Belgian drone traffic management company Unifly today announced the acquisition of EuroUSC-Benelux, a Dutch consultancy specialising in drone regulation, safety, and operational compliance across Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, and France. The Unifly platform connects authorities, drone operators and stakeholders to digitise and automate airspace management, supporting the safe integration of next-generation aircraft. Through Unifly Consulting, the company combines Unmanned Traffic Management (UTM) solutions with regulatory and safety. According to Andres Van Swalm, CEO of Unifly: “Building strong local capability is essential to Unifly’s mission to enable autonomous aviation.  As drone operations scale, organisations need trusted partners wth deep regulatory expertise on the ground. This acquisition strengthens our presence in a key European region and supports the safe, scalable deployment of advanced drone operations.  According to Michael Maes, Director of EuroUSC-Benelux, “Becoming part of Unifly allows us to scale our impact while preserving the independence and technical rigour that defines EuroUSC-Benelux. We will be even better positioned to support authorities, operators and manufacturers as drone operations grow in scale and complexity."

Zevero, a carbon management platform, has secured $7 million in new funding, bringing its total capital raised to $14 million. The round includes participation from Spiral Capital, Gazelle Capital, and Deep 30, and follows a period of rapid growth. The company provides an AI-driven platform that helps businesses measure, manage, and derive value from emissions data. It automates data collection and calculation across Scope 1, 2, and 3, enabling organisations to build structured datasets for ESG reporting and operational decision-making. By combining technology with in-house sustainability expertise, Zevero supports companies in identifying emissions hotspots, setting targets, and implementing decarbonisation strategies. Shigeo Taniuchi, CEO of Zevero, said that although businesses are increasingly expected to manage sustainability with the same discipline as finance, many still treat it as a recurring annual exercise rather than an integrated system. He added that the company aims to address this by providing tools and expertise to make climate data continuous, reliable, and decision-oriented, with the new funding supporting broader adoption across markets. According to George Wade, CCO and co-founder of Zevero, carbon data is increasingly shifting from a reporting function to a key input for operational and investment decision-making: Organisations don’t just need the software to collect the data; they need the guidance to help turn it into something the business can act on. That’s what Zevero is built around. Founded in 2021, Zevero operates across more than 20 countries with a team of around 50 employees, serving customers including Asahi Group, Tokyo Metropolitan Government, and waterdrop. The company recently acquired sustainability advisory firm Inhabit, expanding its capabilities to help organisations move from measuring emissions to implementing practical decarbonisation strategies. The funding comes as sustainability reporting becomes more regulated, with frameworks such as the UK Sustainability Reporting Standards and Japan’s SSBJ Standards increasing requirements for transparency and governance. The new investment will be used to accelerate product development and support international expansion across Asia-Pacific and continental Europe, where demand for emissions management solutions is increasing.

A startup looking to ease the manual workload of finance teams through deploying AI agents has raised $3.6m in a seed funding round. The funding round in the London and San Francisco-based Zalos was led by Swiss VC 14Peaks Capital. Other investors include Cohen Circle, Harry Stebbings' 20VC and several angels, including Ian Sutherland, the CTO of business bank Tide, and Mike Lenz, CFO, Fedex. The startup is tackling the challenge of modern finance teams being run on what it says are the fragmented stack of ERPs, CRMs, spreadsheets, email, and banking platforms that, it says, were never designed to talk to each other.     It says APIs between these systems are incomplete, which means finance teams become the human API themselves, manually stitching data across systems to complete billing cycles, close the books, and produce reporting their business depends on.   Zalos believes the next leap in productivity will not come from replacing that stack, but from agentic software that can operate it the same way humans do and understands the deep business context. Zalos claims its AI agents, built in-house, are pioneering a new era in finance that seamlessly integrate into existing systems, tackling the manual workload that has burdened finance teams for years without needing to replace the systems CFOs have built their operations around.   It says its agents can log into systems with a username & password, then automating workflows, while preserving existing setups.   Unlike other solutions, it says its agents are designed specifically for finance, ensuring accuracy and reliability in high-stakes operations, and have finance-specific skills like Excel.   The startup was founded by William Fairbairn, CEO. and Hung Hoang, CTO, who met at Y Combinator, where they focused on specialised agents. Fairbairn said: "Finance teams have the systems, but they are still doing the work manually because the stack is not connected. We built Zalos on the belief that CFOs should not need to rip out their existing stack to adopt the latest in AI, we want to start by sitting on top of what is already there. Computer Agents that can log in and run the workflow end to end are the fastest path to real transformation in finance operations." The startup says it will use the funding to  improve its tech and target new customers, moving beyond midmarket ERPs, into targeting enterprise ERPs.

The 2026 European Deeptech Report, published by Lakestar, Walden Catalyst, and Dealroom, highlights a record surge in Europe’s deeptech ecosystem. VC-backed deeptech companies are now valued at $690 billion, with investment in the sector continuing to outperform the broader technology market. Deeptech is playing an increasingly important role in addressing global challenges, including climate, energy, defence, and productivity. Europe is entering a pivotal phase, supported by strong research capabilities and rising demand for sovereign technologies. The region hosts 30 per cent of the world’s leading deeptech universities and produces twice as many science and engineering graduates as the US, creating a substantial technical talent base. At the same time, geopolitical developments are driving investment into strategic areas such as AI infrastructure, semiconductors, space, and defence, positioning deeptech as a key contributor to economic growth and technological independence. Yoram Wijngaarde, founder and CEO of Dealroom, noted that deeptech is increasingly important for Europe’s competitiveness, sovereignty, and long-term growth. European deeptech now captures nearly a third of all venture capital, which would have been hard to imagine a decade ago. And yet, even with meaningful growth, investment still lags other markets, and there is a clear shortage of domestic capital willing to back deep tech ventures to scale. Europe has the talent and the breakthroughs, but it cannot afford to lose momentum when it matters most. Deeptech is where the puck is heading. Europe needs the conviction of capital to make sure we are in the game. The report outlines several key trends shaping the ecosystem. Deeptech investment in Europe reached $20.3 billion in 2025, representing a record 32 per cent of total venture capital, more than double its share a decade ago. While overall tech investment remains below its 2021 peak, deeptech funding has seen only a modest decline, indicating sustained investor confidence. Source: The 2026 European Deeptech Report In terms of geography, the UK attracted the largest share of funding, followed by France and Germany, with Paris emerging as Europe’s leading deeptech hub. Several cities, including Paris, Cambridge, London, Munich, Stockholm, and Zurich, now rank among the world’s top ecosystems. At the sector level, the Future of Compute segment recorded the fastest growth, while defence-related investment also increased significantly. Defence, security, and resilience now account for a substantial share of total funding, reflecting growing demand for sovereign capabilities. Other expanding areas include AI, computational biology and chemistry, as well as space, robotics, and energy. Source: The 2026 European Deeptech Report Despite this momentum, structural challenges remain. A significant share of late-stage funding comes from non-European investors, and companies tend to raise smaller rounds and scale more slowly than their US counterparts, contributing to a persistent growth-stage funding gap. In parallel, many deeptech companies originate from research spinouts, particularly in photonics and quantum, while relatively few founders have prior startup experience. Source: The 2026 European Deeptech Report The exit environment also remains constrained, with more than 80 per cent of exits driven by M&A and much of the value captured by US acquirers, while European public markets showed limited activity in 2025. Addressing the growth-stage funding gap and strengthening local capital availability will be key to enabling Europe to scale its next generation of deeptech companies.

Today sees the launch of a new venture targeting Europe's scaleup gap. Europe is losing too many of its most promising companies in the critical growth phase after seed funding; only one in four ever graduates to a Series A round.  In response, Team Scaleup, a newly launched platform, is building a bespoke accelerator that tailors its programme to each company's specific gaps, stage, and potential. Behind the initiative are Stella Futura co-founders Jonas Jonsson and Ulrika Tornerefelt – together with CEO Siavash Habibi, whose background includes McKinsey and European scaleup TechBuddy. Dahlgren Capital joins as a strategic investor and co-owner, and Oskar Gillström, CEO of Epicenter, is also an investor in the company. Team Scaleup is now launching its first cohort in Sweden, where a select group of growth-stage companies will work closely with the platform to strengthen their structure, strategy and capital readiness ahead of their next funding round. According to Siavash Habibi, CEO and co-founder of Team Scaleup, Europe has become very good at supporting early-stage companies.  “But when it's time to raise larger rounds and scale internationally, the support drops off sharply – just as investor demands increase. That's where many companies lose momentum.” "Scaling a company requires a fundamentally different kind of support than starting one – the right legal framework, the right technology, and a deep understanding of what investors are actually looking for. Most founders don't have the time or experience to navigate everything that's required at this stage. We identify the gaps and bring in the right expertise at the right moment, so that more European companies can grow globally from home,"  says Siavash Habibi. Despite a strong startup ecosystem, many growth-stage companies lack the structures and processes required to attract institutional investment. The result is often prolonged, inefficient fundraising, or companies relocating abroad to find the right support. Team Scaleup focuses specifically on this transition, where companies need to become investment-ready quickly to take the next step. The platform combines a proprietary AI-driven analysis engine with a network of operational experts, entrepreneurs and investors. By assessing a company's structure, strategy, and capital readiness, it identifies gaps to address ahead of the next funding round or expansion phase. This enables tailored programmes for each company, with relevant experts brought in to work alongside the founders for a defined period. Lead image: Jonas Jonsson, Siavash Habibi, and Ulrika Tornerefelt. Photo: uncredited. 

Last year, European fintech venture builder and investor 0TO9 (Zero to Nine) launched out of stealth with an ambitious aim. It wants to build 1,000 profitable fintechs by 2045. And today, one of those fintech startups, Flow & Partners, a financial services company providing working capital solutions for fast-growing European businesses, emerged from stealth and announced Jessica Sparrfeldt as its CEO. Flow & Partners provides European growth companies with access to cash flow-based financing and factoring solutions, helping unlock capital tied up in receivables, inventory, and payables — deals that have been completed but are not yet liquid. Working closely with large and mid-sized B2B companies across Europe, the firm finances transactions of up to €50 million and currently operates in four markets, with ambitions to scale to 21. Roughly €1.4 trillion in working capital sits unused across Europe’s 1,000 largest companies. This locks in cash that could otherwise fund investment, expansion and acquisitions. Further, the problem is compounded by Europe’s late payments crisis, where average payment periods now exceed 60 days in B2B transactions across the EU. By ending late payments, European SMEs could unlock over €100 billion in additional cash flow each year. I spoke to Siduri Poli, Partner and CMO at 0TO9, and Jessica Sparrfeldt, CEO of Flow & Partners, about the pull of entrepreneurship — and how to convince seasoned corporate leaders to make the leap. From banking frustration to a different kind of capital Sparrfeldt didn’t set out to join a startup — at least, not consciously. She spent two decades in senior banking roles across Sweden’s largest financial institutions, serving as Nordic Head of Business Finance at Avida Finans AB and Head of Business Banking at Northmill. Most recently, she held a senior position at PayEx, part of Swedbank. The move came almost accidentally, shaped by years of frustration with the same recurring issue. She contends, “Everything really started with my experience in banking and financial institutions,” she explains. “I kept seeing the same problem: there’s so much capital locked inside companies.” Throughout her career, Sparrfeldt worked across a range of financing solutions — from loans and revolving credit facilities to factoring. But the structural limitations of traditional banking became increasingly clear. “In large banks, it’s hard to unlock liquidity because they rely heavily on historical data. What you actually need is to be more future-oriented.” That realisation would eventually underpin her move into the startup world — even if she didn’t fully recognise it at the time. A “third path” to growth Flow & Partners operates as a distinct business unit within 0TO9.  0TO9’s model involves identifying structural gaps in financial services, then recruiting and backing operators who can build companies to fill them. Poli saw the need for working capital solutions from years of working alongside founders: “I’ve worked with entrepreneurs my whole life — helping them grow and bring ideas to life,” she says. “Usually, lack of capital means fundraising: equity, investments.” But working capital financing offered something fundamentally different. “It’s like a third path: instead of just organic growth or external investment, you can finance your growth journey — even if you’re not ‘bankable’ yet.” Curious, Poli tapped into her network across Sweden and Europe to better understand the space. “I kept asking: who is the best person to explain this? And everyone kept saying the same thing: ‘You have to talk to Jessica Sparrfeldt.’ It became almost ridiculous — her name kept coming up.” ​ The meeting that almost didn’t happen Determined to connect, Poli eventually secured a lunch with Sparrfeldt — though it didn’t come easily, offering a great case study in the importance of persistence in entrepreneurship. She recalled: “I finally managed to reach her and booked a lunch. She cancelled. Then she cancelled again — She was about to get rid of me — but I didn’t give up. I insisted on that lunch.“I really wanted to understand who she was — not just her expertise, but whether she could be the founder we were looking for.” By the end of that long-awaited lunch, the decision was made. “At the end of it, I asked her to join us.” At the time, the vision was still abstract. 0TO9 hadn’t yet launched, and there was little more than an idea to present. “She had a top position — and we didn’t even have anything concrete to show.” Sparrfeldt recalled: "You didn't actually offer me a job. We just had a really good conversation. We didn't even need to define the problem — it was obvious to both of us. I'd cancelled those lunches because I was stuck in internal meetings. I hadn't spoken to a customer in months. Then at lunch, we started talking about solutions. The food went cold. We were that deep in it. "She challenged me: do you want to keep explaining the problem—or do you want to solve it?" "My first thought was: I have a real job." So, how do you decide to go from business to entrepreneurship? ​ For Sparrfeldt, the appeal of startup life was the intellectual challenge. “Do I want to keep explaining why things are broken—or actually build the solution? I realised I couldn’t just sit there and complain anymore. I wanted to build a sustainable business that helps companies—especially European companies- build the future. At first, I told Siduri I could help as an advisor. But going back to my “real job” didn’t feel as attractive anymore. That was the tipping point.” ​ 0TO9 stands out because it has already solved many foundational pain points for new startups. It operates under European financial services licences, allowing its portfolio companies to launch regulated financial products immediately. According to Sparrfeldt, this proved “extremely” compelling: “Building a regulated financial product from scratch takes years—compliance, licenses, tech stacks. You might not even reach your first customer for one to three years. 0TO9 removes that friction entirely. It allowed me to step out of a corporate role and start executing immediately.” Poli contends: “We always say we want to inspire people to quit their day jobs—not in a reckless way, but to actually pursue their dreams. The leap into entrepreneurship is often too big, especially for someone like Jessica with a strong career. So we create a platform that makes that leap safer.” How to get corporate leaders to make the jump Getting experienced executives to leave the security of a corporate career for a startup is no small ask. Poli says there are usually three main barriers: financial risk, because people cannot afford to walk away from a stable income; identity, because not everyone sees themselves as an entrepreneur; and practical life concerns, such as family, time, and lifestyle. The solution, she argues, is to understand what is holding people back and address it directly. "That might mean creating transition paths: part-time roles, reduced financial risk, structured onboarding." Sparrfeldt admits that it's initially scary to start from scratch and take on all the responsibility. But that fear also becomes a driver. “You face it, and you grow.” Further, she notes that when  you reduce that risk through initiatives like 0TO9,  "the decision becomes much easier, especially later in your career.” I was curious what was most surprising about startup life. For Sparrfeldt, it was “ How fun it is.” “In a large organisation, there’s distance. Now I sit next to colleagues, look at their screens, and understand everything in detail. There’s no legacy, no bureaucracy. Everyone is focused on growth and customers. That level of engagement is incredibly energising.” Flow & Partners currently operates in Sweden, Norway, Poland and Germany, with Spain and Italy planned for later this year, and a further 21 European markets on the roadmap. Clients include Norwegian rail infrastructure company Onrail, which replaces 100,000 truck journeys by shifting cargo from road to rail each year, generating approximately €34 million in annual revenue, with additional customers in the pipeline across the infrastructure, industry and city development sectors. Sparrfeldt shared: “Europe’s fastest-growing companies need a partner that understands their sector, sits close to their owners, and can move quickly when opportunities arise, whether that’s an acquisition, a new market, or a major contract win. Companies have come to expect flexible financing to support their growth and boost liquidity, and that’s the role we’re here to play.” Long term, Sparrfeldt asserts that Flow & Partner is not just building another financing or factoring company. “We’re building a unified European liquidity layer, a single partner that can support companies operating across multiple countries. We want to solve financing across jurisdictions, so companies can come to one place and get everything they need.” And in terms of 0TO9’s aim of 1,000 fintechs by 2045, according to Poli: “We’re on track. We’re launching 7 to 10 companies in the near term. But it’s not just about numbers, it’s about creating a blueprint for Europe." With a nod to EU-Inc, she asserts: “We want companies to scale across Europe as one market, not 27 separate ones." Lead image: Jessica Sparrfeldt, CEO of Flow & Partners and Siduri Poli, Partner and CMO at 0TO9. Photo: uncredited. 

Foreverland, a Milan-based foodtech company developing cocoa-free chocolate alternatives, has secured €6 million in a new funding round, bringing its total capital raised to €9.4 million. The round includes follow-on investment from Kost Capital and Maia Ventures, alongside new investors, including CDP Venture Capital, Linfa agrifoodtech fund (managed by Riello Investimenti SGR), and Newtree Impact. Foreverland develops sustainable, cocoa-free ingredient solutions designed to reduce supply chain risks in the confectionery industry. Its flagship product, Choruba, is made from Mediterranean crops such as carob and is designed to replicate the taste and functionality of chocolate while offering more stable pricing and lower environmental impact. The company addresses key challenges in the cocoa market, including price volatility, supply shortages, and climate-related pressures. By providing industrial-scale alternatives, it enables manufacturers to maintain production stability while reducing dependency on traditional cocoa. Massimo Sabatini, co-founder and CEO of Foreverland, said the funding reflects the company’s progress not only as a foodtech innovator but also as a dependable industrial partner for confectionery manufacturers. With IFS Food certification in place and demand accelerating, we’re scaling commercial growth across Europe, strengthening key partnerships, and bringing in senior talent from the cocoa and chocolate industry to support manufacturers at scale, Sabatini adds. With the new funding, Foreverland plans to accelerate its expansion across Europe, strengthen partnerships with major confectionery players, and recruit senior commercial talent. The company is also expanding its product portfolio, including the development of an organic cocoa-free line to address growing demand in the segment.

Today, Credo Ventures announces Credo Stage 5, a $88 million fund that continues the firm's mission to be the first backer of the most ambitious CEE founders globally, both in the CEE region and in diaspora communities. Credo Ventures is a Prague and Krakow-based venture capital firm founded in 2010, investing in exceptional founders from Central and Eastern Europe and their diaspora at the earliest stages. Credo is doubling down on the Pre-Seed niche in CEE, where its track record, deep local networks, and unique investing culture give it an edge. The partners of the fund include: Maciek Gnutek, Jakub Krikava, Max Kolowrat-Krakowsky, Matej Micek, Ondrej Bartos and Jan Habermann. Over 15 years and across 4 funds, Credo has backed 100+ companies, including 2 decacorns, making it one of the most successful early-stage VC firms in Europe. Credo co-led or led the pre-seed rounds of two of the fastest-growing category-defining companies originating in CEE - UiPath and ElevenLabs. Credo is now launching their 5th fund - Credo Stage 5. ​ According to the firm, Credo Ventures positions itself as a first-cheque investor backing the most ambitious founders from Central and Eastern Europe and its diaspora. “We partner with the best founders from CEE and its diaspora, being the first check in their companies. We seek serious technical builders with global ambitions and work closely with them.” The firm highlights the scale of the opportunity, pointing to a region of 170 million people and a combined GDP of $2 trillion, alongside a strong track record of producing high-quality technical talent. Credo also underscores its early role in backing breakout companies from the region. “CEE has already produced global outliers such as UiPath and ElevenLabs, where Credo was the first cheque and (co-)lead investor in both cases. While the ecosystem is maturing, fragmentation and cultural divergence remain significant barriers for outsiders—creating a structural advantage for us.” The firm points to the strength of the CEE diaspora — particularly in hubs like San Francisco and London — as a key sourcing advantage. “The CEE tech diaspora is strong, and we leverage preferential access through our networks. After 15 years and four funds delivering top-percentile performance, the new generation of GPs is reinforcing Credo’s position as the leading fund for CEE founders.”

What began as a simple walking route created by a frustrated parent has grown into a global movement platform. In Lithuania, Walk15 has reached around 31 per cent of the population. Last year, it generated around €1 million in revenue. Founded by Lithuanian entrepreneur Vlada Musvydaite Vilciauske, Walk15 is rethinking how people engage with health, sustainability, and community, by turning steps into currency. From one route to a platform Vilčiauskė was born in Ukraine, but lived most of her life in Vilnius.  She was originally an athlete, a 400-metre runner, and became a Lithuanian and European-level champion. “Sport has always been part of my life,” she recalled. “My mother was a 100-metre champion, and my father ran 800 metres. So I was almost like a 'designed' 400-metre runner. Growing up, everything felt like a competition. But the most important lesson came from my mother — she always told me that the most important thing in life is whether you are happy, not how much money you make. That philosophy stayed with me, and it’s one of the reasons I created Walk15.” The idea for Walk15 emerged from a very simple, personal problem. As Vilčiauskė recalls: “In 2016, I felt like a bad mother because I didn’t know where to walk with my kids.” So she created a 15,000-step walking route together with a woman from a regional park. In the process, she realised that walking with a clear goal transforms the experience. “You stay engaged, you stay motivated,” she says. One participant even lost 15–20 kilos simply by following the route—“that was a big moment for me.” It also raised a new question: how could she share this with others? The answer was to build an app, initially centred on that single 15,000-step route. “Maybe one day it will be international… so let’s call it Walk15.” After the app, they started organising physical walking events where people could come with their families, friends, or dogs and walk 15,000 steps together. How Walk15 turns steps into value From a user perspective, the app is  simple: you connect your phone or wearable device, your steps are tracked—without collecting location data—and they accumulate in a digital “step wallet.” Users can then join challenges created by companies, cities, or organisations, ranging from workplace wellbeing initiatives to large-scale public campaigns, all designed to motivate participation rather than competition. Why motivation — not tracking — is the core product Vilčiauskė quickly realised something important: motivation is everything. “You can promote anything, but if people are not motivated, it doesn’t work.” So she created the idea of a “steps market” where you could exchange your steps for something tangible, like fruit or vegetables. With the steps market, everyday movement becomes something valuable: users can exchange steps for rewards such as discounts, products, or experiences — for example, trading 20,000 steps for a grocery discount on healthy items, or unlocking perks like airport fast-track access and discounts at Adidas through challenge milestones. A platform for companies, cities, and communities Walk15’s aim is to motivate people — “especially children and teenagers, where around 80 per cent don’t move enough every day,” shared Vilčiauskė. However, the startup also has a clear business model. Companies and organisations pay to create step challenges for their employees or communities. Behind the scenes, the platform operates primarily as a B2B and B2G solution, enabling organisations to run customised, goal-driven campaigns that combine health, sustainability, and behavioural change at scale. In just five years, the team has impacted over 1,500 companies and 1,000,000 app users worldwide, helping them improve their well-being, change mobility habits, and create a positive environmental impact, and has expanded with an additional company formed in Berlin. Walk15 recently launched a large initiative with the European Central Bank. People walk while receiving educational content, such as financial literacy topics explained in a simple, accessible way. At the end, users from different countries compete based on total steps. Walk15 also creates community-driven initiatives, like: Walking challenges that support animal shelters Dog-walking competitions Campaigns tied to donations Vilčiauskė is at pains to clarify that Walk15 is not a step counter. “We are a motivation and initiative platform. What we realised is that every organisation — whether it’s a company, a city, a sports club, or even a government — has the same challenge: how do you engage people?” In response, they created initiatives that allow people to walk for the city, school, or cause. It works like a social platform — but instead of posting, you participate by moving. Vilčiauskė asserts, “For me, this is very important because it connects movement with education. I always say: 10,000 steps are for your health, 5,000 steps are for your education. This is where we can really create impact.” The challenge of categorisation But scaling the platform hasn’t been without its challenges. For Vilčiauskė, the biggest challenges have been fundraising and positioning. “We are not a typical SaaS company, and we’re not a simple consumer app either. That makes it difficult for some investors to categorise us. Some see us as a community project, others as a health app — but we’re building something different. That said, we do have investors who believe in the long-term potential.” A global movement, one step at a time Walk15 is further building out its B2B platform to integrate AI, so companies can automatically create campaigns. “For example, an HR manager could request a challenge, and our system would generate everything — from messaging to engagement. We already know what motivates people, so we can use that data to improve outcomes,” explained Vilčiauskė. It is also working to further support NGOs with donation features so that people can contribute to causes through their activity. Long-term, Vilčiauskė wants to create a global movement. “We want people everywhere to move more, feel part of a community, and contribute to something meaningful. It’s not about walking 15,000 steps. It’s about taking the first step—and changing behaviour over time.”

Interloom, an enterprise operations platform that captures expert knowledge and converts it into a persistent memory layer for AI agents, has closed a $16.5 million seed funding round. The round was led by DN Capital, with participation from Bek Ventures and existing investor Air Street Capital. The company addresses a key limitation in enterprise AI adoption: the lack of operational context. While AI agents can process information, much of how work is actually performed remains undocumented. Interloom’s platform captures this knowledge from real-world workflows, enabling both employees and AI systems to access past resolutions and apply them to new cases. Fabian Jakobi, founder and CEO of Interloom, said that as AI agents move into operational roles, their effectiveness is limited without access to company-specific knowledge, reducing their ability to provide accurate responses or enable automation. We ground their decisions in successful resolutions from the past, ensuring their work is guided by real operational experience and governed through expert oversight, creating a memory that stays with the company. Jakobi added. Interloom builds a continuously evolving “context graph” that stores decisions and outcomes from past work. This allows AI agents to operate based on accumulated experience rather than static documentation, supporting more effective automation of complex processes. The platform also addresses knowledge loss driven by workforce changes by preserving expertise within the organisation. With the new funding, Interloom plans to further develop its platform and expand its capabilities in enterprise AI and workflow automation.

Job search platform Adzuna has acquired the jobs businesses of Trovit and Mitula, two market-leading search engines operated by the Lifull Connect group. The acquisition marks Adzuna’s third acquisition in four years, further strengthening its position as one of the world’s leading global job search platforms. Founded in 2006, Trovit and Mitula operate in more than 50 countries, centralising thousands of classified ads spanning jobs, real estate, and cars, with a strong presence in key European and international markets. The acquisition strengthens Adzuna’s footprint in high-growth international markets, including Spain and Italy.  For Trovit and Mitula Jobs’ global user base, the Adzuna acquisition brings continuity while introducing a smarter job search experience through its groundbreaking AI search technology and a suite of AI tools. For employers, the acquisition brings a wider audience and more quality applications worldwide. Doug Monro, CEO and co-founder of Adzuna, comments:   “We are excited to welcome users from the Trovit Jobs and Mitula Jobs to the Adzuna group. This acquisition represents a significant step forward in our strategy to grow our global portfolio and deliver smarter job search at scale.  The acquisition gives us the ability to connect millions of extra jobseekers in Europe, the US, Asia and Latin America with the right opportunities using our AI search and tools, delivering even more high-quality matches and greater hiring efficiency for employers." Carlos Ruiz Comes, Vertical Search General Manager from Lifull Connect, shared:   “Adzuna has established itself as a global leader in online job search, and I firmly believe that Trovit Jobs and Mitula Jobs users will benefit from Adzuna’s technology and recruitment expertise and continue to grow and innovate under its leadership.”

French defencetech EGIDE has raised an €8 million seed round.  The round was co-led by Expeditions, Eurazeo, and Heartcore Capital, with participation from Galion.exe and Kima Ventures.  Founded in 2025 by former MBDA aerospace and defence engineers Simon Calonne and Florian Audigier, EGIDE was created to address the rapidly growing threat posed by cheap mass-produced drones and strike munitions, which are increasingly challenging traditional defence systems. Calonne is an aerospace engineer specialising in Guidance, Navigation and Control (GNC), while Audigier is a pyrotechnical engineer with extensive experience in warhead design. At the core of the company’s approach is the development of a new kind of electrically propelled interceptor and Mystique, a hardware-agnostic software platform that leverages distributed sensors, AI-driven detection, and layered interception systems. This munition architecture enables reactive iteration against evolving targets and faster integration across different weapon platforms and missions, while reducing the cost and complexity associated with traditional defence systems.  As defence leaders gather at the Paris Defence and Strategy Forum this week, boosting Europe’s arsenal is top of the agenda. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the Iran conflict have shown how quickly cheap drones can overwhelm legacy defence systems. Europe and its NATO allies must transition from limited, high-cost interceptors to a new generation of adaptable, scalable systems capable of countering constantly evolving threats. EGIDE aims to lead this shift by building affordable, integrated defence systems designed for modern battlefields and for protecting critical infrastructure. According to Simon Calonne, Co-founder of EGIDE, low-cost drones are fundamentally transforming modern warfare. Systems designed to intercept a small number of high-value threats are now being confronted with large volumes of inexpensive and highly adaptable aerial systems: "At EGIDE, we are building a new generation of scalable and affordable defence capabilities designed to meet this challenge. Our ambition is to build a European leader in mass-affordable interceptors capable of protecting forces and critical infrastructure against evolving aerial, sea and ground threats. This funding allows us to accelerate the development of our interceptors and Mystique, and build the team that will help reshape Europe’s defence architecture.” According to Dr Mikołaj Firlej, Co-Founder and General Partner at Expeditions,  Europe is entering a decisive moment in the rebuilding of its security architecture. "The rapid proliferation of low-cost drones is transforming the character of warfare, exposing critical vulnerabilities and unsustainable economics associated with legacy defence systems." Simon, Florian and the EGIDE team are addressing this challenge by developing scalable defence capabilities built specifically for the realities of modern conflict. At Expeditions, we back founders rebuilding the technological foundations of European security, and EGIDE is exactly the type of company we believe will play a defining role in that transformation.” Thomas Turelier, Managing Director at Eurazeo, commented:  “Strengthening Europe’s sovereignty and resilience is a strategic priority in today’s environment. EGIDE’s approach to cost-efficient interceptors that can be integrated across air, sea and ground missions reflects this broader dynamic. Simon, Florian and the team bring a rare depth of experience in the technologies that will be key in safeguarding Europe’s security, and we’re proud to support them as they build the next generation of defence systems.” The company will use the new funding to accelerate the design and production of electrically-propelled interceptors and the development of its Mystique operating platform.  EGIDE will look to expand its engineering team, bringing together the best talent from across Europe with expertise in electric propulsion, aerodynamic and warhead design and software engineering. 

Stockholm-based Newly (formerly Natively), a mobile app development company, has raised over $2 million to date in funding to accelerate its growth and broaden access to native app development. The round was led by PSV Tech, with participation from Karaoke Club, Wave Ventures, Inception Fund, Foundry Ventures, Tiny Supercomputing Investment Company, and a group of prominent angel investors, including Fredrik Björk, Mattias Miksche, Sebastian Knutsson, Peter Carlsson, Joseph Michael, Wilhelm Bohlin, Alfred Wahlforss, and Mandeep Singh. While AI has significantly simplified web development, making it easier than ever to launch landing pages, SaaS tools, and online stores, native mobile development has remained comparatively inaccessible. The complexity of building for iOS and Android, navigating app store requirements, and maintaining performance at scale has continued to limit development to specialised teams. Newly aims to address this gap by enabling users to build, iterate, and launch fully functional, compliant mobile applications without coding. Its platform combines agentic AI systems with advanced mobile-native tooling, allowing teams to move from concept to an App Store–ready product significantly faster and at lower cost than traditional approaches. Founder and CEO Timothy Lindblom describes the shift as one that reduces development timelines “from months to hours”, reducing friction between idea and execution. He notes that native mobile apps have historically been out of reach for many founders due to cost and complexity, a barrier that Newly seeks to remove. The company plans to use the new funding to further develop its platform and expand beyond mobile into other native formats, including desktop software, augmented reality experiences, and wearable applications.

Air Street Capital, founded by Nathan Benaich, has raised $232M for Fund III — making it the largest solo GP venture fund in Europe.  The fund invests in AI-first companies in North America and Europe. The firm will lead early-stage rounds with cheques ranging from $500,000 to $15 million, alongside select growth investments of up to $25 million. Founded in 2019, Air Street was built on a conviction formed years earlier — that AI would become a fundamental driver of technological progress. According to Benaich: “When I started investing in 2013, deep learning was largely confined to research labs. Yet I was convinced… the most important technology companies of our generation will be built AI-first. AI is a force multiplier for technological progress, and everything around us is ultimately a product of intelligence.” From solo GP to Europe’s largest With Fund III, Air Street is now the largest solo GP venture firm in Europe — a structure designed to enable faster, high-conviction decision-making. “This structure enables high-conviction investing with a single decision-maker and significant capital to support the most ambitious teams.” Over the past decade, the firm has backed companies across multiple domains: Software: Synthesia, Black Forest Labs, Poolside Science / Biotech: Profluent, Enveda Biosciences Physical AI / Infrastructure: Wayve, Sereact, Lambda, Crusoe Defence: Delian Alliance Industries These companies reflect a broader shift: "AI is no longer just augmenting products — it is enabling entirely new categories. AI is not simply improving the status quo but enabling entirely new kinds of products and companies to be built.” Air Street has also built a wider AI ecosystem through initiatives like: The State of AI Report The RAAIS (Research and Applied AI Summit) A global AI network of ~3,000 researchers and builders The firm has also engaged in policy and ecosystem-building efforts, including reforms to university spinout frameworks that the UK government has adopted. “Our third epoch begins today” With Fund III, Air Street is positioning itself for what it sees as a defining moment in technology. Benaich shared:  “Fund III launches into what I believe is the most transformational period in technology of our generation. Capabilities that seemed like magic a decade ago are now real, usable, and creating enormous value. Air Street is built for exactly this moment.”

360 Capital, a European venture capital firm, has closed €85 million for Poli360 2, its new technology transfer fund targeting a total size of €100 million. The fund focuses on early-stage deeptech startups.  Poli360 2 is classified as an Article 8 fund under the Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR). Its investor base includes the European Investment Fund, CDP Venture Capital, Italian pension funds, family offices and corporate investors such as Brembo, MBDA and Lucchini RS. Poli360 2 continues the strategy established by Poli360 1, which has supported a portfolio of 20 companies, including Energy Dome, Isaac, Phononic Vibes, PhotonPath, Inxpect and Equixly. The new fund will invest in collaboration with leading universities and research centres, with plans to complete 20 to 25 investments. At least 80 per cent of the capital will be deployed in Italy, with the remainder allocated to opportunities across Europe. The fund’s investment strategy focuses on two main areas: Industry Automation and Sustainability. Industry Automation includes fields such as robotics, Industry 4.0, semiconductors, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, IoT, infrastructure, industrial machinery and information technology. In Sustainability, the focus is on new materials, energy transition and the circular economy. According to Alessandro Zaccaria, Partner at 360 Capital, the fund reinforces the firm’s commitment to translating research from Italy and across Europe into globally competitive companies through collaboration with academic institutions, research centres, and founders. By working side by side with universities, research centres, and founders, we aim to support the next generation of deeptech companies shaping the technological landscape of the coming decade. said Zaccaria. Founded in 1997, 360 Capital operates from offices in Milan and Paris and invests in early-stage European startups across deeptech, climate tech and digital sectors. The firm has backed more than 170 companies and has recorded recent exits, including Preligens, acquired by Safran in 2024, and Exotec.

Last week, we tracked more than 55 tech funding deals worth over €504 million, and 3 exits, M&A transactions, rumours, and related news stories across Europe.Click to read the rest of the news.

AI model giants should pay a content levy for selling their services in Europe with the money funnelled into Europe’s cultural sector, according to the boss of Europe’s leading AI model startup.   Arthur Mensch, the CEO and co-founder of Mistral, says such a levy would be a win-win for both the AI model providers, giving them legal certainty, and also creators, whose data the AI models are trained on, which would benefit from the levy.   AI model companies, which train their models on vast amounts of text, audio and video data, have been hit by complaints and legal challenges from creators and copyright owners.   In an op-ed in the Financial Times, Mensch writes that European AI model developers were at a disadvantage, operating under a “fragmented legal environment”, compared to AI developers in the US and China, who were “developing their models under permissive or non-existent copyright rules”. He says that the current copyright rules for European creators were also not working. Mensch says a “new approach” is needed, with his solution being a revenue-based levy, which would be levied on AI model companies which operate in Europe, "reflecting their use of content publicly available online". “Proceeds would flow into a central European fund dedicated to investing in new content creation and supporting Europe’s cultural sectors”, he says. According to one report, Mensch is calling for a contribution between one and five per cent of the revenues of AI model providers in Europe. This was not confirmed by Mistral.   Mensch writes: "At Mistral, we are proposing a revenue-based levy that would be applied to all commercial providers placing AI models on the market or putting them into service in Europe, reflecting their use of content publicly available online.   "Crucially, this levy would apply equally to providers based abroad, creating a level playing field within the European market and ensuring that foreign AI companies also contribute when they operate here.    "The proceeds would flow into a central European fund dedicated to investing in new content creation, and supporting Europe’s cultural sectors.  In return, AI developers would gain what they urgently need: legal certainty.  "The mechanism would shield AI providers from liability for training on materials accessible online. Importantly, it would not replace licensing agreements or the freedom to contract.    "On the contrary, licensing opportunities should continue to develop and expand for usage beyond training. The fund would complement, not crowd out, direct relationships between creators and AI companies.”   Under the EU’s current rules, AI companies can use copyrighted materials for text and data mining, including AI training, unless a creator has “reserved their rights". The EU is looking into a permanent solution to protect copyright from use by AI.

Big news this week as the European Commission presented its proposal for EU Inc., a new single set of corporate rules that will serve as the cornerstone and starting point for the EU's 28th regime. As a journalist, well, I’m pleased and frustrated all in equal parts. Earlier this week i called it a win because I think it would be a mistake for anyone to dismiss the challenge it took to get here. The announcement represents a major milestone for EU–INC, a policy movement backed by over 22,000 signatories, including Europe's leading founders, investors, and the broader startup community.  European bureaucracy moves at a glacial pace, and the journey here has been long and complex.  There are numerous wins — For example, entrepreneurs, founders, and companies will be able to found an EU Inc. company within 48 hours, for less than €100, with no minimum share capital requirement. There will be EU-wide employee stock option plans and increased digitisation. BUT there are a number of areas that sound like ideas rather than actioned items (dare I say the gap between aim and execution?), and worse, fundamental elements which stray from the original idea.  Instead of establishing a truly unified legal framework, the proposal defers interpretation to national courts—risking 27 divergent outcomes—relies on national registries rather than creating real ecosystem standardisation, and ultimately introduces further fragmentation at the very layer that should be harmonised.  Further, the call on Member States to only consider establishing specialised judicial chambers or courts to handle disputes related to EU Inc. company law is notably vague in both scope and implementation. I’m hopeful for better, but let’s watch this space.But that aside, this week, we tracked more than 85 tech funding deals worth over €4 billion and over 5 exits, M&A transactions, rumours, and related news stories across Europe. Alongside the week’s top funding rounds, we’ve highlighted key industry developments, as well as notable trends in European venture activity, investor moves and emerging sectors shaping the current funding landscape. If email is more your thing, you can always subscribe to our newsletter and receive a more robust version of this round-up delivered to your inbox. Either way, let's get you up to speed. ? Notable and big funding rounds ??  Upvest raises $125M to strengthen its API-based investment platform ?? WorkFlex secures €37M to automate cross-border workforce compliance ?. Sequoia-backed Edra raises $30M Series A to turn enterprise data into self-improving AI agents ??‍?? Noteworthy acquisitions and mergers ?? Nscale snaps up major US data centre site, American Intelligence & Power Corporation, inks AI compute deal with Microsoft ?? Amazon acquires Zurich-based Rivr, developer of stair-climbing robots for doorstep delivery ?? TMA acquires Amsterdam’s BrainsFirst to combine psychometrics with neuroscience-based talent insights ? Interesting moves from investors ? Partech’s €300M Impact Fund targets Europe’s next generation of industrial and climate tech leaders ?.Montis VC reaches €50M first close to back energy and industrial tech startups ?. Albion Venture Capital Trusts close £90M top-up offer as demand for UK innovation investments grows ? New €70 million GVC Gaesco fund targets InfraTech startups focused on energy, industry and digital infrastructure ?️ In other (important) news ?  UK government pledges £1BN quantum computing investment ??. EU Inc. marks major win for startups as Commission unveils 28th regime proposal ? Zopa reports third consecutive year of profit, says new current account topping expectations ?? Alpine Eagle scales Sentinel production with new Munich facility and European expansion ??. CiaoDott raises €1.5M pre-seed to bring vertical voice AI to Italy’s medical sector ??  Cleavr raises €1M to develop an AI solution for accounts receivable ?? Rhonexum secures $1M to scale cryogenic electronics for quantum computing ?? First Concepts raises $1M to develop AI-native OS for creative work ?? Noru raises €560,000 to develop an agentic compliance platform

Over Paddy's weekend 2026, a friendly Northern Irish "woman" called Rachel rang more than 3,000 pubs across all 32 counties to find out the price of a pint of Guinness. Over 1,000 gave a price.  Only a handful seemed to realise Rachel was an AI voice agent.  A data gap 14 years in the making Ireland’s Central Statistics Office stopped tracking pint prices 14 years ago, leaving no comprehensive dataset since. In response, Matt Cortland created the “Guinndex,” using AI to rapidly collect and analyse pint prices across Ireland, where costs have become increasingly inconsistent. The result is what he claims is the most complete index of pint prices to date—an effort to bring transparency and potentially help normalise the price of a Guinness. From pub owner to AI engineer Matt Cortland is an American AI engineer based in London who previously lived in Ireland for several years. A former US-Ireland Alliance Scholar (George Mitchell Scholarship), he holds a Master’s degree in Creative Digital Media from TU Dublin (formerly DIT). Earlier in his career, he founded and operated a global pub and entertainment company spanning Ireland, the UK, and the US, including a chain of IoT-enabled “wizard bars” where he created working magic wands.  He has since transitioned into AI engineering and private consulting, developing his own AI projects while building AI products and tooling for companies, several of which are based in Dublin. "I'm a former pub and bar owner, so I know what it's like to be on the other end of customer pricing calls," said Cortland. "But I also know what it's like to be on the consumer end and paying a kidney for a pint. I apologise to everyone I tortured over Paddy's weekend. Rachel just wanted a wee drink." Designing a believable pub caller Cortland named the AI agent “Rachel” and trained her to be friendly, direct, and—if questioned—transparent. She explains she’s “putting together a wee price comparison list” and confirms she is an AI if asked. The calls were made through ElevenLabs’ conversational AI platform and Twilio for telephony, using an old Irish SIM.  The phone numbers come from the Google Maps API, publicly available numbers for each venue.  Cortland indexed over 5,200 pubs across all 32 counties using Google's Places API.  He explained;  “Over Paddy's weekend, Rachel called the 3,000+ of those that had phone numbers listed. 2,052 answered the phone, and over 1,000 gave a verified price, which I then extracted from the call transcripts using Claude AI.  The whole thing cost about €200 to run plus a lot of my time.” Getting the voice right proved critical, with much of the work focused on refining Rachel’s accent, tone, and personality. Cortland tested dozens of options before landing on a Northern Irish accent, inspired by Rachel Duffy from The Traitors, which he felt sounded the most natural in conversation. “Duffy was the first female traitor to win the show, and she was just so good,” he said. “She played an absolute blinder. That’s what I wanted — someone warm, someone you’d believe. A Northern Irish accent that makes ‘we were lookin’ to come in for a wee drink’ sound completely natural.” The script itself went through multiple iterations. Early versions had Rachel confirming the price back—“Grand, so that’s six seventy, is that right?”—but this extended calls and gave people time to grow suspicious. “The final version keeps it simple: ask the question, say ‘thanks very much,’ hang up. The transcript captures everything,” Cortland says the biggest challenge wasn’t technical infrastructure, but making the agent feel human—particularly in an Irish context. “Funnily enough, for the Irish market, it was training her to have banter, which she really struggled with,” he said. “Should have made her American.” How did the staff react?  Few people Rachel spoke to realised they were talking to an AI agent. The calls produced dozens of memorable exchanges. When questioned, Rachel told them truthfully that she was putting together a wee price comparison list. Most people accepted that and moved on. At Malzard's Pub in Kilkenny, the bartender laughed and offered to buy the round: "They're normally 6.20, but if you can't afford one, we'll buy you one. We'll look after you." At Doogies in Northern Ireland, the bartender opened with: "Twenty-five pound. But if you're coming in for a wee drink, I'll give it to you for a fiver." At McIntyre's Bar in Donegal, the bartender launched a full interrogation: "Five eighty. What time is it? How many are coming? Where are you coming from? What part of the country are you from? Who's this I'm speaking to?" At Drumlane Bar in Cavan, the person who answered was in the kitchen: "I'm in the kitchen. I don't work in the bar at all." He went behind the bar to check. Five sixty. At Beaufort Bar in Kerry, the bartender played coy: "It's far too cheap. You'll have to come in to find out the price." Rachel persisted. Five sixty. At Buddy's Bar in Tipperary, Rachel asked the price. The bartender asked her name. Rachel said she was just putting together a wee price comparison list. "Fuck off." Fair. At The Plough in Curraglass, Cork, the bartender refused to give the price no matter how many times Rachel asked: "You'd have to call in and I'll tell you." Rachel said she couldn't do that. "Ah, well done. You'll never know, though, will you?" At The Linen House in Lisburn, Rachel got trapped in a Premier Inn phone system. Two AI systems talked past each other, neither able to help the other. Rachel said "Oh, dear" four times. The virtual receptionist kept apologising. Nobody got a pint price. Pat Hayes, owner of The Arch Bar in Thurles, Tipperary, was one of the thousands of people who picked up Rachel's call over the weekend. When he later found out he'd been chatting to an AI, he took it in good spirits. "It was a good laugh. I had no idea it wasn't a real person," said Hayes. "But look, knowing the price of a pint is important. People want to know what they're paying before they walk in the door. If someone's putting together an index of every pub in the country, fair play to them. It's good for the customer and it keeps us all honest." AI and the pub Beyond the novelty of calling pubs, the project also highlights where AI is beginning to have real-world impact. The Guinndex arrives at an interesting moment. Earlier this month, Anthropic published research showing that bartenders, cooks, and dishwashers are among the 30 percent of occupations with zero exposure to AI automation. Computer programmers, by contrast, are the most exposed at 74.5 per cent. "AI isn't coming for the person behind the bar," said Cortland.  "As a former bar owner, I know this.  AI can't (yet) pour a pint, it can't read a room, it can't tell when someone's had enough. But it can call pubs on a weekend and tell you where to find a decent pint for under a fiver. The physical work is safe. The information layer on top of it is where AI lives and where we all should be aware."  How much is a pint of Guinness these days, anyway? The national average price of a pint of Guinness is €5.95. The most common price is €5.50. But where you drink matters enormously. Dublin is the dearest county by a wide margin, averaging €6.75 a pint. The cheapest pints are in the west and midlands, with Laois at just €5.38. The gap between Dublin and the cheapest county is €1.37 per pint. The cheapest pint in the entire index is €3.00 at Glynn's Bar in Dunmore, Galway, although he may have just been taking the mickey. The most expensive is €10 at The Auld Dubliner, Dublin, which, incredibly, seems to be accurate. Despite the rising cost of a night out, the Guinndex unearthed 12 places across Ireland where you can still get a pint for a fiver or less, including one in Dublin. Dublin doesn't fare well on any measure. Of the 46 pubs in Ireland with a perfect 5.0 Google rating, not a single one is in Dublin. They're in places like Augher (Tyrone), Kilmakilloge (Kerry), and Rathdowney (Laois). The CSO tracked pint prices from 2001 to 2011, then stopped. In the 14 years since, the price of a stout has jumped from €3.93 to €5.95 (+48 per cent). The Guinndex fills the gap. Not a stunt, but a dataset: the mission to map — and lower — the price of a pint Cortland asserts that Guinndex is definitely a data project rather than an effort to test the vulnerability of humans in identifying AI: “I want to see if we can collectively drive down the cost of a pint across Ireland. Rachel unearthed the first 1,000+ pint prices, but there are still over 4,000 to find. Those will need to come from people who log the cost using the "Contribute" button at guinndex.ai, which instantly updates the index and prices on the site.” He believes that if enough people get involved, he can map the country and stabilise the price.  “Or at the very least, unearth some really good gems and places where you can still get a pint for a fiver or less (spoiler, there are 19).” Cortland admits he’s a “real AI and data nerd” and thought this would be both a practically useful and really fun project.  “Honestly, the main goal of this is to help make a pint of Guinness affordable again. If enough people contribute prices, we can map the whole country and start to bring down the price to something reasonable.  I will say that this is part of something bigger I'm working on, but that's for another day. For now, go contribute to your local.” Search the Guinndex and help it grow The project is now evolving into a crowdsourced platform, encouraging people across Ireland to contribute local pint prices.  The full dataset is live at guinndex.ai. Search by county, town, or pub name to find the price of a pint near you. The site includes an interactive map, county-by-county breakdowns, and the ability to compare prices across the country. Anyone can hit the “Contribute” button on the site to submit the price of their last pint, flag a correction if a price is wrong, or share photos of pints and pubs for the Guinndex social media channels. Pub owners who want to update their listing can also message to make an amendment with the “Contribute” button on the site. Cortland concludes: " If you're sitting there with a pint right now, tell us what you paid."

Starling Bank is rolling out what it says is the “UK’s first agentic AI financial assistant”, as it looks to leverage the new technology to help improve day-to-day banking. The UK challenger bank, which has nearly five million customers, said that Starling Assistant can help its customers manage day-to-day finances, share personalised financial insights and give general banking guidance. The assistant responds to voice and natural language prompts before carrying out banking tasks on the customer’s behalf, from setting up personalised saving goals to organising bill payments.   Examples of what it can do include if a customer is planning a holiday, they could say: "I need to save £500 for a trip to Paris in July. How much do I need to save monthly and can you set up automatic transfers to a dedicated space?" Or if a customer wants to perfect their payday routine, they could say: "Set me up with dedicated spaces for my groceries, bills, travel and eating out" and then specify how much to transfer to each space on pay day.     Harriet Rees, Starling’s group chief information officer, said: “It’s time to embrace a new era of banking, one that’s powered by agentic AI.  "At Starling, we want to encourage our customers to trust that AI can help them with money management and we’re excited to be pioneering the use of this cutting-edge technology to help people be good with money.”    The assistant is built on Starling’s proprietary tech platform using Google Gemini and Google Cloud technologies.   Previously, Starling has launched several generative AI tools, including Spending Intelligence, which lets customers ask natural language questions about their spending habits, while Scam Intelligence helps detect online marketplace scams.   Many fintechs and neobanks are using or experimenting with generative AI tech. Across Europe, Klarna uses it for customer service purposes while Bunq launched its AI assistant in 2024. Danish challenger Lunar says its GenAI-powered voice assistant will handle around 75 per cent of customer calls over time.   Meanwhile, Revolut is exploring a push into the AI agent space, aiming to use the technology to automate everything from customer service to sales.