Exclusive: Investors bet $10M that Laka’s ‘collective insurance’ can fix bike coverage


London-based insurtech startup Laka has raised $10.4mn in Series B funding as it eyes profitability at the end of next year. Laka offers “collective” insurance for bikes and e-scooters, pooling claims across a community of riders. Instead of fixed, upfront premium

Funding focus: Fusion startups shatter investment records in push for clean energy


Funding focus is a new series analysing cash flow into the European tech ecosystem. Last week, we looked at the largest investment rounds in the Netherlands, and now we’re honing in on Europe’s budding fusion energy sector.  European fusion

‘Magical thinking’ to believe UK’s AI boom won’t derail climate goals, report warns


A new report from the University of Cambridge has warned that the UK’s push to lead in AI risks derailing its climate targets — unless urgent action is taken. According to the University’s Minderoo Centre for Technology and Democrac

UK and France unite behind €1.5B plan to boost Europe’s rival to Starlink


The UK government reportedly plans to invest €163mn in French satellite firm Eutelsat as Europe pushes to back a local alternative to Elon Musk’s Starlink. The investment, first reported by Reuters, follows the lead of the French state, which is set to inject

ChatGPT advises women to ask for lower salaries, finds new study


A new study has found that large language models (LLMs) such as ChatGPT consistently advise women to ask for lower salaries than men, even when both have identical qualifications. The research was led by Ivan Yamshchikov, a professor of AI and robotics at th

Meet the 5 space tech firms vying to be Europe’s next launch provider


Five rocket companies will compete for contracts to provide Europe’s next launch services — and boost the continent’s troubled access to space. The European Space Agency (ESA) selected the quintet, who will now contend for two types of contracts: Providing la

Funding focus: Biotech dominates Netherlands’ top 10 rounds in H1 2025


Funding focus is a new series analysing cash flow into the European tech ecosystem. After debuting with a look at the biggest rounds so far this year, we now turn to the largest deals in the Netherlands for H1. Startups in the Netherlands raised just $503mn (€4

AI satellites and sea drones unite to guard Europe’s waters


Ubotica, an Irish startup specialising in edge AI for satellites, has partnered with two Dutch firms to develop an intelligence platform aimed at bolstering maritime security across European waters.  The company will work with Fugro, a provider of offshore s

Media giants launch EU-backed chatbot to fight disinformation


A group of major European media organisations has launched a chatbot aimed at combating online disinformation.  The tool, called ChatEurope, responds to queries with information verified by journalists. It was set up by a consortium of media brands led by Ag

British-built Hawk-Eye software goes dark during Wimbledon match


Wimbledon’s new automated line-calling system glitched during a tennis match Sunday, just days after it replaced the tournament’s human line judges for the first time.  The system, called Hawk-Eye, uses a network of cameras equipped with computer vision to tr


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