Section
The Scene
The Scene on Europa Now: European startups, product studios and the cities where the continent's tech culture actually happens.
Startups
Pliant Lands $80M to Let AI Agents Handle Business Payments
The Berlin payments platform has crossed $100M in annual recurring revenue and is now opening its infrastructure to Claude, ChatGPT and custom AI agents through the Model Context Protocol.
Startups
Aformic's $6.95M raise aims to bring factory robots into AI data centre operations
The South Carolina automation startup, whose self-driving forklifts already serve Toyota and 3M, is expanding beyond traditional manufacturing into the infrastructure powering artificial intelligence.
Startups
The Million-Dollar Question: Why Domain Names Command Such Steep Prices
A standard .com registration costs just $11 annually, yet premium names routinely fetch millions. The answer lies in scarcity, demand, and the psychology of brand identity.
Startups
Dubai VC firm BY Venture Partners plants European flag with €60M third fund and Lisbon base
The early-stage investor announced its third fund close on 29 October and opened its first European office in Portugal, targeting AI-native founders with global ambitions across the continent.
Startups
Golbriak Space secures €4M seed to scale laser satellite communications from Estonia
The Tallinn-based optical communications startup has closed funding led by Join Capital and PhotonVentures to ramp up manufacturing and serve paying customers demanding thousands of laser terminals.
Startups
Copenhagen Biotech Biograil Lands €20M to Push Oral Drug Delivery into Clinical Testing
The Danish startup has secured funding from Verve Ventures and Megatrend Invest to prepare its BIONDD® capsule technology for Phase 1 trials, with plans for a larger round in 2027.
The Scene
Google grants Prospect union access to UK offices under new employment law
Following fresh legislation that grants unions workplace recruitment rights, Google has permitted the Prospect union to meet with its UK workforce at company facilities. The move mirrors similar agreements already reached with other major tech employers.
Startups
Squarespace cuts 300 jobs as Permira-backed builder restructures for AI era
The website platform is eliminating 19% of its workforce to streamline operations and accelerate growth under private equity ownership, two years after leaving the public markets.