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Welcome to another edition of 🔍 Startup Researcher - Europe, your essential digest delivering the latest news and premium insights on startups and venture capital across the region 🌍

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Let's delve into the core sections of our weekly newsletter:

• 📰 Important News

• 💸 Top Funding Rounds

• 💰️ Notable Exits

• 🏦 About Investors

• 📋️ Curated Lists

• 📈 Deep Dive Bites

• 🎙️ Expert Insights

• 🤝 Diversity Spotlight

• 🚀 Startup Of the Week

• 💼 Investor of the Week

• 🤑 Opportunity Radar

📰 Important News

• STATION F has unveiled its Future 40 list for 2024, highlighting the top 40 best-performing startups from over 1,000 participants.

• The UK government announced plans to mobilize £80 billion ($101.10B) from pension funds into "megafunds" to boost investment in tech startups.

• Estonia's Bolt announced it had hit €2 billion ($2.11B) in annual revenue as it prepares for a potential IPO in 2025.

• The UK government has announced investing £500 million ($631,90M) to fund over 4,700 postgraduate tech and science degrees across 45 universities.

• Volkswagen investment chief Sven Fuhrmann has stepped down from Northvolt’s board as the Swedish battery startup faces financial challenges.

💸 Top Funding Rounds

• SeQura secured €410 million ($432,47M) in combined debt and equity funding to support international expansion into Germany, the US, and the UK.

• The Exploration Company closed a $160 million Series B round to develop Nyx, Europe’s first reusable space capsule.

• Tessl raised $125 million, including a $100 million Series A led by Index, to pioneer AI Native Software Development.

• Italian payments unicorn Satispay secured €60 million ($63,29M) from Addition, Greyhound, and Lightrock to accelerate growth.

• AI startup 11x raised $50 million in Series B funding led by Andreessen Horowitz to scale its AI-powered sales solutions.

💰️ Notable Exits

• Swedish fintech Klarna has confidentially filed for a US IPO, beginning the process for its long-awaited public listing.

• Reward acquired UK-based Hospitality Data Insights (HDI) to enhance its Commerce Media offerings aiming for $2 billion in rewards by 2025.

• Zenfulfillment and Alaiko have merged to form a leading e-commerce fulfillment provider in Europe.

• Danish company Ziik acquired whistleblower solution Walor.io, integrating it with its intranet platform to meet EU compliance and expand internationally.

• Backed by TeamViewer, Wearable computing startup RealWear has acquired Swiss AR headset pioneer Almer.

🏦 About Investors

• Bek Ventures has launched its $250 million oversubscribed Fund III to invest in early-stage tech companies, focusing on CEE founders.

• Zurich-based VC firm Founderful has closed a $140 million second fund to invest in pre-seed Swiss tech startups with global potential.

• Cogito Capital Partners has closed the first round of its €125 million ($131.79M) Cogito Fund II backed by institutional investors.

• Finnish VC firm Maki VC has closed its €100 million ($105,48M) third fund to invest in Nordic startups focused on deeptech and brand-driven innovation.

• Bynd Venture Capital has launched a €40 million ($42,19M) Fund III to invest in 40 pre-seed and seed-stage tech startups in Portugal and Spain.

📋️ Curated Lists

Discover how the Czech Republic is becoming a powerhouse for innovation, with venture capital firms like Credo Ventures, Reflex Capital, and Rockaway Capital leading the charge. These firms are driving growth in technology, life sciences, and fintech, empowering startups like FaceUp, Dronetag, and Upheal to achieve global impact. From Prague to Brno, these VCs are shaping a vibrant entrepreneurial landscape with funding, mentorship, and strategic guidance. Delve into the full article to explore the complete list of Czech Republic’s most active VC firms.

🚀 Startup Of the Week

Introducing our Startup of the Week 🏆

The Exploration Company

The Exploration Company, a European space startup based in Germany, France, and Italy, has raised $160 million in a Series B funding round to develop Nyx, Europe’s first reusable space capsule. Nyx is designed to transport 3,000 kilograms of cargo to and from Earth, with its maiden flight to the International Space Station planned for 2028. The round, led by Balderton Capital and Plural, brings the company’s total funding to over $208 million. Founded by aerospace engineers Hélène Huby, Sebastien Reichstat, and Pierre Vine, The Exploration Company aims to provide a European alternative to U.S. giants like SpaceX, with a growing commercial portfolio and a contract backlog from private space station developers like Axiom Space and Vast.

💼 Investor of the Week

Introducing our Investor of the Week 🏆

Bek Ventures

Bek Ventures, formerly Earlybird Digital East, has launched its third fund, raising $250 million to invest in early-stage technology startups. The fund was oversubscribed three times, with investors including global financial institutions, insurance companies, and family offices, predominantly from the US and Europe. Bek Ventures focuses on backing founders from Central and Eastern Europe, with 50% of its portfolio companies operating in the US. The firm has already invested in five companies, including Zeta Labs and Proofs. Notably, 90% of Bek Ventures' portfolio companies receive follow-up investments, reflecting the firm’s commitment to supporting founders with both expertise and additional funding.

 🤑 Opportunity Radar

Call for Applications: Techstars London Accelerator

Apply to the Techstars London Accelerator by Nov 20th, 2024, and launch your startup in one of the world’s most dynamic and diverse ecosystems. This in-person program, starting on March 10th, 2025, offers access to unparalleled mentorship, funding, and networking opportunities in the heart of London. Techstars London supports emerging startups across all verticals, harnessing the city’s global outlook and talent pool. Whether you're building in tech, sustainability, or any other field, this program provides the resources to help you scale. Start your application now and join a thriving community of innovative founders.