Swiss VR Flight training company Loft Dynamics has raised a $24 million Series B funding round led by Friedkin with participation from Alaska Airlines and existing shareholders Sky Dayton and Craft Ventures, as well as UP.Partners.  The round brings Loft Dynamics’ total funding to $60 million and marks a major step forward in expanding its commercial airline offerings while continuing to grow its core helicopter business. Loft Dynamics developed the world’s only FAA- and EASA-qualified VR helicopter simulator, used by operators such as Airbus Helicopters, the Los Angeles Police Department and Air Greenland. With this latest investment, the company is applying its cutting-edge technology and regulatory credibility to transform airline pilot training at scale. “Pilot training hasn’t kept pace with the rest of aviation,” said Fabi Riesen, founder and CEO of Loft Dynamics. “We’re still sending trainees across the country to sit in $10-$20 million, warehouse-sized domes—technology that hasn’t evolved in decades. In an era of pilot shortages and increasing air mobility, that’s simply no longer sustainable. We’re building a new standard—one that’s far more realistic and accessible. High-quality, regular training leads to better pilots. And better pilots mean safer skies.” Loft Dynamics’ immediate focus is developing a fully integrated hardware and software system built to make pilot training safer, more effective, immersive and scalable. Initial offerings will include existing helicopter simulators and new full-motion Boeing 737 and Airbus A320 VR airliner simulators — up to 12 times smaller and a fraction of the cost of traditional full-flight simulators.  Loft’s new airliner simulators will include a multi-crew replica cockpit with all aircraft haptics, body and eye tracking, plus AI-powered training intelligence to measure pilot performance and deliver tailored feedback. It will also feature LofTWIN—a virtual demonstration mode that lets instructors record immersive lessons for pilots to replay at any time. These systems will enable pilots to train safely and regularly for any condition, including rare, high-risk scenarios and past aviation tragedies. To further increase training accessibility, Loft Dynamics is also developing a spatial computing–powered home training kit, allowing pilots to review sessions, access immersive content, and train remotely—from the base or their living room. As part of the investment, Dan Friedkin, chairman and CEO of Friedkin (as well as an accomplished pilot), will join Loft Dynamics’ board of directors, partnering closely with Series A investors Sky Dayton (partner at Craft Ventures, founder of Boingo Wireless, EarthLink and CloudKitchens) and Ben Marcus (co-founder and managing partner at UP.Partners), both of whom also serve on the board.  “Loft Dynamics is defining the next era of aviation training,” said Dan Friedkin.  “This investment enables them to scale their solution globally, fast-track innovation, meet an urgent industry need and elevate pilot safety in the process. Loft brings the vision and execution capability this moment demands.” “Through Alaska Star Ventures, our corporate venture capital arm, we are excited to support Loft Dynamics in bringing FAA-qualified VR technology to commercial airline training,” said Pasha Saleh, corporate development director, Alaska Airlines.  “This investment will not only enhance our industry-leading training program but also pave the way for future training solutions across the aviation industry.”

London-based hospitality CRM app Embargo is targeting Europe-wide growth with its new raise of $3.5 million in funding. The injection of capital was provided from a group of prominent angel investors as it looks to scale its AI-driven CRM and loyalty platform across Europe. The round attracted backing from investors including Paul Statham (founder of Condeco), Christo Georgiev (founder of myPOS), Hampton Finance (the Chantler family fund behind Meadow Foods), Mike Branney (founder of Oh Polly), Stephen Zinser, and Carl Christian Reiner. Founded in 2018 by Frederick Szydlowski and Tsewang Wangkang, Embargo offers a plug-and-play platform tailored for small and medium-sized hospitality businesses (SMEs), including coffee shops, bakeries, and restaurants. The startup helps operators drive customer retention, repeat sales, and digital engagement across in-store, collection, and delivery channels through loyalty programs and CRM tools that are traditionally only accessible to large restaurant chains. “Our mission is to level the playing field for hospitality SMEs keen to grow their revenues and scale – we do that by giving them access to the kind of tools typically reserved for global enterprises,” said co-founder Frederick Szydlowski. “This investment is not just a vote of confidence in our product and growth to date, but also in the scale of the opportunity ahead. With strong foundations, a growing international footprint, and a clear product roadmap, we’re perfectly positioned to become the go-to platform for hospitality businesses worldwide.” In a fragmented European market where SMEs represent around three quarters of hospitality businesses, the accessibility of such tools has lagged behind the US. Embargo is aiming to bridge that gap, offering what investor Oliver Chantler of Hampton Finance called a “sophisticated but easy to use” platform. “Embargo is closing a critical information gap in the food and hospitality sector, and we are excited to be part of its journey,” said Chantler. Embargo plans to use the fresh capital to further develop its AI and machine learning engine, which supports personalised marketing and retention strategies for merchants. It also intends to ramp up B2B sales and marketing, especially in existing markets, before launching in new geographies from 2026. Recent integrations with major US-based payment and POS providers such as Square and Lightspeed hint at a broader global strategy. “For the first time, we have the budget to fully leverage our product-market fit and significantly accelerate sales and marketing,” said co-founder Tsewang Wangkang. “We aim to more than double our growth year-over-year while maintaining a healthy business model and avoiding short-term artificial spikes that don’t deliver long-term value.”

A new report lays bare the scale of financial exclusion facing people with learning disabilities. It found that more than a third require ongoing support to manage day-to-day spending, while nearly one in three do not even hold a bank account in their own name. Behind these numbers are systemic barriers — from complex sign-up processes and inaccessible digital tools to a lack of personalised support — that leave many excluded and vulnerable.In response, CI&T has launched Nemo, Art of the Possible – a groundbreaking prototype of a financial app created in collaboration with Project Nemo, a grassroots initiative driving to improve disability inclusion in the Fintech and FS industries. I spoke to Hannah Darley, Senior Strategy Director at CI&T, to learn more, and gained a wealth of information about how tech companies can embed inclusive practices into their design processes. The Nemo prototype is devised for adults with learning disabilities to manage finances independently and safely. It not only creates a workable product but offers a wealth of information on how startups can create user-centric tech that epitomises inclusive design. It was built in only six weeks, with CI&T’s teams engaging with individuals with lived experience to design an app that directly addresses the challenges they face with banking. Turning inclusive banking challenges into a broad blueprint for action The app is part of a broader strategy which began with a roundtable at Nationwide to discuss the state of banking for people with learning disabilities. Out of that came four workstreams: A major research project funded by Nationwide and carried out by Firefish, examining the banking experience for people with learning disabilities. A regulatory review by Fox Williams, looking at current frameworks like the Mental Capacity Act — what’s clear, what isn’t. A solutions review, almost like a Dragons’ Den, scanning for existing and emerging tools. And finally, “The Art of the Possible”, which is where CI&T partnered. True user-centric design from the get-go In developing the app, the team deliberately started with a blank sheet. In parallel with the research workstream, it brought in people with lived experience — individuals with learning disabilities and their carers — throughout the process. This is critical. I’ve previously met a startup who designed smart home tech for the visually impaired who never tested it with their intended audience until it went to market — and yes, it failed. Then there was the company creating autonomous wheelchairs, who had only tested them on research participants without mobility challenges. According to Darley: “We had a kickoff workshop with Project Nemo volunteers (many have family members with learning disabilities), industry experts, people with lived experience, and carers. That involvement continued across the project.” “But, here, people with lived experience were embedded throughout. What we heard repeatedly was: ‘This is the first time we’re really being heard.’ People said too often decisions are made about them, not with them. That ongoing involvement was hugely valuable.” Understand the biggest challenges faced by your users Project Nemo did so many things right. Darley recounts: "In terms of working with people with learning disabilities and carers compared to other user research, the difference wasn’t in who was in the room, but in how often." For the team working on Nemo, understanding the specific needs of users with disabilities was critical. These include: Opening an account: Documentation requirements can make it difficult. Ongoing money management: About a third of people regularly need support. Unsafe workarounds: Many share cards or passwords with carers, which is risky. Fraud and exploitation: They’re often targeted, or signed up for things in the street that they don’t fully understand. Banking apps: Remembering PINs, navigating apps, or handling declined transactions causes stress. Further, existing “parent-child” financial tools often feel patronising to adults with learning disabilities Create rapid user-focused design that adapts as you build While Joanne Dewar, Founder of Project Nemo, had offers from various financial institutions, she didn’t want to be shaped by their technology priorities. Instead, she wanted a neutral partner who could go back to user needs without constraints, and in doing so created a blueprint that any bank or fintech worldwide could take and adapt. The process started broadly — identifying functional, emotional, and physical needs for a money management app. Then it honed in on one persona: Emily, part of Project Nemo, and her daughter Ellie, who has Down syndrome. From that, the team built a high-fidelity prototype and a technical proof of concept in just six weeks, showing that 86 per cent of the features could be delivered with existing technology. In doing so, it created a live, working prototype, shaped by lived experience. It demonstrates how inclusive design can yield practical, scalable solutions that the Finance sector can implement immediately. According to Darley: “The prototype made it real — proof that if we could do this in six weeks, with 86 per cent of features possible today, then other teams could do even more. It was about showing what’s possible, not just imagining it." A prototype that redefines financial access Built with accessibility and ease of use as core principles, Nemo is a highly adaptive, inclusive digital product that empowers users to take control of their financial lives, while still allowing for trusted support where needed. While primarily designed for adults with learning disabilities, its advanced features and versatile configurability also significantly benefit neurodiverse individuals and anyone seeking greater confidence and support in managing their finances. Nemo’s key features include: Two views: The main app belongs to the user. They’re in control. There’s also a supporter view, but supporters can only see or nudge — never control money. Users choose who can see what. Onboarding: After asking users about habits like ATM use, accessibility needs, and money management styles, the app then adapts — e.g. dyslexic-friendly mode, dark mode, bottom navigation for mobility needs. Personalisation: Icons, layouts, and modes can be customised. According to Darley, “Abilities change over time, and the app adapts.” Balanced input: The app aims to capture perspectives from both users and carers. “For example, Ellie might say she can climb ladders, but her mum knows it’s unsafe. That balance shaped features,” shared Darley. Calm Mode: For moments of stress (like declined payments). It guides breathing exercises, strips back the interface, and helps users re-engage with money without panicking. Later, features can be reintroduced gradually. Representation: Some of the individuals with firsthand experience who collaborated on the prototype’s development included Kris Foster, Co-Founder of Project Nemo and George Webster, a BAFTA-winning actor and presenter known from CBeebies and Mencap who has Down syndrome. Webster is featured in the prototype and presents in-app video explanations, such as for Terms and Conditions, to make them easier to understand. Darley shared, “Seeing someone relatable makes information more accessible." Accessible design isn’t optional: four lessons for startups Regulations may be nudging companies toward accessibility, but Darley argues startups should go further — embedding lived experience, embracing diversity, and rethinking what “innovation” really means. Her advice for startups looking to implement accessible design: Bring users in, and pay them. People with lived experience are consultants, not charity cases. Diversity matters. Disabilities affect around 20 per cent of the population — these aren’t “edge cases.” Be careful with constant updates. Frequent redesigns disorient users and hurt trust. Darley recounts, “One person was distressed when a bank changed the grocery icon in its app.” Question innovation. As one workshop participant said: “Are you really innovating if you’re leaving people behind?”  Overall, Darley contends: “For me, the key lessons are: make sure lived experience is always in the room, push for diverse teams, and use AI in ways that help us be more human, not less." Critically, the app is not only a practical tool, but also a statement of intent. It demonstrates how the financial sector can and should evolve to serve everyone, not just those who fit the standard mould. It also shows that inclusive innovation doesn’t require compromise, only the will to involve those most affected from the start. This launch represents a pivotal moment in advancing financial accessibility — transforming research into actionable solutions for a community that has been underserved for far too long. Through this initiative, CI&T and Project Nemo are building pathways to a more equitable financial future, where true independence and inclusion become realities rather than something aspirational.

German cybersecurity company RedMimicry, a provider of a platform for the realistic emulation of complex cyber-attacks, has received million-dollar Seed financing to advance realistic cyberattack testing. Many companies only test their defences selectively and under unrealistic conditions. This means that vulnerabilities in processes, technology, and collaboration can remain undetected. However, regulatory requirements such as DORA and NIS-2 stipulate that companies must comprehensively and regularly test their security measures against current attack chains.  RedMimicry was founded in 2023 by Alexander Rausch and Stefan Steinberg. The company provides repeatable emulations that enable companies to thoroughly validate their cyber defences against threat scenarios, such as malware or targeted attacks. This enables customers to increase their security sustainably while reducing costs and effort. As well as working directly with customers, RedMimicry collaborates with a growing network of partners to help companies of all sizes enhance their security processes. Alexander Rausch, founder and CEO of RedMimicry, said: “Our vision is to enable companies to protect themselves independently and effectively against increasingly complex cyber-attacks. With the support of experienced investors, we can advance our technology significantly and expand our market position.” High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF) led the round with participation from Capital Square from Hamburg, superangels from Munich, and several well-known business angels.  Björn Sykora, Principal at HTGF, said: "Alex and Stefan combine technical excellence with entrepreneurial vision. With RedMimicry, they are addressing one of the greatest risks companies are currently facing: protection against cyber-attacks. They provide a European security solution that benefits both medium-sized and large companies.” According to Martin Ostermayer, co-founder of Capital Square:  “RedMimicry’s bold vision and outstanding team embody exactly the kind of ambition and expertise we look for in founders – and we’re confident they’ll set new standards in cybersecurity.” The fresh financing will enable RedMimicry to further develop its product platform, with a particular focus on specific threat scenarios, including attacks on critical infrastructure (operational technology, OT) and financial service providers. RedMimicry is also investing in its sales team and expanding its partner network. Lead image: Alexander Rausch, Security Researcher / Founder & CEO of RedMimicry, Stefan Steinberg, COO of RedMimicry and Björn Sykora, Principal at HTGF (Photo: Alexander Klebe).

Cyprus has rapidly emerged as a vibrant and fast-growing tech ecosystem, fueled by strategic investment, strong government support, and an expanding startup community. The country is now accelerating its digital transformation through a series of national initiatives aimed at integrating artificial intelligence across public and private sectors, expanding ultra-high-speed network connectivity, and strengthening the digital economy. Key priorities include developing digital skills, supporting research and innovation, promoting startup entrepreneurship, and enhancing cybersecurity. These efforts are already delivering results: in 2024, the tech sector contributed €8.5 billion to the economy and supported over 62,000 full-time jobs (KPMG). The ICT workforce has grown significantly, reflecting the sector’s robust expansion. However, this rapid growth has driven rising demand for skilled talent. As more international professionals fill key roles, Cyprus is increasingly reliant on foreign expertise, highlighting the urgent need to invest in local talent development to ensure long-term sustainability. Through targeted reforms and strategic planning, Cyprus is building a strong digital infrastructure and positioning itself as a leading Mediterranean hub for global tech, innovation, and entrepreneurship. These are the companies to keep on your radar in 2025. Amount raised in 2024: €10.2M Eschatology Entertainment is a Cyprus-based game studio founded in 2022 by industry veterans. With a global, remote team, the studio is crafting a narrative-rich, AAA Souls-like first-person shooter set in an apocalyptic Wild West world. In August 2024, Eschatology closed a Series A round of €10.2 million to fund final development, complete a showcase vertical slice, and build an internal publishing team. The studio aims to create immersive, story-driven experiences with rich philosophical and cinematic depth. Its IP is designed to grow into a lasting cultural franchise beyond just one game. Amount raised in 2024: $2M Obelisk Studio is a game and CG outsourcing studio excelling in high-fidelity assets for games, film, and cinematics. Serving independent developers and AAA studios alike, its skilled team of art directors and artists, each with over a decade of industry experience, produces top-tier 3D character art, environmental modelling, sculpting, and cinematic visuals. The studio is also developing Displacement, a first-person horror-action title set in a near-future alternate reality. Obelisk Studio raised $2 million in 2024 to fuel its transition from supporting AAA franchises to developing its own original IP. Amount raised in 2024: €1.2M Moving Doors is a proptech company offering designer, fully furnished rental apartments across cities, including Limassol, Larnaca, Paphos, and Dubai. Through its online platform, customers can explore real-time listings, book accommodations instantly, and manage support and services via a tenant app. The company raised €1.2 million in 2024 to deliver flexible long-term stays for professionals and digital nomads. Amount raised in 2024: €1M Magify is an analytics and LiveOps platform, designed specifically for mobile game developers. It enables studios to scale user engagement, optimise monetisation, and forecast revenue growth through advanced tools like predictive analytics, remote A/B testing, hyper-personalised segmentation, and purchase validation. With a lightweight SDK and intuitive dashboard, Magify helps developers maximise LTV and ROAS while reducing development and QA overhead. Its clients include studios whose games collectively engage over 350 million players worldwide. Magify raised €1 million in seed funding in September 2024 to fuel product development and expansion. Amount raised in 2024: €1M Placy is a Cyprus-based proptech startup, offering AI-powered assistants tailored for the real estate sector. It provides two main products. The first, Placy is a consumer-facing AI assistant for property buyers and sellers, available via WhatsApp and Telegram, handling tasks like valuations, appointment scheduling, and property agreements. The second, Placy Pro, is a white-label SaaS solution for real estate professionals and agencies, integrating with MLS systems and CRMs. It automates lead qualification, booking, follow-ups, upsells, and multilingual client engagement—all without technical overhead. With pre-seed funding of €1 million secured in October 2024, Placy aims to streamline real estate workflows, boost agent productivity, and enhance conversion rates globally across EU and MENA markets. Amount raised in 2024: Undisclosed Wild Forest is a free-to-play real-time strategy game developed by Zillion Whales, blending fast-paced PvP battles with card-collecting mechanics and NFT rewards powered by the Ronin blockchain. Players build a custom deck of unit cards, wage single-screen battles to control territory, and upgrade their assets (mines, barracks, and towers) to gain tactical advantage. A distinctive day-night cycle with fog of war enhances strategy and decision-making. The game supports NFT progression: players collect units, mint NFTs, upgrade their rarity, and trade them on the marketplace for real rewards. The company raised an undisclosed investment in 2024 to support its growth and expand development efforts.

A UK startup which deploys so-called AI agents to fix software failures has raised $17m, in a funding round backed by the VC arm of Alphabet-owned Google.Phoebe was founded by Matt Henderson and James Summerfield, formerly CEO and CIO of Stripe Europe, who sold their first startup, Rangespan, a UK startup that uses data science to help retailers determine which products to sell and when, to Google in 2014.Phoebe, which is launching today, is launching amid an explosion of activity in AI, be it funding, company, product and software launches. Amid this explosion of AI activity, Phoebe deploys AI agents to monitor and diagnose software problems, generating code and infrastructure changes to fix them.It says it deploys “swarms” of AI agents that search for evidence among vast siloed data to evaluate many different potential causes and solutions for a problem.  Financial losses from software outages grew to more than $400 billion in 2024, industry figures show.The founders of Phoebe point out that software failures could get a lot worse as AI-generated code leads to systems that are less well understood when things go wrong.Henderson said: “High-severity incidents can make or break big customer relationships, and numerous smaller problems drain engineering productivity. Software monitoring tools exist, but they aren’t very intelligent and require people to spend a lot of time working out what’s wrong and what to do about it.” Along with GV-formerly Google Ventures- the funding round was also led by Cherry Ventures. IMAGE:PIXABAY

Midas, Turkey's leading investment platform, has raised $80 million in Series B funding, the largest investment ever secured by a Turkish fintech company. This brings Midas' total funding to date to more than $140 million. Founded in 2020, Midas offers access to Turkish and US equities, mutual funds, and cryptocurrencies through a single platform. Since launch, Midas has grown rapidly and now serves more than 3.5 million investors. Midas enables trading on US exchanges at a competitive flat fee of $1.50 per transaction, while permanently eliminating all commissions and account-related charges, including clearing and custody fees, for Borsa Istanbul. In addition, the platform provides real-time market data at no cost to its users. Since its founding in 2020, Midas has fundamentally changed how individuals in Turkey access financial markets. With a commission-free, seamless, and user-friendly experience, millions of people have made their first investments through Midas. Collectively, Midas users have saved nearly $50 million in transaction fees, and half of them began their investing journey on the platform. Midas has set new industry standards by dramatically lowering costs. After cutting US trading fees by 90%, the company permanently removed all Borsa Istanbul commissions in 2025. Today, Midas offers free live market data, and instant, fee-free transfers—making it the go-to platform for Turkish retail investors. Egem Eraslan, CEO of Midas, said:  "From day one, our mission has been to make investing accessible, affordable, and seamless for everyone.  Today, millions of people manage their investments through Midas. With this new funding, we are building a comprehensive ecosystem that unifies all investment needs on one platform, while further strengthening our security and technology infrastructure.  This will enable us to keep growing as a fintech company that serves the needs of individual investors both in Turkey and globally." The record-breaking raise highlights international investor confidence in Midas and its pioneering role in reshaping Turkey's fintech landscape.  The round was led by QED Investors. New investors include the International Finance Corporation (IFC), HSG (formerly Sequoia China), QuantumLight (founded by Revolut CEO Nik Storonsky), Spice Expeditions LP, and George Rzepecki. Existing backers Spark Capital, Portage Ventures, Bek Ventures, and Nigel Morris also joined the round, reaffirming their confidence in Midas. Yusuf Özdalga, Partner at QED Investors, said:  "Midas has unlocked access to vast domestic and global investment opportunities for Turkish users, utilising cutting-edge fintech tools. As QED, we are proud to lead Midas' Series B round, and are incredibly excited to partner with Egem and his team, who have created an exceptionally strong product and performance culture. We look forward to being part of this growth journey in Turkiye, the wider region, and beyond in the coming years." Having democratised investing for the masses, Midas is now expanding into tools for more sophisticated investors. Following the launch of margin investing, advanced analytics, and Midas Pro, the company will use its Series B funding to introduce derivatives trading in both Turkish and US equities. The rollout begins in September with US options trading, providing investors with free real-time data, competitive pricing, and intuitive interfaces—bringing the "Midas Standard" to derivatives markets. In parallel, Midas is increasing its investments in security and operational resilience. With infrastructure built to meet global standards, the company remains committed to providing a safe, reliable, and uninterrupted investing experience. The company will use the new capital to strengthen its security infrastructure to international standards further and to accelerate the launch of advanced products designed for active traders.

Munich-based deeptech mining company Hades Mining has emerged from stealth and announced today that it has raised a €5.5 million pre-seed round led by Project A. Europe's energy and critical mineral demand are surging – driven by AI, electrification, and industrial reshoring – while the continent imports over 58.4 per cent of its energy and over 90 per cent of its critical minerals, creating vulnerable dependencies. Europe's clean-energy transition and industrial base depend on secure domestic access to critical minerals and reliable baseload heat.  Many resources occur at great depths of kilometres below our feet, or in geologically challenging settings that conventional methods cannot reach, and many existing deposits and geothermal reservoirs remain under-accessed due to technical limits.  Addressing this challenge, Munich-based Hades Mining was founded by serial deeptech entrepreneurs Dr. Max Werner (Founder & CEO, serial deep-tech entrepreneur with a military background), Björn Dressler (Founder & CTO, former COO at Isar Aerospace), and Dan Gengenbach (Founder & SVP Material Displacement, former VP at Marvel Fusion and applied physicist).  The company is building a new class of drilling and subsurface access systems to operate projects directly – expanding existing resources and pushing the frontier to ultra-deep extraction.  By accessing ultra-deep and stable heat reservoirs beneath the Earth's crust, Hades unlocks geothermal energy at an unprecedented scale and advances in-situ recovery (ISR) – a low-impact technique using fluid circulation to extract minerals from deep rock formations without open-pit excavation. Technical details remain confidential at this stage. Hades remains independent by developing and operating mining and geothermal projects from start to finish: securing licences, drilling, and managing production. Partners and subcontractors are brought in only where they add speed, safety, or scale. Unlike traditional contractors who are paid per metre drilled, Hades generates revenue directly from the minerals, power, and heat it produces, maintaining long-term ownership stakes in every project.  This vertically integrated, technology-driven model accelerates development, enhances efficiency, and transforms each site into a platform for multiple high-value outputs.  By owning the full process, Hades gains operational knowledge that feeds directly into technology development, making implementation faster and more effective. The company prioritises European projects that strengthen strategic supply chains for EVs, renewable energy, semiconductors, and district heating — directly supporting the continent’s energy transition and industrial resilience.  “Europe can’t lead the energy transition while depending on others for the building blocks of modern life,” said Dr Max Werner, founder and CEO of Hades Mining.  “We’re working hard to bring the entire process under one roof — from license to production — combining the speed and precision of a tech company with the responsibility and staying power of a resource owner. Our goal is to help build a new standard for accessing minerals and energy at depth, and to do it in a way that’s transparent, sustainable, and future-focused.”  Led by Project A, other participants in the round include Visionaries Tomorrow, Founders Factory (Venture Fund funded by Rio Tinto) and strategic angels across aerospace, energy, and advanced manufacturing: Florian Seibel (Quantum Systems),  Roman Hölzl (RobCo),  Daniel Wiegand (formerly Lilium),  Moritz von der Linden (Marvel Fusion),  Hélène Huby (The Exploration Company),  Chris O’Connor (formerly NIF), Dr Nicolas Burkardt (Marvel Fusion), and Viessmann Generations Group.  “Access to energy and critical minerals is essential for any nation to remain independent, secure, and productive — and to give itself the greatest chance of democratic stability,” said Jack Wang, Partner at Project A.   “Hades is working to ensure Europe can depend on these resources for the long term. It’s a decisive step towards the resilience our continent needs. Energy is the next sovereign frontier.”  Thong Le Hoang, Founding Partner at Visionaries Tomorrow, said:  “One of the toughest challenges in applied deep tech is operating in extreme environments under real-world time, cost, and quality constraints. In energy and minerals, that means economically accessing superdeep reservoirs — a problem unsolved despite decades of incremental improvements. Hades is advancing the frontier with a breakthrough system built for unprecedented speed, scale, and precision.  By taking a systems-level approach to target the industry’s true bottlenecks, not just isolated lab results, the team turns deep tech into a strategic asset for Europe, unlocking one of the most consequential economic and impact opportunities of our time.”  Hades will deploy the funding towards the development of its new technologies and exploring the first sites for energy and critical mineral extraction.

How do you know when an animal is ill? Animals like horses (and cats!) are masters at concealing illness. It’s a problem experienced first-hand by Adam Siedlaczek, a former Polish national show jumping rider who tragically lost a mare to colic while a junior rider. “This is sadly very common — almost everyone from my national junior team went through something similar. Colic is extremely deadly for horses.” Though life moved on and he worked on industrial R&D projects, the experience stayed with him. Whilst in the thick of the COVID-19 pandemic, Siedlaczek was out jogging wearing a health-tracking wearable when the idea struck him: why not apply a similar approach to horse health? “During that jog, I thought: there’s technology for humans, like smartwatches and monitors—why not for animals too?” He joined forces with Szymon Serej, who has a background in advertising and branding, and two developers as co-founders who helped build the first prototype. “We decided to try building something for horses that could prevent such situations. Losing a horse isn’t only emotionally devastating; it’s also a massive financial loss, especially for professionals—breeders, trainers, riders.” For conditions like colic—one of the leading causes of equine death — early detection can mean the difference between a quick intervention and a costly, often fatal outcome. Horsano: a digital health assistant for horses Enter Horsano, a startup rethinking how technology could protect equine health. The team is developing continuous monitoring wearables that bring the kind of real-time insights we take for granted in human health devices to the stables. According to Serej, while experienced breeders may notice signs, horses often spend long hours alone in stalls or paddocks where an illness can fester undetected. Horsano acts as a personal health assistant for the horse. It can measure heart rate, respiration rate, heart rate variability (HRV), moisture, and activity (like lying down or staying calm). AI is used to filter this data and turn it into insights about the horse’s health and condition. The platform compares data against normal ranges and studies horses under specific conditions, including colic, respiratory problems, and situations like foaling. Siedlaczek detailed: “We collect data during those events, and with AI, we look for what’s typical and what’s not. But we’re also studying horses during specific conditions: colic, respiratory problems, or situations like foaling." There have been a number of efforts over the years to create wearables for small animals, livestock and even zoo animals. I wanted to know whether the team built Horsano based on existing technology or started from scratch. According to Siedlaczek, while encouraged at first to use hardware already available on the market, they encountered a problem: “We couldn’t find any company willing to adapt their devices to our needs—whether communication protocols, device size, or sensors, “ he shared. Years of R&D turned an idea into working hardware The team underwent four years of R&D during which it not only developed the textiles — a sensor-embedded belt and vest – but also the software and hardware. Serej contends, “We knew it would be a long, difficult road, but it was necessary. Human devices don’t translate easily to horses.” Horsano’s hardware is built around a specially designed wearable vest or belt fitted with proprietary dry sensors that can read vital signs directly through a horse’s fur. “You don’t need gels, moisture, or to shave the horse. With it, we can measure heart rate and respiration rate. That’s a global innovation — no one else has done it this way,” explained Serej. The device continuously tracks parameters such as heart rate, respiration, heart rate variability, movement, posture, and environmental conditions (temperature and humidity). Inside the wearable is a compact electronics module with a rechargeable battery — designed to last at least 24 hours under full monitoring and up to a week with lighter use — plus wireless connectivity to sync data to the cloud to capture all insights and make it possible to revisit data months later as AI models improve. Eventually, more analysis will happen on the device itself, depending on connectivity and battery conditions. The unit is lightweight and designed to be worn daily during stabling, grooming, or transport, with charging done much like a smartphone when the horse is not using it. An important factor in wearables for horses is speed. “The system should be faster than a human observer or someone checking on the horse once a day. If you catch colic in the first hour, it might be solved with movement or medication. By the tenth hour, surgery could be required—and that’s €5,000 or more,” explained Siedlaczek. From clinics to the field Horsano 1.0 is currently deployed in a number of veterinary clinics where its used in situations such as monitoring horses post-surgery. Horsano 2.0, with dry sensors, will be ready by the end of this year and aims to offer at least 24 hours of continuous monitoring (ECG, movement, respiration) on one charge. With lighter use, it can last over a week. The battery is rechargeable, similar to a phone. In the future, horses will also wear the device during riding to monitor health metrics during exercise. Horses are far more expensive to care for than other pets. This makes wearables a good investment, especially as, up until now, horse care is not particularly digital-first.The product targets horse owners, veterinarians, veterinary clinics, breeders, owners of stables and equestrian centres Siedlaczek explained that outside of top clinics using X-rays or blood tests, most equine care remains analogue, relying on manual knowledge and the owner’s connection with the horse. “That bond is wonderful, but owners can’t spend 24/7 with their horses,” he noted. Veterinarians’ responses to Horsano vary. Some say, “This is great, but I’m not sure I’ll use it in every case.” Others acknowledge, “I may not be your direct client, but my clients definitely are.” Many also recognise how continuous monitoring can lower clinic costs by providing richer data. That continuous data stream has already uncovered insights beyond what’s found in veterinary literature. “For example, heart and respiration rates change significantly between day and night—something veterinarians couldn’t capture with only daily manual tests,” Siedlaczek explained. Looking ahead, he believes digitisation is inevitable. “Change is coming. The new generation of owners grew up with smartphones—they’re always online. They’ll drive digital adoption." The device will cost around €2,000, with a small subscription for extra features like multi-horse monitoring or additional analytics. The company will also offer rentals to target younger owners who don’t want to buy outright but are happy to try the technology. Horsano is now fundraising to expand in Europe Horsano attended the EIT Digital Venture Incubation program in 2021 at the time of their launch, and they are now part of its Equity Portfolio. The company is currently raising funding. While initial R&D is complete, it now needs capital for certifications, go-to-market, and expansion to countries like Germany, France, and Benelux.

US quantum and high-performance computing software provider Strangeworks today announced the acquisition of German company Quantagonia.  Founded in 2021 by Dirk Zechiel, Philipp Hannemann, Prof Sabina Jeschke, and Prof Sebastian Pokutta, Quantagonia develops AI-powered, quantum-ready planning technology. It makes advanced decision-making accessible to both experts and business users by combining optimisation, AI, and natural language to solve complex planning challenges at scale. The merger removes long-standing barriers that have plagued subject matter experts and non-technical users alike. It allows anyone within an enterprise to harness applied AI to solve complex planning problems across industries such as life sciences, finance, energy, aerospace, logistics, and manufacturing, spanning use cases from staff and asset scheduling to route planning and inventory optimisation. The merger instantly unlocks new go-to-market opportunities by opening access to a broad, underserved audience previously excluded from this domain.  The combined entity will build on Strangeworks’ existing solutions, unlocking vast market opportunities by seamlessly integrating Quantagonia's expertise in mathematical optimisation, HybridSolver orchestration technology, and AI-powered decision-making solutions with Strangeworks' robust AI and quantum infrastructure, expansive compute catalogue and partner syndicate.  Having recently expanded its global footprint with a new presence in India, this acquisition significantly strengthens Strangeworks' market position and accelerates the company’s strategic goals in Europe.  At the heart of Quantagonia's value are two powerful technologies designed to overcome the traditional barriers of complex optimisation planning:  The solver orchestration engine is a sophisticated, hardware-agnostic solver management and selection technology. Unlike conventional single-algorithm approaches, the solver management engine intelligently orchestrates multiple best-in-class solvers to work in parallel, dynamically sharing information to achieve superior performance.  The AI-powered decision-making solutions powered by LLMs complement the solver orchestration engine. Quantagonia’s suite of tools leverages advanced LLMs to remove traditional requirements of deep mathematical and programming expertise and provide an intuitive, natural language interface. This enables non-technical subject matter experts, such as operations managers, supply chain professionals, or HR specialists, to formulate, refine, and solve problems on their own.  "This acquisition is not only about combining two companies; it's about uniting two powerful visions to create something truly transformative for any organisation wanting to take advantage of advanced computing," said William Hurley (Whurley), founder and CEO of Strangeworks  “We’re excited to welcome Dirk, Philipp, and the entire Quantagonia team into the Strangeworks family. Their expertise in applied AI and optimisation will help drive innovation across Europe and beyond.”  According to Dirk Zechiel, co-founder and CEO of Quantagonia, “Joining forces with Strangeworks will allow us to scale rapidly, serve more customers, and make sophisticated optimisation capabilities available globally.”  Quantagonia’s presence in Munich and Frankfurt expands on Strangeworks' established footholds across the US, Europe, and APAC, positioning the combined company for significant global growth. Backed by investors, including IBM, Hitachi Ventures, RTX Ventures, Lightspeed Venture Partners, and Great Point Ventures, Strangeworks is expanding access to next-generation computing solutions for companies worldwide.

One of the co-founders of German challenger bank N26 is standing down as CEO, following reports of a dispute with some of its investors over the founders' handling of regulatory issues.Valentin Stalf, who co-founded N26, Germany’s most valuable fintech, with Maximilian Tayenthal in 2013, is moving to a position on the German challenger bank’s supervisory board. Tayenthal, who was co-CEO with Stalf, will remain as CEO, N26 said.The executive change follows reports, first published by Germany’s Manager Magazin, that some of its investors were agitating for the co-founders to leave, after BaFin, the German financial regulator, threatened to hit N26 with penalties last month.The German challenger bank, last valued at $9bn in 2021, had also been hit with BaFin sanctions in 2021 for its poor anti-money laundering controls.N26 said the co-founders will continue to hold almost 20 per cent of the shares of N26, which has also announced several new appointments to its leadership team.Stalf said: "My move to the supervisory board is a forward-looking decision to continue to best utilize my many years of experience and knowledge to strengthen N26."

Starling Bank is buying a UK accounting startup, as it looks to provide a beefed-up offering for its small business customers.London-based Ember, founded in 2018, provides tax and bookkeeping software.Ember is backed by N26 investor Valar Ventures, fintech investor Viola Fintech and European fintech investor Shapers. The deal is said to be worth less than £10 million, according to Bloomberg.Starling, one of the UK's most prominent challenger banks, said the deal, its first since it acquired Fleet Mortgages in 2021, would mean it could now offer its 500,000 SME customers an "all-in-one solution to manage their finances, from bank transactions to tax submission”.Starting’s purchase of Ember comes ahead of new rules coming in next year, known as "Making Tax Digital", which means businesses with a gross income of above £50,000 have to report their income and expenditure every quarter, rather than yearly, to HMRC.Starling plans to integrate Ember’s software by the end of 2025, to help those businesses comply with the new rules.Starling says it has a nine per cent market share for small business banking in the UK.Ember's current clients includes the customers of HSBC, Revolut, Barclays and Lloyds but Starling says its software will now become exclusive to Starling and will discontinue Ember’s advisory services.Adeel Hyder, Starling Bank’s managing director, SME Banking, said: “Ember’s platform is beautifully designed to simplify complex accounting tasks through a user-friendly interface.”Daniel Hogan and Aaron Shaw, co-founders of Ember, said: “We created Ember to take the pain out of accounting for small businesses - to help people make faster, clearer financial decisions without the stress. "Making Tax Digital has created a real call to action for SMEs and Ember provides the solution to this. Our deal with Starling Group will mean that we’re setting a new standard for how banking and accounting should work together — seamlessly integrated and refreshingly simple.”

Robinhood is launching a tool for investors, which analyses breaking news, analyst reports and Robinhood’s proprietary data to summarise why a stock is moving.The tool is the first UK product launched by Robinhood Cortex, Robinhood’s investment assistant, which it launched in the US earlier this year. The tool, powered by Cortex, produces summaries or digests as Robinhood calls them of why a particular stock is moving in the market. The launch of the tool also marks the latest in a string of products that Robinhood, famed for bringing commission-free trading to the market, has imported from the US to the UK.It comes as financial startups look to build up their AI offerings, either by leveraging foundational models like ChatGPT to create products or build tools on top of in-house data sets, like Robinhood. Robinhood says the tool leverages AI. Its data set includes news providers, research reports, real-time market data, analyst ratings, and technical indicators, to aggregated Robinhood customer trading data. According to Robinhood: “Digest delivers AI-powered summaries decoding what’s driving stock price movements - helping investors to make informed decisions with clarity and confidence.”The summaries are designed to be used as an additional research tool for traders before they execute a trade, says Robinhood.Jordan Sinclair, president at Robinhood UK. “We believe our UK customers —from first-time investors to seasoned traders—will appreciate the timely, accessible summaries that highlight what’s moving a stock, circumventing the need to manually gather information from multiple sources.”
Sinclair said the summaries help bridge the gap for traders who might have heard about a stock but don’t know why its price is moving. He said it was quicker for traders to use the summaries than alternative options.He said: “If they went to ChatGPT it would probably take them six different prompts to eventually get there. They still probably wouldn’t be quite sure what it meant for them.” He said: “We do make sure we have the right controls, the right guard rails.”Asked if Robinhood was late to the party with Cortex Digests, Sinclair said: “I don’t see us being late, I would rather deliver a great product for customers.”Cortex Digests, which will be free to UK users, began rolling out first in the US, and have already been used by hundreds of thousands of Robinhood customers, Robinhood said.

Climatetech VC fund Clean Grown Fund (CGF) has raised a third of its £150m target as it looks back startups aimed at cutting greenhouse gas emissions and speeding up net zero innovation. CGF is a VC fund set up in 2020 which invests in UK-based early-stage startups that cut greenhouse gas emissions or improve resource efficiency. CGF says its Fund 2 has now raised £49m of its £150m target.  Fund 2 deploys initial cheques of £500k to £5 million, targeting innovations across six core areas: power and energy systems; transport and mobility; industrial decarbonisation; buildings and the built environment; agrifood and land use; circular economy, waste and water. Two of CGF’s previous investors, including Strathclyde Pension Fund, have committed to Fund 2, which is also joined by new investors Islington Pension Fund and East Riding LGPS, CGF said. CGF’s Fund 1 invested in 19 climate tech startups now projected to reduce over 55 million tonnes of CO2e (carbon dioxide equivalent) by 2030, said CGF.  These include Sunswap, the developer of zero-emission transport refrigeration units: Rendesco, provider of low-carbon ground-source heat networks, and Above, a robotics firm aimed at helping the solar industry build higher-performing plants.   “Raising capital in this market isn’t easy, especially with global political uncertainty affecting climate policy momentum” said Beverley Gower-Jones, managing partner, CGF.  “Despite this, the UK continues to stand out as a hub for climate innovation – and the strong first close of Fund II reflects the trust our investors place in our team and our mission.”  IMAGE:PIXABAY

Norrsken Foundation has launched Norrsken Evolve, a new €57 million pre-seed fund aimed at backing startups working "at the intersection of impact, resilience, and scalability". The fund will target early-stage founders across Europe building solutions in sustainability, deeptech and infrastructure critical to the continent’s long-term resilience. The initiative represents a natural evolution of Norrsken Accelerator, the foundation’s existing early-stage programme launched in 2021. Norrsken Evolve will not only offer €250,000 in upfront capital, double the Accelerator’s previous standard, but will also enable follow-on investments in top-performing companies. The fund will be led by General Partners Johan Attby, Alex Bakir, and Rebecka Löthman Rydå. Its limited partners (LPs) include high-profile institutional backers such as Saminvest, the European Investment Fund, and SmartCap Green Fund (supported by the EU's NextGenerationEU programme), as well as notable private investors including Taavet Hinrikus and Sten Tamkivi’s firm, Skaala. This new vehicle arrives at a time when Europe’s tech ecosystem is grappling with broader macroeconomic uncertainty. While VC investment across the continent dipped in recent quarters, impact-focused funds - particularly those at the pre-seed and seed stages - have shown relative resilience, driven by the EU’s green agenda and strategic emphasis on deeptech and industrial sustainability. “With Europe in the midst of environmental, geo-political and financial turmoil, many feel demoralised. Yet there is a rising wave of pioneers...with groundbreaking solutions. We want to champion these founders,” said Rebecka Löthman Rydå, General Partner at Norrsken Evolve. The fund is structured around intensive, in-person "sprints" designed to support early-stage founders through the most critical phases of product and company development. This hands-on approach is paired with access to Norrsken’s extensive network of mentors, operators, and investors. “When we launched Norrsken Accelerator four years ago, our mission was clear: to build a pipeline of emerging impact-tech unicorns... We've proven the model works. Now, with the €57m Norrsken Evolve fund... we're doubling down,” said Funda Sezgi, co-CEO of Norrsken Foundation and co-founder of the original Accelerator. The fund will invest in 20–30 companies annually, with a thematic focus spanning renewable energy, healthtech, robotics, AI infrastructure, biotech, and next-generation materials. Norrsken Evolve’s first ten portfolio companies, announced alongside the fund’s debut, reflect this broad theme: Aiomics – AI engine converting Europe’s medical documentation into actionable data Atmospheric AI – Platform making global supply chains transparent through physical-world AI Bubble Robotics – Underwater robotics for infrastructure, ecosystems, and climate resilience Chain Bioreactor – 3D-printed bioreactors for scalable biotech manufacturing FION Energy – Smart industrial battery storage to cut energy costs Humla – Wearable AI platform for hands-free clinical use Jälle Technologies – Battery waste-to-materials upcycling startup New Dawn Bio – Grows wood-alternative materials 10,000x faster than trees Super6 – High-power supercapacitor tech for clean energy use TetraxAI – AI platform for accelerating energy transition infrastructure The fund will also expand its activities beyond Stockholm into Tallinn, Estonia, where it will run programming out of Kasvuhoone, a newly launched tech hub that aims to become a centre for Nordic innovation.

Monzo is planning to launch a mobile phone offering, mirroring similar moves by challenger financial startups Revolut, Klarna, and N26. The UK challenger bank is planning to launch a digital sim and offer monthly contracts in the UK, according to the Financial Times, which first reported the move and which has been confirmed by Monzo. A spokesperson for Monzo said: "When we heard from our customers that mobile contracts can be a pain point, we set out to explore how we could do this the Monzo way, and we are in the early stages of developing this idea." Monzo’s move into mobile is in its early stages, so it does not yet have a launch date, sources said. According to the report, Monzo would not build its own infrastructure but would act as a so-called mobile virtual network operator (MVNO). Instead of the high cost of establishing infrastructure of masts and systems, MVNOs licence parts of other operators’ networks. MVNOs then typically try and offer their customers cheaper prices. Monzo, which has over 12m customers, will hope to be able to cross-sell its mobile proposition to its customers. It will put Monzo up against the likes of EE and the recently-merged VodafoneThree, as well as new challenger financial operators moving into this area. Challenger banks like Monzo and its rivals are increasingly looking to branch out into new areas and new markets. Along with its core digital banking services, Monzo, for example, also offers insurance and BNPL services. The digital bank is looking to launch across the EU.  In June this year, Klarna said it was launching a mobile offering, first in the US, followed by the UK, Germany and other markets. Earlier this year, N26 said it was planning to offer mobile phone contracts while Revolut also announced plans to launch mobile plans in the UK and Germany.

Last week, we tracked more than 40 tech funding deals worth over €1 billion, and over 10 exits, M&A transactions, rumours, and related news stories across Europe.Click to read the rest of the news.

British insurtech Meshed, which provides an AI-compliant digital insurance broker service, has raised £950,000 in a pre-seed round to offer commercial insurance for small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs). The round was led by Haatch, with participation from Aviva via Founders Factory, Exponential Science Foundation, and several angel investors. Founded by a team of seasoned insurance and tech operators, Meshed aims to tackle one of the sector’s most persistent problems: the inefficiency and high cost of traditional brokerage, which relies on legacy software and manual processes. The company's aim is that by rebuilding the broking stack from the ground up with AI at its core, it will drastically reduce costs, improve coverage accuracy and shorten quote times. “After nearly 20 years in the industry, I’ve seen just how little has changed,” said Mark Costello, CEO and co-founder. “Insurance is still too reliant on paperwork, underinsurance is far too common, and fees are often higher than they should be. We built Meshed to change that, to bring costs down for SMEs, give them the right protection and make the whole process faster, simpler, and more transparent.” Meshed’s platform uses AI-powered browser agents and voice agents to handle tasks like quote gathering, insurer chasing, and policy administration. According to the team, this model can also deliver real-time policy updates, helping businesses avoid the risk of underinsurance as they scale or pivot. “We’re pretty much rebuilding the entire insurance broking stack so it's AI-native, including the underlying data infrastructure, schemas, and integrations,” said Vincent Liu, Meshed’s CTO and co-founder. “This allows us to let our AI agents loose and ultimately reduce the quoting experience from one hour to nine minutes.” Meshed has already secured 51 insurer agreements and received regulatory approval as an Appointed Representative from the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). A key problem Meshed aims to solve is underinsurance, which affects around 80 percent of UK SMEs. Many of these businesses rely on outdated coverage because of broker inertia, high switching costs, or poor visibility into changing needs. “The traditional insurance brokerage model is broken,” said Jake Wells, co-founder and COO. “Brokers spend too much time buried in paperwork and chasing information, rather than advising and supporting clients. Our AI agents change this fundamentally, handling everything from quote generation to policy management, giving human brokers back the most valuable asset they have - time.” The funding round’s backers see Meshed as part of a broader wave of AI-first startups targeting legacy-dominated industries like insurance. “We always want to be on the leading edge of enabling our customers to protect themselves as much as they possibly need to and can. In order to do that, we need to keep finding the latest and the brightest ,” said Arslan Hannani, Chief Innovation Officer at Aviva. “We have to think about the founding team, the idea, the quality of the founders,” he added. “When it came to Meshed, it was pretty easy for us to get on board.”

This week we tracked more than 40 tech funding deals worth over €1 billion, and over 10 exits, M&A transactions, rumours, and related news stories across Europe.In addition to this week's top financials, we've also indexed the most important/industry-related news items you need to know about. 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 ?? Bending Spoons bags €500M in debt, eyes IPO next ?? Aira secures €150M to accelerate its mission to take Europe off gas ?? Oculis upsizes BlackRock loan facility to €106.2M ??‍?? Noteworthy acquisitions and mergers ?? Click Labs acquires Evermile to streamline retail logistics for SMEs ??  Minders acquires Dise to strengthen Telegram’s B2B sales infrastructure ?? CarTrawler acquires French insurtech Koala to expand embedded ancillary offerings ?? US platform Capacity acquires Verbio Technologies ? Interesting moves from investors ?? Amsterdam-based Marktlink Capital secures €520M to back eleven PE managers ?? Polish Spire Capital Partners Closes €90M Private Equity Fund, 45% Backed by Domestic Investors ?? Meet Delphinus Venture Capital, new Aarhus-based €80M venture fund launched to boost the startup ecosystem of these regions ?️ In other (important) news ? Tesla bids to enter British energy market ? Zilch revenues double as tops five million customer mark ⚛️ Oxford Ionics installs quantum computer at NQCC ? Recommended reads and listens ?? paddy secures €1M pre-seed to lighten teachers’ workloads, gaining 12,000 users in just six months ? Kinisi bets on simplicity over spectacle in the robotics race ? CoreVitals targets the next frontier in preventative health ? European tech startups to watch ?? Medtech Better Medicine raises €1M to accelerate rollout of AI kidney cancer tool ?? GREÏ secures €650,000 to reduce operational inefficiencies in AI software ??: Medtech Sports Impact Technologies raises €650,000 for better concussion detection ?? Computle secures £500,000 for compute-intensive cloud software ?? Uspacy raises €420,000 funding to expand its all-in-one platform for SMEs

When the subject of climate change comes up, video games might seem an unlikely ally. But as the games industry prepares to descend on Cologne next week for its annual Gamescom get-together (August 20-24th), a groundbreaking initiative is proving that the same titles millions turn to for entertainment can also be powerful drivers of environmental awareness and behaviour change. Launched at the end of 2024, Play2Act, a collaboration between not-for-profit PlanetPlay and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), is now entering its second phase of weaving quick climate-related prompts and questions into the world’s most popular games.  These are not niche educational titles, but mainstream hits such as Pokémon GO!, Subway Surfers, Beatstar, and Avakin Life, where environmental nudges appeared seamlessly alongside the core gameplay loop. Impressive Numbers The results from the first phase of the survey earlier this summer were impressive. More than 181,000 players across 189 countries, including 70 designated as Least Developed Countries or Small Island Developing States, actively engaged with the messages.  Behind those responses sat an even more staggering reach: the participating games collectively reached more than 80 million people every week.  The behavioural data told an encouraging story; 79% of players who encountered the green messaging reported making at least one positive environmental change in their lives.  Almost half altered their habits around energy use or public transport, and more than a third shifted towards greener consumption choices. For PlanetPlay CEO Rhea Loucas, the lesson is clear. “When sustainability is embedded into gameplay, it doesn’t just inform—it inspires real action,” Insights from the EU and UK suggested a pattern that both mirrored and diverged from global trends. Players in these regions were particularly responsive to messages about energy-saving, likely influenced by recent spikes in regional energy prices.  Among younger audiences, especially Gen Z and Millennials, shifts towards sustainable consumption were even more pronounced, reflecting a heightened generational awareness of environmental issues.  The findings underline that gaming-based outreach not only works at scale but can also be tailored to specific socio-economic contexts. The Play2Act study is part of the broader Games Realising Effective & Affective Transformation (GREAT) initiative, funded by the EU Horizon programme and UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), and in which PlanetPlay itself is an active participant.  GREAT’s mission goes beyond awareness-raising. It aims to foster meaningful dialogue between citizens and policymakers, using games to gather actionable insights into public attitudes on climate issues and translate them into real-world policy recommendations. Participating game makers, meanwhile, gain invaluable insight into their passions of their players. To achieve this, it employs a spectrum of formats: quick mobile micro-games capable of reaching millions and producing large-scale quantitative data, alongside longer, more collaborative experiences that delve into social dilemmas and generate nuanced qualitative insights. Accessibility and inclusivity are built in from the outset, ensuring participation across diverse demographics and geographies. Momentum for the programme has just accelerated with the launch of Play2Act2, which now reaches more than one million gamers across Europe and collects deeper insights into sustainability, civic engagement, and attitudes towards green policy.  Other highlights from this period included a Cyprus-based classroom project where Sustainable Development Goals were embedded into educational gameplay, sparking real-world conversations among students; a “Green Jobs” pilot that allowed young people to explore policymaking through interactive, gamified tools; and a “Green Roofs” simulation, where players could experiment with nature-based urban solutions in an engaging virtual environment. The project’s academic credibility is also growing. GREAT’s work has been featured in journals such as Nature Climate Change and Games & Culture, and disseminated through policy briefs, explainer videos, and a whitepaper on the potential of gaming as a force for social good. On the events circuit, the initiative has made its case at Rotterdam’s EU Cultural & Creative Industries meeting, New York’s Games for Good Summit, SXSW London, and the European Green Cities Conference in Berlin. Looking ahead, Q3 will see the launch of Play2Act3, a final GREAT project conference, and the release of a comprehensive whitepaper outlining policy recommendations. The appeal of games as a climate engagement tool lies in a set of unique strengths. Popular titles transcend age, geography, and language barriers, offering unparalleled reach. Because players are already deeply invested in their game worlds, messages woven naturally into the gameplay flow are more likely to be noticed and absorbed.  Virtual environments also provide a safe space to experiment with sustainable behaviours without real-world consequences, while multiplayer and social features help amplify behavioural shifts through peer influence. If Play2Act demonstrated that games can nudge individual choices, GREAT is pushing further, turning those behavioural insights into inputs for policy design.  The first phase of the Play2Act initiative attracted participation from 20 gaming studios, including major industry players such as Niantic, Rovio, Microsoft/Xbox Insider, and Bandai Namco. These collaborations show that sustainability themes can be integrated without disrupting engagement or harming monetisation—in some cases, player involvement actually increased. That finding challenges a persistent industry concern: that serious topics risk turning players away. Instead, the evidence suggests that when climate themes are presented with creativity and respect for the player experience, they can enhance rather than detract from enjoyment. The broader lesson is that climate change is not only a policy challenge but also a cultural one. The worlds built within games are among the most interactive, emotional, and scalable spaces available for encouraging people to imagine and act on sustainable futures.  By combining the immersive qualities of play with the urgency of the climate crisis, initiatives like Play2Act and GREAT may be pioneering a new genre altogether—a game for climate action. As Phase 2 and 3 unfold and deeper bridges between gaming and policy emerge, the potential for impact grows. Millions are already playing. The question now is not whether games can inspire climate-friendly action, but how far this model can be scaled.