News
Daily digest of all European digital development news

European tech weekly recap: Over €2.7B invested across 70+ deals
European tech secured over €2. 7B last week across 70+ funding deals, highlighting robust investor confidence....

Commission designates WhatsApp as Very Large Online Platform under the Digital Services Act
Brussels designates WhatsApp a Very Large Online Platform under the Digital Services Act. WhatsApp's 'Channels' feature triggers the designation, requiring Meta to comply with new DSA rules by May 2026.

London VC 2150 closes €210 million Fund II, bringing AUM to €500 million in order to scale climate-driven urban systems
London VC 2150 raises €210M for Fund II, targeting urban tech. This brings total assets under management to €500M, aiming to reshape city infrastructure and industries.

Court ruling: TikTok age verification not sufficient
Berlin court rules TikTok's age verification inadequate, encouraging teens to misrepresent their age. This ruling raises significant concerns for youth usage and data protection in Europe.

TNW Weekly Briefing
EU launches "EU Inc" at Davos, slashing startup red tape to enable single incorporation and cross-border operation by 2027. High-risk tech suppliers will also be phased out of critical infrastructure.

The wind turbines planted in the middle of the ocean were a maintenance challenge. Until the scanner drone appeared.
Danish startup Quali Drone successfully inspected operational offshore wind turbines with drones. This innovation significantly reduces costly downtime for clean energy generation in the maritime sector.

BitLocker: Microsoft releases keys to law enforcement
Microsoft now deposits BitLocker encryption keys in online accounts, accessible to law enforcement with court orders. This shift impacts user data security and privacy across Europe.

Mews raises €255M to accelerate AI and automation in hospitality
Mews secures €255M to boost AI and automation for hotels worldwide. The Amsterdam-based tech platform now valued at $2....

Europe seeks sovereignty in rare earths: the first step to achieve it is a mega-mine in Sweden
EU seeks rare earth autonomy, launching a mega-mine in Sweden to reduce reliance on China. The Per Geijer mine aims to supply 18% of EU's lanthanide needs.

53% would not trust a doctor who used AI to provide a diagnosis
53% of Portuguese citizens distrust AI diagnostics, despite its integration into healthcare triage. Public resistance highlights ethical concerns surrounding AI adoption in medicine.

An AI that does, not that promises": this Nice startup wants to reconcile SMEs and artificial intelligence
French startup Limova launches AI agents for concrete PME tasks, moving beyond promises. The company boasts over 5,000 clients and eyes international expansion.

Ofcom probes Meta over WhatsApp info it was legally required to provide
Ofcom probes Meta over WhatsApp information legally required. The UK regulator is investigating the social media giant's compliance with sharing data for market competition analysis.

Oslo-based Altek AI secures €423k to expand autonomous guest communication for hotels across the Nordics
Oslo-based Altek AI secures €423k to expand AI guest communication for hotels. The funding accelerates AI-driven digital employee solutions across Scandinavia and Europe.

Cloover secures over $1.2B, EU Inc launched at Davos, and the Danish fintech boss who says “no” a lot
EU Inc launches, accelerating startup growth and innovation with backing from founders and investors. Cloover secures $1....

Agentic AI: Is Europe ready to scale it safely?
Europe leads global VC investment in agentic AI, leveraging strong talent and a trust-focused regulatory framework. However, scaling challenges remain, requiring policy and investment boosts.

Bavarian State Parliament: Dispute over Microsoft escalates
Bavaria's government faces calls to ditch Microsoft contracts for digital sovereignty. Critics argue the proposed multi-million euro extension locks down critical digital infrastructure for years.

Dutch hospitality operating system Mews raises $300m
Dutch hospitality AI platform Mews secures $300M to fuel AI infrastructure expansion. This investment accelerates Mews' mission to digitally transform the hotel industry across Europe.

Dangerous Dependencies: European Parliament Makes Proposals for Greater Digital Sovereignty
EU Parliament warns of dangerous tech dependencies and calls for digital sovereignty. Lawmakers highlight concentrated power over critical digital markets, urging the Commission and member states to implement solutions to reduce reliance on foreign technologies.

CyberAlloy launches to unite Europe’s cyber defenders in a single trusted network
CyberAlloy launches to unite Europe's cyber defenders in a single trusted network. The independent organization aims to boost cyber resilience by connecting companies, governments, and experts for collective intelligence and innovation.

French fintech Pennylane raises €175M
French fintech Pennylane secures €175M to fuel AI expansion and continental growth. This major funding round, led by TCV, accelerates its strategy in a selective European market.
