Finnish deep‑tech startup SeeTrue Technologies secured €2.2 million, led by ZEISS Ventures, to bring its ultra‑low‑power eye‑tracking technology to smart glasses, medical optics and industrial markets, and will use the capital to scale its team and international sales.
Ukrainian startup SMART BIRDS presented its VORON ground robot, which aims to capture hostile drones with nets and provide logistics and reconnaissance support, though real‑world testing has yet to occur.
Portuguese space technology startup Neuraspace raised €15.6 million from private investors and Portuguese recovery funds to expand its AI‑driven Space Domain Awareness and Space Traffic Management platform, boosting capabilities for commercial, institutional and defence satellite operators.
The article highlights a shift in European venture capital toward specialised AI solutions. It cites CuspAI, a British startup that uses artificial intelligence to discover new materials, which raised $450 million and reached a $2.6 billion valuation, exemplifying the move towards deep‑tech projects that combine software, scientific research and industrial applications.
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.
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.
Swiss quantum‑hardware startup ZuriQ secured a $25.5 million seed investment to advance its scalable quantum chip architecture, marking a significant funding milestone for the ETH Zurich spinout.
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.
Polish defence‑tech startup PERUN has secured fourteen new grants from the National Centre for Research and Development as part of the state’s New Technologies programme, aimed at advancing security and defence solutions.
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.