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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
- Anthropic opened new offices in Paris and Munich to accelerate expansion across the EMEA region.
- France unveiled this year’s French Tech 2030 featuring startups in AI, cyber, quantum, robotics, space, and infra, with tailored state-corporate support.
- Proveye won an ESA contract to deploy ProvVari, a satellite and field data tool that boosts yields and cuts fertilizer impact across Europe.
- STATION F unveiled the 2025 Future 40 list, spotlighting top pre-seed and seed startups in AI, robotics, and clean energy, led by seasoned founders.
- Circus Defence partnered with Ukraine’s BRAVE1 and MITS to deploy AI-powered autonomous nutrition systems and expand its robotics portfolio.
💸 Top Funding Rounds
- Spotawheel raised $344.5 million in equity and debt financing to expand its used-car platform and subscription fleet across Europe.
- Upway closed a $60 million Series C round to scale its refurbished e-bike platform, and expand its UpCenters in Europe and the United States.
- Reflex Aerospace secured $50 million in Series A funding to accelerate the development and deployment of European ISR and communications satellites.
- Fastned obtained $44.9 million in its third 2025 bond issue, reaching $127 million to expand its fast-charging network across Europe.
- Qida raised $42.5 million in funding led by Quadrille Capital to expand senior home care services, expand AI features, and grow its team and reach.
💰️ Notable Exits
- AstraZeneca acquired SixPeaks Bio for up to $300 million, advancing fat-reducing, muscle-sparing obesity drugs and strengthening its pipeline.
- Aeon acquired Holsain to boost AI preventive diagnostics and named founder Dr. Florian Huber as CMO to advance early disease detection.
- Homemove acquired Home.co.uk to build a free AI property platform, combining legacy data with modern tools for smarter U.K. search and analytics.
- GigRadar acquired the Ukrainian freelance community Top Rated Club to launch Community & Academy, combining tech and mentorship for growth.
- Latvia’s Mapon acquired Irish fleet management company Fleet DATA to expand its European presence and integrate local expertise into operations.
🏦 About Investors
- Aspirity Partners closed a $1 billion debut fund to invest in European fintech and enterprise tech-enabled services.
- Armilar closed a $137.9 million first tranche of Fund IV to back deeptech B2B in Iberia and Europe with Series A focus in AI, fintech, healthtech, software.
- TIN Capital closed Cyber Tech Fund V at $91.8 million, with EIF’s $22.9 million cornerstone, to scale AI-driven cybersecurity startups in Europe.
- Balnord launched Fund I with $80.6 million, targeting $100 million by 2026 to back frontier and dual-use tech across Baltics, Nordics, Poland and Germany.
- Rubio Impact Ventures closed an $80.8 million Fund III to back 30 European startups tackling climate and social challenges.
🚀Startup of the Week
Introducing our Startup of the Week 🏆
Spotawheel
Spotawheel, founded in 2016 in Athens, is a pan-European used-car platform that sells and subscribes vehicles through a fully online experience powered by proprietary data and personalized recommendations. The company secured $344.5 million in new equity and debt financing, including a facility from Pollen Street Capital, bringing total capital raised to $410 million to support inventory expansion and new market entries. Led by an experienced leadership team, Spotawheel operates in Greece, Poland, and Romania, offering inspected cars with detailed reports, nationwide test-drive delivery, a five-year warranty, and a seven-day refund option. With fresh capital and technology at its core, Spotawheel is scaling flexible, transparent car access for cost-conscious drivers across Europe.
💼 Investor of the Week
Introducing our Investor of the Week 🏆
Aspirity Partners
Aspirity Partners, founded in 2024 in London, is a private equity firm focused on essential technology-enabled services in European fintech and enterprise technology. The firm recently closed Aspirity Partners I at over $1 billion, reaching hard cap in six months with blue-chip LPs across North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific. Led by Managing Partner Joseph O’Mara and co-founding partner Ralph Choufani, Aspirity targets growth buyouts and strategic minority stakes, typically investing $50 million to $150 million in companies valued up to $500 million. Anchored by deep sector expertise and an operator network, the firm aims to accelerate internationalization and unlock durable value for mission-critical B2B platforms.
🤑Opportunity Radar
Call for Applications: The Y Combinator Winter 2026
Y Combinator is now accepting applications for its Winter 2026 Batch, running January to March in San Francisco. Early-stage founders can gain access to funding, expert mentorship from YC General Partners, and an unparalleled global startup network. Applications are due by November 10 at 8 PM PT, with decisions provided by December 10. Apply now to join this immersive program and accelerate your startup’s growth.
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