venture capital firms

Germany has reached a record number of startups valued at €1 billion or more, driven largely by investment in artificial intelligence companies and a resurgent defence industry. Growth in the arms sector reflects rising European defence spending, while AI firms have attracted strong venture capital. The trend marks a notable shift for Germany's startup landscape.

Seligman Ventures has doubled its capital to $1 billion, betting that the artificial intelligence boom will revive investor interest in hardware startups. The move signals renewed venture appetite for chips and other physical computing infrastructure powering AI development. Observers see it as a sign that capital is flowing back into hardware after years of focus on software, as AI demand reshapes investment priorities.

Venture capital firm Peak XV Partners has increased the maximum seed investment through its Surge accelerator program to $5 million and introduced a new cohort of 18 startups. The move comes as the firm reportedly raises the bar for Series A funding, with the new cohort reportedly focused on AI startups.

Dige Robotics has closed a $400 million Series C financing round, with early backer Linear Capital increasing its stake for the seventh consecutive round. The sizeable raise underlines continued strong investor appetite for robotics companies, and Linear Capital's sustained backing signals confidence in the firm's growth prospects.

SoftBank is investing $225 million in Autonomous Solutions, a Utah-based autonomous vehicle technology company, and has formed a joint venture focused on construction robotics. The deal signals SoftBank's continued push into industrial automation and robotics, pairing its capital with a firm specializing in off-road and autonomous systems. The move points to growing investor interest in bringing automation to the construction sector, one of the least digitized major industries.

Italian venture firm Eureka! Venture has launched a new €20 million fund dedicated to backing DeepTech startups in Italy. The fund will provide early-stage capital to companies working on advanced technology, aiming to strengthen Italy's position in the European DeepTech ecosystem and address the funding gap for science-based ventures in the country.

Sofinnova Partners, the Paris-based venture capital firm, has closed its MD Start IV fund at €82 million, exceeding its original target. The fund will be used to found and back new MedTech startups, following Sofinnova's model of building companies from scratch alongside inventors and clinicians. The oversubscribed close signals continued investor appetite for early-stage medical technology despite a tougher funding climate.

Data security startup Cyera has reached a new $2 billion valuation, while legal AI company Chamelio raised $26 million to build in-house legal tools, and document software firm Adlib acquired Paperbox. The three deals point to continued investor appetite for enterprise software and artificial intelligence startups despite a broader slowdown in venture funding.

Venture capital firm Golden Gate Ventures is planning a two-year program for startups from Central Asia, based in Uzbekistan. The initiative is aimed at supporting early-stage companies across the region, with Uzbekistan positioning itself as a hub for entrepreneurship and foreign investment in Central Asia.