Avatar photoSophie Renard

Sophie is a Paris-based technology journalist covering the Western European startup ecosystem. With over a decade of experience reporting on venture capital, fintech, and deep tech innovation across France, Belgium, Switzerland and Luxembourg, she brings sharp analytical insight to the stories shaping Europe's digital economy.

Clean Cells Acquires French CRO Anaquant to Expand Protein Characterization Services

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Clean Cells, a French biopharma quality‑control provider founded in 2020, announced the acquisition of Anaquant, a specialist CRO in mass‑spectrometry‑based protein analysis. The deal, terms undisclosed, gives Clean Cells ownership of Anaquant’s brand, IP, analytics platform and ReadyBeads technology, strengthening its capability to deliver protein characterization and host‑cell‑protein profiling for regulatory submissions.

SoftBank in Talks to Acquire Swiss Robotics Startup Gravis Robotics for $500 Million

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SoftBank is eyeing a takeover of Gravis Robotics, a Zurich‑based startup that turns earth‑moving machines into autonomous robots. The company, backed by investors such as IQ Capital and Holcim, raised $23 million in 2023 and could be valued at over $500 million in a potential deal.