectives and movements without mechanical components. This innovative approach allows for seamless, real-time image processing and sensor fusion, providing near-infinite scalability and flexibility in capturing visual content. The technology has significant applications across various industries, including sports broadcasting, surveillance, and enterprise communications, where it facilitates immersive and interactive viewing experiences. In October 2024, Muybridge secured €8 million in funding, aimed at scaling the company's operations and accelerating the commercialisation of its groundbreaking imaging platform. Amount raised in 2024: €7.64M Iris.ai is an AI startup that develops advanced tools to help researchers and organisations make sense of complex scientific literature. Founded in 2015, the company uses natural language processing and machine learning to extract, map, and summarise research data from vast, unstructured sources. Their platform enables users to conduct AI-powered literature reviews, automate data extraction, and generate insights from scientific papers, reducing time spent on manual reading and boosting research efficiency. Iris.ai's solutions are used by research institutions, corporates, and R&D teams looking to accelerate innovation and decision-making based on scientific knowledge. Iris.ai raised €7.64 million in 2024 to enhance the platform’s factual accuracy and expand its capabilities, with the aim of streamlining research processes for both corporate and academic users. Amount raised in 2024: €7M Sensibel is a deep-tech company developing next-generation MEMS (Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems) microphones with exceptional sound fidelity and directional sensing. Spun out of SINTEF, one of Europe’s largest independent research organisations, Sensibel’s patented technology enables compact microphones with higher sensitivity, lower noise, and advanced spatial audio capabilities. Their ultra-precise sensors are well-suited for use in consumer electronics, hearing aids, industrial monitoring, and immersive audio applications, offering a leap forward in how sound is captured and processed. Sensibel secured €7 million in 2024 to expand production and invest in scalability. Amount raised in 2024: €7M Sonair is a cleantech startup developing advanced acoustic monitoring systems to detect and analyze industrial emissions in real time. Their technology uses sensitive microphones and AI-driven analysis to “listen” for methane leaks and other gas emissions from oil, gas, and energy infrastructure, without the need for physical sensors placed at the source. By enabling remote, continuous monitoring, Sonair helps companies detect leaks earlier, reduce emissions, and comply with increasingly strict environmental regulations. The company’s approach supports more efficient maintenance practices and plays a key role in industrial decarbonization efforts. In 2024, Sonair raised $6.8 million to launch early access to its technology, initially targeting developers of autonomous mobile robots, with plans to expand into broader applications over time. Amount raised in 2024: $8M Glint Solar is a climate tech company focused on accelerating the global adoption of solar energy. The company provides a software platform that helps solar developers quickly and accurately identify optimal locations for new solar projects, including land-based and floating solar installations. Using satellite data, geospatial analysis, and machine learning, Glint Solar streamlines the site selection and feasibility analysis process, reducing what typically takes weeks down to hours. This not only speeds up development but also lowers costs and improves decision-making for energy companies and utilities. Glint Solar works with clients across more than 25 countries and is part of the wave of technology companies driving decarbonization through smarter, data-driven energy solutions. In 2024, the company raised $8 million Series A funding to expand into new markets and to improve the overall product offering, serving both existing and new solar developers.

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The Blue Box raises €3M to advance AI-powered, urine-based breast cancer test

The Blue Box Biomedical Solutions, a medtech startup developing a sector-transforming urine-based breast cancer screening test powered by AI, has secured €3 million in funding to fuel its clinical trial phase and achieve CE marking by the end of 2026. Breast cancer is the most treatable cancer, yet it remains the leading cause of death by cancer in women, largely because national screening programs miss up to 1 in 3 cases. The problem is even worse for women with dense breasts, who make up 50 per cent of the screening population and for whom mammography is less reliable.  Designed for the gynaecology office to be used for women eligible for checks as part of national screening programs, The Blue Box (TBB) leverages AI to detect breast cancer from a urine sample — no radiation, no pain.  While it’s scientifically proven that breast cancer leaves a trace in urine, it’s not about a single biomarker; it’s a complex pattern of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that subtly shift when cancer is present.  TBB uses a chemical sensor system to extract and capture these VOCs, then feeds the unique signature into a proprietary algorithm trained to recognise the early signals of breast cancer.  This pattern-based approach offers a scalable, non-invasive solution for the millions of women who avoid or lack access to traditional screening methods, closing a critical gap in global early detection, outperforming mammography in sensitivity, so that more breast cancers can be detected earlier. Unconventional Ventures led the round, which included Fund F, Grow Ventures, and mission-driven investors supporting disruptive startups Hans(wo)man Group and Foss/Krups Family.  The Spanish Association Against Cancer has also participated in this round, serving as a strong validation of both the science behind our technology and the scale of the unmet need we are addressing.  The round also includes several experienced entrepreneurs and founders who have long been mentors to the company and are now investing for the third time — among them Robert Masse and femtech investor Torsten Kolind, the latter of whom continues to serve on the company’s Board of Directors. Other participating business angels include Matt Cooper. “This milestone allows us to move full speed ahead with our European clinical trials and regulatory roadmap,” said Judit Giró, CEO and co-founder of The Blue Box.  “It also marks an important validation of the years of scientific and technical work behind our solution. Breast cancer is still detected too late for too many women around the world.  We are committed to changing that by offering a test that is not only accurate and affordable but also simple enough to be used anywhere. With this funding, we are taking a decisive step toward making non-invasive early detection a new standard of care.” According to Thea Messel, General Partner at Unconventional Ventures, lead investor and director of The Blue Box’s board of directors, the Firm invested in The Blue Box because “we believe it represents a true paradigm shift in breast cancer detection.”  “We were convinced by the passion and vision of founders Judit Giró Benet and Lidia Navarro. Their relentless dedication to advancing women's health and their clear, strategic roadmap for clinical trials and market entry inspire our utmost confidence.  We firmly believe in their ability to execute and scale this transformative technology, ultimately saving lives and improving women's health on a global scale, and are proud to be partnering with them on this impactful mission.” “We invested in The Blue Box because we are impressed by Judit’s & Lidia’s expertise and the team's commitment and believe their non-invasive, radiation-free breast cancer screening technology has the potential to transform early detection, significantly reducing barriers to access, ultimately improving patient outcomes globally.” shared Carina Roth, Investment Manager at Fund F. With clinical trials launching soon, the fresh capital will support the manufacturing of medical-grade devices, study recruitment, and technical documentation to meet both CE requirements. Lead image: The Blue Box. Photo: uncredited. 

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Revolut in talks to raise $1BN, at $65BN valuation

Revolut is in talks to raise around $1bn, valuing Europe's most valuable startup at $65bn, according to media reports. Revolut is in discussions about raising $1bn through issuing new shares and the sale of some existing shares, according to the FT. The new funding round comes just one year after the London-headquartered challenger bank was valued at $45bn through a secondary share sale. US investment firm Greenoaks is said to be in talks to lead the new funding round while Mubadala, the UAE-based investor, is also in talks to participate. The report also said that VC Balderton is among the Revolut backers that could sell some of its Revolut stake. Funds from the round would be used to help power Revolut’s global expansion. In its latest financial results, Revolut saw its revenues jump 72 per cent to £3.1bn in 2024, driven by a bounce in its subscription and crypto offerings.  Revolut reported pre-tax profits of £1.1bn in 2024, more than double the previous year, and added 15 million new users. Revolut now has 52.5 million retail customers across the world. Revolut declined to comment.

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Headway Inc raises Series A to scale personalised lifelong learning worldwide

Consumer edtech platform focused on lifelong learning Headway Inc has raised Series A funding from Bullhound Capital to accelerate product development, expand internationally, and strengthen its knowledge-driven ecosystem. This funding amount has not been disclosed.  The company develops digital educational products that make knowledge more accessible, personalised, and impactful for over 150 million users worldwide.  I spoke to Anton Pavlovsky, Founder and CEO at Headway Inc to learn more.  Since its founding in 2019, Headway Inc has grown into one of the most recognised names in consumer edtech, reaching 150 million downloads across over 170 countries.  Headway Inc’s platform delivers personalised learning experiences, including book summaries, brain-training games, and social skills development, empowering users to learn and grow seamlessly. From book summaries to full-scale ecosystem Previously known as Headway after its flagship product, the world’s most downloaded book summary app Headway, the company has officially evolved into Headway Inc.   It's also the creator of Nibble, the all-around knowledge app, AddMile, the coaching platform, Skillsta, the social skills trainer, and a few other running R&Ds.  Pavlovsky shared that the new identity marks the company’s transformation into a full-scale consumer tech platform.  “Now, five distinctive brands are integrated into its structure, along with several running R&D initiatives.  We have long outgrown a single app and are now building a comprehensive ecosystem for personal growth, from book summaries and brain training to coaching and soft skills development.” According to Pavlovsky, “by applying scientific knowledge, we develop cutting-edge marketing, data mining, and distribution technologies to meet the needs of a fast-evolving world." With 100 per cent year-over-year growth, the company has achieved profitability while scaling its global impact. The funding milestone coincides with being ranked number 4 on TIME's world top edtech companies 2025 list, surpassing Duolingo, Coursera, and Quizlet. One platform, many learners Headway Inc serves a broad range of users — from students to professionals to retirees — yet manages to design products that work across this diverse group.  Users face a common issue: busy schedules and limited attention spans that hinder self-development.  I’m sure I‘m not the only person who struggles to commit to using an app daily.  Headway Inc motivates users through advanced gamification (streaks, achievements, spaced repetition) to make the most of their fragmented free time. Pavlovsky shared:  “By delivering bite-sized, personalised content across a range of engaging formats — from interactive summaries and brain training games to coaching and engaging lessons on a wide variety of topics spanning from art to financial literacy — we enable individuals to pursue personal development goals and skill training in a way that fits their lifestyle and preferences.” Personalised learning, powered by data Further, a quantitative approach to product development makes this possible, processing petabytes of user data annually to drive every decision with meticulous attention to customer experience.  Pavlovsky asserts that no major UX decision is made unless confirmed by data.  “The rich pool of data we gather while engaging with our users through the diverse portfolio of products creates an internal, comprehensive understanding of what learners need and what approaches are most effective in addressing their pain points and facilitating their growth.” Pavlovsky revealed that “from the early days, we have also heavily invested in onboarding, creating customised flows that demonstrate the value users will gain and adapt according to their responses.”  “Over the years, this approach has helped us establish trust early and foster lasting habits.” AI-powered personas and speech coaches As a company Headway Inc strives to leverage all the benefits of edtech 3.0, the next stage of education technology, emphasising personalised, adaptive lifelong learning experiences powered by AI and data-driven insights. Recent examples are AI-powered chats with personas on the Nibble, where users can now gain new knowledge through conversations with Oscar Wilde or Joan of Arc. Skillsta has also recently launched an AI-powered speech trainer where users receive a task and then get personalised feedback based on an analysis of their submitted audio. Pavlovsky explained that by implementing such AI experiences, “we can faster meet the specific needs of a broader audience and deliver just-in-time knowledge.“ “In turn, by making content highly relevant, more accessible, and enhancing gamification, we boost engagement and help users develop sustainable lifelong learning habits.” A data flywheel driving continuous innovation The company continuously gathers data points from millions of A/B tests, product experiments, customer development initiatives, user interviews, marketing campaigns, and user flows.  Pavlovsky shared: “We leverage our data to identify the most promising opportunities for new product launches, ensuring that each offering is tailored to the specific needs and preferences of its target audience.” Moreover, the flywheel effect extends to Headway Inc's existing products, as successful experiments and optimisations can be quickly rolled out across the entire portfolio.  This cross-pollination of best practices and proven strategies enables each product, whether mature or in the R&D phase, to benefit from the collective knowledge and experience gained across the ecosystem.  “As a result, we can drive exponential growth and continuous improvement in all its offerings. As our products become more effective and engaging, they attract even more users, who in turn generate additional data and insights.  This cycle fuels the flywheel, creating a self-sustaining momentum propelling Headway Inc forward.” According to Per Roman, Founder and Managing Partner at Bullhound Capital, Headway Inc is a prime example of how personalised and gamified experiences are reshaping consumer engagement at scale.  “Their vision is closely aligned with Bullhound Capital’s mission to disrupt outdated systems and champion the use of AI tools to solve real-world problems.”  Pavlovsky shared that this partnership empowers Headway Inc to unroll a new era of lifelong learning, tailored to digital-first generations who are too often written off as distracted. Rather than competing for attention, it aims to complement the rhythm of modern life, supporting ongoing growth through personalised and focused learning sessions along with product improvements, including gamification and social features, to further boost engagement and retention. With new investment, Headway Inc is launching a European hub in Madrid to grow its brand and speed up product innovation and regional expansion. Bullhound Capital made this investment through its Fund VI, which also supports late-stage ventures such as Q-CTRL, LeoLabs, EcoVadis, CoverManager, Mentimeter, Sanity, and Sesame HR. It represents the largest investment through Bullhound Capital's Fund VI to date.

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NIIT acquires MST Group for €22.37M to expand managed learning services in Europe

NIIT Learning Systems Limited, a global leader in managed learning services, has completed the acquisition of Germany-based MST Group, a leader in managed learning services in the DACH region. The company was acquired through NIIT MTS’s wholly owned subsidiary NIIT (Ireland) Limited, for €22.37 million, subject to certain adjustments as per the terms of the definitive agreements.  The acquisition broadens NIIT MTS’s presence in one of Europe’s fastest-growing regions and strengthens its position in the automotive and industrial sectors. Founded in 2009, MST Group employs over 100 professionals across Germany and Hungary. The deal also brings seven prominent automotive, industrial, and energy companies into NIIT MTS’s Managed Training Services (MTS) portfolio, increasing its total MTS client base to over 100. Sapnesh Lalla, CEO and Executive Director at NIIT MTS, said the deal represents a significant step in the company's European expansion strategy: This strategic combination brings together MST Group's established leadership and deep sector expertise in the automotive, industrial and energy sectors with NIIT's global reach and comprehensive, AI-enabled, end-to-end managed learning and consulting services. Together, we will accelerate growth by combining regional excellence with global innovation and offer an expanded portfolio of services and domain expertise. The acquisition broadens NIIT MTS’s capabilities by adding QuickStart Learning Academies, powered by MST Group’s exTra platform. These academies support the creation and delivery of agile, customisable, and globally scalable one-stop learning solutions tailored to the evolving L&D needs of large global enterprises. Lena Jentsch, CEO of MST Group, shared:  We are excited to join forces with NIIT MTS to expand our impact and capabilities across the globe. Our shared commitment to excellence turbocharges growth opportunities for our business by offering best-in-class, AI-powered, global managed learning services to our clients. The transaction enables NIIT MTS to extend its global solutions to MST Group’s client base, bringing its AI-powered, end-to-end managed learning and consulting services to new markets while expanding its international presence. Vijay K. Thadani, Vice Chairman & Managing Director, NIIT MTS, said:  MST Group is a significant addition to NIIT MTS’s family and marks a major next step in our global expansion strategy. Together, we’re setting out to reshape how companies achieve learning effectiveness at scale through future-ready managed learning services platforms. With this acquisition, NIIT MTS will strengthen its competitive position in the European market and create significant growth opportunities for both client bases. The combined organisation will include over 2,500 learning professionals and more than 700 consultants across 32 countries, supported by a global network of over 5,500 learning providers and partners.

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Cashfeed raises €1.3M to simplify e-invoicing

Ghent-based Cashfeed, an AI-powered invoicing tool, has secured €1.3 million in funding. As part of the StarApps ecosystem, the startup is preparing to capitalise on the growing shift toward digital invoicing in Belgium.  With e-invoicing set to become mandatory in 2026, more entrepreneurs and accountants are turning to digital tools. However, many existing solutions remain outdated, slow, and lack proper automation, creating a clear opportunity for innovation. Cashfeed takes a different approach. Its AI software handles the entire invoicing workflow. Invoices are automatically collected from email inboxes, the PEPPOL network and online portals. Payments happen with a single click, optionally after approval via familiar platforms like Microsoft Teams or Slack. The smart system also detects and follows up on unpaid outgoing invoices automatically. The tool benefits not only business owners but also simplifies work for accountants. Cashfeed automatically scans invoices and will soon match them directly with the correct accounting data, such as VAT codes or general ledger accounts. It integrates seamlessly with external software like Exact Online, ensuring smooth incorporation into existing workflows. Dennis Verjans, co-founder of Cashfeed, explained:  Business owners and accountants still waste too much time on manual admin and tracking down documents. Our tool automates the entire journey from inbox to payment. With Cashfeed, invoicing and payment management are up to ten times faster. It connects to the PEPPOL network and works seamlessly with third-party tools, allowing monthly or quarterly closings to be wrapped up up to three times quicker. Since its launch in March, Cashfeed has grown rapidly, now supporting over 350 clients, including cybersecurity company Aikido and payment platform orderBilly. The startup has processed more than 35,000 invoices and expanded to a seven-person team within just a few months. Partnering with Baker Tilly Alongside the funding news, Cashfeed also announced a strategic partnership with consultancy and accounting firm Baker Tilly. The firm will provide strategic guidance and is already testing the tool with its clients. According to Steff Siau, Partner and certified tax accountant at Baker Tilly, Cashfeed fits perfectly into our broader digitalisation journey: Advisory firms still spend too much time chasing clients for receipts or VAT filings. A solution like Cashfeed offers immediate value; it takes care of those tasks for business owners, while letting us focus on high-impact advisory work.  The €1.3 million round was led by tech fund Pitchdrive, with backing from StarApps and support from VLAIO.  The startup plans to invest heavily in product development for the Belgian market in the run-up to the 2026 e-invoicing requirement. Stijn Heuninck, co-founder and GTM of Cashfeed, said:  In the short term, we want to respond quickly to this new mandate. Our goal is to become the go-to invoicing solution in Belgium. After that, we’ll look beyond our borders. By 2030, many other European countries will also have to comply with ViDA regulations. That opens up exciting opportunities. Lead image: Cashfeed team | Photo: Uncredited

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FERNRIDE becomes first in Europe to earn TÜV SÜD certification for autonomous terminal trucking

Today marks a significant milestone for autonomous logistics in Europe. At the HHLA TK Estonia terminal near Tallinn,  yard trucking automation company FERNRIDE has begun the operational transition to driverless operation of terminal tractors. Together, the two companies aim to set new standards for safety and efficiency in port logistics.  The transition to driverless operations follows the successful certification of FERNRIDE’s safety concept and system design by TÜV SÜD, as well as approval by the Estonian Transport Administration (ETA). FERNRIDE is the first company to receive TÜV SÜD certification for an autonomous terminal tractor in accordance with the EU Machinery Directive (2006/42/EC).  TÜV SÜD Certification is an internationally recognised endorsement that verifies a product, service, process, or management system has undergone rigorous, independent testing and assessment to meet specific standards for quality, safety, and sustainability The certification confirms that FERNRIDE’s autonomous vehicle platform — including the vehicle, sensors, computers, and software — meets EU standards for safety, cybersecurity, and system reliability. It marks an important step toward CE compliance and industrial deployment across Europe.  I spoke to Hendrik Kramer, CEO and co-founder of FERNRIDE to learn all about it.  Boosting productivity and safety while cutting emissions FERNRIDE offers scalable automation solutions for yard trucking that increase productivity, promote sustainability, and improve worker safety. It is a risky and dangerous environment where people work with heavy machinery, doing repetitive tasks. Therefore, automation removes the need for in-cab safety drivers while enhancing site safety.  The company employs a human-assisted autonomy approach, which allows for remote takeovers of trucks when necessary. This ensures seamless integration and reliable operations for logistics operators.   Automation not only eliminates the requirement for human drivers but also enhances on-site safety. It improves vehicle efficiency by eliminating expensive idling periods while trucks are being loaded, thanks to the seamless switching capabilities of teleoperators who can maximise productivity by managing multiple vehicles. According to Kramer, the certification is a defining moment not only for FERNRIDE but for the entire autonomous logistics industry in Europe.  “From day one, we’ve made safety the foundation of everything we build.  Meeting Europe’s most stringent regulatory standards took a remarkable effort, and I’m incredibly proud of our team’s dedication and precision throughout this journey.  This certification proves that our technology meets the highest safety benchmarks, not just in theory, but in practice, and brings us one step closer to making autonomous logistics a commercial reality across the EU.”  The missing piece to prove commercially viable technology  FERNRIDE currently has a ratio of one to four—one operator for four trucks.  And according to Kramer, “the more data we collect, the further we can push this to one to ten, one to twenty, one to fifty in the future." The certification was the final missing piece in terms of a technological breakthrough to prove the entire model.  “Doing a pilot and the prototype is one thing, many in our industry have done that. But industrialising it and meeting all the requirements that we have in the European Union for building a safety case and proving it, this is the hard part. FERNRIDE is now the first company — and only one — that has done that work and can prove to customers, to ourselves, to investors, basically everyone, that this is a commercially viable technology.” What is the TUV Certification process?  Kramer walked me through the certification process in plain language. The company starts by describing all the potential scenarios where there could be a risk with using its system, such as where a truck could run  into another object or another vehicle, Then, you list all 5,000 potential risks and develop a technical and operational concept to mitigate those risks to nearly zero.  “It’s impossible to get to zero — since then it's like everything in the world, you should just stay at home and not operate at a container terminal. It can never be zero — it can just be acceptably low. And this is what we defined very early in the process, three, four years ago, and then asked a third party, since we wanted to have a four-eyes principle, to confirm that this concept is safe. That all the risks that we could foresee are mitigated with technical and operational measures.” With all those technical safeguards in place, specific functionalities are implemented to address potential risks. One example is the “hazard zone monitor,” which detects objects approaching or present in front of the vehicle and automatically reduces speed in a smart, adaptive way — without compromising the vehicle’s operational availability. “This is one of ten safety functions we’ve built into the system,” Kramer explains. “ And beyond validating the concept in theory, we’ve conducted extensive testing both in the field and at test sites to statistically prove the system’s reliability. All of this is independently audited by a third party.” According to Benedikt Pulver, Head of the machine safety department at TÜV SÜD:  “FERNRIDE is the first to receive TÜV SÜD certification for a specific port application involving autonomous trucks. This milestone could establish a new benchmark for safety and compliance in autonomous trucking for terminal applications.”  Kramer admits, “This means I can sleep very well as a founder and managing director of the company, knowing that we have done everything in our control to make sure our system is safe, we have proven that it's safe, and therefore it will be safe.” FERNRIDE and HHLA have maintained an ongoing partnership since January 2023, working closely to ensure a seamless transition into live operations and executing productive moves at the terminal. They selected the container terminal use case for its autonomous trucking system, as there is a real problem to be solved — keeping supply chains running and making them more resilient due to the shortage of drivers needed to operate them. According to Kramer, “These are dangerous and repetitive tasks, and it’s becoming harder to find people to do them. So we need to introduce automation to make it more efficient, safer, and resilient." "Our partnership with HHLA, the container terminal operator of Hamburg, is very intentional — to get a first design customer that helps us refine our technology and make it a product that works for a real customer. There are companies out there prototyping on test sites with super smart engineers. But you need to put your product into the hands of customers, into real operating environments, and make sure it works there—so that it creates value for the real customer, not an artificial one.” The strategy focuses on implementing a gradual approach to integrate FERNRIDE-enabled autonomous terminal tractors at HHLA TK Estonia, eliminating the need for safety drivers.  Three FERNRIDE tractors are currently in operation at the terminal. FERNRIDE has implemented structured roll-out scenarios and standard procedures to train on-site personnel through the transition to fully driverless operations.  According to Kramer, HHLA has proven to be a wonderful design customer. The terminal in Tallinn is relatively small, but its staff are “super agile, innovative, and collaborative.”  “We work as one team — they bring the operational experience of running a container terminal, and we provide the autonomous vehicle technology. We now have the first terminal operating an autonomous truck without a safety driver — and can roll this out across Europe and the world.  That’s important in this industry, where most players are fast followers. Not many want to be the first mover, because new technology introduces a risk of downtime — and that’s a big deal when a vessel is scheduled to be offloaded and operations are interrupted. So everyone wants to buy proven technology. Now we’ve shown that it works — if you'd like to see it in action, visit Estonia. It’s proven.” FERNRIDE offers an enterprise robotics solution that the customer's workforce will operate. It enables the existing workforce — people driving trucks today — to transition to safer, healthier jobs. We’re not offering this as a service where Fernride remote operators run the system. Kramer explained, "We provide service-level agreements and remote technical support, like a hotline, but the actual operation is done by the customer’s team. So the partnership is really about enabling their workforce.” .Riia Sillave, CEO of HHLA TK Estonia:  “Entering the phase of driverless terminal transport marks a significant milestone – not just for our collaboration with FERNRIDE, but for the future of terminal operations. As one of the first terminals to take this step, we are shaping the path toward more intelligent and efficient logistics. We trust that innovation succeeds by including the know-how of our employees – our team’s engagement is the foundation for the integration of this technology into everyday operations.”  Building the future of industrial automation, one terminal at a time While FERNRIDE’s process is intentionally incremental, logistics and container terminals are very standardised. Once the technology works, it can scale rapidly. The technology is ready now. With over a decade of research, 150 staff, and high-profile customers, including Volkswagen, HHLA, and DB Schenker, the company wants to become a next-generation industrial automation company—not only for container terminals, but also for open-road trucking, defense applications, construction, and mining. Customers are signing up for large rollouts, and Henrik predicts that within a few years, there’ll probably be dozens of terminals in Europe— and hopefully beyond — that have introduced the technology with thousands of trucks operating.

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Solence raises €1.6M Seed to rethink PCOS care

Women's health startup Solence has raised €1.6 million in Seed funding to help women suffering from Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). PCOS is a hormonal imbalance originating from the ovaries and the central system, leading to excessive production of testosterone, irregular periods, infertility and metabolic syndrome. Up to 20 per cent of women globally suffer from the condition, but some 85 per cent don't receive the support they need. The treatment of PCOS is proving a problematic topic across Europe. Over-expensive treatment options are preventing sufferers from receiving the help they need, with some out-of-pocket expenses of over €3,500. There have even been instances of online influencers selling fake PCOS cures, taking advantage of young followers experiencing the condition. Solence was founded by Clara Stephenson in 2022 with the mission to make personalised and patient-centric care available to all women with PCOS, the most prevalent hormonal condition among women.  Redefining PCOS care with patient-centric, digital therapeutics Solence aims to increase healthy life expectancy for women by reducing the burden of chronic conditions with lifestyle-based and AI-powered therapeutics. Solence provides digital-led PCOS care tailored to every woman's high heterogeneity of PCOS expressions, while harnessing data insights to reshape the way PCOS healthcare is delivered. Their first product is a patient app designed to help relieve PCOS symptoms "beyond the pill" through personalised lifestyle intervention.  The app offers a twelve-week program rooted in abundant peer-reviewed research that demonstrates the effectiveness of lifestyle intervention on symptoms, fertility and quality of life of women with PCOS. It provides interactive lessons to help reverse PCOS symptoms through lifestyle changes, combining biomedical knowledge with the latest insights in habit formation science.  The app also generates monthly PCOS assessment scores to map problem areas and triggers for symptoms, as well as advice and resources on how to avoid them in the future. Turning personal struggle into hormonal health platform Throughout her burgeoning legal career, Clara Stephenson suffered from PCOS. Despite showing what she describes as 'textbook' symptoms of the condition, it remained undiagnosed for some 10 years until investigations into her struggling to conceive a child. At this point, Clara was hit with both the news that she had an incurable, chronic health condition and that she may never be able to have a child. During the COVID pandemic, Clara had time to begin Les Natives. In this blog, Clara shared her experiences of PCOS, which grew into a health and wellness site seeking to inspire women to promote their hormonal balance. The site received over 135,000 visits, with a committed online following of over 8,000 people. Following this positive response, Stephenson founded Solence. Stephenson said: "Ultimately, our vision is to leverage data and environmental factors to better address chronic hormonal conditions among women, with a focus on prevention and improving their healthy life expectancy. This first round is a step towards realising this vision".  The funding round included Impact Shakers Ventures and angel investors, including the founder of Leetchi, Mangopay, and Resilience, Céline Lazorthes; former JP Morgan executive Berthe Latreille; Systemanova VC founder Stéphane Mardel; and BPI France. Professor Michel Pugeat has been involved in diagnosing and treating PCOS since 2003 and is a member of Solence's scientific committee alongside neuroscience researcher Dr. Nour Mimouni. Pugeat commented: "The general public needs information on PCOS, whose multitude of clinical expressions and the complexity of the causes, intertwined with the metabolic state, justify management by all health professionals, but also the search for new innovative and essential therapeutic approaches, such as that of Solence." Yonca Breackman, Founding Partner, Impact Shakers Ventures, says:  "We backed Clara and Solence not only because PCOS is a condition that affects 1 in 7 women and can have serious consequences for women's health and wellbeing, but also because Clara brings a unique perspective, experience and network to solving this challenge and scaling a solution that has the potential to reach hundreds of millions of women to improve their quality of life." The funding will be allocated towards deepening product functionality and expanding the team. Lead image: Clara Stephenson, co-founder and CEO of Solence. Photo: uncredited. 

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Skleo Health raises €3M seed to fight preventable blindness with AI eye screenings

German healthtech company Skleo Health has raised €3 million in a seed funding round to scale its network of accessible, medically validated eye screenings nationwide.  In Germany alone, 9.7 million people are affected by preventable eye conditions like glaucoma, diabetic eye disease, and age-related macular degeneration. However, with an average wait time of 56 days for specialist appointments, 31% of patients receive treatment too late to effectively prevent disease progression. Skleo Health was founded to address the urgent need for earlier detection of preventable eye diseases by making eye screenings accessible at scale. The company offers quick, six-minute screenings at everyday locations such as opticians, pharmacies, retail stores, and workplaces. Each screening is analysed through a two-step process, first by CE-certified AI, then validated by a specialist eye doctor, ensuring high-quality, accurate results with maximum convenience for patients. Skleo Health’s innovative approach, supported by key opinion leaders from Charité University Clinic Berlin, UCL London, and Yale University, allows people to benefit from early detection, ensures doctors can prioritise treatment and reduces the burden on healthcare services by making preventive care more accessible, efficient and cost-effective.  Dr. Steffen E. Künzel, Co-founder of Skleo Health, comments: Every day in the clinic, I witnessed the profound impact of late-stage diagnosis, where treatment options are often limited and the outcomes are uncertain. We founded Skleo Health to fundamentally change this reality. By bringing certified, medically validated screenings into everyday life, we are replacing reactive treatment with proactive prevention.  This funding allows us to build a new standard of care where early detection is the norm, not the exception, ensuring we can save the sight of millions. The investment was led by Sanoptis, Europe’s leading ophthalmology services provider, alongside Antler, the most active early-stage VC firm in Europe, and a number of high-profile angel investors.   Dr. Volker Wendel, Founder and CEO of Sanoptis, comments: At Sanoptis, our mission is to make excellent eye care accessible to everyone - and we see Skleo Health as a key driver in transforming how preventive care is delivered across Europe. Skleo's approach, which combines medical expertise with cutting-edge AI and an easily accessible screening infrastructure, is shaping the future of eye care. By identifying diseases earlier and being closer to the patient, they are tackling one of the biggest challenges in ophthalmology today: late diagnosis.  We are proud to bring our clinical network and expertise to this partnership, and confident that Skleo’s model represents a new era in proactive, patient-centred eye care. The founders of Skleo Health met during a founder residency run by Antler in Berlin in late 2023. The team combines deep medical and business expertise. Alan Poensgen, Partner at Antler, comments: Skleo Health will radically improve eyecare in Germany and across Europe. The precision and speed with which Skleo Health has built an offering that addresses the exact problems facing patients and doctors only comes from firsthand experience.  The founding team combines the medical expertise of Steffen with the technical and business experience of Fabien and Alex. They know their market, they have built a solution, and they are now executing and scaling to deliver their vision. It’s been a pleasure working with the founders from day zer,o and I have every confidence in their future success. Since being founded in March 2024, Skleo Health has expanded its operations to Germany's 50 largest cities, already screening over 11,000 people and identifying over 3,000 cases with medically relevant findings.  The funding will fuel the expansion of Skleo Health’s partner network with the goal of reaching a capacity of 30,000 screenings per month. In parallel, the company will build its open, nationwide platform to connect patients with specialist eye doctors.  A strategic partnership with lead investor Sanoptis is accelerating Skleo's platform expansion, ensuring patients consistent access to high-quality care. Part of the funding also supports further development of Skleo’s proprietary AI diagnostic technology. Lead image: Skleo Health team | Photo: Uncredited

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ODOS closes €680,000 to drive sustainability in the agri-food sector

The Irish start-up driving climate action in the agri-food sector, ODOS, has closed a €680,000 funding round. ODOS is a climate-tech startup helping companies take effective climate action without sacrificing productivity. By simplifying data collection and offering profitable, actionable strategies, ODOS empowers businesses, particularly in the food and agriculture sectors, to reduce their environmental impact. Already working with cooperatives and food companies across Europe, ODOS is now expanding its technology and entering new markets to scale its impact. The company, co-founded by Alejandro Vergara and Cian White, both former researchers, is a joint University College Dublin and Trinity College Dublin spin-out supported by the knowledge transfer teams at both universities. Supported by the Spanish accelerator Lanzadera, ODOS is developing technology that enables cooperatives and farmers to measure, report, and verify their environmental impact, keeping up with growing climate and regulatory demands. Alejandro Vergara, CEO and co-founder of ODOS, said:  The trust our investors place in our mission and management gives us the strength to scale our impact. With agriculture responsible for nearly 15 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions, transforming this sector is one of the most powerful ways to tackle climate change. We are here to help agri-food players comply and thrive with clarity, simplicity, and real results on the ground. The round was led by Capsa Food (Grupo Central Lechera Asturiana), with the participation of TTAF by CLAVE and Angels, the investment company of Juan Roig that forms part of Marina de Empresas. Pepe Peris, Managing Director at Angels, highlighted ODOS’s practical and transformative approach, stating: Alejandro has spent many years focused on delivering a solution that is effective, measurable, and scalable for his clients. ODOS provides technology and strategy so companies can make decisions that truly reduce their environmental impact. Rubén Hidalgo, Open Innovation Director at CAPSA Food, underlines: With the tailored project at Cian, Alejandro and his team ensure our dual objective: to back talented entrepreneurial teams and to strengthen the dairy sector through technology and innovation, achieving greater environmental, social, and economic sustainability for our industry. The ODOS team consists of 11 members representing 9 nationalities, underscoring the global importance of its mission. Co-founders Cian White and Alejandro Vergara bring together scientific expertise and entrepreneurial drive to lead the company, with strategic oversight provided by the Board of Directors.

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