Tracking startup funding in Europe isn't just about crunching numbers; it's about spotting emerging trends, predicting industry shifts, and connecting the dots. Reflecting on this week’s funding accomplishments from December 1-5, 2025, I'm reminded of how the European startup ecosystem continues to surprise me with its dynamism and diversity. This roundup captures the essential highlights and actionable takeaways for founders, investors, and anyone curious about where the money is flowing.
Let’s dive straight into the details of this week’s funding news and see what it tells us about the current state of European startups.
This Week's Top Funding Highlights
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Sokin (UK) , €42.9 million
British payments and treasury infrastructure startup Sokin secured this impressive amount to fuel its global expansion. The intersection of FinTech and infrastructure is proving to attract significant interest, with startups like Sokin positioning themselves as indispensable for global financial systems. Learn more about Sokin's growth on EU-Startups. -
Coremont (UK) , €34 million
This UK FinTech raised funds to enhance its institutional analytics platform. It’s yet another sign that sophisticated financial tools for large institutions remain a lucrative niche. -
Spark Cleantech (France) , €30 million
Spark Cleantech secured funding to accelerate its work in decarbonizing heavy industries. This aligns with the growing investor focus on clean energy and sustainability. Find more insights about Spark Cleantech on the EU-Startups platform. -
Melt&Marble (Sweden) , €7 million
The biotech company is scaling its designer fats initiative, which combines food innovation with a sustainability angle. As consumers demand tastier and healthier options, startups like Melt&Marble are attracting attention. -
Equixly (Italy) , €10 million
This Verona-based business focuses on AI-driven API security testing, a reminder of the rising importance of cybersecurity solutions in the market. -
Orbital Marine Power (Scotland) , €8 million
Tapping into clean energy's potential, this Scottish company is advancing tidal energy projects, further emphasizing the necessity of renewable energy developments. -
Freepress (Finland) , €1 million
Based in Helsinki, this startup aims to expand its AI-powered news service, showcasing how technology can reshape even traditional industries. -
Anaphite (UK) , €1.6 million
This Bristol-based company develops dry coating technology for LFP (Lithium Iron Phosphate) batteries, highlighting how batteries are becoming a niche in energy-tech funding.
Each of these startups has a unique flavor, but collectively, they provide a narrative of where venture capital is headed across Europe.
Trends Emerging From This Week's Funding Rounds
Europe continues to be bustling with activity in FinTech, biotech, and sustainability. The funding trends offer key lessons:
- FinTech Dominance: Both Sokin and Coremont's rounds underline how Europe is maturing in the financial innovation ecosystem. Investors love scalable solutions for payments, analytics, and financial infrastructure.
- Green Innovations Are Prime: Startups like Spark Cleantech and Orbital Marine Power show how critical the clean energy transition is. Smart money is clearly betting big on green tech.
- Biotech Meets Sustainability: From synthetic fats to renewable food sources, companies like Melt&Marble illustrate the blend of health, environment, and cutting-edge science driving the biotech sector.
- Cybersecurity Gets Smarter: With Equixly taking on automated API security, this reminds me that no tech revolution is complete unless secure foundations back it up. The shift toward AI-driven tools here stands out.
If you notice, it’s not just about flashy projects. Investors are backing startups addressing tangible, structural challenges in sectors with immense global implications.
How Entrepreneurs Can Leverage These Insights
I always remind entrepreneurs that every funding trend unlocks an opportunity. If you're part of this ecosystem or looking to join it, here's how you can align your strategies:
- Choose Battles Wisely: Look for industries with increasing venture flow, like FinTech and GreenTech. Even niche spaces like API security are proving profitable.
- Solve Real Problems, Not Trendy Ones: While industries like biotech or payments are lucrative, you’ll stand out by addressing specific business pain points.
- Use Data Wisely: Look into who’s investing and why. Knowing investor themes will guide you toward presenting a solution they can't ignore.
Most Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Ignoring Foundational Expertise: Founders often rush to follow trends rather than building a sustainable skill set in their chosen area. Don't do this. Invest in your competency to gain a deeper edge.
- Misaligned Pitches: Not customizing your pitch to align with investor priorities is a surefire way to fail. Study where their money has gone and tailor your story accordingly.
- Thinking Short-Term: Investors want scalability and vision, not quick wins. Make sure your solution connects to long-term markets.
What This Funding Week Teaches Us
This European funding roundup paints a clear picture of the continent’s startup health. The diversity of sectors, from clean energy tidal projects in Scotland to cutting-edge designer fats in Sweden, is proof of the region's entrepreneurial vigor. As someone who has been deeply involved in startups and accelerators across Europe, I see one unmissable fact: success lies in going beyond the buzzwords and building solutions markets genuinely need.
For those ready to step into this world, take these insights and turn them into action. Study trends, perfect your pitch, and don’t be afraid to reach out to investors who can help you scale your vision. Investors aren’t just financiers; they’re also gatekeepers to entire networks of opportunity. Understand them, and you unlock more than capital, you gain access to influence.
This funding round isn’t just a recap; it’s a map for those ready to create the next big European success story.
FAQ
1. Which European FinTech startup received the largest funding this week?
Sokin, a British payments and treasury infrastructure startup, raised €42.9 million to fuel global expansion. Learn more about Sokin
2. Which startup is working on decarbonization of heavy industries?
Spark Cleantech, a French startup, secured €30 million to accelerate its clean energy and sustainability initiatives in heavy industries. Find more about Spark Cleantech
3. What innovations are occurring in AI-powered cybersecurity?
Equixly, an Italian AI-driven API security testing startup based in Verona, raised €10 million to further develop its automated platform. Learn more about Equixly
4. Which Scottish startup is advancing renewable energy projects?
Orbital Marine Power raised €8 million to accelerate its commercial tidal-stream projects. Learn more about Orbital Marine Power
5. Which Swedish biotech startup focuses on sustainable food innovation?
Melt&Marble, specializing in designer fats for food and beauty, secured €7 million to scale production. Explore Melt&Marble
6. How much funding did Coremont, UK’s FinTech startup receive?
Coremont raised €34 million to expand its institutional analytics platform, enhancing FinTech solutions for large institutions. Learn more about Coremont
7. Which startup is transforming news services with AI?
Freepress, based in Helsinki, Finland, raised €1 million to expand its AI-powered news platform, reshaping how news is delivered. Check out Freepress
8. What energy-tech innovation did Anaphite secure funding for?
Anaphite, based in Bristol, UK, raised €1.6 million to develop dry coating technology for lithium iron phosphate batteries. Learn more about Anaphite
9. Are there any trends in green technology funding?
New investments like Spark Cleantech’s €30 million and Orbital Marine Power’s €8 million highlight growing investor interest in clean energy and sustainability projects.
10. Which funding advice is useful for entrepreneurs?
Entrepreneurs should focus on solving real problems in lucrative, scalable sectors like FinTech, GreenTech, or AI-driven niches, as showcased by startups such as Sokin and Equixly.
About the Author
Violetta Bonenkamp, also known as MeanCEO, is an experienced startup founder with an impressive educational background including an MBA and four other higher education degrees. She has over 20 years of work experience across multiple countries, including 5 years as a solopreneur and serial entrepreneur. Throughout her startup experience she has applied for multiple startup grants at the EU level, in the Netherlands and Malta, and her startups received quite a few of those. She’s been living, studying and working in many countries around the globe and her extensive multicultural experience has influenced her immensely.
Violetta Bonenkamp's expertise in CAD sector, IP protection and blockchain
Violetta Bonenkamp is recognized as a multidisciplinary expert with significant achievements in the CAD sector, intellectual property (IP) protection, and blockchain technology.
CAD Sector:
- Violetta is the CEO and co-founder of CADChain, a deep tech startup focused on developing IP management software specifically for CAD (Computer-Aided Design) data. CADChain addresses the lack of industry standards for CAD data protection and sharing, using innovative technology to secure and manage design data.
- She has led the company since its inception in 2018, overseeing R&D, PR, and business development, and driving the creation of products for platforms such as Autodesk Inventor, Blender, and SolidWorks.
- Her leadership has been instrumental in scaling CADChain from a small team to a significant player in the deeptech space, with a diverse, international team.
IP Protection:
- Violetta has built deep expertise in intellectual property, combining academic training with practical startup experience. She has taken specialized courses in IP from institutions like WIPO and the EU IPO.
- She is known for sharing actionable strategies for startup IP protection, leveraging both legal and technological approaches, and has published guides and content on this topic for the entrepreneurial community.
- Her work at CADChain directly addresses the need for robust IP protection in the engineering and design industries, integrating cybersecurity and compliance measures to safeguard digital assets.
Blockchain:
- Violetta’s entry into the blockchain sector began with the founding of CADChain, which uses blockchain as a core technology for securing and managing CAD data.
- She holds several certifications in blockchain and has participated in major hackathons and policy forums, such as the OECD Global Blockchain Policy Forum.
- Her expertise extends to applying blockchain for IP management, ensuring data integrity, traceability, and secure sharing in the CAD industry.
Violetta is a true multiple specialist who has built expertise in Linguistics, Education, Business Management, Blockchain, Entrepreneurship, Intellectual Property, Game Design, AI, SEO, Digital Marketing, cyber security and zero code automations. Her extensive educational journey includes a Master of Arts in Linguistics and Education, an Advanced Master in Linguistics from Belgium (2006-2007), an MBA from Blekinge Institute of Technology in Sweden (2006-2008), and an Erasmus Mundus joint program European Master of Higher Education from universities in Norway, Finland, and Portugal (2009).
She is the founder of Fe/male Switch, a startup game that encourages women to enter STEM fields, and also leads CADChain, and multiple other projects like the Directory of 1,000 Startup Cities with a proprietary MeanCEO Index that ranks cities for female entrepreneurs. Violetta created the "gamepreneurship" methodology, which forms the scientific basis of her startup game. She also builds a lot of SEO tools for startups. Her achievements include being named one of the top 100 women in Europe by EU Startups in 2022 and being nominated for Impact Person of the year at the Dutch Blockchain Week. She is an author with Sifted and a speaker at different Universities. Recently she published a book on Startup Idea Validation the right way: from zero to first customers and beyond, launched a Directory of 1,500+ websites for startups to list themselves in order to gain traction and build backlinks and is building MELA AI to help local restaurants in Malta get more visibility online.
For the past several years Violetta has been living between the Netherlands and Malta, while also regularly traveling to different destinations around the globe, usually due to her entrepreneurial activities. This has led her to start writing about different locations and amenities from the POV of an entrepreneur. Here’s her recent article about the best hotels in Italy to work from.
About the Publication
Fe/male Switch is an innovative startup platform designed to empower women entrepreneurs through an immersive, game-like experience. Founded in 2020 during the pandemic "without any funding and without any code," this non-profit initiative has evolved into a comprehensive educational tool for aspiring female entrepreneurs.The platform was co-founded by Violetta Shishkina-Bonenkamp, who serves as CEO and one of the lead authors of the Startup News branch.
Mission and Purpose
Fe/male Switch Foundation was created to address the gender gap in the tech and entrepreneurship space. The platform aims to skill-up future female tech leaders and empower them to create resilient and innovative tech startups through what they call "gamepreneurship". By putting players in a virtual startup village where they must survive and thrive, the startup game allows women to test their entrepreneurial abilities without financial risk.
Key Features
The platform offers a unique blend of news, resources,learning, networking, and practical application within a supportive, female-focused environment:
- Skill Lab: Micro-modules covering essential startup skills
- Virtual Startup Building: Create or join startups and tackle real-world challenges
- AI Co-founder (PlayPal): Guides users through the startup process
- SANDBOX: A testing environment for idea validation before launch
- Wellness Integration: Virtual activities to balance work and self-care
- Marketplace: Buy or sell expert sessions and tutorials
Impact and Growth
Since its inception, Fe/male Switch has shown impressive growth:
- 5,000+ female entrepreneurs in the community
- 100+ startup tools built
- 5,000+ pieces of articles and news written
- 1,000 unique business ideas for women created
Partnerships
Fe/male Switch has formed strategic partnerships to enhance its offerings. In January 2022, it teamed up with global website builder Tilda to provide free access to website building tools and mentorship services for Fe/male Switch participants.
Recognition
Fe/male Switch has received media attention for its innovative approach to closing the gender gap in tech entrepreneurship. The platform has been featured in various publications highlighting its unique "play to learn and earn" model.