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.

Mistral Acquires Austrian AI Startup Emmi AI to Strengthen Industrial Applications Portfolio

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Paris-based Mistral has acquired Austrian startup Emmi AI, which develops foundational AI models trained with physics laws to simulate complex engineering processes. This is Mistral’s second acquisition in three months, following the February acquisition of French startup Koyeb. Emmi, created a year ago, raised a €15m seed round and has over 30 employees who will join Mistral. The acquisition demonstrates Mistral’s shift toward vertical specialization in industrial AI.

French Sales Intelligence Startup LEADBAY Secures €3.8 Million in Series A Funding

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LEADBAY raised €3.8 million to revolutionize sales intelligence by moving beyond traditional data sources like LinkedIn profiles, job postings, web traffic, technology stacks, marketing campaigns, and social media activity to capture a larger portion of the real economy.

Belgian EventTech Startup Exhibitly Raises €1.4 Million to Scale AI-Powered Event Personalisation Platform

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Exhibitly, a Ghent-based EventTech startup, raised €1.4 million in pre-Seed funding to expand its AI-powered personalisation platform for B2B events. The platform uses AI to create personalised experiences on event websites, increasing conversion rates by 10-20 times compared to standard event websites. The company has already signed 114 events globally and is cashflow positive.

Swiss VC Firm Redalpine Elevates Sebastian Becker to General Partner as London Office Expands

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Sebastian Becker, 30, became General Partner at Swiss venture capital firm Redalpine based in Zurich. He started as a working student during his studies and became partner after three years. Two years ago he was made Equity Partner and is now helping build out the London office. He discusses his career path, deep tech investments, and SpaceX investments.

European Space Agency Launches SMILE Satellite to Study Earth’s Magnetic Shield and Solar Wind Interactions

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The European Space Agency launched the SMILE satellite from the Guiana Space Centre in French Guiana aboard the Vega-C rocket. This mission, developed in collaboration with the Chinese Academy of Sciences, will observe for the first time how solar winds interact with Earth’s magnetic field. The satellite will detect X-ray radiation to study Earth’s protective magnetic shield at the magnetopause and polar cusps, improving space weather models crucial for satellite and telecommunications infrastructure protection.

Swiss Luxury Giant’s Swatch Collaboration Sparks Unprecedented Retail Chaos Across Europe

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Swiss luxury watchmaker Audemars Piguet partnered with Swatch Group to launch Royal Pop, an accessible pocket watch priced at 385-400 euros combining AP design with Swatch manufacturing. The limited edition release caused significant retail chaos across France and other countries, with overwhelming customer demand forcing temporary store closures.

LVMH Sells Marc Jacobs to WHP Global and G III Apparel Group Joint Venture for $850 Million

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LVMH agreed to sell Marc Jacobs to a 50/50 joint venture between WHP Global and G III Apparel Group for 850 million dollars. The transaction will be completed before the end of 2026. Marc Jacobs will continue as Creative Director. This marks the end of nearly three decades of LVMH ownership, which began in 1997.