Cologne‑based early‑stage investor neoteq announced that it has successfully closed the first closing of its second fund, marking a milestone in its fundraising efforts as the VC market recovers. In an interview, General Partner Simon Schneider discussed the improving market conditions, the high standards expected from founding teams, and the fund’s focus on DeepTech investments.
German‑French space startup The Exploration Company is poised to secure more than $300 million in funding, pushing its valuation to $2 billion and positioning it as a European rival to SpaceX.
Romanian AI startup DesignVerse announced a $5.5 million seed round led by Begin Capital and plans to launch its enterprise AI platform in the US, targeting sectors such as banking, cybersecurity, aviation and defense.
British defence‑tech startup Agon, founded in 2026 by former British soldier Tristam Constant and entrepreneur Junaid Hussain, secured $30 million in seed funding from Lakestar, 201 Ventures, D3, XYZ Venture Capital, Lux Capital and Northzone. The money will be used to develop its AI‑powered virtual battlefield platform for training autonomous weapons systems and to grow its presence across Europe, with offices in London and Berlin.
Drivalia, a Rome‑based mobility rental company, secured €48 million financing from the European Investment Bank to deploy about 2,900 electric vehicles in Italy and Finland, supporting its fleet electrification and EU climate goals.
Spanish biotech startup Entomonorte, which develops R&D and consulting services for converting bio‑waste into high‑value raw materials, secured a €100,000 grant from the public agency SRP via the Asturias Startup Fund to expand its operations in the region.
Zonova Technologies, a UK healthtech startup, participated in a free five‑day entrepreneurship course for teenagers in London, where its CEO Georgia Fleet presented a pitch and noted she had just closed a seed‑stage funding round.
Lithuanian startup Sigvi, an AI‑powered platform that lets independent fleet operators rent cars automatically, secured €1.2 million in pre‑seed funding led by Superhero Capital. The capital will be used to enhance its AI‑driven rental technology and grow its vehicle network, building on its recent launch in Poland where it manages over 200 cars.
London‑based responsible‑lending fintech Plend obtained a €58.3 million senior revolving credit facility from specialist investment manager Triple Point, aiming to refinance current debt and expand its affordable credit offering to underserved UK borrowers.
Dwelly, a UK‑based proptech startup founded in 2023 by former Uber and Gett executives, raised $170 million (including a $75 million debt facility) led by EQT Growth and General Catalyst. The capital will be used to acquire more letting agencies and embed its proprietary AI software to automate property‑management tasks, expanding its portfolio of 17 agencies managing about 15,000 properties.