Aardaia, an agritech startup developing new crop varieties from wild plants, secured €5 million in seed funding led by Point Nine. The company uses genomic and computational methods to breed crops without genetic modification, with its first product, the aardaker, designed to reduce reliance on imported protein crops.
Leiden-based AI startup Whispp secured €5 million in a follow-on investment round led by LUMO Labs and supported by the European Innovation Council (EIC) Accelerator. The funding will accelerate global deployment of its on-device voice reconstruction technology, which converts whispered speech into natural-sounding voices for private communication and accessibility.
The Dutch Ministry of Defence partnered with Intelic to adopt a software-first strategy for military drones, aiming to enhance interoperability and reduce deployment timelines. The three-year agreement focuses on integrating diverse drone systems using Intelic’s NEXUS command-and-control software, which has been tested in Ukraine.
Dawnguard, an Amsterdam-based startup securing cloud systems during design, launched its platform, raised $3.3 million in pre-seed funding, and opened a New York office. The funding includes participation from UK-based BNVT Capital, Dutch Curiosity VC, and German eCAPITAL.
Holidu, a European vacation home platform, acquired Gites.nl to expand its French market presence and strengthen its position in the Netherlands. The acquisition adds 4,000 properties to Holidu’s inventory and integrates Gites.nl’s technology into Holidu’s systems.
Crisp, an online supermarket, acquired De Buurtboer, a business lunch provider, to expand its offerings for corporate clients. The acquisition follows a 40% year-on-year increase in B2B revenue and aims to strengthen Crisp’s position in the Dutch market with fresh, automated lunch solutions for offices.
Videoland, part of DPG Media, acquired Viaplay Nederland to integrate live sports rights including Formula 1, English Premier League, and PDC Darts into its streaming platform. The move aims to expand Videoland from a Dutch entertainment-focused service to a broader sports and entertainment streaming provider.
Soverin, a Dutch email service provider, is expanding its tools to help businesses transition from US cloud services to European alternatives. The company offers products like SoSuite and SoSmart, focusing on gradual migration strategies, and aims to reach 2 million mailboxes within 18 months. It emphasizes user-friendly interfaces and partnerships, such as with The Sharing Group (TSG), to scale its operations.
The Dutch Public Prosecution Office (OM) has requested the court to declare Knaken Cryptohandel B.V. and Stichting Knaken Payments bankrupt after the Financial Markets Authority (AFM) raised concerns about the unlicensed provision of cryptocurrency services. The company allowed clients to convert fiat currency to cryptocurrency and vice versa without the required AFM license. The OM is concerned about the improper winding down of the company and potential risks to clients.
Emerce announced ‘Update GEO’, an event addressing how AI chatbots and agents are transforming search behavior, requiring new approaches to content optimization and visibility in AI-generated answers. The event combines keynotes and workshops for 100 attendees.