Italian Water Treatment Specialist Iride Acque Secures €3 Million Investment from Credem Euromobiliare Private Asset

Iride Acque, a company specialized in industrial water treatment, received a 3 million euro investment from Credem Euromobiliare Private Asset. The investment marks an important step in building a structured industrial group in the industrial water treatment sector. The company has already acquired Biemme Engineering in 2023 and Bieffe Costruzioni in this operation, creating a vertically integrated group covering design, installation, maintenance and remote management of water treatment plants.

Grupo Brisa Reports Strong 2025 Growth With €1.23 Billion in Revenue Following Strategic Merger

Grupo Brisa, Portugal’s highway concessions operator, reported 2025 revenues of 1,231.6 million euros, a 13% increase from 2024. The group completed a merger with Rubicone BidCo effective January 1, 2025, strengthening its financial capacity. Net income was 173.4 million euros (down 44% from 2024 due to accounting effects of the merger). EBITDA increased 5.3% to 860.9 million euros. The group invested 109 million euros in infrastructure maintenance and improvements, a 25.9% increase from the previous year.

Portugal Positions Itself as Europe’s Space Gateway at eRadar Conference

At the eRadar Annual Conference in Lisbon, Geosat CEO Francisco Cunha participated in a panel discussing Portugal’s unique position as a gateway for European space access and return. The discussion highlighted Portugal’s strategic Atlantic location, the importance of public-private partnerships in the aerospace sector, and the role of institutions like IPN in supporting space companies. Open Cosmos, a British company, is producing satellites at IPN facilities at a rate of approximately 10 satellites per year as part of the Atlantic Constellation project.

Italian Startup TackPay Builds Digital Infrastructure for Hospitality Tipping

TackPay is an Italian startup that has developed a digital platform for sending, receiving, and managing tips transparently and customizably. The platform allows customers to leave tips via QR codes, NFC tags, email links, or WhatsApp without downloading an app, while providing businesses with end-to-end tip management infrastructure including digital tip jars, transaction monitoring, feedback collection, and staff distribution management. The company has expanded beyond Italy to serve customers across Europe, Canada, and the United States.

Milan’s Gruppo Cap Approves €1 Billion Water Infrastructure Plan Through 2037

Gruppo Cap, the integrated water utility serving the Milan metropolitan area, approved a major industrial plan update through 2037 with total investments reaching over 1 billion euros by 2033. The plan focuses on infrastructure modernization, climate resilience, emerging micropollutant management, digitalization and cybersecurity. The company reported 2025 revenues of 500.5 million euros with 36.4 million euros net profit.

Bolt Users in Romania Increasingly Taking 400+ km Intercity Rides on Ride-Sharing Platform

Bolt announced that Romanian users are increasingly using its ride-sharing platform for long-distance intercity trips of over 400 km. The company clarified the legal framework allowing alternative transport operators to conduct both permanent services within their home locality and occasional services to other locations. Notable long-distance rides include a 469 km journey from Timișoara to Miercurea Ciuc.

Compari.ro Crowns GymBeam as Winner of Romania’s First Store of the Year Competition

Compari.ro, Romania’s leading price comparison platform and part of Heureka Group, announced the winners of the first local edition of the ‘Store of the Year 2025’ competition. GymBeam won the grand prize. The company is transitioning toward a full e-commerce marketplace to unify Romania’s fragmented retail landscape and provide local merchants with a platform to reach wider audiences.

Ukrainian Startup Accelerator YEP Opens San Francisco Office to Support US Market Entry

YEP Accelerator announced the opening of a new office in California and launched an international track for growth-stage Ukrainian startups seeking to scale into the US market. The five-week residency program includes coliving and coworking arrangements, access to major tech events, and connections with venture funds offering up to $1.8 million in potential investment. The program is supported by the Ukraine-Moldova American Enterprise Fund and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.

Romanian Aerospace Startup BraveX Aero Partners with Romaero to Scale UAV Production for European Defense Market

BraveX Aero, a Romanian private aerospace company specializing in advanced unmanned aerial systems with fixed wings and jet propulsion, signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Romaero, a historic Romanian aerospace company, to collaborate on developing and scaling unmanned aerial systems for the European defense and security market. The partnership combines BraveX Aero’s technological agility and innovation in autonomous systems with Romaero’s industrial experience and aerospace production infrastructure. BraveX Aero is also pursuing a seed funding round by the end of 2026 and has secured a new order from a major European defense industry player for Romania’s first jet-powered drone capable of speeds up to 500 km/h.

Israeli Real Estate Group Youropa Establishes Porto Office, Targets 280 Units Across Multiple Projects

Youropa, an Israeli real estate group, inaugurated a new office in Porto’s Boavista area. The company currently manages five projects under construction or delivery valued at 80 million euros, seven projects in commercialization, and over 100 units available for resale and rental. The group plans to complete six projects in 2026 with over 150 units and deliver eight additional projects by year-end, totaling over 280 units. Youropa also expects to secure over 30 million euros in financing by end of 2026.