​Portuguese home services app OSCAR has secured €6M in a Pre-Series A funding round, co-led by Indico Capital Partners and Lince Capital, with additional participation from Failup Ventures, Boost Capital Partners, and the founders of unicorns Bolt and Wolt. This investment aims to support OSCAR's expansion within the Iberian Peninsula and facilitate its entry into the UK market.​ Founded in 2019, OSCAR connects users with qualified technicians across services, including plumbing, electrical work, cleaning, laundry, and beauty treatments.  The platform guarantees fixed prices and fast service, addressing common challenges such as unreliable service providers and opaque pricing in the home services sector. OSCAR has grown to serve over 300,000 customers and generate more than €7M in annual revenue. ​ The recent funding will enable OSCAR to reinforce its presence in Portugal and Spain, where it has achieved market leadership, and to launch operations in the UK. The home services industry in Europe has traditionally been fragmented, with challenges related to service quality, pricing transparency, and trust.  Stephan de Moraes, Managing General Partner at Indico Capital Partners, expressed enthusiasm about OSCAR's growth:​ “We are delighted with OSCAR’s exponential growth in Portugal and Spain, and are excited to be part of this round. This investment will be instrumental in OSCAR’s entry into the UK market and expanding its team, solidifying its customer service and the consistency of its offer.”​ Francisco Formigal Pinto, Fund Manager at Lince Capital and OSCAR Board Member, highlighted the company's ability to address market gaps:​ “OSCAR's success reveals the clear supply gap that existed in this sector, but above all it is essentially due to the management team's ability to execute, which has managed to combine the needs of both clients and technicians, adding value to both parties.”​

Arondite, a UK-based AI startup founded by former British Army officer Will Blyth, has raised $10M to enhance human-machine collaboration in defence operations.  The Seed round was led by Index Ventures, following a $2.25M pre-seed round led by Concept Ventures and Creator Fund. This investment underscores the growing interest in defence technology, with venture capital funding in the sector reaching $2.5B in 2024 Arondite's platform aims to address the challenge of integrating various autonomous systems, such as drones and ground robots, into a cohesive operational framework. The software serves as a 'connective tissue,' enabling operators to manage multiple systems through a single interface. This approach enhances situational awareness and operational control, crucial for missions where timely and accurate information is vital.​ The technology has practical applications in scenarios like minefield clearance and counter-intrusion efforts, where coordinated deployment of autonomous systems can improve safety and efficiency. By providing a unified platform for diverse hardware, Arondite facilitates safer deployment of autonomous tools, reducing risks associated with fragmented systems.​ Will Blyth, CEO and co-founder of Arondite, draws from his military experience to inform the company's mission. He emphasised the importance of accessible and connected systems in critical situations:​ “During my military career, having the right information at the right time was often a matter of life or death. Defence systems that don’t talk to each other make operations far more dangerous. My vision for Arondite was to create the software and AI tools to connect up defence hardware and give people working on the front lines the information, oversight and understanding they need to make use of machines and AI, without compromising safety and control.”​ Hannah Seal, Partner at Index Ventures, highlighted the team's unique qualifications:​ “We’re thrilled to support Will and Rob on their journey to enable true human-machine teaming in the autonomous age. With their rare combination of real-world experience, technical expertise and startup acumen, they are uniquely equipped to change how people interact with robots while ensuring they safely retain control over critical decisions.”​ As defence organizations increasingly rely on autonomous systems, Arondite's platform offers a scalable solution to integrate and manage these technologies effectively. The company's approach aligns with the broader trend of increased investment in defence tech, signaling a shift towards more interconnected and intelligent systems in military operations.​

Dream Games, a Turkish mobile gaming studio renowned for Royal Match and Royal Kingdom, has announced a strategic investment from global alternative asset management firm CVC. The investment from CVC, alongside debt financing from funds managed by Blackstone and other investors, will facilitate Dream Games' expansion plans. The transaction provides liquidity to the company's initial venture capital partners, who will exit after over five years, and initiates a strategic partnership with CVC as its new equity partner. This collaboration aims to accelerate Dream Games' growth trajectory and solidify its leadership in the mobile gaming industry.​ The transaction is subject to customary regulatory approvals and is expected to close in Q3 2025.​ Founded in 2019 by Soner Aydemir, Ikbal Namli, Hakan Saglam, Eren Sengul, and Serdar Yilmaz, Dream Games quickly established itself in the mobile gaming sector. Its flagship game, Royal Match, has surpassed $3B in lifetime revenue from nearly 300 million downloads.  Dream Games launched Royal Kingdom in November 2024. In its first month, the game generated $5.5M in net in-app purchase revenue, three times more than Royal Match did in its initial month. Nick Clarry, Managing Partner and Head of CVC’s Sports, Media and Entertainment team, commented: “Dream Games has created some of the world’s most beloved and commercially successful IP - including King Robert, King Richard & The Dark King. We are very pleased to have the opportunity to work with this world-class management team and help them realise their ambitious vision in the Royal Universe.”​ With the backing of CVC and other investors, Dream Games plans to continue expanding the Royal universe and develop new titles.​

Hungary’s tech ecosystem reflects a complex yet promising landscape shaped by global headwinds, regional resilience, and targeted national strategies. Although startup funding stagnated in 2024, early-stage ventures demonstrated notable strength, attracting top-tier international investors to Hungary for the first time. Meanwhile, the innovation environment is steadily shifting toward a more market-driven model, supported by initiatives like the Startup Factory and new financial instruments such as innovation vouchers and venture capital schemes. Despite ongoing challenges, Hungary's tech ecosystem continues to evolve in step with global trends and is laying strong foundations for future growth. Here are 10 companies driving innovation and helping to shape the future of Hungary’s tech landscape. Amount raised in 2024: €12M ​PastPay is a fintech company revolutionizing B2B commerce through its Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) platform tailored for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across Europe. Operating in multiple European countries, PastPay has facilitated over €33 million in financing, supporting more than 170 merchants and processing over 15,000 deferred payment transactions. The platform seamlessly integrates with both online and offline sales channels, providing a centralised solution for multichannel B2B transactions. In 2024, PastPay secured €12 million in Series A funding to accelerate its expansion across the EU. Amount raised in 2024: €4M ​Parkl is a technology company transforming urban mobility through its integrated digital platform for smart parking and electric vehicle (EV) charging. Founded in 2017, Parkl offers a seamless, cashless experience for drivers by combining on-street and off-street parking, EV charging, and e-vignette purchases—all within a single mobile application. With a focus on sustainability and user-centric design, Parkl is redefining the urban driving experience by making parking and charging smarter, more efficient, and environmentally friendly. In 2024, the company raised €4 million to support the scaling of its digital mobility service. Amount raised in 2024: $2M Scoutlabs is an agritech startup that specialises in AI-powered remote insect monitoring systems designed to optimise pest management for farmers. Their affordable and scalable digital trap network enables precise field-specific pesticide application, reducing unnecessary spraying and improving cost efficiency. By providing actionable data through a user-friendly platform, Scoutlabs helps farmers combat crop-eating insects more effectively, contributing to sustainable agriculture and enhanced food security. The company secured $2 million in 2024 for AI-powered remote insect monitoring. Amount raised in 2024: $1.5M ​Vizzu is a startup revolutionising data storytelling through its cinematic data visualisation platform. Vizzu empowers users to transform complex datasets into engaging, animated narratives without requiring advanced technical skills. Its intuitive interface and smart suggestions simplify chart creation, enabling seamless transitions between data exploration and presentation. By integrating data analysis and visualisation, Vizzu enhances audience engagement and facilitates a deeper understanding of data-driven insights. In 2024, Vizzu secured $1.5 million in funding to support the beta launch of its innovative tool and the integration of AI-driven functionalities to democratise data storytelling further. Amount raised in 2024: €1M Denxpert is a company specialising in innovative digital solutions for environment, health, safety, and sustainability (EHS&S) management. The company offers user-friendly, modular software designed to streamline compliance, reporting, and sustainability processes for organisations worldwide. Denxpert's platform addresses various aspects of EHS&S, including legal compliance, chemical management, waste tracking, air and water monitoring, and ESG reporting. The company's solutions are recognised for their ease of implementation and are supported by a global network of experts, ensuring localised support and expertise.​ The company secured €1 million in 2024 to scale and expand internationally. Amount raised in 2024: €700K ​Qneiform is a startup that offers an AI-powered talent intelligence platform designed to assist headhunters and recruitment professionals in identifying ideal candidates. By leveraging proprietary datasets and advanced search technology, Qneiform enables organisations to analyse talent markets and make informed hiring decisions. ​ In 2024, Qneiform secured €700,00 funding, while in March 2025, it closed €3 million to expand beyond Europe and the US. Amount raised in 2024: $600K ​Captiwate is a real-time sales engagement platform that transforms websites into live sales channels. Captiwate enables businesses to connect with high-intent website visitors through instant, browser-based video calls, live chat, and screen-sharing—eliminating the need for forms or scheduling. The platform offers advanced features such as visitor identification, behavioural tracking, and data enrichment, allowing sales teams to prioritise and engage prospects at peak interest. Captiwate integrates seamlessly with existing CRM systems and communication tools like Slack, ensuring efficient lead management and faster conversions. In 2024, Captiwate secured $600,000 in seed funding to support its mission to redefine B2B sales by facilitating genuine, real-time conversations that drive growth. Amount raised in 2024: €500K Voovo is an edtech startup revolutionising the study experience with AI-powered flashcards and adaptive learning tools. Designed for students across disciplines—from medicine to languages—Voovo enables rapid creation of flashcards using voice input, image recognition, and AI-assisted question generation. The company secured €500,000 pre-seed funding in 2024. Amount raised in 2024: Undisclosed Turbine is a biotech startup pioneering the world’s first open simulation platform for patient biology. The company leverages artificial intelligence to create its Simulated Cell technology, enabling researchers to conduct predictive in silico experiments that capture human cellular behaviour more accurately than traditional models. In 2024, Turbine received an undisclosed strategic investment from Accenture to extend its capabilities to global biopharma companies further. Amount raised in 2024: Undisclosed ​Munch is a sustainability startup that operates as a platform connecting food providers, such as restaurants, bakeries, cafes, and supermarkets, with consumers to sell surplus food at discounted prices. Through the Munch app, users can purchase "surprise packages" of unsold but high-quality food, contributing to a circular food economy. In 2024, Munch closed a Series A round and launched in Romania. Munch's mission is to make food rescue accessible to as many people as possible, ensuring that no good-quality food goes to waste and helping to prevent the emission of tons of greenhouse gases.

Board Intelligence, the UK and Sweden’s largest board technology and advisory firm, has acquired Competent Boards, a development platform for board directors and executives. This move follows Board Intelligence’s acquisition of TeamEngine in September 2024. It aims to enhance board effectiveness through AI-powered tools and expert-led development programs. Board Intelligence’s AI-powered Lucia product, which can streamline board report creation and decision-making, combined with Competent Boards’ robust consulting expertise, will accelerate the development of innovative features, enhancing the functionality and impact of Lucia. ​ Competent Boards offers board evaluation and sustainability consulting services alongside a board training program, aiming to equip them to govern effectively in an era of profound societal and environmental change. The program’s alumni include directors and executives from Fortune 500 companies, institutional investors, and major global organisations such as Rio Tinto, Coca-Cola, Manulife, and Tata Sons Private Limited. ​ Helle Bank Jorgensen, who joins Board Intelligence as Global Managing Director, Board Development, expressed her enthusiasm for the partnership:​ “This is more than a joining of forces, it’s a shared commitment to transforming boardrooms for the realities of our fast-changing world. Our clients will benefit from an expanded platform that blends transformational AI with deep boardroom insight. Together, we aim to empower boards to serve and deliver impact, not sit.”​ Pippa Begg, CEO of Board Intelligence, commented:​ “Helle and Competent Boards have built a global following with the quality of their work and their commitment to building future-fit boards. Their innovative programs enhance our board assessment and development practice, strengthening our ability to support leaders’ evolving needs in every corner of the globe and accelerating our shared vision of more effective boards and a better-governed world. We’re thrilled to welcome Helle and her team to Board Intelligence.”​ The combined entity now serves over 75,000 leaders across the Fortune 500, FTSE 100, and OMX 30, including clients such as John Lewis, National Grid, and ITV. Competent Boards’ alumni network spans 57 countries, further extending Board Intelligence’s global reach. By integrating AI-powered tools with expert-led development programs, the company aims to equip boards with the insights and capabilities needed to navigate complex challenges in areas such as sustainability, AI, and geopolitics.​

AMPLY Discovery announced today that it has raised a $1.75 million seed round for its proprietary AI-driven drug discovery platform.  Twin Path Ventures led the round, with participation from US-based Venture Science, Co-fund NI, the British Business Bank, and QUBIS Limited. AMPLY was spun out of Queen's University Belfast to commercialise a computational platform developed in the Creevey Lab and based on over 10 years of scientific research.  Founded by leading computational biology scientists Dr Ben Thomas, Dermot Tierney and Prof Chris Creevey, the company is using this funding to accelerate the development of its discovery programmes through the preclinical stage. According to Dr Ben Thomas, CEO and Chief Architect of AMPLY: “Ten years ago, I began combining financial modeling expertise with computational biology to create a drug discovery platform. Evolution has spent billions of years perfecting natural defence mechanisms, and now we're using AI to unlock this wisdom.”  Thomas’ interest isn’t just professional — his father died from a drug-resistant infection the healthcare system couldn't treat.  He shared: “At Queen's, I built AMPLY to tackle deadly diseases differently, creating technology that will save lives when current treatments fail." AMPLY has developed a drug discovery engine that leverages the convergence of AI, Next Generation Sequencing and Synthetic Biology to accelerate the discovery of cures for diseases caused by people’s different genetic variations.  The platform analyses biological molecules, identifies potential treatment targets, and bio-prints real molecules that can be quickly tested and improved in the lab.  With AMPLYfolioAI, the company's scientists are decoding disease complexity, designing smarter biologic drugs, and moving to a precision process which promises to be faster, cheaper, and at a scale never before possible. Katie Lockwood, Partner at Twin Path, said:  “We're impressed by Amply's proprietary experimental dataset, their unique AI approach that incorporates human expertise, and their ability to validate AI discoveries through in vitro and in vivo testing.  The founding team exemplifies the cross-disciplinary expertise we seek in breakthrough AI investments.  Their application of AI to computational biology has already yielded impressive results that could transform drug discovery for complex diseases.” Lead image: Freepik. 

Materials Market, a UK-based digital marketplace for building materials, has raised £2M in a round led by Fuel Ventures, with participation from Active Partners and a group of angel investors. The investment aims to accelerate the company's mission to modernise the UK's fragmented and inefficient building materials sector.​ The £2M will be used to enhance the platform's technology, expand the team, and explore new ways to connect customers and suppliers more efficiently. This move aligns with the government's target to build 1.5 million homes by the end of the current term. The UK's building materials market is valued at approximately £40B but remains highly fragmented, with thousands of suppliers operating in localised areas and limited digital adoption. This lack of standardisation leads to opaque pricing, inefficiencies, and a cumbersome procurement process for buyers. Additionally, the sector faces challenges such as high staff turnover and burnout in traditional call centres, long training cycles, and a lack of multilingual capabilities for global companies.​ Materials Market's platform connects buyers directly with a network of over 750 supplier branches, with cutsomers ranging from DIY enthusiasts to large-scale contractors.​ The UK construction sector has faced challenges such as input price inflation and a high building materials trade deficit, which reached over £14B in 2023. These factors underscore the necessity for innovation and efficiency in the supply chain. Tom Profumo, Partner at Active Partners, commented:​ "The building materials market is highly fragmented and inefficient and has yet to experience the level of disruption seen in other industries through digitisation. Materials Market is changing that with its innovative approach and proprietary technology, seamlessly connecting buyers and suppliers through its online marketplace."​ James Mackenzie, Non-Executive Director at Materials Market, added:​ "The building materials sector is one of the last major industries to undergo true digital transformation. What Materials Market is doing - using technology to simplify and scale a highly fragmented supply chain - is exactly what the industry needs."​

Daiser, a Tyneside-based modular digital health platform, has announced a strategic partnership with the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) National Edge Artificial Intelligence (EdgeAI) Hub. The collaboration aims to explore the integration of edge AI technologies, digital twins, and AI agents to enhance data privacy and security in digital healthcare.​ Launched in 2024, Daiser's platform facilitates the development and deployment of digital health services. By incorporating digital twins - virtual replicas of physical entities - and AI agents, Daiser enables healthcare providers to deliver personalised and data-driven care, while streamlining workflows and reducing administrative burdens.​ Its modular approach allows for the rapid creation of patient-centric solutions across various conditions, from diabetes to dementia. The EPSRC National EdgeAI Hub, led by Professor Rajiv Ranjan, is dedicated to advancing the UK's expertise in AI and edge computing. The hub focuses on enhancing data quality and decision accuracy across time-critical applications, including healthcare, by deploying AI closer to data sources. This approach addresses critical privacy and security concerns inherent in healthcare systems.​ Mike Trenell, CEO and co-founder of Daiser, emphasized the alignment between the partnership and Daiser's mission:​ “Partnering with the EdgeAI Hub aligns perfectly with Daiser’s commitment to empowering health and care providers through advanced digital solutions. Together, we can create AI-driven tools that not only personalise patient care but also uphold the highest standards of privacy and security.”​ Professor Rajiv Ranjan echoed this sentiment, highlighting the practical application of research in real-world healthcare challenges:​ “Collaborating with Daiser allows us to apply our research in edge AI to real-world healthcare challenges. This partnership is a significant step toward developing secure, efficient, and patient-centric healthcare solutions.”​ The collaboration between Daiser and the EPSRC National EdgeAI Hub comes at a time when the healthcare industry is increasingly adopting AI and digital technologies to improve patient outcomes and operational efficiency. However, the integration of these technologies raises concerns regarding data privacy, security, and interoperability. By focusing on edge AI, the partnership aims to address these challenges by processing data closer to its source, thereby enhancing security and reducing latency.​ Furthermore, the use of digital twins has been touted as having the potential to transform patient care by enabling more accurate diagnostics, personalised treatment plans, and continuous health monitoring. These technologies can also assist in predictive analytics, identifying potential health issues before they become critical.​

The British Business Bank has committed £7 million to a new investment platform managed by Haatch, aiming to co-invest alongside five of the UK's emerging angel syndicates. This initiative is part of the Bank's Regional Angels Programme, designed to enhance access to early-stage capital for high-growth startups across the UK.​ These syndicates typically operate with lean structures and limited regulatory infrastructure. They hope to back early-stage businesses across diverse sectors, primarily outside of London.​ Haatch, an early-stage venture capital firm, has been selected to manage the co-investment process. The firm specializes in backing B2B SaaS businesses at pre-seed and seed stages. With a portfolio valued at over £800M, Haatch has invested in over 100 companies globally through its SEIS, EIS, and institutional funds. The selected cohort comprises five angel syndicates, including two female-led groups. The participating syndicates are:​ HERmesa: A community of over 270 women operators and entrepreneurs turned angel investors, focusing on backing women-led, tech-enabled startups at the pre-seed stage.​ CircleRock Capital: A sector-agnostic platform offering access to leading early-stage investments alongside top global venture capital firms, with a focus on Seed, Series A, and Series B rounds.​ The Games Angels: A collective of seasoned gaming industry professionals dedicated to investing in and supporting startups and companies shaping the future of gaming.​ Sie Ventures: An early-stage investor backing diverse founding teams across the UK and Europe.​ 2050 Capital: A deep tech and science investment firm investing in transformative and defensible innovation that impacts large fundamental sectors.​ Fred Soneya, Co-founder and General Partner at Haatch, commented: “We’re thrilled to deepen our relationship with the British Business Bank and have the opportunity to co-invest alongside some of the best emerging angel syndicates in the country. This additional commitment allows us to broaden our reach and support an even more diverse range of founders, driving innovation and growth across multiple sectors.” Adam Kelly, Managing Director, Funds at British Business Bank, added: “We’re delighted to continue our work with Haatch in creating this innovative new structure, in order to enable co-investment alongside five of the UK’s promising angel syndicates, including two female-led angel groups. This further commitment of £7 million takes our overall commitment to Haatch to £27 million.”

AVIEL Intelligence, a UK-based startup founded by former Google employees and cybersecurity experts, has emerged from stealth mode with a £350,000 Pre-Seed. The investment round is led by Fuel Ventures. Additional backing comes from Cambridge Angels and a range of angel investors. The UK has witnessed a significant rise in financial scams, with losses from Authorised Push Payment (APP) fraud reaching nearly £500M in the past year. In response, the Payment Systems Regulator (PSR) introduced new rules in October 2024 requiring over 1,100 Payment Service Providers (PSPs) to reimburse victims of APP fraud, shifting liability from consumers to financial institutions .​ AVIEL Intelligence aims to address this challenge by providing actionable intelligence to banks and PSPs, enabling them to prevent scams before they occur. The company's proprietary intelligence engine is already live, actively identifying scam networks and allowing PSPs to take real-time action to block fraud.​ AVIEL's unique approach involves creating AI personas that interact with scammers through digital platforms. As conversations move to encrypted environments like WhatsApp, these AI personas extract information from the scammer, providing receiving banks with critical insights into which accounts are being used in scams. This proactive strategy enables banks to understand and mitigate fraud risks more effectively.​ Joe Tallett, Co-Founder and CEO of AVIEL Intelligence, expressed enthusiasm about the funding round, stating, “We couldn’t be more excited about closing our funding round and ramping up our anti-scam activities. With Fuel Ventures supporting our vision and providing the backbone of our funding round, AVIEL can accelerate fast.”​ Fuel Ventures, known for its focus on early-stage tech companies, has invested over £370 million in more than 180 startups . Mark Pearson, Founder of Fuel Ventures, highlighted AVIEL's unique approach to scam prevention, stating, “AVIEL is tackling one of the biggest challenges facing banks and payment service providers today. The team has found a completely unique angle – using intelligence, not just analytics, to stop scams at the source. Their approach is bold, focused and scalable, and we’re excited to back them at this critical stage.”​ The investment will support AVIEL's growth, including expansion across the UK and internationally, and continued product development. Key priorities include increasing the speed and accuracy of scam detection, expanding the scope of scams covered, and scaling up intelligence delivery.​ With the financial services industry under increasing pressure to prevent fraud and protect consumers, AVIEL Intelligence's innovative approach positions it as a potential leader in the fight against financial scams.​

Solda.AI, a Berlin-based startup specialising in AI-driven telesales automation, has secured a $4M Seed round led by Accel, with participation from AltaIR Capital. This investment aims to accelerate the development of Solda.AI's "autonomous" voice agents. Solda.AI's platform offers enterprises an automated sales solution capable of managing the entire telesales cycle - handling lead qualification, objection handling, meeting scheduling, and deal closures - through both voice and text interactions. The AI agents will conduct telesales 24/7, and are trained on a company's recorded calls and sales scripts. With the new funding, Solda.AI plans to expand its AI voice agents' capabilities, enhance multilingual support, and broaden its client base internationally. The company's AI programmes claim to be indistinguishable from human representatives during calls. At peak hours, the system can handle up to 100 simultaneous phone lines, processing up to 10,000 leads daily, including follow-ups, callbacks, and closed deals. In 2024, Solda.AI's agents generated $7 million in incremental revenue for clients and are on track to reach $30 million in 2025.​ The global call center market is valued at approximately $29B, and the rise of AI voice agents is part of a broader trend in sales automation, with companies like SellScale and CloudTalk also developing AI-powered solutions to streamline sales processes.  Solda.AI's technology has been adopted by several enterprises across various sectors, including finance, retail, and telecommunications. Customer Pavels Gilodo, Consumer Ecosystem Lead at tbi bank, commented:​ "At tbi bank, innovation drives everything we do. Partnering with Solda.AI has transformed our customer communication strategy. Victoria AI, our AI-driven outbound sales agent, allows us to engage customers at scale while keeping the experience personal. The results speak for themselves – improved operational efficiency, enhanced customer satisfaction, and significant contributions to our business goals."​

In a podcasting landscape dominated by global platforms chasing scale and ad impressions, Copenhagen-based Podimo is carving out a very different path.  Podcasting has grown tremendously over the last decade, and across Europe, between 35 per cent and up to 45 per cent of the adult population listens to podcasts regularly.  Podimo is an audio entertainment service founded in 2019 that offers original and exclusive ad-free shows, plus podcasts from around the world via RSS feeds.  The app features smart curation, an intuitive design, and video, creating a new stream of revenue for all creators. The service emphasises local-language content and diverse voices, offering a personalised listening experience across Europe and Latin America. Podimo has grown rapidly, becoming one of Europe's fastest-growing podcast and audiobook subscription services with over 1 million subscribers. It's live in seven markets, with over 350 employees spread across most of Europe.  I spoke to CEO Morten Strunge to find out more. Prioritise local insight and strategic acquisitions Founded in 2019, the company attributes its early reaching of the million mark to its in-depth understanding of local markets and strategic acquisitions such as Dag en Nacht Media, a Danish podcast agency and advertising platform, Podads and Dutch podcast production house Tonny Media. Podimo is already profitable in three of its markets and plans to be in the black in all markets by the end of 2025. While the main business and chunk of its revenue comes from the subscription business, according to Strunge, the acquisitions mean that “Podimo is not just a paywall, it's also having a lot of content live outside the paywall — freely available on platforms, monetised through advertising.  And then we have windowing and hybrid content versions towards subscription as well.”  Have boots on the ground locally Podimo stands out from its competitors for its hyperlocal approach.  Users can curate and provide content that is perfectly tailored to the specific preferences and tastes of listeners in each region. Further, the company has “boots on the ground” in each market. Strunge asserts:  “We don't just meet the creator with a login where you can upload an audio file. We actually meet the creator in person and help them co-create the content. We have studios. We create the content, we promote it, and we monetise it. So we're more like a 360 service.” Strunge asserts that Podimo’s model of trying to get as much money into the ecosystem as possible through both advertising and subscriptions benefits podcasting as a whole. “A lot of the players that distribute podcast content — they do it for engagement, not monetisation. So their business case is to increase engagement that then helps them on their retention, but it doesn't give more revenue to creators.  Whereas for Podimo, we are the ones actually putting money into the ecosystem and growing the pie that benefits the whole creator community.” Support content creators through collaboration and partnerships But besides offering local shows and local languages, I wanted to understand how Podimo generates revenue while also supporting the creators financially. Strunge suggests it starts with the flywheel of great content: “If we get great content, then there's a willingness to pay. An average Podimo subscriber spends around 20 hours listening to content on our service each month. And that equals some willingness to pay.  We have content people on our team focused on content makers. If you have great content and you can help the creators make content, then you can grow that content off-platform and create more reach for it. And then we can help the creators monetise it through advertising — which we have agreements on — or help them monetise through a combination of both subscriptions and ads.” Podimo has partnerships with Disney, iHeartMedia, and Paramount Network, and also funds independent investigative journalism. An example is Forgotten: Women of Juárez, a collaboration between Podimo and iHeartMedia. This investigative series explores the femicides in Juárez, Mexico, shedding light on a decades-long crisis of violence against women.  The podcast was translated and adapted into Spanish, German, and Danish, making it accessible to a broader audience. Its impactful storytelling and thorough investigation earned it the "Best Latin American Podcast of the Year" award at the Estación Podcast Festival. ​ Further, Strunge contends that as Podimo has the luxury of only having podcasts, “We focus solely on that from a vertical perspective, which allows us to build a different way of discovering content.” Emojis, polls, user engagement shape the future of listener interaction Podimo has spent the last year investing in community, bringing listeners and creators closer to each other, allowing them to engage more than just through the podcast.  According to Strunge:  “We're really trying to bring a social and community aspect into podcasting. The building blocks are there because podcasting is a very intimate medium.  It’s not someone narrating a book — you're in the room with the creator, part of the content experience. And building on top of that toward social and community features, we see a huge opportunity in bringing creators and listeners closer.” Listeners can share emojis while streaming. Podimo also enables creators to engage their audience through in-app polls. These polls allow listeners to provide feedback, express preferences, or participate in decisions related to podcast content.  Make a stance on questionable content Podimo stands out for its stance on content curation. In March 2025, Spotify faced significant backlash for hosting content by Andrew Tate, an influencer known for misogynistic views and facing serious criminal charges, including rape and human trafficking in Romania and the UK. The controversy centered around a podcast episode titled "Pimping Hoes Degree."  The episode was removed following internal complaints from Spotify employees and a public petition that garnered over 92,000 signatures. Yet despite this removal, other problematic episodes from Tate's series remained on the platform, continuing to draw criticism for promoting harmful stereotypes and manipulative behaviors toward women.  Strunge asserts that the company has been clear from the beginning that it wouldn't "play the platform card." "We take ownership of each piece of content ourselves. In Denmark, for example, we have the Prime Minister on some of our shows. That’s a voice in society. And that comes with a responsibility—whether it's content we produce or curate. You have to be very careful about maintaining the right balance. It’s a lot of responsibility. We're not just a podcast platform—we’re becoming a medium. And that should come with responsibility." Invest in AI Podimo has also reaped the benefits of advancements in AI, especially when it comes to content editing — snippet creation, video snippets.  “There are many tools that speed up time to market,” explains Strunge.  “But the biggest benefit is AI for discovery: matching the right content with the right user, at the right time, and even in the right format. Not just banners, but personalised audio recommendations in a show, or video snippets of parts of an episode that have a high likelihood to interest a particular listener. That’s where we've seen the biggest upside—tailoring discovery to individuals and bringing content to users in new ways.” Podimo is also investing in format development—transferring formats between markets in local languages and also exploring AI-generated content.  Strunge admits that its utility is nuanced as humour doesn't travel well across markets, and even history is perceived differently depending on the country and how it has impacted them. The company is also exploring format adaptation—taking a successful format and localising it in other markets, like TV, where the same concept is adapted with different local hosts.  “That’s increasing in podcasting, and we have a global team in London that circulates and manages this across markets.” Help podcasters find their audience Strunge contends it's about finding an audience." That’s the golden ticket. Podimo can cross-promote new content into existing shows. Pocasters can be invited as a guest on other shows. "And since we own the app, we can also support it through in-app visibility. Our editors help co-develop content, and our monetisation model is efficient. In markets where Podimo operates, we’ve surpassed advertising revenue with subscriptions. Like in the Netherlands, when we launched two and a half years ago, it was 100 per cent ad-driven. Now, subscriptions bring in more than ads, even though ads have also grown." The company's future includes increased investments in local talent, more narrative formats, a closer link with product functions, and expansion into new markets. Strunge also sees video playing a bigger role in the future. 

Swedish hybrid-electric aeroplane maker Heart Aerospace is scrapping its Swedish operations and relocating to the US, axing 75 roles. Backed by Bill Gates, Heart Aerospace is in the race to build a viable electric aircraft for commercial use. It is developing a 30-seat hybrid-electric powered regional aircraft, the ES-30. Heart Aerospace, founded in 2018, employs around 75 people in Sweden.  A spokesperson for Heart Aerospace confirmed that the roles will no longer exist. Heart Aerospace said the move to Los Angeles would boost product development and speed up development of the ES-30. Anders Forslund, co-founder and CEO of Heart Aerospace, said: “Our move to Los Angeles marks a new chapter in Heart Aerospace’s journey—one that prioritizes iterative development and deeper vertical integration.” He added: “As our customers, partners, and investors are increasingly based in the US, we see greater opportunity in focusing our resources here. “By consolidating our operations in Los Angeles, we can accelerate development, strengthen collaboration, and better position Heart Aerospace for the future."  According to Flight Global, Heart Aerospace already axed 72 roles in February last year, after a major design change to the ES-30. The Swedish startup, which is based in Save airport near Gothenburg, announced last year that it planned to conduct flight tests of electric prototypes in New York. Last year, Heart Aerospace raised $107 million in Series B funding, bringing the company’s total financing to $145 million. Other investors include Air Canada, Gates’ Breakthrough Energy Ventures, European Innovation Council Fund, EQT Ventures, Lower Carbon Capital, Norrsken VC, United Airlines, and Y Combinator.  

Revo Capital has announced the first close of its third fund, Revo Capital Fund III, with $86M secured towards a targeted $100M. The fund aims to empower Turkish engineer-founded startups by combining hands-on operational support with growth capital for high-potential Series A and B technology startups.​ Since its inception in 2013, Revo Capital has played a pivotal role in the growth of Turkey's startup ecosystem. Revo Capital Fund III will maintain the firm’s longstanding emphasis on fintech - where Revo is already the most active investor in Turkey - while deepening its focus on B2B SaaS, cybersecurity, and health technology. Fund III also introduces energy and gaming as dedicated verticals. Artificial intelligence will be treated as a horizontal catalyst, and the team will prioritize founders who are using AI to reinvent products, processes, and entire industries across every sector in the portfolio.​ The raise was backed by IFC with $20M, KfW DEG with $20M and the EBRD with $15M. ​In addition to these cornerstone LPs, the remaining commitments were evenly split between new limited partners and returning investors. Notable participants include Turkey’s development finance institution, Türkiye Development Fund and corporate venture capital arms such as Finberg, Eksim Ventures, Inveo Ventures, and Yıldız Ventures. The investor base is further diversified by regional banks, leading corporations, family offices, and a growing number of exited founders from Turkey’s startup ecosystem.​ The new fund will make initial investments of up to $5M, typically by leading or co-leading Series A rounds. Including follow-on capital, total exposure per company can reach up to $10M, providing the runway needed for international expansion, enterprise-grade product development, and marquee customer acquisition.​ To capture breakout early-stage companies even earlier, Revo has carved out a dedicated “Seed Pocket” to target pre-seed and seed-stage opportunities with a $250,000 to $500,000 initial investment size to allow exposure to promising ventures at inception and secure the right to increase its stake in Series A and further rounds.​

Telecommunications startup Telgea has raised $2.7 million to reduce complexity in mobile operations management.  According to research, global companies spend $800 to 1,200 per employee each year on mobile for devices, contracts, roaming, and internal admin. For a 10,000-person company, that’s more than $8 million annually and a significant operational burden that requires multiple full-time employees. Telgea offers one unified mobile platform. Businesses can onboard employees across countries using a single contract, number, and interface - no roaming, no fragmented billing, no local carrier negotiations. Telgea was founded by Andreas Åfeldt Franke, who has previously scaled companies like Tipser and Innometrics to thousands of employees while raising $500 million, and Theis Jensen, who founded and scaled medtech company Sani Nudge across 16 different countries across Europe, Asia, and the US before exiting the company in 2023. According to Andreas Åfeldt Franke, co-founder and CEO of Telgea, the real value isn’t the savings; it’s eliminating friction: “When you remove the need to manage multiple telecom contracts across countries, you free up internal resources and make it significantly easier to run and scale an international business.”  Beyond connectivity, Telgea’s AI automates telecom operations, including onboarding and support. Virtual agents handle everything from plan activation to issue resolution, reducing the load on IT and HR. Already live in eight countries and launching a new one each month, Telgea has raised its current funding from Amigo Ventures, Antler, Motivate Ventures, and the Stockholm School of Economics. “Just as Revolut made banking truly borderless, Telgea is breaking down global telecom barriers by fully automating what was once a manual, resource-heavy industry. This is the kind of execution that builds billion-dollar companies,” says David Wieland, founder and managing partner at Motivate Venture Capital.

French deeptech Chipiron has raised $17M in a Series A round to complete the development of its compact and lower-cost MRI system. The round was led by Blast, with additional participation from the EIC Fund, iXcore, and support from France2030, the EIC Accelerator, and Bpifrance. The funding will enable Chipiron to build its first clinical prototypes, with clinical trials scheduled to begin in 2026. Over the next three to five years, the startup plans to make it available in local care centers, clinics, and mobile units, with a particular focus on the US healthcare market. This is expected to transform MRI from a largely hospital-bound, expensive technology to an affordable and portable solution for a broader range of healthcare providers. MRI remains the gold standard in medical imaging due to its unmatched ability to provide high-resolution, non-invasive images of internal structures. However, its adoption has been constrained by several factors: the technology is expensive, requires significant infrastructure, and is typically confined to large hospitals and university medical centers. Chipiron aims to tackle these barriers by miniaturising MRI technology into a compact, mobile unit. These features have the potential to make MRI available in smaller healthcare facilities, mobile units, and even remote or underserved regions. The global MRI market is estimated to be worth around $10B, with Europe accounting for $2.5B of that total. The French market alone represents $500M. By 2028, Chipiron plans to have its first ultra-low-field clinical prototypes, secure FDA and CE certifications, and deploy at least 100 commercial units. The primary focus will be on the U.S., a market known for its openness to innovative healthcare solutions. This vision also aligns with broader trends in healthcare, where the focus is increasingly on creating flexible, cost-effective solutions to improve patient care.  “This fundraising marks a major turning point for Chipiron, as it validates both our technological approach and the clinical impact we aim to achieve,” said Evan Kervella, CEO and co-founder of Chipiron. “Thanks to the trust of our investors, we now have the means to complete our R&D phase and begin clinical investigations in hospitals as early as next year. Our goal has remained the same since day one: to transform MRI accessibility and fundamentally change medical care worldwide.” The latest $17M Series A round brings Chipiron’s total funding to over $22M, including both equity and public support.  “We will unlock Chipiron’s most important value inflection point early next year by demonstrating the clinical relevance of our technology,” said Dimitri Labat, CSO and co-founder of Chipiron. “Thanks to this round led by Blast, we will be able to install our first device in a hospital to acquire MRI images of patients in a real-world environment. These images will form the basis for the product that will profoundly transform medical imaging practice on a global scale.” “Chipiron is exactly the kind of biotech we want to boost at Blast,” said Anthony Bourbon, Founder and CEO of Blast. “They’re making possible what traditional medicine still struggles to do: detect life-threatening diseases early. A major public health issue, breakthrough technology, and a strong team. Proud to support them through Blast.” “iXcore chose to invest in Chipiron for three reasons: the team is outstanding, the science and technology is groundbreaking, and the market opportunity is immense,” said Hervé Arditty, President of iXcore. “Chipiron’s portable MRI system has the potential to drastically improve access to healthcare and change the way medical imaging is conducted worldwide.”

Bunq is bringing crypto trading to its app, ahead of plans to launch its banking services across a more crypto-friendly US market. The Dutch challenger bank is launching Bunq Crypto across the Netherlands, France, Spain, Ireland, Italy, and Belgium. It then plans to launch crypto trading across the rest of the European Economic Area, as well as the US and the UK where it has applied for licences to operate. Bunq, which has 17m users across Europe, is partnering up with crypto exchange Kraken on the move, in which Bunq users can trade over 300 cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana. Bunq says users can open an account in seconds. Bunq, which last year added stock trading to its offering, says the move is fuelled by customer demand, pointing to its own research showing that 65 per cent of Europeans want to manage their banking, savings, and crypto investment in one place. Asked why Bunq, which targets "digital nomads" such as remote workers, had made the move now, Bunq founder and CEO Ali Niknam suggested that Bunq had wanted to make the move earlier. He said: “As a regulated bank we can’t always innovate as quickly as we would like to. The regulatory landscape has changed and is now more susceptible to this kind of innovation; as always Bunq dived in and now we’re the first bank to deliver crypto!” Asked if the move was designed to boost Bunq’s appeal in the US, which is more crypto-friendly under Trump, as it looks to get a US banking licence through initially a broker-dealer registration, Niknam said: “We're incredibly excited about the US! We can't wait to share more and will as soon as we can." On concerns about crypto scams and financial crime, Niknam said: “These concerns are precisely what we’re addressing. As a bank, we have extensive experience detecting scams and use advanced technology like AI to keep our users safe. By bringing crypto onto our platform, we’ll be even more effective at spotting suspicious activity. "Every wallet will be fully ring-fenced; giving users a simple and safe way to start investing in crypto.” In its latest accounts, Bunq reported a 65 per cent increase in profits to €85.3 million. Another challenger bank Revolut, meanwhile, recently flagged crypto trading activity as key to driving up revenues. But some banks have banned customers from carrying out crypto transactions, amid concerns about scams. In the UK, Starling Bank no longer supports crypto transactions while Chase UK, JP Morgan’s UK challenger bank, has blocked UK customers from purchasing crypto assets.

SuperLight Photonics, a Dutch provider of photonic integrated circuit (PIC)-based laser technology, has partnered with Precision Technologies, a photonics distributor in Singapore. This collaboration aims to enhance access to SuperLight's advanced laser solutions across Southeast Asia, including Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand.​ Founded as a spin-off from the University of Twente, SuperLight Photonics is based in Enschede, the Netherlands. The company focuses on developing high-performance laser technologies, including supercontinuum, ultrafast, and frequency comb lasers. The company specialises in ultra-compact supercontinuum lasers that offer wide bandwidth, low noise, and small form factors. These attributes are crucial for applications in precision manufacturing, biomedical imaging, and advanced metrology. The partnership with Precision Technologies is designed to meet the growing demand for high-performance photonic solutions in these sectors.​ Rick Tan, Division Sales Director at Precision Technologies, highlighted the significance of SuperLight's ultra-compact supercontinuum source: “At Precision Technologies, we view SuperLight Photonics’ ultra compact supercontinuum source as a significant advancement in integrated photonics solutions. Its high spectral brightness, broad wavelength coverage, and PIC level scalability address critical demands in sensing, metrology, and imaging that match perfectly to Southeast Asia’s growing demand. "We are excited to collaborate closely in driving this tremendous innovation growth potential that enables next generation applications, and to achieve shared success in the evolving photonics landscape.” This partnership is part of SuperLight Photonics' broader strategy to strengthen its position in the Asia-Pacific region. Earlier initiatives included a collaboration with KLV in Japan, aiming to integrate SuperLight's solutions into the Japanese market. These efforts underscore the company's commitment to providing localised support and tailored solutions to meet the specific requirements of various markets.​

Today I wanted to share the story of a startup with a difference - a Ukrainian defencetech publication. Defender Media is a new online bilingual publication dedicated to Ukraine's defence, military and dual-use innovations.  With the exception of agentic AI, defencetech is probably the sector attracting the most hype in Europe right now. Ukraine is actively fighting against Russia's invasion, but there's also the bigger story of Europe building its resiliency and changes to foreign policy under President Donald Trump.  I spoke to founder Denys Smyrnov to learn more.  I know Smyrnov well from his work with Sigma Software Group, which has been actively involved in developing Ukrainian defence tech for several years now. Sigma supports internal entrepreneurship and the initiatives of its colleagues, including the publication.  Sigma Software's role in defence innovation Sigma Software Labs operates as a venture lab, has made several investments, and co-founded the Defence Builder accelerator, which has already launched its second programme for startups.  Daria Yaniieva, Head of Defence at Sigma Software Group and Chief Investment Officer at Sigma Software Labs, is increasingly involved in defence innovation events on both sides of the Atlantic. The company's talented engineers can be seen at specialised events, including defence tech hackathons. From coding in wartime to launching a media platform Living under the stress of invasion is not easy. Smyrnov started coding in October 2024 as a means of distraction and, coupled with his media and comms background, decided to create the website. He shared:   "The topic felt promising – the great war will not stop any time soon – so this industry will likely grow for years to come – but there was no specialised publication highlighting our achievements in the industry." After creating the first version of the website, he pitched the idea to Roma Sudolsky, a leading Ukrainian journalist and former editor of Ukrainian Forbes, and Nik Zharov, a well-known blogger and former member of the Uniter24 Media team. They were hooked and became partners, and Defender Media launched in March this year.  Smyrnov asserts that the Ukrainian defence tech industry quickly became "one of the fastest-growing industries in Ukraine and is absolutely critical to our country's survival." It is now estimated to be worth at least $1 billion. According to the publicly available information on the Brave1 platform, over the three years of war, up to 1800 to 2000, new companies have emerged in Ukraine, producing drones, robots, electronic warfare, ground robotic systems and other innovative products.  In 2024, investments in Ukrainian defence tech increased tenfold compared to the previous year (reaching more than $59 million). This figure has every chance of rising to $100 million this year. Brave1 alone, since its inception two years ago, has already awarded over 500 grants to Ukrainian innovators, totalling over $53 million. Why Defender Media? Defender Media aims to fill a gap in existing defencetech news by "giving Ukraine's defenсe tech ecosystem greater visibility – to help accelerate what's already working and try to fix what isn't. "We also aim to support local startups in attracting investments and connecting with international partners." According to Smyrnov, in Ukraine specifically, defencetech is mainly covered by tech media and military publications. "For the IT media, this is just one of many topics, hence they have a broad focus and may lack the time and resources to fact-check, which is essential in this domain. The latter have a better understanding of the topic but do not see it as a business and write about defence tech only in the context of war." That's where Defender Media comes in. It's 100 per cent focused on defencetech and strongly focused on the business side of the industry.   The publication also focuses on the business side of defence tech, and its interviews don't shy away from the industry's challenging aspects.   For instance, Ukrainian innovator and former serviceman Yaroslav Sherstiuk has been building military software for over a decade and has struggled to receive investments.  Defender decided to tell his story to help increase awareness of his product offering and funding opportunity. Following its publication, several people contacted the publication wanting to consult with Yaroslav and a foreigner who wanted to connect him to investors.   Key features of Defender Media Defender Media offers several recurring features: Dorozvidka: a weekly roundup of some key news and insights from publications in Ukrainian and global media  Smyrnov explained:  "Dorozvidka is what we read daily on our social media channels when there's an air alert. It means that the airspace is empty, there are no enemy objects in the air like shaheds, ballistic missiles, or rockets. But the Ukrainian Defence Air Forces are still surveying the sky to ensure safety. The closest translation would be - follow-up reconnaissance?) Black Mirror: an overview of the main news in Russian military tech. The first dedicated calendar of defence tech events in Ukraine,tracking industry conferences, forums, demo days, startup pitch sessions, hackathons, meetups, etc. Defencetech vacancies. According to Smyrnov, the biggest challenge in covering defence tech is the industry's complex structure and closed nature. This is also my experience; I've met many Ukrainian tech startups in stealth mode who don't even have websites. "Further, there's so much going on, but often, you have no opportunity to share everything (especially when it comes to the war-torn country we live in). We always have to triple-check the information and our sources. We also have to ensure that the information we cover doesn't harm Ukraine." Ukraine defencetech startups to have on your radar When asked which startups are currently on his radar, Smyrnov highlighted several promising Ukrainian ventures:  Buntar Aerospace: developing an electronic warfare invisible reconnaissance drone with an intelligent control system. Farsight Vision's products allow drone pilots and users of footage to interact using 3d models and orthoimages for analytics and situational awareness. Frontline develops and produces robotic systems for the frontline. HIMERA: creates  universal communication systems for use in civil and emergencies. The Fourth Law and Odd Systems by Ukrainian entrepreneur, Yaroslav Azhnyuk. Swarmer: developing AI technology to combine drones into a swarm. Lead image: Defender Media. Photo: uncredited. 

Navro, a London-based fintech that facilitates international payments for businesses, has raised a $41M Series-B funding round. The investment was led by Jump Capital, with participation from Bain Capital Ventures, Motive Partners, and Unusual Ventures.​ Navro's platform addresses the complexities of cross-border transactions by offering features such as global collections, currency conversion, and international payouts to help businesses reduce working capital requirements, accelerate account reconciliation, and decrease administrative burdens.  Navro will use the funding to expand into several key international markets, including the United States, Hong Kong, Dubai, and India. The company plans to enhance its payments curation platform by integrating over 30 digital wallets, expanding Automated Clearing House (ACH) corridors, and adding numerous real-time payment options.  The UK remains the leading destination for fintech investment in Europe, attracting more funding than France, Germany, China, India, Brazil, and Canada combined. ​ Robert Hutchins, partner at Jump Capital, expressed confidence in Navro's approach, stating: "We’ve spent some time looking for a payments platform that truly understands the nuanced, technical, and regulatory challenges of global payouts. "Navro not only grasps this complexity, it’s building the infrastructure to solve it. Aran and the team bring a rare combination of deep market insight, executional rigor, and product clarity that we believe sets them apart in this space."​