Untold, a Romanian music festival, announced a funding round targeting over 9 million EUR through SeedBlink. The company aims to expand globally, with plans for festivals in Colombia (2027) and other regions, and aspires to become Romania’s next unicorn valued at $1 billion.
The European Commission introduced a 3 euro customs tax on small-value packages (under 150 euros) from outside the EU to create fairer competition for European businesses, combat customs fraud, and protect consumers. The tax applies per customs declaration line, not per item or shipment, and is part of a broader customs reform. Romanian entrepreneurs and consumers will be affected, as the tax replaces previous exemptions and may increase costs for imported goods.
Pricerunner, a price comparison site owned by Klarna, secured a partial victory in its legal dispute with Google, which was ordered to pay 14.3 billion SEK in damages and an additional 5 billion SEK in interest.
The German government approved JD.com’s acquisition of MediaMarktSaturn with conditions to safeguard customer data. The European Commission is reviewing the deal for potential antitrust issues related to alleged Chinese state subsidies.
JD.com and Allianz have expanded their partnership to Europe, allowing customers to purchase insurance for electronics and home appliances directly on Joybuy’s platform. The service is initially available in the Benelux, France, Germany, and the UK, with plans to expand to other countries. Customers can choose from three insurance options during checkout.
Exonia, a Romanian packaging company, faces rising costs for plastics and energy due to the Middle East conflict. CEO Tiberiu Stoian highlights the industry’s shift from price competition to value-added solutions like Biolin (plastic-free food packaging) and Thermatika (temperature-controlled packaging) to maintain competitiveness amid supply chain disruptions.
Mobilfox, a European e-commerce brand specializing in personalized phone cases and accessories, announces a strategic partnership with Portfolion, one of the largest venture capital funds in Central and Eastern Europe.
Kobo has activated integration with StoryGraph, enabling automatic synchronization of reading progress between Kobo devices/apps and StoryGraph accounts for e-books and audiobooks.
A Polish startup, BunnyBaby, created a free mobile app for bedtime stories after its founder was frustrated with paid sleep apps. The app aims to disrupt the market by offering a free alternative.
OV Grupa, a Polish media and tech company, has acquired a majority stake in Studi, the owner of Kukbuk and Ładne Bebe, expanding its media portfolio.