Deeptech

Italian Startup Tolo Green Secures International Patent for Growing Spirulina Under Martian Conditions

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Tolo Green, in collaboration with the Universities of Cagliari and Sassari, CRS4 and the Sardinia Aerospace District, secured an international patent for a novel bioreactor system that simulates Martian gravity and atmosphere to cultivate Spirulina, a protein‑rich microalga, for future space missions. The patent has been granted in Japan and Russia and is being evaluated for other major markets.

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.

Three Deep-Tech Startups Selected for Lake Como Venture Lab’s Inaugural Cohort

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CleanOs, Fraido and Prometheus Plasma Systems were chosen as the three finalists of the Lake Como Venture Lab, an Italian deep‑tech incubator. Each startup will receive a €150,000 grant and a year of support at the Politecnico di Milano’s Lecco campus, aiming to accelerate their mechatronics and medtech innovations.

Ukrainian Defence-Tech Platform Launches €50 Million European Fund Based in Estonia

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Ukrainian defence‑tech platform Resist.UA announced the creation of a €50 million European fund, Resist 2.0, registered in Estonia. The fund aims to channel qualified international investors into Ukraine’s rapidly growing miltech sector, focusing on early‑stage, battlefield‑tested teams and reinvesting returns to further scale the ecosystem.

Lockheed Martin Ventures opens London office, commits €87 million to European DefenceTech

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Lockheed Martin Ventures, the venture arm of the US aerospace and defence giant, announced the opening of a new office in London and pledged at least €87 million ($100 million) of its €874 million fund to back European defence‑technology startups, aiming to deepen its presence in the European ecosystem and support transatlantic defence industrial base.

Munich Robotics Startup Microagi Secures Germany’s Largest Seed Round at $55 Million

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Munich-based robotics startup Microagi secured $55 million in a seed funding round led by Hummingbird, marking Germany’s largest seed round. The company, founded by former Formula 1 engineers, aims to advance robot automation for manufacturing by training humanoids using real-world data collected from factories and households.