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.

Belgian AI Drug Discovery Startup Sightera Biosciences Secures €3 Million Pre-Seed Funding

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Belgian tech‑bio startup Sightera Biosciences raised €3 million in a pre‑seed round led by Entourage, with participation from Anacura and QBIC, to scale its AI‑native platform that uses patient‑derived samples for oncology and fibrosis drug discovery.

Major Publishers Challenge Google Over Unauthorized Use of Books in Gemini AI Training

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French publisher Hachette, US-based Cengage Learning, and Dutch publisher Elsevier have filed a lawsuit against Google, alleging that the company used their books to train the Gemini AI without authorization from authors or publishers. The case highlights the legal gray area around AI training data, particularly in the US where copyright protections are less restrictive.

Paris-based Syntetica Secures $30 Million Series A to Scale Nylon Recycling Technology

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Paris-based Syntetica, a company developing a patented process to recycle both types of nylon in a single process, has raised $30 million in a Series A round led by Bpifrance’s Ecotechnologies fund. The funding includes participation from Lululemon, MAS Holdings, and other investors. The company plans to use the funds to scale its technology and build a commercial facility.

French Voice AI Startup Gradium Raises $30M in Extended Seed Round, Hitting $100M+ in Total Funding

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French voice AI startup Gradium raised $30M in a seed round extension, bringing total funding to over $100M. The round included new investors like Nvidia and followed a $70M first tranche led by Firstmark and Eurazeo. The company builds tools for developers to create voice applications and plans to expand its research and operations.

French Cleantech Startup Bohr Energie Secures €10 Million Series A to Expand AI-Powered Energy Platform Across Europe

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Toulouse-based Bohr Energie, a renewable energy aggregation platform, raised €10 million in Series A funding led by Suma Capital. The company uses AI to optimize distributed renewable and flexible assets, aiming to expand its technology and enter new European markets.