This week we tracked more than 75 tech funding deals worth over €909 million, and over 15 exits, M&A transactions, rumours, and related news stories across Europe. If email is more your thing, you can always subscribe to our newsletter and receive a more robust version of this round-up delivered to your inbox. Either way, let's get you up to speed. ? Notable and big funding rounds ?? Azafaros raises €132M ?? Xoople secures €115M funding for next-gen earth intelligence ?? With $110M raise, Ascendx Cloud gives Enterprise CRM data solutions an AI lift   ??‍?? Noteworthy acquisitions and mergers ?? German blockchain startup Gnosis acquires HQ.xyz for $15M to expand into Asia ?? AdvancedAdvT makes £5.3M swoop for HFX ?? Salesforce acquires UK AI startup Convergence one year after launch ??  UK’s Huma expands US presence with Aluna acquisition ? Interesting moves from investors ? Goldfinch Holdings and Digital Genesis Fund launch €17.8M fund to back blockchain-powered media ? Tritemius Fund FCRE I launches as Spain’s first regulated Web3 Venture Capital Fund ? Conception X launches angel syndicate for Europe’s deeptech PhDs ? Rockaway Ventures closes €55M Fund to back transformative tech in CEE and beyond ?️ In other (important) news ?? Anthropic met UK tech secretary every month in Q1, AI energy demands discussed ?? UK unveils PISCES private stockmarket to boost startups, employee share options, and IPO pipeline ? Wave Ventures, Europe's largest Gen Z-run VC Firm, triples fund size to €7M ?? Proton, Whereby, and NextCloud to headline new series spotlighting sovereign European digital solutions. ? Recommended reads and listens ?? Trump “biggest force of good for European venture”, says European VC founder ? Why traditional VC screening fails diverse founders — and what Astia does differently. ? Ecosia levels up: new features let users track their climate impact in real time ?? Deep roots, global reach: Estonia’s tech ecosystem ? Why most AI in healthcare creates more work, not less ? European tech startups to watch  ?? BASH raises €1.3M for events platform ?? Scoptvision bags €1M to lead the charge in collective EV energy management ?? Modular DS raises €615,000 to fuel growth of WordPress site management platform ?? Edtech Everybody Counts raises £500,000 to expand AI-powered maths platform ?? HAT Music raises €200,000 to digitise music industry networking ?? Data Centers secures investment to launch more energy efficient data facility

Goldfinch Holdings, a London-based film financier, has partnered with Luxembourg’s Digital Genesis Fund to co-finance a new €17.8 million fund aimed at backing the next generation of media ventures. The fund will focus on projects leveraging tokenisation, artificial intelligence (AI), the metaverse, and telecom, media, and technology infrastructure. It aims to supercharge entertainment ecosystems powered by blockchain technology. The fund was officially announced during the 2025 Cannes Film Festival and will be unveiled at the upcoming TechCannes Industry event.  The fund will match Digital Genesis’s initial €17.8 million investment on a deal-by-deal basis with Goldfinch International, creating a co-investment framework for studios and companies looking to capitalise on blockchain and tokenised assets in media production. Hendrik Hey, Managing Director & Co-founder of Digital Genesis Fund, described the moment as a turning point in the evolution of the entertainment industry: “This must be what it felt like when the first Hollywood pioneers built their studios and set a new era of storytelling in motion. Today, we find ourselves at a similar turning point — but this time, the canvas is infinite: a three-dimensional, transparent, and interactive metaverse. Visual media is no longer locked inside a screen — it breathes, it responds, it surrounds us. We are no longer just creating content; we are building worlds. And in these worlds, everyone becomes part of the story.” The new fund’s first major acquisition is Lumiere, a tokenised crowdfunding platform designed to reshape content financing. Led by Patrice Poujol, Lumiere has already attracted high-profile backers including Animoca Brands, Brinc, Rolling Stone, and RS Productions. The platform’s inclusion in the fund provides an immediate foundation for the new ecosystem, allowing for experimentation with blockchain-based content models. Projects include The Squad, a Web3-native production studio following the emerging Film3 business model, which integrates blockchain technologies and decentralised finance into the production and distribution process. Another initiative is MILC (Media Industry Licensing Content), a metaverse-based production and content licensing hub. The partnership has secured key infrastructure partnerships, including a high-fidelity pixel streaming backbone from ARCWARE in Germany, to support its vision for immersive media. Additionally, AI-powered production pipelines and intelligent licensing systems will be incorporated into the ecosystem, streamlining the production lifecycle from ideation to distribution. Photo by Quan Jing 

London-based healthtech unicorn Huma is accelerating its growth by acquiring US respiratory health startup Aluna, and a new strategic partnership with Eckuity Capital to support a broader M&A strategy. This aims to bolster both its product capabilities and geographic reach. The announcements come as healthcare systems worldwide continue to shift toward remote patient monitoring and AI-powered clinical tools, spurred by post-pandemic infrastructure needs and increased patient demand for decentralised care. “Today’s announcements mark a new chapter for Huma as we strive to build the most impactful healthcare company in the world,” said Dan Vahdat, Founder and CEO of Huma. “By integrating Aluna’s leading respiratory monitoring solutions into our platform and working to secure growth capital for further acquisitions, we are creating a complete ecosystem to deliver even greater value to health systems, life sciences, and - most importantly - patients around the world.” Aluna specialises in AI-powered remote monitoring of respiratory diseases, including asthma and COPD. Its platform combines FDA-cleared spirometry devices with a mobile app and provider portal, allowing clinicians to track lung function and patient adherence in real time. By integrating Aluna’s tools into the Huma Cloud Platform, the company will expand its offerings for chronic respiratory care across more than 150 U.S. health systems, serving over 500,000 contracted lives. The move reinforces Huma’s presence in a market where asthma and COPD affect over 40 million people in the U.S. alone. “Joining forces with Huma offers a remarkable opportunity to amplify our impact and extend the reach of our AI-driven respiratory management platform to a wider patient base worldwide,” said Charvi Shetty, CEO of Aluna. “We are excited about the prospect of integrating our technology into the Huma Cloud Platform, creating a truly holistic digital health solution that empowers both patients and healthcare professionals in the effective management of respiratory conditions.” The relaunch of Aluna’s technology on Huma’s platform will also elevate its regulatory status to FDA Class II, enabling broader clinical application. Alongside the acquisition, Huma unveiled a new partnership with Eckuity Capital, a healthcare growth equity firm based in New York and London. The collaboration is aimed at scaling Huma’s mergers and acquisitions strategy, with a focus on companies that complement its digital health ecosystem. “We help Huma acquire companies that, on their own, may not fully realize their potential—but when integrated into Huma’s cloud platform, become highly complementary and transformative,” said Youssef Sebban, Managing Partner at Eckuity Capital. “This synergy not only amplifies their impact on the healthcare ecosystem but also drives outsized value creation for investors and shareholders.” “We believe Dan and Huma’s leadership team brings the much-needed bold vision to develop one of the most meaningful healthcare companies of the 21st century,” added Vishal Jain, Managing Partner at Eckuity Capital. “The AI-led transformation of care that we will witness over the next two decades needs a reliable, real-time, and responsive infrastructure that very few companies can offer globally, and Huma is one of the most capable companies that can deliver on this promise.” The company has become a partner to national health initiatives in the UK, U.S., Germany, Saudi Arabia, and Greece.

This week, the UK government announced legislation for Private Intermittent Securities and Capital Exchange System Sandbox (PISCES) – an innovative new type of stock market for private companies that will boost the growth companies of the future and support the UK’s IPO pipeline.  With many companies choosing to stay private for longer, there is increasing demand for investors, including angel investors and employees, to be able to trade shares in private companies more easily. It aims to give investors the chance to get in on the ground floor of some of the most exciting companies around, further supporting those businesses to grow.  Further, the government will legislate to ensure that employees who have share options will be able to exercise them on PISCES and retain tax advantages, making the platform more attractive for companies and investors looking to use PISCES. To ensure employees can continue to benefit from the tax advantages on their shares, the law will be changed to extend to the existing Enterprise Management Incentives (EMI) and Company Share Option Plan (CSOP) contracts to also include PISCES.  This is in addition to the announcement in the Autumn Budget making PISCES transactions exempt from Stamp Taxes on Shares.  The announcement means that stock markets can launch their PISCES platforms in the coming months with shares likely to be traded in the Autumn.  Michael Tefula, Principal and Head of Product at Ada Ventures told Tech.eu:    "This is a great example of UK financial innovation and the willingness to experiment with new ideas.   Today, if you own shares in a startup it's hard to sell them unless the company IPOs or gets acquired.    That means early employees and investors can be waiting for up to a decade to see a return. But PISCES creates a vital additional option; enabling companies to reward founders, employees and backers without waiting for an IPO or M&A event.   This is an important, much needed step forward and the Government should be applauded for their innovative thinking." Emma Reynolds, Economic Secretary to the Treasury, said: "Getting PISCES up and running will support UK growth companies. This will boost our capital markets and help to grow our economy, putting more money in working people’s pockets as part of our Plan for Change. We are also ensuring that employees will retain the tax advantages of shares traded on PISCES to boost the attractiveness of the product to high growth companies looking to expand." Simon Walls, Executive Director of Markets at the FCA, said: “We are laying the groundwork for a new private stock market that will give investors more opportunities to invest in growing companies.   Today’s legislation is a big step forward and we will set out the final rules for PISCES soon. Together, this will support an organised marketplace to buy and sell private shares.” The platform will act as a stepping stone for companies eyeing a listing in future preparing and easing the journey to an IPO.  The Financial Conduct Authority will publish their rules underpinning PISCES shortly after the legislation comes into force. Thereafter, those wishing to operate PISCES trading events can apply to the FCA. We expect to see the first PISCES trading events take place later this year. Lead image: Freepik.

Dutch medtech Hy2Care has raised €4.5 million in new funding to prepare for a clinical trial in the United States and to support early steps toward commercialisation in Europe and other global markets. Half of the new funding comes from the European Innovation Council (EIC) Fund, awarded in 2022 through the EIC Accelerator programme. The remaining capital was provided by Hy2Care’s existing shareholders, led by Brightlands Venture Partners, with new participation from LIOF, the regional development agency for the Limburg province. Cartilage damage - often caused by injury, wear, or degenerative joint disease - is a leading cause of joint pain and immobility, with limited options for effective long-term treatment. As the global population ages and demand for less invasive, regenerative solutions increases, orthopaedic innovation has become a strategic investment area. CartRevive is a proprietary hydrogel implant designed to repair damaged cartilage in a minimally invasive way, offering a potential alternative to more invasive surgical treatments. The need for scalable, regenerative solutions in orthopaedics continues to grow globally. Hy2Care’s platform stands out in a medtech landscape where regenerative orthopaedics is forecast to grow significantly over the next decade. In the US alone, the cartilage repair market is projected to reach over $1.6 billion by 2030, driven by advances in biomaterials, sports medicine, and personalised orthopaedic solutions. The funding comes shortly after the company received FDA Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) approval to begin clinical evaluation of its cartilage repair solution, CartRevive, in the U.S. “This round gives us the momentum we need to take the next big step,” said Leo Smit, CEO of Hy2Care. “We’re entering a transformative phase - launching a US clinical trial while laying the foundation for commercialisation in EMEA. We are incredibly proud of the support from our investors, both existing and new.” The EIC Fund is the equity investment component of the European Innovation Council’s Accelerator programme, which supports breakthrough technologies from early-stage innovators across the EU. The fund backs high-risk, high-impact ventures with global ambitions.

German wildfire intelligence and risk assessment company OroraTech has raised €12 million, extending its Series B financing round to €37 million and its total funding to over €60 million. BNP Paribas Solar Impulse Venture Fund led the round, with participation from Rabo Ventures, and long-standing investors Bayern Kapital, Edaphon, and the European Circular Bioeconomy Fund (ECBF). Founded in 2018, OroraTech is a global intelligence-as-a-service company leveraging thermal data for a sustainable Earth. Its Wildfire Solution platform is powered by high-resolution thermal data from its proprietary and public satellite system, which delivers real-time situational awareness and prompts risk alerts to revolutionize wildfire intelligence worldwide.  The cutting-edge system detects fires of any scale, day or night, ensuring timely action and simulates future fire behaviour with unprecedented accuracy.  Founded in 2018, OroraTech is headquartered in Munich, Germany, with a team of over 140 experts and operations in the United States, Australia, Brazil, Canada and Greece.  According to Martin Langer, CEO and CTO of OroraTech:  “We are executing on a rare window of opportunity, where our scalable space infrastructure meets breakthrough AI.  The backing  of two of Europe’s leading banks is a testimony to OroraTech’s position at the forefront of the market, and will further drive our growth as the foundational thermal intelligence provider for many industries and governments worldwide.” Lucas Guillet, Investment Director at BNP Paribas Solar Impulse Venture Fund, stated:  "We are pleased to support OroraTech, which has established a strong reputation in the space industry and wildfire management ecosystem. Their ability to design and operate nano-satellites, as well as interpret complex data, has contributed to the commercial success of their Wildfire Intelligence solution." Shishir Sinha, Executive Director of Rabo Ventures, commented:  "The increasing intensity and frequency of wildfires poses a significant threat to our planet, emitting billions of tons of C02 annually, driving biodiversity loss, and diminishing the overall resilience of our ecosystems.  As a bank with exposure to forestry and rural sectors, we recognise the urgent need to address these risks.” In the past year, OroraTech has signed close to €100 million in commercial contracts and venture capital.   Lead image: OroraTech. Photo: uncredited. 

Rockaway Ventures, a European investment fund under the Rockaway Capital group, has closed its second fund, Rockaway Ventures II, at nearly €55 million.  The fund targets late-Seed and Series A tech startups with the potential to drive innovation in traditional industries. Known for its early investments in e-commerce and travel tech, the fund is now focusing on sectors such as energy, defense, and dual-use technologies. According to Dušan Zábrodský, General Partner at Rockaway Ventures, the firm is currently seeing numerous investment opportunities in sectors significantly shaped by global trends and geopolitical developments.  “We are particularly interested in founders across Europe and the United States who are committed to driving growth and advancing their businesses through transformative technologies.”  Rockaway Ventures traces its origins to 2014 when the team began investing without a formal structure, backing early Czech success stories like Productboard and Storyous.  The current fund was launched in 2022. About 25 percent of the capital comes from Rockaway Capital, the parent company of Rockaway Ventures, with the remainder provided by private investors, primarily from Czechia. The fund currently counts 11 portfolio companies, each demonstrating strong early momentum. Over the next three years, it plans to expand this portfolio with a focus on Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), which will receive 60 per cent of the investments, while the remaining 40 per cent will go to Western Europe and diaspora-founded startups from Czechia and neighboring countries now operating in the US.  In the long run, Rockaway Ventures aims to support startups across the entire company lifecycle, from pre-seed to growth-stage rounds. Notable investments include German cloud-native hotel management platform Apaleo; CulturePulse, a US-Slovak startup utilising AI for behavioral modeling and risk prediction; and Albanian e-commerce and media platform Gjirafa. Petr Šmíd, General Partner at Rockaway Ventures, sees a venture capital comeback: “The recovery began in 2024 and is continuing this year. One key driver is transformative technology, particularly AI.  A few years ago, many investors didn’t fully grasp its potential. Today, we can clearly demonstrate its sector-specific impact – and that’s changing the game.”  Rockaway Ventures relies on a combination of entrepreneurial experience, strategic focus, and active involvement with founders.  “We’re not just capital. We’re entrepreneurs ourselves – we’ve built companies, and we understand what’s around the corner. Founders working with us receive hands-on support in areas like international expansion and scaling,” Šmíd added. Lead image: Max Palko, Eva Faltusova, and Petr Šmíd, Rockaway Ventures. Photo: uncredited. 

US SaaS giant Salesforce has snapped up London-based AI agent startup Convergence, which was only founded a year ago. Convergence was founded by Marvin Purtorab and Andy Toulis, who both worked at Shopify and AI enterprise firm Cohere. AI agents are currently one of the hottest areas in the AI space, and Salesforce sees Convergence's agents as a good fit with Salesforce's big play in this area, Agentforce. Marc Benioff, Salesforce co-founder and CEO, told TechCrunch he expects Salesforce customers to deploy one billion AI agents in 2025 and that AI agents will allow companies to have an unlimited workforce. According to the press release, Convergence’s UK team brings expertise in  “AI agent design” and “autonomous task execution”, which will "help accelerate the development of next-generation agents designed for increasingly sophisticated workflows”. Financial details of the deal are not known. The startup is backed by Balderton Capital, which led its $12m pre-seed round, and Salesforce Ventures and Shopify Ventures. Convergence’s staff includes former Google DeepMind, Meta, and PolyAI employees. According to James Wise, partner, Balderton Capital, Convergence has hired “some of the best AI talent in Europe” but he said “joining Salesforce wasn’t in the plan”. Adam Evans, EVP & GM, Salesforce AI platform, said: "We're looking towards a future where Agentforce can empower our customers with AI agents that don't just follow instructions, but truly perceive, reason, and adapt to the complexities of modern digital workflows. "Imagine AI assistants that can intuitively navigate ever-changing interfaces and intelligently manage intricate tasks with a new level of resilience and human-like ingenuity – that’s the kind of step-change we're eager to explore.” Salesforce also said the acquisition would mark the foundation of its AI R&D operation in London. Jayesh Govindarajan, EVP AI/ML engineering, said: “London is a global leader in AI innovation, and this acquisition will lay the foundation for a growing centre of AI R&D here—one where Convergence will form the nucleus of a world-class AI lab that expands over time. “With the city’s concentration of pioneering scientists and engineers, we are confident this investment will accelerate our AI strategy and bring the next wave of innovation to life.”

British startup Origin has launched out of stealth with $21 million in Series A funding. The round was led by Felix Capital, with participation from Acadian Ventures, Notion Capital, and a angel investors from across the HR, tech, and enterprise sectors. The company is setting out to modernise the sprawling global benefits industry, which it estimates to be worth $45 billion. According to Origin, multinational corporations spend hundreds of millions annually on employee benefits but lack the tools to manage that spend strategically or efficiently. Large companies typically operate in dozens of jurisdictions, working with hundreds of local vendors and providers for benefits like pensions, insurance, health plans, and more. The data generated across this ecosystem - contracts, coverage policies, usage metrics - is often unstructured, disconnected, and impossible to analyse in real-time.  Clients include Pfizer, Comcast, EA, BCG, and bp. The new capital will support further international expansion across Europe and the US, as well as continued development of Origin’s data intelligence engine and platform features. Origin’s core product is Cuido, which the company describes as the first "Artificial Benefits Intelligence" system. Cuido consolidates and analyses data across contracts, allowances, commissions, and vendor relationships. “We created Origin because global benefits teams urgently need clarity, efficiency, and control,” said Chris Bruce, CEO and Co-founder of Origin. “Our AI-powered platform, Origin, turns vast, fragmented benefits data into a single source of actionable insights, enabling immediate cost savings, strategic decision-making, and better employee outcomes. Origin empowers HR leaders to transition from administrative complexity to strategic clarity, optimizing one of their organization’s largest investments.” “The best thing about working with Origin is that it's a conversation,” said Amy Manning, Senior Director, Global Retirement & International Benefits at Pfizer. “We were able to, in a very short period of time, get to the core information we needed on contracts that flowed into very complicated retirement plans, understand what we needed to do to change and how it impacted colleagues. It was a program that was going to take us about six months without Origin, and it took us two weeks. It’s really improved my decision-making.” “At Felix, our mission is to back founders who are empowering new ways of living and working — it’s at the heart of what we do,” said Antoine Nussenbaum, Co-Founder and Partner at Felix Capital. “The benefits space is behind in AI adoption, and we believe Origin is uniquely positioned to lead the way… With Cuido and its AI-powered benefits intelligence, Origin is not only empowering benefits leaders and employees, but also building the kind of forward-thinking product that moves the world forward.”

Mobile games startup Studio 42 has raised $3.6 million in Seed funding to accelerate the development of its debut title and test new puzzle game concepts. The round was led by gaming specialist VC Play Ventures, with participation from GEM Capital and Arcadia Gaming Partners. The company aims to shake up the puzzle genre with a hybrid-casual approach. The puzzle category remains one of the most lucrative and enduring segments in mobile gaming, but also one of the most competitive. Games like Candy Crush Saga and Royal Match dominate, with hybrid-casual innovations — blending traditional puzzle play with metagame elements — increasingly gaining ground. Studio 42’s first original title is already in development, and the studio has adopted a rapid iteration strategy. Its first prototype moved from concept to live testing in just two months. The team uses AI to test 100 percent of product hypotheses and aims to evaluate up to 10 new ideas per year - a speed-focused, data-driven approach increasingly common among lean mobile studios competing in the hit-driven gaming market. “We are excited to partner with Play Ventures, GEM Capital, and Arcadia Gaming Partners and take the next step in our journey,” said Aleksandr Bogdanov, CEO of Studio 42. “Their support allows us to focus on what we do best — creating simple yet deeply engaging experiences. We believe that genius lies in simplicity, and together, we are ready to bring fresh ideas to the puzzle genre.” “We’re thrilled to back Aleksandr, Ivan, Pavel, and the incredible team they’ve brought together at Studio 42,” said Henric Suuronen, Founding Partner at Play Ventures. “From the start, we were aligned on their vision — reimagining core puzzle mechanics through a hybrid-casual lens, with live ops as a strategic driver. Their track record speaks for itself, and we couldn’t be prouder to support them.” With mobile gaming accounting for over 50 percent of global gaming revenues (per Newzoo), studios able to combine strong IP, rapid experimentation, and monetisation know-how are well-positioned. The company employs a 14-person team across four countries, and is actively hiring as it scales development and tests new IP.

UK-based proptech Martello has raised £1.2 million in Seed funding to accelerate the rollout of its AI-powered platform. Martello aims to overhaul how environmental and property risks are assessed during the conveyancing process. The round was led by Fuel Ventures, with additional participation from strategic angel investors. Founded in early 2024, Martello streamlines the diligence process involved in UK property transactions. Its platform uses artificial intelligence to analyse thousands of environmental data points in real-time, surfacing critical risks such as flooding, subsidence, and land contamination.  Environmental searches are a legally required part of nearly every property purchase in the UK, but the tools used to generate them are often outdated. The industry has long relied on PDF-heavy, static reports which can be difficult to interpret, especially by non-specialists. These reports are generated by a handful of legacy providers, many of whom have made only incremental changes over the past two decades. Martello employs a data-led approach, replacing PDFs with interactive dashboards and machine-learning-powered insights. The startup is working with a number of established law firms to fine-tune its offering through rapid iteration. Environmental risk is becoming an increasingly material factor in property valuation and mortgage lending decisions. According to the UK’s Environment Agency, more than 5 million homes in England are at risk from flooding alone. Meanwhile, climate change and tightening regulatory frameworks are driving demand for more transparent, accurate, and timely risk assessments during the property-buying process. “In my opinion, the foundations of Environmental searches haven’t changed in 20 years - and they’re often ambiguous and risk-prone,” said Dr Henry Crosby, Co-Founder and CEO of Martello. “Martello is bringing much-needed clarity to an increasingly critical part of the conveyancing process. With this funding, we’re building a platform that helps everyone involved in a property transaction make faster, more informed decisions.” “We’re thrilled to back Martello at this early stage,” said Mark Pearson, Managing Partner at Fuel Ventures. “The founding team brings a unique combination of legal domain knowledge and technical innovation, and they’re tackling a problem that’s long overdue for disruption. With deep insight into the conveyancing process and strong backing from industry insiders, Martello is well positioned to become the new standard for environmental risk reporting in UK property.”

Dutch fibre optic sensing startup Optics11 has raised €17 million funding. Europe’s growing reliance on its power infrastructure for vital needs requires unprecedented resilience against increasingly sophisticated threats. Like a higher risk of underwater sabotage, to a rapidly ageing base of high-voltage (HV) transformers. 40 per cent of Europe’s 90,000 HV transformers have exceeded their lifespan, and with orders for new transformers full until 2030, production will not match demand. Additionally, subsea cables and offshore wind farms face more security breaches, underscoring an urgent need for robust and proactive monitoring solutions. According to Optics11 CEO Paul Heiden, the vulnerabilities facing Europe’s infrastructure today demand immediate and sophisticated responses. Optics11 has developed several game-changing solutions.  A predictive monitoring solution called OptiFender rapidly identifies and locates partial discharge events — the earliest indicator of upcoming asset failures — within high and medium voltage electrical systems.  Further, its OptiBarrier and OptiArray solutions provide a subsea early-warning system via precision fibre optic sensors that continuously safeguard underwater infrastructure against sabotage and unauthorised interference. The company’s core strength lies in its unique mix of pioneering sensors and advanced threat detection software. This enables faster detection and localisation of threats when compared to other solutions on the market, giving operators more time to respond. Optics11’s fibre optic sensors eliminate issues with electromagnetic interference, offering unmatched reliability in tough environments where traditional sensors often fail. Advanced software analyses sensor data at the speed of light, clearly identifying potential threats to prevent costly disruptions.  Investors in the round include FORWARD.one,  SET Ventures, Join Capital and Value Creation Capital.  “A secure, uninterrupted energy supply is the bedrock of a modern functioning society,” said Wouter Jonk, Managing Partner at energytech fund, SET Ventures.  “Ageing transformers and full order books mean rising outage risks and a need to extend the life of existing assets to reduce failure rates. Optics11 does that, while reinforcing the integration of renewables into the grid. Simply put, they’re solving an urgent problem.” “Optics11 has the kind of technical edge that creates long-term value,” said Robin van Boxsel, Partner at deeptech VC, FORWARD.one.  “It addresses a critical gap in grid and subsea infrastructure resilience.” OptiArray has already been adopted for integration into the Royal Netherlands Navy’s upcoming Orka-class submarines, significantly enhancing submarines' navigational and defensive capabilities. Its compact design and low power consumption allow for extended missions without compromising performance. "Protecting Europe's critical infrastructure requires technology breakthroughs to ensure security and resilience. Optics11 is delivering a revolutionary subsea detection capability that Europe and NATO urgently need,” said Daniel Carew, a Partner at Join Capital.  Lead image: Optics11 CEO Paul Heiden. Photo: uncredited. 

Production plans quickly become outdated — they often lose 75 percent of their informative value within three days.  The reason: conventional tools do not react flexibly to changes. The consequence: unused capacity, excess inventory, and constant replanning.  Hamburg-based tech company akeno provides a remedy,  with a globally unique, AI-based software for adaptive production planning in real time.  The company today announced it has raised €4.5 million Seed funding, led by Cusp Capital, together with TS Ventures, and another.vc. akeno’s solution is aimed specifically at sectors with complex and sensitive production processes, including the chemical and pharmaceutical industries, the food and beverage sector, and the metalworking industry.  In these sectors parallel processes encounter tight capacity limits, heavily used systems, and numerous disruptive factors — from fluctuations in raw material quality and variable production times to unforeseen machine failures. Real-time production data and self-learning algorithms. akeno does not plan on the basis of fixed times or general assumptions. Instead, the software analyses a wide range of operational data in real time — such as machine status, material availability, and capacity utilisation — and uses this to calculate the most likely process sequences. This results in adaptive plans that continuously adjust and become more precise with each application. According to co-founder and CEO Alexander Ebbrecht, anyone who plans their production based on outdated master data runs the risk of losing their competitive edge:  “Our long-term vision is to fully automate production planning, enabling our software to autonomously adapt to real-world events and conditions and optimize production plans in real time.” akeno anticipates potential disruptions or bottlenecks in advance. For example, if a machine takes longer than expected or a new production window opens up, akeno immediately suggests how orders can be rescheduled.  Customers include BASF Coatings, the Beckers Group and SunChemical.Strong market fit and growth potential According to Dr Maximilian Rowoldt, Investor and General Partner at Cusp Capital:  “akeno has the potential to become a central building block in the digital infrastructure of industrial companies and to strengthen Europe's competitiveness.” With the fresh capital, akeno plans to triple its team and tap into new industries.  Having already entered the Chinese market, the company plans to expand into other international markets, including North America and other Asian countries. 

French climatetech Riverse, which provides a carbon crediting standard and platform for engineered climate solutions, has raised €5 million in Seed funding to expand its platform and better connect businesses with relevant carbon credits. The round was co-led by Alven and Racine, an impact fund managed by Serena and Makesense, with participation from previous investor SpeedInvest and Spanish VC Kfund. The fresh capital follows a pre-seed round that enabled the company to build its core product and establish the Riverse Standard, a scientifically rigorous framework for measuring and verifying emissions reductions and removals. With its new funding, the startup plans to double down on platform growth, team expansion, and partnerships with buyers and project developers across Europe and beyond. Global carbon markets are projected to grow substantially in the coming years, but momentum has stalled as corporate buyers demand higher integrity and greater transparency. Companies increasingly want credits that not only meet international standards but also tie into their industry, geography, or value chain.  “We raised €5 million in seed funding to make carbon credits work for real companies and the real challenges they face,” Riverse stated. “The carbon market will scale faster if we deliver both trust and relevance.” “Companies want trustworthy, high-integrity carbon credits, but struggle to find options that connect meaningfully to their day-to-day operations.We believe that the carbon credit market will scale faster if we deliver both.” While carbon offset registries such as Verra and Gold Standard focus largely on nature-based projects like reforestation, Riverse focuses on engineered solutions, from IT refurbishment and biomass carbon removal to bio-based building materials and enhanced rock weathering. Each project is verified using industrial data and measured via models aligned with ISO 14064-2 standards. Riverse claims its platform has already validated more than 60 projects, issued over 250,000 credits, and collected more than 2,000 data points. It has received full ICROA endorsement, the first under the organisation’s revised standards. The voluntary carbon market is undergoing rapid transformation. Corporate demand is rising amid tightening regulations and increased scrutiny over net-zero claims. Yet trust in the sector has been shaken by greenwashing concerns and inconsistent standards. “We knew when we started Riverse that we were taking on an uphill battle to fundamentally change a complex market. We did it because we believed this market is crucial - and that we could make it better,” the Riverse team shared.

Dutch startup BASH, a platform that helps event organisers drive ticket sales through shareable “social event pages,” has raised €1.3 million in funding from a group of angel investors. The capital injection will help the company scale its growth from Amsterdam across the Netherlands and eventually into broader European markets. The round of funding, which BASH calls a "super-seed," brings on board a cohort of angel investors including Sjuul Berden (United Wardrobe), Leon Ramakers (Mojo Concerts), and Geert-Jan Smits (Flinders). As ticket-buying behaviour shifts - with more consumers waiting until the last minute to commit - event organisers are feeling the strain. Recent headlines point to mounting pressure on festivals and nightlife events in the Netherlands, where several have been cancelled or postponed due to lacklustre early sales. The company positions itself as a response to outdated event marketing tools in a market where attention is fragmented and social validation drives decisions. BASH allows promoters to create interactive event pages that centralise everything: tickets, media, guest lists, updates, and social interactions. These pages function like mini hubs that not only boost engagement but also extend the event’s reach as attendees share the link in chats, stories, and social channels. “Events live in group chats, DMs and stories, but most organisers still share a dead ticket link,” said Joris Oudejans, CEO and co-founder of BASH. “We believe you can’t build a real audience like that. Our event pages get shared, bring people back, and help friends bring friends. We’ve proven it works in Amsterdam. Now it’s time to roll it out further.” “BASH is exactly the kind of company you want to back: a sharp idea, proven model, and strong growth potential,” said Geert-Jan Smits, who is also an advisor to the company. “With this team and this focus, now is the time.” The platform has already gained traction with event organisers such as DARKMODE, Kantje Boord, and Y.U.C. While BASH has found a foothold in the Netherlands, its ambitions extend beyond domestic borders. The startup plans to use its new funding to expand its sales team and replicate its Amsterdam playbook in other European cities, where mid-sized festivals and local promoters face similar challenges. The funding comes at a time when the events industry is still recovering from pandemic-era shocks and rethinking how to maintain audience loyalty in a competitive, high-cost environment.

Estonia's tech ecosystem continues to demonstrate resilience and maturity amid global economic uncertainty. According to Startup Estonia, in the first quarter of 2025, startups generated over €400 million in turnover, contributed €63 million in employment taxes, and employed nearly 19,700 people, figures that reflect sustained momentum built over years of steady growth. Key trends include the growing prominence of deeptech and green technology, with sectors such as AI, hydrogen, quantum computing, and defence tech attracting substantial investment and government support. Companies in these areas, such as Sunly, Stargate Hydrogen, and Blackwall, consistently secured funding year after year.  Supported by robust public-private collaboration and a growing base of experienced founders, Estonia’s startup ecosystem is well-positioned to expand its global footprint in 2025 and beyond. Here are 10 companies that highlight the ecosystem’s maturity and resilience, showcasing Estonia’s rising influence within the European tech landscape. Amount raised in 2024: €220M Bolt is a mobility company founded in 2013, offering a range of services including ride-hailing, micromobility rentals (e-scooters and e-bikes), food and grocery delivery, and car-sharing. The company operates in over 600 cities across more than 50 countries in Europe, Africa, Western Asia, and Latin America. With a mission to make cities more livable by reducing reliance on private cars, Bolt integrates various transportation options into a single platform, promoting sustainable urban mobility. Committed to environmental sustainability, the company aims to achieve carbon net-zero emissions by 2040. In 2024, Bolt secured a €220 million syndicated revolving credit facility for general corporate use. Amount raised in 2024: $90M Starship Technologies is a robotics company revolutionising last-mile delivery through autonomous robots. Operating in over 80 locations across the US, UK, Germany, Denmark, Estonia, and Finland, Starship's six-wheeled robots have completed more than six million deliveries, covering over 11 million miles. These electric-powered robots are 99% autonomous, capable of navigating complex terrains and weather conditions, and can run up to 18 hours on a single charge. Starship's Delivery-as-a-Service (DaaS) platform integrates seamlessly with partners like Bolt, Co-Op, Grubhub, and Sodexo, enabling efficient, low-emission delivery of groceries, meals, and packages. The company raised $90 million in early 2024, aimed at global expansion and technological advancements. Amount raised in 2024: €31M Elcogen is a clean energy technology company founded in 2001, specialising in solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) and solid oxide electrolyser cell (SOEC) technologies. The company’s proprietary solutions enable efficient, reversible conversion between electricity and green hydrogen, serving residential, commercial, and industrial applications. With manufacturing facilities in Estonia and Finland, Elcogen has supplied its technology to over 160 customers in 30 countries. The company is expanding its production capacity to 360 MW to meet growing demand for affordable, emission-free energy solutions. The company secured €31 million in 2024 and an additional €5 million in 2025 to scale hydrogen manufacturing capacity. Amount raised in 2024: €25M Tuum is a fintech company that offers a cloud-native, API-first core banking platform designed to help banks, fintechs, and non-financial businesses rapidly launch and scale financial services. The platform features a modular, microservices-based architecture covering core banking, payments, lending, and cards, allowing clients to select and integrate only the components they need. Tuum's technology supports seamless integration with existing systems and is cloud-agnostic, providing flexibility and scalability for digital transformation. In 2024, Tuum raised €25 million to support product innovation and expand its presence across the DACH region, southern Europe, and the Middle East, including plans for a new office. Amount raised in 2024: $20M Pactum AI is a technology company specialising in AI-driven autonomous negotiations for enterprise procurement. Founded in 2019, the company has developed AI agents capable of conducting thousands of simultaneous supplier negotiations, unlocking significant value for Fortune 500 clients such as Walmart and Maersk. Pactum's platform enhances procurement efficiency by automating high-volume, low-complexity negotiations, leading to cost savings and improved supplier relationships. The company raised a $20 million Series B round in 2024 to further develop its technology and expand its global presence. Amount raised in 2024: €15M Planet42 is a mobility fintech company that offers a rent-to-buy car subscription model aimed at individuals who are underserved by traditional financial institutions. Utilising a proprietary algorithm that assesses credit bureau data, affordability, and alternative information, Planet42 enables customers to access pre-owned vehicles through a network of over 700 dealerships, providing a pathway to eventual ownership. In 2024, Planet42 secured a $15.6 million investment to expand its services and address transport inequality in emerging markets. Amount raised in 2024: $12M Modash is an influencer marketing platform. Designed to help brands scale high-performance creator partnerships, Modash offers tools for discovering, analyzing, and managing influencers across Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. With a database of over 250 million profiles, the platform enables marketers to filter creators by demographics, location, engagement rates, and other parameters, facilitating targeted outreach and campaign tracking. In 2024, Modash raised a $12 million Series A round to enhance its end-to-end influencer marketing platform with AI features and expand its presence in North America. Amount raised in 2024: €10M Mifundo is a fintech company revolutionising cross-border lending within the European Union. Founded in 2018, Mifundo has developed an AI-powered platform that enables individuals to carry their verified financial histories across EU countries, facilitating seamless access to banking and credit services without the need to rebuild credit profiles when relocating. The platform aggregates credit bureau data and utilises open banking to create a "Verified & Passportable Financial Identity," allowing banks to assess the creditworthiness of foreign customers more accurately. This innovation reduces credit risk for banks by up to seven times and can increase business volumes by 15%. Mifundo's mission is to unify the EU credit market, reducing financial inequality and enhancing access to financial services across Europe. In 2024, Mifundo secured €10 million in funding. Amount raised in 2024: €6.2M Bisly is a smart building automation company, specialising in scalable, energy-efficient solutions for residential, commercial, and hospitality properties. The company aims to make energy-saving simple and affordable through its patented digital twin technology and Single Cloud Platform, which integrates HVAC, lighting, and access control systems into a unified, no-code platform. Bisly's hardware-enabled software solutions are designed for both new constructions and retrofit projects, offering easy installation and compatibility with third-party devices. The company secured €6.2 million in Series A funding in 2024 to expand its operations across Europe and the US. Amount raised in 2024: €6.1M ÄIO is a biotechnology company that specialises in producing sustainable, microbial-based alternatives to traditional fats and oils, such as palm oil, coconut oil, and animal fats. Utilising proprietary yeast strains and fermentation processes, ÄIO upcycles agricultural and wood industry by-products into high-value ingredients rich in omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants, and pigments. By leveraging circular economy principles, the company aims to reduce environmental impact and promote healthier, more sustainable consumption patterns. In 2024, the company has secured €6.1 million to expand its operations and scale production.

President Trump is the “biggest force of good for European venture”, according to the co-founder of one of Europe’s most active venture capital firms, who yesterday urged the European VC industry to seize the moment presented by Trump’s “polarised” politics. Speaking to an audience of European VCs, Oliver Holle, co-founder, CEO & managing partner, Speedinvest, gave a rallying cry to the audience. He called on European VCs to shift their mindset, build bigger VC businesses and take advantage of new capital opportunities arising from Asia and other markets which were not aligned with Trump's politics. While saying that Trump tariffs had not been good for Europe, he said he had never felt so proud to be European and said that European values of “modesty”, "seeking consensus” and being democratic were resonating with founders and investors. Holle said: “If I talk to founders, I see an opening, I see founders that are actually interested to align with capital that is also aligned with the values that they see work.” Holle said that founders, scientists and investors were relocating to Europe and that investors from Japan and other markets were relocating capital to Europe, in light of Trump's politics. He said: “They want to grow up in an environment that is a bit less polarised.” Holle called on the European VC industry to take action and “get their act together”. He said the European VC ecosystem needed a mindset change, with a focus on building bigger VC firms, acting like entrepreneurs, who write bigger cheques. He added: "There is no need to have thousands of small seed funds in Europe. We need to consolidate.” But William McQuillan, partner, Frontline Ventures, the B2B investor, also speaking at the EUVC Summit, urged European investors not to be “isolationist”. He said: “We need to be careful as long-term investors not to become too isolationist in our thinking and to continue to think globally.” He pointed to data showing that when European firms go public, on average, over 40 per cent of their revenues are from the US. He said: “The US is a huge market and when you want to build global companies in Europe you still need to be thinking internationally as well.”

Berlin-founded green search engine Ecosia, which invests 100 per cent of its profits into climate action initiatives, today launches a new climate impact experience for its 20 million users.  The search engine is expanding beyond trees to wide-ranging climate action and today launches a new experience — inviting its 20 million users to track their individual and collective impact. Users can now log in to a new profile page and start collecting a seed for each day they use Ecosia in their ‘impact counter’, which will then show them how they are contributing to real-world initiatives, which range from tackling deforestation, to investing in renewable energy and climate tech. I spoke to CEO Christian Kroll to find out more. He shared: “We wanted to give our users access to the very real impact they’re having, so we’re adding new ways for them to track, share and shape that.  As governments are rolling back climate protections all over the world, we’re doing the opposite, putting the power to tackle the climate crisis right in our users’ hands and making it easier than ever to make a real difference.”  Ecosia was founded in 2009 and has since dedicated upwards of €92 million to climate action.  Beyond the tip of the iceberg  While the majority of profits have been channeled towards reforestation efforts — planting and protecting over 225 million trees around the world — the company has a growing focus on climate impact initiatives, ranging from investments in renewable energy and climate tech, to supporting regenerative agriculture, and the enforcement of climate and biodiversity protection.  Kroll shared:  “Ecosia started with a simple idea: plant trees. And to a large extent, that’s still true. But the reality is more complex.  Over the years, we’ve done much more than just tree planting—we’ve invested millions into renewable energy, helped launch World Fund (now Europe’s biggest climate tech VC), and supported various policy initiatives. We just haven’t communicated that well to users. Most people only see the tip of the iceberg. If you’re not following us on social media or in the news, you may not realize the broader climate impact you’re contributing to by using Ecosia. Now, we’re finally rolling out new features to close that gap.” In 2021 Ecosia became the first investor in the World Fund — Europe’s largest Climate Venture Capital Fund. Ecosia also has extensive investments in solar initiatives, including building roof-top commercial-scale solar systems and operating a ground-mounted solar system in Germany, enabling solar home systems with energy pioneer Zolar, and developing commercial-scale solar systems in the Global South with Ecoligo.  Other investments include agroforestry projects in Germany, such as helping local biodiversity steward and juice producer Ostmost, and supporting the world’s biggest transformation to Bioland organic farming. Ecosia is also an early investor in Wildfarming in the UK. Track your impact, one seed at a time With the impact counter and new profile view, users can see how their seeds are having a tangible positive impact on people, ecosystems, and wildlife, giving visual proof of how much they have helped replenish the planet.  Image: Ecosia. Their profile will display estimated figures for the number of seedlings planted, amount of renewable energy generated, hours of tree care, and area restored. It will also provide a clear connection to the Ecosia community, one of the largest environmental movements in the world. According to Kroll, it also shows that using Ecosia once a month isn’t the same as using it every day.  “There’s a real difference in impact. Gamification helps reinforce that while making the experience more engaging, similar to Duolingo, but for the planet.” We’re seeing a broader trend in browsers of hyperpersonalisation and agentic AI. In time, Ecosia will be building out functionality so users can personalize their Ecosia experience even further and engage in their real world impact in new ways, for example through personalized tips on how to be more climate active, accessing exclusive content and planet-friendly rewards, and teaming up with others to rally behind shared goals. Kroll admits that with AI comes big sustainability and ethical questions.  “AI can be energy-intensive. We need to be careful — not just follow the hype. That said, we can’t ignore AI completely or we’ll be left behind. So we're taking a pragmatic approach: move forward, but on our terms. We’ve even thought about adding an element where high-energy AI queries might cost you seeds. The idea isn’t to punish, but to raise awareness and promote responsible usage.” Not just a search engine— a global climate movement In time, Ecosia will be building out functionality so users can personalize their Ecosia experience even further and engage in their real world impact in new ways, for example through personalized tips on how to be more climate active, accessing exclusive content and planet-friendly rewards, and teaming up with others to rally behind shared goals. What sets Ecosia apart from its contemporaries is that its more than just a browser or search engine. Because its self-owned — 99.99 per cent of shares belong to a foundation — its not optimising for shareholder value. That gives freedom to invest in real impact. For instance, Ecosia incubated World Fund. Kroll shared: “We covered their legal and setup costs, which weren’t small. At the time, I was convinced it would work. Looking back, I realize that was naïve—but it did work, and it’s now one of the biggest climate tech funds in Europe. That’s something we’re really proud of. The same goes for our renewable energy projects and support for climate policy. These things are hard. But we do them because we can—and because they matter.” Backing Europe's tech sovereignty—one search at a time Ecosia's role as European-founded and owned company can’t be understated at a time when many in Europe are focused on European competitiveness and data sovereignty.  Kroll asserts:  “It’s not just about being European, it’s about having alternatives.  Right now, if a hypothetical future US president decided to cut off European access to American tech, we’d be in serious trouble. We’re far too dependent.” That’s why Ecosia supports initiatives like the Digital SME Alliance’s “Tech Solutions Made in Europe” series. “We want to give people the option to choose something cleaner, fairer, and more transparent. Digital diversity is a fundamental part of that.”

Wave Ventures, Europe’s largest Gen Z-run venture capital firm, announces its third fund at €7 million, tripling the size of its previous fund and cementing its position as a leading early-stage backer of Gen Z founders across the Nordics and Baltics.  Wave’s third fund is backed by a diverse network of investors, including founders of Slack, Bolt, Skype, Supercell, Wolt, Silo AI, and Smartly.io, as well as European early-stage VCs, and family offices. Founded in 2016, Wave Ventures has established a strong track record in identifying exceptional early-stage talent.  Over its first two funds, Wave Ventures has made over 50 initial investments as the first backer and invested in nearly 80 per cent of VC-backed Finnish startups led by CEOs under 30. Wave Ventures’ previous investments include, for example, Inven, Intergrid, Exa Laboratories (YC S24), Vetnio (YC W25), Paebbl, Normative, and Carbo Culture. Wave’s model is grounded in a core principle: proximity to the next generation of builders. The fund is operated entirely by a small rotating team of top Gen Z investors embedded in startup ecosystems across Helsinki, Stockholm, and Tallinn.  This structure provides Wave with real-time access to the communities where the most ambitious Gen Z founders are emerging, often before they appear on the radar of VCs. Now, with Fund III, Wave plans to scale this approach across the Nordics and Baltics, aiming to invest in 3 to 10 new teams per country each year, focusing on first-ticket angel and pre-seed rounds up to €100,000. I spoke to CEO Antonia Eneh to learn more. According to Eneh, Wave differs from most investors in a profound way: “We bet on our own generation. We've grown up alongside the founders we back, so we know exactly what exceptional looks like. We’re just as young and hungry as they are and ready to go the extra mile for them. Being peers, not just observers, gives us a real advantage in finding the next standout founders.” According to Eneh, Wave’s team are “literally in the room, same classes, co-working spaces, hackathons, and founder groups."  "Our team lives inside these ecosystems and is part of them. For example, in Sweden, our team members Elis Hodzic and Bror Nordström have built the Founders House, a community for top emerging talent.” More young people than ever are going all-in on building companies. Eneh attributes this to a generational shift where entrepreneurship is becoming the top path for talented individuals in their twenties.  Eneh asserts that Gen AI and open-source technologies are lowering the barriers to starting and scaling companies. “AI is unlocking a new era of speed and scale: young founders are moving faster than ever, thinking bigger, and building globally from day one. This generation understands the problems that matter and has the tools to solve them. Wave is built to find them and back them first.” In terms of patterns or signals that identify successful founders early, Eneh shared that their startup is rarely the first exceptional thing they’ve done.  “The most promising founders tend to have been building things early on. They’re hungry and see opportunities where others see obstacles.” Also, every ecosystem is different, and these people can be found in different places. “ For example, in Sweden, we often see fully technical founding teams with a clear mindset of conquering the world.  In Finland, the talent has emerged from communities like Slush and other ecosystem initiatives, with new ones emerging like FR8.  And in Estonia, we’re seeing people building their first scalable companies straight out of high school.” Further, what all builders from different ecosystems share is a global outlook from day one.  “Recognising these patterns and knowing where and how to look in each local context has been key to finding exceptional talent early.” Given Wave has an age-specific model and rotating team structure, I wondered how they retain institutional memory and investor consistency. According to Eneh, the team doesn’t change at once. Rather, it always has newer and more experienced members working together to ensure a smooth handover of knowledge, relationships, and the tips and tricks that make its model work. She sees this rotation as Wave’s superpower.  “We continuously bring in new top talent who then find and are surrounded by the next top founders. This keeps us fresh and constantly ahead of the curve. Also, our model itself becomes a “launchpad”  for exceptional people.” Wave’s investment model has proven successful not only for the entrepreneurs but also for its investors. According to Eneh, “They see Wave as their first way to gain access to the most promising young talent across Europe. Now we’re doing it on an even bigger scale.” Cal Henderson, co-founder of Slack, said:  “Wave Ventures has a truly unique advantage, connecting to the most promising young European entrepreneurs before any other investors could ever have them on their radar.  Having seen firsthand the incredible talent and drive of the youth emerging from Finland and the Nordics, I believe we’re about to witness a wave of incredible new companies built by this next generation of founders.” Lead image: Wave Ventures. Photo: uncredited. 

TaleMonster Games, an Istanbul studio founded by Peak Games veterans on a mission to bring depth and creativity back to casual puzzle games, has raised a $7 million Seed round led by General Catalyst, alongside a16z Speedrun, Arcadia, and Ludus Ventures.  TaleMonster was born from a simple idea: Today’s players have leveled up, and it’s time for their games to do the same.  “We’re a multidisciplinary founding team united by a shared obsession with product and a deep love for games,” said Irem Sumer, co-founder and CEO.  “We started TaleMonster because we saw something missing in the games we loved.  Casual games have become too predictable, too optimised, and not enough fun. We believe players deserve better: games that surprise, challenge, and evolve with them.”  The founding team brings deep experience from some of the most successful games in the space, including titles built at Peak Games, which was acquired by Zynga for $1.8 billion.  They combine years of experience building and scaling hit puzzle games, with a proven track record in crafting high-quality products end-to-end.  TaleMonster’s focus isn’t just on launching a single hit, but on building a team of passionate, curious people who can create multiple standout titles over time.  By creating an environment where great talent can thrive, the studio aims to develop not only games that last, but a culture that lasts just as long.  Their first title, Match Valley, proves they’re on the right track. Players spend an average of 52 minutes in the game each day. According to Sumer: “We’re building a team that grows with every title we release; sharp, curious, and unafraid to experiment. With this funding, we can go faster, think bigger, and keep raising the bar for what casual games can be.” This seed round will help TaleMonster scale its vision: building rich, evergreen puzzle games that grow with their players.  “Mobile players have changed. They've grown sharper, more curious, and a lot harder to impress. They can tell when a game is built with care and when it’s not,” said Sumer. “We want every game we build to feel like it respects your time, your attention, and your skill.”  They plan to use the funding to expand the team, accelerate development, and continue investing in reusable systems that support smarter game design, personalized experiences, and efficient content delivery to launch faster, learn quicker, and build a portfolio of games that players can return to over time.