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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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📰 Important News

• The UK’s internet regulator Ofcom has finalized the first guidelines for the Online Safety Act, requiring tech firms to protect users from illegal content.

• Venture Kick announced plans to double its support to 200 Swiss startups annually by 2027, aiming to create 100,000 jobs by 2033.

• Hexa, a Paris-based startup studio behind Aircall and Swan, revealed its next batch of projects that will soon become independent startups.

• Stability AI stated in its latest accounts that it’s facing a $1.7 billion lawsuit from Getty Images for alleged copyright infringement.

• Hyme Energy partnered with Arla to create the world’s largest industrial thermal energy storage system using molten salt.

💸 Top Funding Rounds

• Hostaway, a Helsinki-based traveltech, raised $365 million in a growth investment led by General Atlantic to fuel international expansion.

• Gaming group Aonic secured $158.56 million from Metric Capital Partners and Active Ownership to fuel growth, M&A, and ongoing developments.

• German solar startup 1Komma5 raised $156.48 million led by Calstrs to support its IPO plans targeting 2026.

• Smart ring maker Oura closed an additional $125 million, bringing its Series D round to $200 million, to expand globally.

• Slovakia-based InoBat raised $104.33 million to boost European EV battery production, with investments from Amara Raja, Rio Tinto, and Gotion.

💰️ Notable Exits

• FIS Global is set to acquire UK-based supply chain finance platform Demica for around $300 million, marking a successful exit for its private investors.

• Easybill and PAQATO joined forces with support from LEA Partners to create a leading SaaS platform that integrates e-invoicing and after-sales solutions.

• Eindhoven’s Sendcloud acquired Rotterdam’s Lox to enhance its shipping platform and improve efficiency for over 25,000 e-commerce businesses.

• Swedish sports tech company Spiideo acquired Signality to integrate its real-time data and analytics technology.

• Amsterdam's Skytree acquired Dutch startup ReCarbn to enhance its direct air capture technology, improve carbon removal solutions, and scale globally.

🏦 About Investors

• Voima Ventures closed its $104 million Fund III to support deeptech startups in the Nordic and Baltic regions with up to $3.13 million tickets.

• Hashgraph Group launched a $100 million Web3 venture fund focusing on deep-tech investments with an emphasis on long-term growth and ESG impact.

• Robin Capital closed Robin Fund One, a vertical-agnostic fund empowering B2B SaaS startups across Europe, with a focus on the DACH region.

• Matt Miller, a Sequoia partner who helped establish the firm's European presence, is leaving to launch his own Europe-focused venture fund.

• Julien Codorniou is leaving Felix Capital to join 20VC as a general partner, focusing on seed investments.

📋️ Curated Lists

Discover Slovakia's dynamic venture capital landscape and the firms fueling its innovation ecosystem. From fintech and medtech to sustainability and mobility, Slovakia's leading VCs—365.Fintech, Neulogy Ventures, Venture to Future Fund, Vision Ventures, and Zero One Hundred—are driving growth and supporting groundbreaking startups like Tapline, SEC Technologies, and YesElf. Explore the full article to uncover their investment numbers, notable portfolios, and leadership shaping the country's entrepreneurial future.

🚀 Startup of the Week

Introducing our Startup of the Week 🏆

Hostaway

Hostaway, a Helsinki-based vacation rental software provider, secured $365 million in strategic growth investment led by General Atlantic, with participation from PSG Equity. Founded in 2015, Hostaway offers a platform to automate and enhance property management for short-term rental owners. The funds will support international expansion, product development, and AI initiatives. Recently, Hostaway launched several tools like Dynamic Pricing, Hostaway Capital, and Smart Lock integration, and its marketplace now includes over 200 partners, serving properties in 90+ countries with a remote team of 230 employees.

💼 Investor of the Week

Introducing our Investor of the Week 🏆

Voima Ventures

Voima Ventures, founded in 2019, is a venture capital firm focused on deep tech startups in the Nordic and Baltic regions, particularly those emerging from university spin-offs and research ecosystems. The firm bridges the between scientific research and commercial success, leveraging strong academic and industry networks. Voima Ventures has been an early investor in successful companies like Solar Foods and Dispelix. With its $104 million+ Fund III, which has already made 8 investments in startups like ÄIO, Liquid Sun, and Avenue Biosciences, the firm plans to make 25-30 investments, reinforcing its commitment to supporting impactful, science-driven innovation.

 🤑 Opportunity Radar

Call for Applications: Spartners Incubator

Apply to the Spartners Incubator Program in Paris-Saclay by December 29th, 2024, to accelerate your biotech or human health startup. Access state-of-the-art labs, modular workspaces, and a collaborative ecosystem powered by Servier’s scientific expertise and BioLabs’ operational excellence. Designed for startups addressing unmet medical needs, the program offers expert support and strategic networking opportunities. Don’t miss this opportunity to drive your innovation in oncology, neurology, or drug discovery platforms. Start your application today and take the next step in transforming health innovation.