Funding Growth for European Startups

February saw a notable increase in funding for European tech startups, reaching €7.8 billion. This figure marks a recovery compared to previous months, with the UK confirming its position as the main attraction for capital.

Significant Investment Rounds

Among the most relevant investment rounds, the following stand out:

  • PLD Space (Spain): €180 million to scale satellite launch infrastructure.
  • RIFT (Netherlands): €113.8 million for an industrial heating project.
  • Oxa (UK): $103 million to scale industrial deployments of self-driving technology.
  • Flink (Germany): $100 million for targeted expansion.

Noteworthy Mergers and Acquisitions

The mergers and acquisitions landscape is equally dynamic, with several significant transactions:

  • French medtech company Gleamer was acquired by an American company for €230 million.
  • Onetag (Italy) acquired Aryel to build a new programmatic ad exchange.
  • German logistics company cargo.one added Cargofive in a €17 million-backed multimodal expansion.
  • US tech giant Avalara acquired Manchester startup Versori.

Other Relevant News

  • The European Investment Fund (EIF) made its largest investment in the defense sector, with €50 million backing for Join Capital.
  • UK-based startup Open Cosmos plans a European rival to Starlink in the satellite sector.