Notable Funding Rounds across EU:
- Berlin-based Ivy has raised $20M in a series A funding round led by Valar Ventures to expand its network of networks API for open banking payments globally.
- Paris-based mental health platform, that enhances workplace well-being, Teale has raised €10M in a Series A round led by Alter Equity 3P and Bpifrance's Digital Venture fund.
- Orbital, a London-based finance and crypto payments platform for global enterprises, has raised $6.4M led by Golden Record Ventures
New Venture Funds:
- Helsinki's Greencode Ventures unveiled a €40M fund to back green startups in Europe and empower female founders. The fund concentrates on high-impact digital-first green transition startups across Europe and Israel, emphasizing green energy, mobility, and cities.
- Eindhoven-based PhotonVentures has raised €60M to invest in early-stage photonics chip startups and scale-ups. They plan to prioritize Series A rounds and support 15 European deep-tech firms in the integrated photonics sector.
- Geek Ventures, co-founded by Ukrainian Vadim Rogovskiy and Belarusian Ihar Mahaniok, has launched a $23M fund to support immigrant tech founders at pre-seed and seed stages, with investments ranging from $50k to $1M per startup.
Startup Funding Rounds & Acquisitions:
- Ukrainian crypto startup Stroom has secured $3.5M in a seed funding round led by Greenfield Capital. Stroom allows Bitcoin holders to earn fees and yield in Ethereum's DeFi ecosystem.
- Polish HRtech DevSkiller has raised €1.2M from Movens Capital and angel investors. Startup offers skills assessment solutions, serving over 700 companies worldwide.
- Polish startup United Robots secures undisclosed funding, led by Aper Ventures, for its autonomous industrial cleaning robots equipped with advanced AI, promising significant cost savings of up to 85% in crowded industrial spaces.
- Slovak EV battery startup InoBat has secured a 25% stake acquisition by Chinese battery manufacturer Gotion High Tech that aims to boost R&D across the EV battery value chain.
- PandaDoc, a Belarus-founded unicorn, has acquired Berlin B2B SaaS payment startup Denario to strengthen its document workflow platform, enhancing cash flow management.
Startup Calls:
- Polish fund Unfold.vc and New York’s WEVE Acceleration are launching an acceleration program for early-stage CEE startups offering up to $220k in funding, a mentor network, and over 100 hours of support. Eligible startups must be in the Bootstrapped to Series A phases, generate $100k to $3M in revenue, and operate in various sectors. Applications are open until September 23, 2023.
- Bosch is looking for early-stage startups specializing in AI and the Metaverse to join its Startup Harbor accelerator program. Startups selected for Bosch Startup Harbor benefit from business validation, pilot projects, mentoring, and potential collaborations with Bosch experts and partners. Apply till September 30th.
- Calling all European space tech startups apply to a 6-month acceleration program organized by the CASSINI Business Accelerator. Startups should have proven commercial traction with the goal to increase your sales and explore new market opportunities. Apply till September 29th.
- The Hydrogen X Future Hackathon, organized by ISSP UL in collaboration with Latvian partners, is open for applications until September 29, 2023. Held on October 6-8, 2023, the hackathon focuses on hydrogen and renewable energy challenges with opportunities for networking, mentorship, and a €3k grand prize, aiming to promote a carbon-neutral future.
- Riga TechGirls is calling on women to apply for its mentorship program by September 15th, offering mentoring and internship opportunities. The program will largely take place online, involving around 200 women mentees and approximately 180 global mentors from January 4th to June 19th, 2024.
Events & Summits
- Calling startups in the EECCA region to join Surge Summit taking place in Tbilisi from September 5-7, 2023. Partnered with the Ukrainian Startup Fund, it offers a €20k equity-free prize in its pitch competition.
- The 2023 Tallinn Digital Summit invites startups to showcase your ideas, forge partnerships, and engage with experts and investors on a global scale. Organized by the Estonian government and hosted by Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, this event convenes global leaders to explore technology's role in open societies. Register till September 5.
Related Posts:
VC & Startup Weekly News From CEE, August 19 - 25, 2023 (by Sofia Drobychevskaya, Editor, Vestbee)
VC & Startup Weekly News From CEE, August 12 - 18, 2023 (by Sofia Drobychevskaya, Editor, Vestbee)
VC & Startup Weekly News From CEE, August 5 - 11, 2023 (by Sofia Drobychevskaya, Editor, Vestbee)
VC & Startup Weekly News From CEE, July 29 - August 4, 2023 (by Sofia Drobychevskaya, Editor, Vestbee)
VC & Startup Weekly News From CEE, July 22 - 28, 2023 (by Sofia Drobychevskaya, Editor, Vestbee)
VC & Startup Weekly News From CEE, July 15 - 21, 2023 (by Sofia Drobychevskaya, Editor, Vestbee)
VC & Startup Weekly News From CEE, July 8 - 14, 2023 (by Sofia Drobychevskaya, Editor, Vestbee)
VC & Startup Weekly News From CEE, July 1 - 7, 2023 (by Sofia Drobychevskaya, Editor & Ilya Mikhalchyk-Kananenka, Community Builder, Vestbee)
