News

Klarna launches a new Variable Recurring Payments (VRP) system in Germany, competing with direct debit payments. This open banking initiative, in partnership with Sparkassen, offers a flexible, secure alternative for recurring payments.

German regulators certified Consenter, a new consent management platform, to give users more control over their data online. The service aims to simplify managing cookie permissions, but its effectiveness depends on website and tracking firm compliance.

Upway, a platform for refurbished e-bikes, secures a $60 million Series C round to fuel its expansion. The company plans to refurbish over one million e-bikes by 2030, enhancing its digital services with financing, insurance, and subscriptions.

The European Parliament is divided on the digital Euro, with debates intensifying due to disagreements over its implementation. While the Parliament argues, the European Central Bank continues advancing the digital currency's development, pushing forward with the project.

Paris-based Hoora raised €1. 1 million to build a "TikTok for gaming," blending social media with instant gameplay....

Madrid-based FinTech Devengo secured €2 million in a pre-Series A round to expand its account-to-account (A2A) payment infrastructure. This funding comes as the EU Instant Payments Regulation accelerates innovation within the fintech sector.

Brussels is reportedly planning major cuts to the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) as part of its "digital omnibus" proposal. The move aims to simplify digital regulations but could weaken data protection for Europeans.

The EU Council may scrap mandatory chat control, potentially ending years of debate over scanning private communications. A compromise proposal from Denmark could secure agreement, with Germany signaling approval.

Paris-based Mistral AI, a large language model developer, leads the charge in Europe's AI funding landscape with its open-weight models. The company, founded in 2023, is defining the continent's AI future with solutions for enterprise use.

Doctolib, the French healthcare tech unicorn, faces a record €4. 6 million fine for abusing its dominant market position....

Norrsken Evolve, a €57M pre-seed fund, is backing European founders building sustainable futures. The fund, born from the Norrsken Accelerator, supports early-stage startups with capital, community, and mentorship.

Swiss startup Motley launches its AI-powered business reporting platform after securing a $1. 5 million pre-seed round....

Amsterdam-based Struck secured €2 million in seed funding to expand its AI-driven building compliance platform across Europe. The software automates compliance checks, aiming to speed up permitting and promote sustainable construction across the continent.

Irish climatetech startup Proveye secured a contract from the European Space Agency to develop ProvVari. The AI-driven platform will use satellite data and drone imagery to optimize fertilizer use, launching in Ireland in 2026.

French quantum computing firm Pasqal secures a strategic investment from LG Electronics to advance quantum computing for industrial applications. The partnership will co-develop algorithms to tackle LG's complex business challenges like simulations and material discovery.

Leil, an Estonian data storage infrastructure software company, secures €1. 5 million in seed funding to make hyperscale storage accessible....

Ionos and Nextcloud launch "Workspace," a German alternative to Microsoft 365, to boost digital sovereignty. The service aims to provide a secure option, avoiding reliance on US-based cloud services.

Paris-based Freeda secured €3. 4M to revolutionize construction plan reviews with AI-powered analysis....

The European Parliament approved a new Europol Regulation, prompting strong criticism of potential mass surveillance. Civil society and the European Data Protection Supervisor raised warnings about the Facilitators Package expansion, which passed with 59 votes in favor.

A London court mostly sided with Stability AI in Getty Images' copyright lawsuit, impacting AI training's legal landscape. The ruling found no copyright infringement, though key questions on AI and image rights remain unresolved.