Hello there,

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 🌍

If you haven't subscribed yet, now's the perfect time. Don't miss the opportunity to supercharge your understanding and stay ahead in this dynamic world.

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

• 📰 Important News

• 💸 Top Funding Rounds

• 💰️ Notable Exits

• 🏦 About Investors

• 📈 Deep Dive Bites

• 🤝 Diversity Spotlight

• 🚀 Startup of the Week

• 💼 Investor of the Week

• 🤑 Opportunity Radar

📰 Important News

• The UK government has announced a £32 million investment in 98 AI projects, supporting over 200 businesses and research organizations to drive innovation across various sectors.

• Berlin-based B2B fintech Mondu has secured an Electronic Money Institution (EMI) License from De Nederlandsche Bank.

• Elon Musk's social media platform, X, has agreed to pause the processing of European user data for AI training following a legal challenge by Ireland’s Data Protection Commission.

• TikTok has decided to permanently end its Lite Rewards program in the EU to comply with the Digital Services Act after concerns were raised about its potential harm to users.

• Swiss startup Terra Quantum has secured a contract with the U.S. Air Force to study a network using post-quantum cryptography, quantum key distribution, and quantum random number generators.

💸 Top Funding Rounds

• Lisbon-based Powerdot, an EV charging point operator, has secured €165 million in green financing from ABN Amro, BNP Paribas, ING, MUFG Bank, Santander, and Société Générale.

• London-based CloudPay has secured $120 million in a funding round led by Blue Owl Capital, to support its expansion and enhancement of its global payroll and payment solutions.

• UK-based Yodel has raised £85 million ($108.4M) in funding, led by PayPoint plc and Independent Growth Finance, to drive automation and modernization of its parcel delivery services.

• UK-based quantum computing startup Riverlane has secured $75 million in a Series C funding round led by Planet First Partners, EDBI, and ETF Partners to advance its quantum error correction technology.

• Switzerland's KNIME has raised $30 million in a funding round led by Invus to advance the company's AI governance and ModelOps capabilities.

💰️ Notable Exits

• Eleport has acquired TurboVolt GmbH to expand its EV charging network into Croatia and Slovenia, bringing its total footprint to six countries in Central and Eastern Europe.

• Ukrainian app developer Boosters has sold its sleep improvement app Avrora to One Eleven, with $85,000 from the sale earmarked for charitable causes in Ukraine.

• Amsterdam-based TBAuctions has acquired Düsseldorf-based Surplex to expand its reach across Europe and enhance its presence in key markets.

• Recursion and Exscientia are merging in a $688 million all-stock deal to combine expertise in drug discovery and AI-driven drug design, aiming to accelerate the development of new medicines.

• Box, a leader in Intelligent Content Cloud, has acquired the AI-powered document processing technology of Polish startup Alphamoon.

🏦 About Investors

• Flint Capital, a Boston-based VC fund, has raised $160 million in its third fund to support early-stage European and Israeli startups in sectors like Cybersecurity, Digital Health, and Fintech, with a focus on entering the U.S. market.

📈 Deep Dive Bites

Denmark is fast becoming a powerhouse for innovation, thanks to a vibrant ecosystem of investors who are shaping the future of technology, healthcare, and sustainability. From industry giants like Novo Holdings to agile early-stage backers like Accelerace, these key players are fueling the growth of groundbreaking startups. Discover how these 15 influential firms are driving economic growth, supporting entrepreneurs, and positioning Denmark as a global leader in the startup world.

🤝 Diversity Spotlight

In 2024, Italy's venture capital scene is being shaped by an inspiring group of women who are driving innovation and fostering growth across multiple sectors. These 13 female VC partners bring diverse expertise, from biotech to fintech, and are instrumental in nurturing the next generation of groundbreaking startups. Delve into the full article to explore their remarkable contributions and the unique perspectives they bring to the table.

🚀 Startup Of the Week

Introducing our Startup of the Week 🏆

Mondu

Berlin-based fintech Mondu has secured an Electronic Money Institution License from De Nederlandsche Bank, making it the first European B2B BNPL company to achieve this milestone. This license allows Mondu to expand its operations across Europe, enhancing its suite of B2B payment solutions, foreign exchange services, and treasury management tools. Founded in 2021, Mondu offers B2B payment solutions, including Buy Now, and Pay Later options, focusing on enabling seamless cross-border transactions and mitigating default risks for vendors.

💼 Investor of the Week

Introducing our Investor of the Week 🏆

Flint Capital

Flint Capital, a Boston-based American-Israeli venture capital firm, has raised $160 million for its third fund, targeting early-stage startups in Europe and Israel. The firm, founded in 2013 and Managed by Dmitry Smirnov, Sergey Gribov, and Andrew Gershfeld, focuses on sectors such as cybersecurity, digital health, and fintech, with an emphasis on helping companies enter the U.S. market. , Flint Capital continues to invest in innovative technology sectors.

 🤑 Opportunity Radar

Techstars Transformative World Torino

Apply to the Techstars Transformative World Torino Accelerator, a three-month, in-person program starting on February 24th, 2025, in Torino, Italy. This accelerator is designed for companies driving significant transformation and impact across industries and geographies. Participants will benefit from mentorship, access to a global network of corporate partners, investors, and alumni, and extensive fundraising opportunities. Applications will open tomorrow. Don’t miss this chance to accelerate your startup’s growth and be part of a proven program that has supported many successful companies.