Polish Cleantech Startup Saule Technologies Faces Fundraising Dispute
Controversy surrounding Saule Technologies and its fundraising efforts
€100M+
Earlybird and AVP Join Forces to Launch €500m Defence Tech Fund
Berlin-based VC Earlybird and Paris-based investor AVP (formerly AXA Venture Partners) are teaming up to raise a new €500m defence fund
Portuguese Banking Giant BCP Surges Toward 1 Euro Per Share as Ageas and Fosun Circle Stakes
BCP stock rose 0.56% to 0.9616 euros, approaching the 1 euro mark and becoming the third largest company on the Portuguese stock exchange (PSI). The bank achieved a market capitalization exceeding 14 billion euros. Belgian insurer Ageas is evaluating a 5% stake acquisition while Chinese group Fosun explores options for its 20.45% stake. Shareholders approved distribution of 90% of profits through dividends and share buybacks totaling over 900 million euros. The bank earned over 300 million euros in Q1, surpassing analyst expectations.
Legora Appoints New Chief Marketing Officer as AI Company Expands Leadership Team
Legora, which has raised billions and featured Hollywood actor Jude Law in marketing, has hired Zeynep Inanoglu Ozdemir as new Chief Marketing Officer. She brings experience from major tech companies and holds a PhD in AI/machine learning.
Stellantis Unveils 60 Billion Euro FaSTLAne 2030 Strategic Plan to Rebuild After Record Loss
Stellantis presented FaSTLAne 2030, a 60 billion euro five-year strategic plan aimed at transforming the company into a profitable growth machine following a 22.3 billion euro loss in 2025. The plan focuses on brand portfolio restructuring, launching 60+ new vehicles including 29 fully electric models, expanding global platform investments (24 billion euros), and strengthening strategic partnerships with Leapmotor, Dongfeng, and Jaguar Land Rover. The Portuguese Mangualde plant, which already produces electric vehicles with support from the Recovery and Resilience Plan, is well-positioned to contribute to the company’s European expansion targets.
Kore.ai Launches Artemis AI Agent Platform to Compete with Enterprise Giants
Kore.ai launched Artemis, a comprehensive AI agent platform designed to compete with Microsoft, Salesforce, Google, and ServiceNow. The platform introduces Agent Blueprint Language (ABL), a YAML-based standard for defining and governing AI agents, and Arch, an AI system that automates agent design, deployment, and optimization. The Dual-Brain Architecture combines LLM reasoning with deterministic business rules for regulated industries. The company has achieved significant scale with 500 Global 2000 customers, $100M+ ARR, and deployments automating 450 million daily interactions.
Dutch Financial Institution Van Lanschot Kempen Expands Sustainable Olive Oil Operations in Portugal
Dutch financial institution Van Lanschot Kempen acquired a 400-hectare olive grove in Portugal’s Alqueva region to expand its Rio de Azeite platform. The property features favorable climate conditions and reliable water resources from the Alqueva dam. The SDG Farmland fund now manages approximately 26,600 hectares globally with over 480 million euros in assets under management.
Romania Launches Swiss-Backed SME Eco-Tech Platform to Finance Green Manufacturing Transformation
Romania launched the SME Eco-Tech platform on May 21, 2026, a Swiss-funded financing program with a budget of 288.8 million RON (54 million CHF) designed to support green and digital transformation of small and medium-sized manufacturing enterprises. The application period opens May 26, 2026, on a first-come, first-served basis, with funding through five partner banks. Minimum project value is 668,100 RON, with at least 40% of eligible expenses dedicated to green or digital investments.
Starling Bank Reports Profit Decline Amid Interest Rate Pressures, But SaaS Unit Engine Surges
Starling Bank, a UK challenger bank with over 6 million customers, reported pre-tax profits fell 3% to £217m and revenues fell to £887m for the year ending March 2026, primarily due to lower interest income from reduced interest rates. However, the bank’s SaaS subsidiary Engine doubled its client base to 4 and grew revenue 25% to £10.9m, signing a 10-year agreement with Tangerine (Scotiabank subsidiary) marking its first North American client.
European AI Companies Raise €5.3 Billion in 2025, With France, Germany and UK Leading Investment Surge
European AI companies raised over €5.3 billion in 2025, with capital concentrated among top companies including Mistral AI (€1.7B), Helsing (€600M), Black Forest Labs ($300M), Synthesia (€350M), ElevenLabs ($180M), and n8n (€155M). The UK, Germany and France emerged as Europe’s most active AI hubs. Funding was spread across foundation models, defence AI, generative media, and applied AI across healthcare, manufacturing, aviation, legal services and other sectors.