In the rapidly evolving landscape of artificial intelligence, generative AI has emerged as a groundbreaking technology, empowering businesses to create innovative solutions and unlock new possibilities.  However, as with any disruptive innovation, the integration of generative AI into products and services carries its inherent risks, from unintended biases to potential data leaks and reputational damage.  Recognising this need, an Amsterdam-based startup, Langwatch, has stepped forward to address these challenges head-on, offering a quality and analytics platform designed to safegua ..read more

London-based Wayve, a developer of Embodied AI technology for automated driving, announced on Monday, May 6, that it has secured over $1.05B in a Series C investment round led by SoftBank Group, with participation from new investor NVIDIA and existing investor Microsoft.  As part of the final transaction, SoftBank has joined Wayve’s Board of Directors.  Fund utilisation  Wayve has received an investment to develop and launch its first Embodied AI products for production vehicles.  The aim is to allow OEMs to upgrade cars efficiently from L2+ assisted driving to L4 automate ..read more

Delft-based SLAM Orthopedic, a Dutch medical device company developing advanced sensor systems for surgical applications, announced that it has secured €2M in a seed round of funding.  The investment was led by the Dutch seed fund Rising Star Venture Partners, with support from individual investors and the Zeeuws Participatiefonds. Capital utilisation The raised funds will be used to finalise the development of SLAM Orthopedic’s flagship product, the ADEPTH system, designed for orthopedic and trauma surgeries. This sensor system helps surgeons accurately measure and select the appropriat ..read more

Milan-based Futura, an AI-powered education company, announced on Tuesday that it has raised €14M in a Series A funding round led by Eurazeo. Existing investor United Ventures and new investor Axon Partners Group participated in this round.   Since raising €1.8M in seed funding in 2022, Futura has grown significantly. Its revenues have tripled each year, and it has achieved profitability. The company’s goal is to become the next Italian unicorn. Fund utilisation The funds raised will enable the company to expand its reach throughout Europe and develop new products after initially fo ..read more

In March, Aikido Security officially became the security software provider for Visma. The deal not only brought two European companies together but also saw a startup that’s been around for little more than a year land a customer with over €2B in revenue and 1.7 million customers globally. “A company like Visma trusting us is a testament to the quality and maturity of our product,” Roeland Delrue, co-founder and COO/CRO of Aikido Security, said in a statement. The security industry has usually been dominated by US and Israeli tech startups. Willem Delbare, co-founder and CEO/CTO of Aikido Sec ..read more

Diversity in the workplace is essential for innovation and growth, including in marketing agencies. A diverse and inclusive team not only provides different perspectives and ideas, but also improves one’s ability to see, seize and adopt new and “out of the box” opportunities. Thus, in the long run, several challenges are solved more efficiently. Not least because: the more inclusive the decision-making is, the more inclusive the solutions are. For example, having women in top positions is one thing, but is there room for mothers in top positions? If so, how does that benefit the company? This ..read more

What does it take to build a high-performance team that not only delivers exceptional results but also maintains a healthy team culture? The answer lies not just in the output produced but also in the sustainability of the methods employed. Startups of necessity must be in high gear, hitting the road running. However sub-optimal team mechanics can unhinge both the people and the performance. Great startup teams don’t emerge by chance; they are the result of intentional design and structure, guided by clear values. These ten principles ensure that teams can achieve outstanding outcomes while a ..read more

Linköping, Sweden-based Epishine, a company specialised in printed organic solar cell technology, recently announced that it would lead a consortium that has been awarded over 38M SEK (approximately €3.2M) from the EU.  The consortium will work with industry leaders for the future of Organic Photovoltaic (OPV) and sustainable electronics.   Epishine’s CEO, Anders Kottenauer, commented on the grant: “We are honored to lead this project. This funding will enable us to accelerate our joint market efforts further and continue our mission of making self-powered electronics the stand ..read more

Paris-based Stonal, a data management platform for real estate owners and investors in Europe, announced on Monday that it has secured up to €100M in a strategic investment by Aareon.  The French company will use it to accelerate its European expansion. Stonal: Building up-to-date database Founded in 2017 by Michel Tolila, Stonal is a data management platform for real estate owners and investors in Europe.  The company’s collaborative AI-powered platform extracts information from documents and blueprints, creating an accurate and up-to-date database of buildings open to stakeholders ..read more

Leuven, Belgium-based Phished, a cybersecurity startup, announced on Thursday, May 2, that it has secured an additional €7.5M over the next four years through a convertible bond provided by the Flemish investment fund Welvaartsfonds.  The funding announcement comes as the company claims to be in the final stretch to achieving its first major business goal—an annual recurring revenue (ARR) of €12M. Phished will use the bond obtained to accelerate its international growth and continue to invest significantly in cyber research. “Our new goal is to grow Phished to an ARR of €20M by 2027. The ..read more