The UK is backing battery recycling to localise critical materials, while Pixel Photonics raised €13.5m to scale its quantum detection technology. Elsewhere, funding continues from circular construction to consumer apps, showing the range of bets across Europe right now. Let’s dive in.
💰 Funding rounds
Plymouth-based company Altilium secured £18.5m from the UK government to build a large-scale EV battery recycling plant, aiming to localise critical battery materials supply. Read more here.
Münster-based startup Pixel Photonics raised €13.5m in a Seed round led by Futury Capital, alongside support from the EIC Accelerator, to scale its quantum light detection technology. Read more here.
Lisbon-based startup EIGHT is raising a €3m Seed round to expand its video-first dating platform across multiple markets. Read more here.
Dutch startup MAECONOMY raised €1.5m to build financial infrastructure for circular construction materials. Read more here.
💡 Other news
Portugal is launching a femtech AI competition led by EmbryoNet-AI to support early-stage startups and research teams in women’s health. Read more here.
Lithuania is bringing startup building into classrooms through MVP, a national TV show where students build and pitch real companies. Read more here.
🤝 M&A
Zug-based startup Sleap. io got acquired by Singapore-based Staynex in a €12.8m deal, combining Web3 travel infrastructure and hotel booking technology. Read more here.
Metz-based company 45-8 ENERGY got acquired by Geneva-based Ad Terra, which becomes its majority shareholder to scale access to strategic subsurface resources. Read more here.
🎧 Podcasts
The Scaling Europe Podcast featured Mark Ball, Artistic Director at the Southbank Centre, discussing how AI and technology are reshaping how art is created and experienced. Listen here.
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