Financiación, unicornios y venture capital.
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.'
Quantum Systems, a German unmanned systems company, has closed a €1 billion Series D round, the largest in European DefenceTech history. The deal, led by Blackstone, Airbus and Advent, raises its valuation to €7 billion and strengthens its position as a key provider of autonomous defense.
Europe has seen the highest concentration of venture capital in specialized funds this year. The top ten vehicles total €3.29 billion, led by Kembara (€750M), E2D (€500M), and Earlybird (€360M). The focus on DeepTech, Defense, and climate marks a strategic shift from previous years.
According to Crunchbase data, the second quarter of 2026 has brought the highest number of exits of startups valued at over $1 billion since the 2021 boom. SpaceX's IPO and the acquisition of Cursor for $60 billion mark a historic milestone.
The British Business Bank (BBB) will allocate £400 million annually to UK scaleups through a new co-investment program with private investors. The initiative aims to close the growth-stage funding gap, strengthening the entrepreneurial ecosystem and competing with global hubs like Silicon Valley.
The British Business Bank (BBB) has announced a £90 million investment in 10 European venture capital funds, and is also considering joining the EU's Scaleup Fund, a €5 billion vehicle. This dual bet aims to strengthen the British entrepreneurial ecosystem after Brexit, but also raises questions about alignment with European policies.
Base Power, an a16z-backed startup, is bypassing the congested grid interconnection queue by placing batteries in customers' homes. In exchange for storing energy and returning it to the grid when most needed, it offers free backup and lower rates. A decentralized solution that promises to alleviate energy infrastructure bottlenecks.
Vishal Sikka, former CEO of Infosys, has launched a startup backed by Mayfield and Aramco Ventures that aims to revolutionize traditional IT services through intensive use of artificial intelligence and automation. The company brings together veterans from SAP, Infosys, and VianAI, posing a direct challenge to established business models.
The startup Acumino, selected by DeepMind for its robotics accelerator, has closed an $11.7 million seed round. This move reflects the growing interest of tech giants in AI-driven robotics, with potential to transform industrial and service automation.
A TestGorilla study reveals that 95% of hiring leaders prioritize 'AI fluency,' but 59% have already made a hiring mistake. Startups, which should leverage their agility, are repeating bad corporate practices and paying a high price.
Meta has started developing Arena, a smartphone app focused on prediction betting, directly competing with Polymarket and Kalshi. The project, led by Mark Zuckerberg, aims to leverage Meta's user base to popularize prediction markets, though initially it will use a points system with no monetary value.
EU Inc. proposes a single corporate status for startups in the EU, with incorporation in 48 hours and a maximum cost of 100 euros. While it promises to reduce regulatory friction, experts warn it doesn't solve all problems and its implementation will require prioritizing key areas such as the tax treatment of stock options.