Good news from around Europe
Taiwan to invest $250B in US semiconductor manufacturing The U.S. struck a trade deal with Taiwan as the country looks to help boost domestic semiconductor manufacturing. Powered by WPeMatico https://techcrunch.com/2026/01/15/taiwan-to-invest-250b-in-us-semiconductor-manufacturing/
AI video startup, Higgsfield, founded by ex-Snap exec, lands $1.3B valuation Higgsfield says it’s on a $200 million annual revenue run rate. So it opened its previous Series A round back up and sold another $80 million in shares. Powered by WPeMatico https://techcrunch.com/2026/01/15/ai-video-startup-higgsfield-founded-by-ex-snap-exec-lands-1-3b-valuation/
Iran’s internet shutdown is now one of its longest ever, as protests continue Iran’s government-imposed internet shutdown enters its second week as authorities continue their violent crackdown on protesters. Powered by WPeMatico https://techcrunch.com/2026/01/15/irans-internet-shutdown-is-now-one-of-its-longest-ever-as-protests-continue/
German sustainability software outfit osapiens becomes unicorn, following $100M raise German startup osapiens, which provides software-as-a-service (SaaS) services to help companies meet ESG targets, says it has become a unicorn after raising $100m. The Series C round was funded solely by Decarbonization Partners, the joint venture between BlackRock and Temasek focused on late-stage VC investing
$60M Series B propels Aikido into the global unicorn ranks Belgian cybersecurity company Aikido has raised a $60M millionSeries B at a $1B valuation, led by Tom Stafford at DST Global, with participation from PSG Equity, Singular, Notion Capital, and others. Aikido is one of the fastest cybersecurity companies to
Three-quarters of UK fintech founders use AI to speed up recruitment, says survey Three-quarters of UK fintech founders are using AI to identify candidates and speed up recruitment, says a new survey. But findings from the survey also show that human judgement remains critical to ensure founders are finding the right
Cast AI becomes Lithuania’s 5th Unicorn Automation platform creator Cast AI has announced an investment from Pacific Alliance Ventures (PAV), the US-based corporate venture arm of Shinsegae Group, an over $50 billion Korean conglomerate with leading businesses across retail, consumer, and digital platforms. With this round of funding, Cast AI’s
Klarna launches peer-to-peer payments across Europe Klarna is launching a service which allows its customers to send money to each other through its app, as it continues its shift to reposition itself as a bank. The Swedish fintech, best known as a BNPL fintech, is launching instant peer-to-peer payments across 13 European countries,
London-based incentifi raises €174k pre-seed round to pilot wellbeing-focused workplace rewards platform incentifi, a well-being-focused workplace rewards startup based in London, has secured €174k (£150k) in phase one pre-seed funding as it prepares to pilot its platform with businesses across the UK. Alongside the investment, the company has appointed James
Goparity acquires Spain’s Bolsa Social to expand equity crowdfunding and strengthen Iberian presence Goparity, a Lisbon-based impact investment platform, has acquired Bolsa Social, Spain’s first impact crowdfunding platform authorised by the country’s regulator, the CNMV. The acquisition marks a strategic step for Goparity as it strengthens its presence in the