Financiación, unicornios y venture capital.
Funding rounds in Europe are reaching record sizes, but fewer startups are closing them. This phenomenon reflects a maturing ecosystem and a more selective investment approach, with implications for innovation and employment.
CriteriaCaixa has announced the reactivation of its startup investment unit with €300 million, earmarked for biotech and deeptech. Through Criteria Bio Ventures and Criteria Venture Tech, the holding aims to fund early-stage startups, prioritizing Iberia and high social impact sectors.
Phia, the startup co-founded by Bill Gates' daughter, has been accused of 'cookie stuffing,' a fraudulent practice that allowed it to claim sales commissions it didn't generate. Following a Bloomberg investigation, affiliate platform Impact.com suspended the company, sparking a debate on ethics in affiliate marketing.
Castelion, a California startup founded by former SpaceX employees, has sold its first 50 Blackbeard hypersonic missiles to the U.S. Navy for $23.4 million, bringing the per-unit cost to under $300,000 in mass production. The key lies in using components from the automotive, oil, and audio industries, drastically cutting prices compared to traditional hypersonic missiles.
Amid record heat in Europe, ClimateTech startups are turning decarbonization into a lucrative business. Companies like Aira (heat pumps) and cylib (battery recycling) have raised hundreds of millions, showing that sustainability and profitability can go hand in hand.
The UK startup ecosystem recorded its best first half since 2022, with €14.8 billion in investment, doubling the previous year's figure. Artificial intelligence was the main driver, accounting for nearly three-quarters of the capital.
QuantumDiamonds has raised €91 million to scale its semiconductor inspection technology based on synthetic diamonds and quantum defects. The round combines €15 million in equity with €76 million in non-dilutive funding from the EU and Germany.
Klarna has applied for a banking license in the United States, according to Tech.eu. The move represents its boldest bet in the US market, where it aims to offer savings accounts, loans, and credit cards. The decision comes amid a potentially more favorable regulatory environment and marks a strategic shift toward traditional banking.
Startup investment in the US and Canada reached an all-time high of $392 billion in the first half of 2026, driven by mega-rounds from leading AI companies like OpenAI and Anthropic. However, the number of deals remains below previous peaks, highlighting a growing concentration of capital.
US startup Ampera has unveiled what it claims is the world's first 3D-printed nuclear reactor module. Designed for data centers, defense, and remote sites, this subcritical thorium microreactor promises up to 30 MWe without refueling for 30 years, with availability estimated for 2030.
Pie, a startup founded by veterans of Square and Toast, has raised $19.5 million to help small businesses optimize their presence on AI-powered search engines. With three key products, the company is betting on the transition from traditional SEO to AEO (Answer Engine Optimization).
A wave of tech startups embraces nihilism: they no longer pretend to change the world, but to exploit its dysfunctions. From uncontrolled generative AI to platform economies that erode trust, 'move fast and break things' mutates into 'break things and profit.'