London-based legaltech SeedLegals has acquired The Pitch, the country’s largest pitching competition for early-stage entrepreneurs. The acquisition aims to expand SeedLegals’ support for startups by integrating The Pitch’s established network and events into its broader funding ecosystem.

The Pitch has become known for connecting startup founders with investors through live, high-energy pitch events across the UK. Operating in cities including London, Edinburgh, Manchester, Glasgow, Bristol, Brighton, and Birmingham, The Pitch asks founders to deliver 90-second oral pitches without slides or decks. Notably, the competition is free to enter.

“The Pitch builds founders’ confidence and gives them the skills and connections they need to raise investment. We built a truly meritocratic platform and ran events across the country to help make seed funding available to everyone,” said Chris Goodfellow, founder of The Pitch.

The acquisition by SeedLegals reflects a growing trend of integrated support services within the startup ecosystem, where legal, funding, and networking solutions converge to streamline early-stage fundraising.

“At SeedLegals our customers love how we help them get investment-ready and close their funding round, but they keep asking us how they find investors. So, when we came across The Pitch – a platform that connects you with investors – it was a natural win-win,” said Anthony Rose, co-founder and CEO of SeedLegals.

“We’re delighted to acquire The Pitch, and are excited to create pitch competitions that connect founders and investors.”

“SeedLegals has supported The Pitch for the last five years, so we know the team has the method and capability to build on the competition’s 17-year legacy. With SeedLegals running and promoting events, future competitors will get access to a much bigger community and network of investors, and the opportunity to tell the world about their startup,” Goodfellow added.

Early-stage founders in the UK frequently cite challenges around fundraising, including access to investors and the complexities of legal and administrative processes. SeedLegals automates legal paperwork to help companies close funding rounds faster.

By integrating The Pitch into its portfolio, SeedLegals is extending beyond back-end funding processes to front-end investor discovery and pitch readiness.

SeedLegals’ expanded reach through The Pitch hopes to accelerate funding flow into UK startups and enhance visibility for promising early-stage companies. 

London-based Latent Technology, a gaming company specialising in AI-driven physical animation, has raised $8 million in seed funding. The round was co-led by AlbionVC and Spark Capital, with additional backing from Root Ventures and Alumni Ventures.

Latent's central proposition is to replace pre-scripted animations with generative physics-based systems that enable characters and environments to respond in real time to gameplay, allowing for highly personalised gaming experiences.

“AI gives us the opportunity to transform not only how developers create games, but also how players experience them,” said Jorge del Val, co-founder and CEO of Latent Technology. “While many companies are using AI to optimise existing workflows, we’re focused on enabling something fundamentally new: emergent, interactive animation that reacts in real time.”

Latent’s approach aims to eliminate the need for manually crafted animations. Its core technology is powered by Phoenix, a proprietary generative physics animation model that allows for emergent movement and behaviour, dramatically increasing realism and interactivity without exponential workload.

The latest funding will fuel the development of the company’s Latent Behaviour Engine, which allows developers to define and deploy behaviours based on physics-driven generative AI. The company is currently testing its tech in a closed beta with select studios, with plans to release two tech demos later this year.

“Our technology allows us to prototype rapidly while delivering experiences that were not possible before,” added del Val. “We aim to stay close to the development workflow by shipping real, playable demos that showcase our technology in action.”

These technologies form the groundwork for what could be a new infrastructure layer in game development, akin to how large language models (LLMs) have reshaped content creation across industries.

“Latent’s technology positions it to become core infrastructure for the future of game development—powering next-gen interactive experiences through real-time, generative animation,” said Sebastian Hunte, Investor at AlbionVC.

“Just as LLMs have revolutionised content creation, Latent is laying the foundation for a similar leap in animation. With strong early traction and a deeply technical team, we’re thrilled to support their journey.”

As AI rapidly permeates the creative industries, the gaming sector has become a key testing ground for real-time generative content. Giants like Unity, Epic Games, and Nvidia are increasingly investing in AI-native workflows, while smaller studios are seeking ways to reduce production costs and increase realism without scaling teams linearly.

British healthtech TG0 has developed a smart prosthetic liner that uses ultra-soft, wireless sensor materials to monitor pressure and comfort, with the intention of reducing device abandonment rates.

The project is addressing a persistent issue in prosthetic use: discomfort. Studies show that 22 percent of prosthetic users abandon their devices, often due to poor fit or pressure-related injuries. This not only negatively affects patient mobility and quality of life but also imposes an estimated £10 million annual burden on the NHS in follow-up treatments and replacement devices.

“The technology we are developing has an unprecedented combination of sensitivity, flexibility, and wearability,” said Ming Kong, CEO of TG0. “Our smart sensor material is designed for continuous, real-world use while being virtually undetectable to the wearer.”

TG0's new sensor technology builds on its earlier success in sectors such as automotive and fitness. For its prosthetic application, the company has developed flexible, polymer-based pressure sensors that collect real-time data on how a prosthetic fits throughout the day. This information can be wirelessly transmitted to clinicians via the cloud, enabling remote assessments and early intervention before discomfort escalates into more serious medical problems.

Current statistics show that even 20 minutes of excessive pressure on sensitive areas can cause skin ulcers or sores, which may take up to six weeks to heal. These complications not only impair mobility but also drive up costs and clinical workloads.

The project, set to run over 18 months, is being developed in collaboration with a network of engineers, material scientists, and prosthetic users. It aligns with the NHS Long Term Plan, which emphasises preventive and digitally-enabled care. By allowing for remote monitoring, TG0’s technology could reduce the need for in-person specialist visits and hospital admissions.

“We're developing a platform technology that could transform multiple areas of healthcare where pressure-related complications cause suffering and drive up costs,” said Kong. “Our vision extends beyond prosthetics to a future where preventable pressure injuries become increasingly rare across healthcare settings.”

While the prosthetics market is undergoing steady innovation, many existing solutions remain reliant on trial-and-error fittings or intermittent follow-ups. TG0’s real-time feedback approach introduces a data-driven method that’s scalable and adaptable across various healthcare settings.

Europe has launched a new €55 million initiative aimed at improving the environmental footprint of its semiconductor sector. The three-year GENESIS project (Generate a Sustainable Industry for Semiconductors), led by French research institute CEA-Leti, brings together 58 partners from across the European chip ecosystem, including large enterprises, SMEs, research and technology organisations, universities and industry associations.

The project is designed to tackle the full lifecycle of semiconductor manufacturing, from material sourcing to waste treatment, by developing sustainable, circular, and lower-impact processes.

It comes at a crucial time for Europe, as the EU attempts to scale up domestic semiconductor production while meeting ambitious environmental targets outlined in both the European Green Deal and the European Chips Act.

“GENESIS is designed to address the complex challenges of building a truly sustainable semiconductor ecosystem,” said Laurent Pain, Sustainable Electronics Programme Director at CEA-Leti. “Its structure reflects both the urgency and the opportunity of Europe’s green transition, powered by the complementary expertise and close collaboration of its partners.”

The EU is pushing to double its global semiconductor market share by 2030 through the European Chips Act, a multibillion-euro industrial policy programme aimed at bolstering supply chain resilience and technological sovereignty.

“The launch of the GENESIS project marks a critical step toward aligning Europe’s semiconductor ambitions with its climate commitments,” said Anton Chichkov, Head of Programmes at the Chips Joint Undertaking (Chips JU), the EU-backed public-private partnership co-funding the project.

“As chips become the backbone of everything from AI to energy systems, their environmental footprint is rapidly growing. GENESIS responds to this urgent challenge by pioneering sustainable alternatives in materials, waste reduction, and resource efficiency.”

The GENESIS project is co-financed by the European Commission, participating EU member states, and the Swiss State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI) via the Chips JU framework.

A key focus area is the development of PFAS-free alternatives, reflecting increasing global scrutiny over the environmental and health risks of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances used extensively in semiconductor etching, cleaning, and coatings. Regulatory pressure around PFAS is mounting in both Europe and the US, and GENESIS aims to offer viable, industrial-scale substitutes that reduce dependency on these so-called “forever chemicals.”

The project will integrate sensor-based abatement systems for real-time emission control, with the aim of significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions during manufacturing.

AI startup newsrooms.ai is acquiring Trending Topics, the leading Austrian tech media platform founded by Jakob Steinschaden and Bastian Kellhofer.

Newsrooms.ai was originally incubated within the media house of Trending Topics and spun off in 2024 with its own developer team and investor Hermann Futter (CEO of Compass Group and investor in KickScale, Jentis, among others). 

Under the leadership of CEO Erek Stoisser, the company has developed market-ready, AI-driven SaaS for automated content production based on modern large language models tailored for media companies and corporate communications.

"After search engines and social media, AI is the next major disruption of the media world of the 21st century. We want to be at the forefront of this development," says Bastian Kellhofer, co-founder of newsrooms.ai and Trending Topics.

The core technology of newsrooms.ai, spearheaded by CTO Matteo Rosoli, is what “Generative Engine Optimisation” (GEO) — a new approach to optimising online content for AI search engines and chatbots such as ChatGPT, Google AI Mode, and Perplexity. 

GEO places a strong focus on linguistic quality, European data processing, and unique editorial style for both media and corporate clients.

"Efficiency can be bought. But great language is priceless," says Erek Stoisser, CEO of newsrooms.ai.

"We want to help Europe develop its own artificial intelligence infrastructure that values linguistic diversity as a meaningful cultural asset. Our mission is to support technological sovereignty and data security for the continent."

Under its new ownership, founders Jakob Steinschaden and Bastian Kellhofer will remain on board, hold equity in newsrooms.ai, and play central roles in product development, strategy, and business development.

The roadmap includes expansion into audio, image, and video content, as well as personalised AI morning briefings and Predictive Communication Intelligence (PCI). The vision is to build an all-in-one platform that supports everything from information sourcing and content production to publishing and analytics.

Financial details of the acquisition have not been disclosed.

European deeptech startup Voltrac has officially launched its autonomous, electric tractor platform designed for agriculture and frontline logistics. 

Founded by aerospace engineer Francisco Infante Aguirre and deeptech operator Thomas Hubregtsen, Voltrac is developing a "first principles redesign“ – an approach that no longer relies on legacy mechanical systems, reimagining the tractor as a modular, software-defined vehicle optimised for simplicity, reliability, and autonomy.

"We’re not just building a better tractor. We’re creating a new paradigm of autonomous, software-driven ground vehicles, " said Thomas Hubregtsen, CEO of Voltrac.

Infante Aguirre grew up in his family's agricultural implement business, Aguirre Agricola, active in over 25 countries, and later engineered propulsion for eVTOLs and supersonic planes. 

Thomas previously integrated AI use cases in BMW’s future fleet, built quantum AI systems at Google X, and co-founded Extropic to build thermodynamic AI systems. 

Meeting in the Berlin startup ecosystem, they shared frustration with outdated hardware and software paradigms in agriculture and defence. 

After incorporating they quickly raised €2 million euros from Foodlabs and Antler, and went from idea to rolling prototype on partner test vineyards in Spain in one year with a team of just 3 full-time employees. 

According to Christophe Maire, Managing Partner at Atlantic Labs and FoodLabs:

"We believe industry-defining solutions emerge where robotics, AI, and critical infrastructure converge. Voltrac isn’t just optimising agriculture and defence logistics.

They’re redefining what autonomous vehicles can achieve, setting a new standard for efficiency and adaptability.”

The backbone of agriculture is the tractor. This most-used tool still relies on an engine with a complex drivetrain that is expensive, prone to breaking down, and emission-heavy. Voltrac’s hardware approach eliminates this drivetrain by using distributed electric propulsion via per-wheel motors.

This cuts 70 per cent of complex tractor components, reducing maintenance complexity and operational costs by about 30 per cent annually. 

What truly sets Voltrac apart is its approach to software. In its first wave, they are automating the driving of the vehicle, and provide an open platform that allows 3rd parties to access data and actuators in a sandboxed environment to automate implements and other devices surrounding the tractor. 

An overarching learning system with a tight feedback loop automates every aspect of plant growth, enabling continuous adaptation to new crops, climates, and terrains across Europe’s diverse farms.

Significantly, Voltrac is suitable for multiple purposes — with the addition of a flatbed, Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) protection and interceptor drones, it becomes capable to silently lift 4,000kgs to re-supply front lines and process AI compute for the full platoon.

The company is in discussions with NATO departments, and, together with its partner Aguirre Agricola, is running joint sales events at agricultural cooperatives. 

It is actively testing in the fields and on track for first customer deliveries in Q1 2026. To scale their manufacturing capabilities, they plan to conduct a financing round later this year.

Today I attended SuperReturn International, the world's largest private equity and private capital conference, held annually in Berlin. Attendees included over 1,800+ Limited Partners (LPs) managing over $50 trillion in assets and over 2,700 General Partners (GPs).

Amongst a week of parties, breakfasts, corridor sessions, bad coffee, and good cheer, a standout session was a presentation by Jim Coulter - Founding Partner and Executive Chairman, TPG and Bono, lead singer of U2, activist, impact investor, and co-founder of The Rise Fund and Rise Climate.

Measurable social and environmental outcomes with returns

TPG launched institutional-scale impact investing with the creation of The Rise Fund in 2016. Today, TPG’s Impact Platform is the largest of its kind globally, deploying growth equity, private equity, and infrastructure strategies to achieve measurable social and environmental outcomes, without compromising financial returns.

Coulter admits that the story of the firm’s social impact arm has largely remained underwraps, admitting:

“We’ve never told this story publicly — not in full — because nine years ago, when we launched what became a ten-year journey, we chose to build quietly. We believed in “show, don’t tell.”

Today, on the tenth anniversary, we feel we finally have something to show.”

TPG rise is creating a differentiated investment style — what some call impact investing, ESG, or socially responsible investing. Coulter notes, “Internally, we think of it as investing for full returns and social benefits.”

It targets areas like education, healthcare, climate, and financial inclusion. 

Powering up Europe with strategic energy and education Investments

While their key investments are in Africa and the US, the Rise Fund and TPG Rise Climate have made several notable investments across Europe and the UK. TPG Rise Climate acquired a majority stake in Oxford-based energy analytics firm, Aurora Energy Research.TPG Rise Climate, in partnership with Singapore's GIC, acquired Frankfurt-based energy efficiency company Techem.

The funds have also invested in companies such as Enpal (Germany),  Matrix Renewables (Spain), GRIDSERVE (UK) and Outcomes First Group, a leading UK provider of specialist education and therapeutic care for individuals with autism, learning disabilities, and other complex Special Education Needs (SEN). 

Redefining returns: investing for profit and purpose

And for anyone who thinks that social impact investments are just about philanthropy, they’ll be surprised. 

Rise is now a scaled private equity platform—$28 billion AUM, 80 companies across 82 geographies. 

“That’s 60 per cent buyout, 40 per cent growth. Roughly 70 per cent in developed markets, 30 per cent in developing ones,” recounts Coulter.

The platform comprises eight soon-to-be funds. It encompasses over 290 LPs, with nearly $20 billion in revenue across the portfolio. It’s profitable, with 2.5x profit growth since acquisition, and diversified.

“Don’t just aid us — invest in us”: How Bono’s activism found a home at TPG

Berlin is a familiar stomping ground for Bono, who recounted:

“We wrote the song One just down the road from here in Hansa Studios as the Berlin Wall was coming down. That moment inspired The One Campaign, built around the idea that you don’t have to agree on everything, just on one thing that matters.”

Bono has a long history in activism and philanthropy. 

But he was challenged by Sudanese tech visionary Mo Ibrahim, who said, “If you care about us, don’t just aid us. Invest in us, with us.” That hit me.

“So I stayed on the train when most activists got off at the border of commerce. But I didn’t want a warm-and-fuzzy concessional capital. I wanted to work with proper, no-nonsense investors—like TPG.”

Both Coulter and Bono stress the need to talk about the companies, the startups that are achieving great things, “not just AUM and fund structure. That’s the story we should be telling more often.”

Coulter admits that in terms of performance, it's still early, “but so far it looks like private equity. No signs of concession. Quartiles are in line. This is not “investing in good,” it’s just good investing.”

Rise has brought in veteran investors, advisors, corporate limited partners, sovereign wealth funds, and notable individuals such as Reid Hoffman, Paul Polman, and Richard Branson. Over 130 people work full-time within the firm. 

Coulter outlined Rise’s fast progression, noting,“We’ve invested $16 billion directly. $24 billion co-invested. $54 billion total capital. And we’re just getting started.”

A vision for Europe

Bono concluded with some stirring remarks about Europe and Germany, sharing:

“I’ve always admired the combination of German ingenuity and resilience that made reunification possible—not just of Germany, but of Europe itself.

And I’d like to suggest that this European project is just as romantic and visionary as the American one. I’m very proud of what we can accomplish together in Europe.”

Experts say that Wise’s decision to switch its primary stock market listing to the US is a further indicator that the liquidity of the US market will continue to pull UK tech firms and startups across the Atlantic.

Wise, a money transfer fintech founded by Estonians Kristo Käärmann and Taavet Hinrikus and headquartered in London, has been listed on the London Stock Exchange since 2021.

However, today Wise, founded in 2014, said it plans to switch its primary listing from London to New York, marking another body blow for the LSE.

Wise said the move would boost its investor pool and boost its valuation. The plans will now be put to a shareholder vote.

Wise said the move would expand “the pool of investors able to invest in Wise, in particularly US domestic institutional and retail investors, the largest global constituent of investors, many of whom are currently unable to hold our shares".

Käärmann, Wise CEO, said shifting its main listing would help “drive greater awareness of Wise in the US, the biggest market opportunity in the world for our products today, and enabling better access to the world’s deepest and most liquid capital market".

He added: “A dual listing would also enable us to continue serving our UK-based owners effectively, as part of our ongoing commitment to the UK.

"The UK is home to some of the best talent in the world in financial services and technology, and we will continue to invest in our presence here to fuel our UK and global growth,” in comments reported by the Guardian.

Under the plans, Wise would be dual-listed, holding a secondary listing in the UK.

Wise’s announcement follows news that Glencore-backed metal investment firm Cobalt has axed plans to list in London while Nik Storonsky, Revolut CEO, said it was "not rational" to list its shares in the UK saying “it is less liquid so it is much worse compared to the US. Plus it is more expensive because you pay stamp duty. It is just not rational”.

Claire Trachet, CEO of tech business advisory firm Trachet, said the move by Wise was emblematic of a recent shift of companies no longer listing where they were founded ”but where capital markets best support their next phase of growth. For UK startups, especially in fintech, it’s a signal that global scale increasingly means accessing US liquidity".

Whether other UK tech firms and UK startups would jump ship to the US, she said: “Some startups already have, others are preparing for it. But importantly, there’s still a cohort of ambitious British and European companies - from Zopa to Monzo - that want to list here, if the ecosystem gives them enough reason to.

"What’s needed now is not just policy change, but belief, coordination and vision across the public and private sectors.”

On the reputation hit to the LSE, she said: “The LSE’s reputation won’t be defined by one move - but by how it responds. London is still the most mature listing venue in Europe, and we have the opportunity to double down on that leadership by being bold. Not defensive.”

Philip Salter, founder, The Entrepreneurs Network, said the move is a jolt to the UK startup ecosystem to improve its late-stage funding ecosystem.

He said: "By retaining an LSE line, Wise shows that UK startups can scale globally without cutting their home ties, while still channelling talent, taxes, and retail-investor gains back into the UK ecosystem. 

"But it needs to anchor its primary listing in New York is a reminder that the UK urgently needs to deepen its late-stage funding coverage if it wants the next wave of scale-ups to price their growth at home. Until then, UK founders will need to build with US investors in mind from day one."

Matt Cooper, Co-CEO at Crowdcube, the crowdfunding platform, said: “Wise’s decision is a setback for the LSE - but it’s not surprising if you have been following the outflow of companies from the main markets in the UK over recent years.

“It’s a reflection of the challenges the LSE is facing and why it is working hard to innovate and evolve.

“While the battle between the UK and EU markets and their US counterparts will continue to rage, let’s not lose sight of where the UK can still lead and innovate.

“The real momentum is in the private markets, where upcoming reforms like the Public Offer Platform (POP) regime will make it materially easier for companies to raise substantial amounts of capital directly from the public."

IMAGE:PIXABAY

Harvest House, one of Europe’s largest cooperatives for greenhouse-grown vegetables, is expanding its partnership with Amsterdam-based AgTech scale-up Source.ag.

The rollout will see Source.ag’s Harvest Forecast AI deployed across all 600 hectares of Harvest House’s tomato production area, an area that supports the fresh produce demands of approximately 30 million European consumers annually.

This expansion is a step towards automating one of the most complex challenges in agriculture: accurately forecasting fresh produce yields. Traditionally reliant on manual, spreadsheet-based estimates, Harvest House will now integrate Source.ag’s AI-powered platform, which provides daily updated yield forecasts across a 60-day rolling window.

“This expansion underscores our commitment to innovation and sustainability,” said Yvonne Geurten, Commercial Director at Harvest House. “With Source.ag’s AI, we’re investing in unparalleled accuracy and timeliness in harvest forecasting, empowering us to reduce inefficiencies throughout the fresh produce supply chain.

"This reinforces our position as the leader in sustainable fresh produce production and highlights our shared vision to create more predictable and sustainable fresh produce supply chains.”

She added a call to action for the wider retail ecosystem:

“To fully realise the benefits, demand/supply optimisation must be embraced throughout the entire supply chain. We urge major retailers to further strengthen demand forecasting efforts and collaborate more closely with growers to better align supply with demand, ensuring the benefits of smarter cultivation are realised across the entire supply chain.”

Harvest forecasting is a known weak spot in the fresh produce industry. Inaccurate estimates often lead to overproduction, food waste, and lost revenue opportunities. This issue is becoming increasingly urgent as climate change introduces more volatility into food systems.

“Forecasting remains one of fresh produce’s greatest challenges and a key driver of waste and financial losses for growers and retailers,” said Rien Kamman, CEO and co-founder of Source.ag. “We are proud to support Harvest House in deploying AI-driven forecasting across all their tomato hectares.”

“This collaboration also comes at a critical time: as climate change intensifies, extreme weather events are increasingly putting global food security under pressure. Ensuring fresh produce remains available and affordable for consumers is more important than ever. This partnership directly contributes to that goal by improving predictability, reducing waste, and strengthening resilience in the food supply chain,” Kamman added.

Source.ag’s Harvest Forecast AI combines real-time crop data, historical growth trends, and proprietary algorithms to deliver reliable forecasts, covering not just volume but also product specifications and harvesting schedules. The system integrates directly with Harvest House’s CRM and planning tools via API, making it a key piece of digital infrastructure in a sector undergoing steady transformation.

By aggregating forecasts at the product segment level, the AI supports more data-driven alignment between supply and demand, improving operational efficiency and minimising waste.

The expanded partnership reflects a broader trend in the agricultural sector: increasing digitisation and adoption of AI-driven decision-making tools. As Europe’s greenhouse growers face labour shortages, energy constraints, and volatile market conditions, automation and forecasting precision are fast becoming competitive differentiators.

Much of the recent AgTech funding has gone into hardware or alternative growing methods (e.g. vertical farming) as opposed to companies like Source.ag arebuilding software layers that make conventional controlled-environment agriculture more efficient.

Humanoid robots are designed to resemble humans in shape and movement, typically featuring a head, torso, arms, and legs. They’re built to operate in human environments, handling tasks from physical manipulation to social interaction. Although humanoid robotics has a long history, expectations were that from 2020 to 2025, the industry would enter a rapid growth phase (with projections of the global market to grow from $2.1 billion in 2020 to $7.9 billion by 2025).

In Europe, the development of humanoid robots has been at the forefront. Alongside strong private investments, the European Commission has also emphasised the importance of advancing key digital technologies through the Horizon Europe 2025 programme, reflecting a shared belief that these innovations are not merely technological curiosities but strategic priorities.

European startups today are pushing beyond research and into real-world applications, targeting industries such as manufacturing, healthcare, and home services. Their robots vary in form: some walk on two legs, others are built on wheeled bases, but all aim to merge human-like physical capabilities with sophisticated AI.

Europe’s emerging innovators in humanoid robotics

As previously mentioned, humanoid robots are making their mark in various sectors, from factory floors to hospital wards. In the automotive industry, humanoid robots are used on production lines, increasing efficiency and taking over repetitive tasks. As the European population ages, the involvement of humanoid robots in healthcare is seen as a potential solution to overcome the growing gap between patient needs and the available workforce. These robots are also finding a role in the hospitality industry and personal assistance, in short, wherever their human form and abilities can be utilised.

We will mention some of the leading European tech companies driving innovation in humanoid robotics, each developing solutions tailored to real-world applications across industries like manufacturing, healthcare, and home services.

Neura Robotics (Germany) – Cognitive humanoids for industry

Neura Robotics specialises in developing “cognitive” robots that integrate advanced AI with human-centred design principles. Its product range includes collaborative robotic arms, mobile platforms, and notably, a humanoid robot called 4NE-1. The company aims to build robots capable of safely working alongside humans across industries such as manufacturing, logistics, and healthcare. A key focus is on proprietary sensor technology and seamless AI integration, evident in MAiRA, which is promoted as the world’s first cognitive cobot. The 4NE-1 humanoid is currently in development as a fully capable robotic co-worker.

1X (Norway) – Home-ready bipedal assistants

1X focuses on developing general-purpose humanoid robots to support and augment human labour. Their first robot, EVE, features a humanoid torso on a wheeled base and has been tested in security and logistics roles. The company is now advancing NEO, a lightweight (30 kg), bipedal humanoid specifically designed for home use. NEO’s soft exterior and ability to walk on two legs allow it to safely navigate domestic spaces and assist with chores and caregiving.

1X prioritises biologically inspired actuators for realistic movement and emphasises that object manipulation (not walking) is the key challenge in robotics. The latest iteration, NEO Gamma, builds on NEO with upgraded hardware and AI, tailored for safe, intelligent operation in everyday home environments.

Oversonic Robotics (Italy) – Industry 5.0-ready humanoids

Oversonic Robotics is developing RoBee, a cognitive humanoid robot designed for industrial and professional settings. RoBee is reportedly the first humanoid robot certified for industrial use in Italy and embodies an Industry 5.0 vision, where humans and robots work collaboratively.

RoBee is approximately human-sized and equipped with autonomous navigation, dual robotic arms, and a sensor-equipped head. It is built to handle physically demanding or hazardous tasks, such as moving heavy objects or performing dangerous operations, thus improving workplace safety and supporting human workers.

Powered by advanced AI, RoBee can perceive its environment, make decisions in real-time, avoid obstacles, and manipulate tools or machinery. The emphasis is on safe, reliable collaboration, making it suitable for industries like manufacturing, logistics, and construction, particularly where labour shortages or safety concerns exist.

LuxAI (Luxembourg) – Therapeutic robots for autism

LuxAI is a health-tech startup blending robotics with therapeutic and educational support, particularly for children with autism and special needs. Its flagship product, QTrobot, is a 60 cm-tall humanoid designed to assist in therapy and learning. With a cartoon-like appearance, screen-based facial expressions, and articulated arms, QTrobot is intentionally non-realistic to remain approachable and avoid triggering discomfort in children.

QTrobot engages children through speech, gestures, facial expressions, and interactive games. It’s especially effective for children with autism, who often benefit from predictable and consistent interactions. The robot helps them practice skills such as emotional recognition, communication, and social behaviour.

Controlled via an intuitive app, QTrobot offers pre-programmed activities, like storytelling, emotion demonstrations, or guided exercises, designed by therapists and educators. A key strength of LuxAI’s approach is that non-technical professionals can easily use and customise the robot’s functions without needing programming skills. Beyond therapy, QTrobot is also used in academic research on social robotics.

Devanthro (Germany) – Remote-controlled eldercare avatars

Devanthro is a startup born from the renowned Roboy project, is pioneering the development of highly human-like robotic avatars called “Robodies”. These humanoids are modelled after the human musculoskeletal system, using motor-driven artificial muscles and tendons to enable smooth, lifelike motion.

The company’s primary focus is on eldercare, where a trained caregiver can remotely "inhabit" a Robody and interact with patients in distant care facilities. Through this advanced telepresence system, the caregiver sees, hears, and potentially even feels what the robot does, extending their presence and allowing one professional to support multiple patients across different locations. Unlike traditional screen-on-wheels systems, Robodies offer full mobility and human-like interaction, including gestures, movement, and simple facial expressions.

Devanthro’s long-term vision is to use these robotic avatars to address labour shortages in healthcare while preserving the human touch, letting caregivers deliver empathy and oversight from afar.

Furhat Robotics (Sweden) – Expressive social interaction via robotic heads

Furhat Robotics specialises in social robotics through a unique focus on expressive, human-like interaction via a robotic head rather than a full humanoid body. 

The Furhat robot uses rear-projection to display lifelike or stylised faces on a translucent mask, enabling natural eye contact, facial expressions, and gestures. Equipped with advanced speech, audio, and visual systems, it engages in realistic, intelligent conversations. Used in customer service, education, and research, Furhat can adopt different personas by changing its face and voice, making it highly adaptable. By focusing on face-to-face interaction, Furhat avoids the complexities of full-body robotics while still offering a rich human-like experience.

Navigating innovation, ethics, and market reality

Developing humanoid robots is one of the most complex and ambitious challenges in modern technology, requiring a blend of cutting-edge engineering, economic feasibility, and deep ethical reflection. The challenges that European researchers and companies face go far beyond technology alone. While technical issues (such as processing visual, auditory, and tactile data, or managing power limitations that restrict operating time) remain central, they are just one part of a broader set of obstacles affecting the development and market adoption of humanoid robots.

Economically, high production costs, driven by the need for advanced sensors, actuators, and processors, make mass production difficult. Companies are caught in a difficult cycle: they need scale to bring down costs, but cannot reach scale without making their robots affordable. Moreover, it remains difficult to clearly demonstrate that general-purpose humanoid robots offer better value than existing task-specific machines.

Social and ethical challenges further complicate the picture. Public anxiety about job displacement is growing, especially in sectors like healthcare and logistics, even as those sectors face worker shortages. The human-like appearance of these robots can provoke discomfort, and their reliance on constant data collection raises serious privacy concerns, especially in sensitive settings like homes or hospitals.

Legal and regulatory frameworks are still evolving. Although new rules such as the EU AI Act are emerging, many uncertainties remain, particularly concerning liability, safety, and how robots should be classified in terms of employment law and taxation.

Ultimately, building humanoid robots isn’t just a technical issue, it’s about integrating these machines responsibly into human life. Success in Europe will depend not only on innovation but also on the ethical and social foresight of those designing and deploying these systems.

Despite these challenges, the momentum is real. Humanoid robots are moving out of labs and into everyday environments, driven by a vision of a future where human-like machines help us work, care for others, and manage daily life. With its unique combination of research excellence, strategic investment, and commitment to ethical responsibility, Europe is well-positioned to lead in this transformative era of technology.

Helsinki-based early-stage investor Nordic Foodtech VC has announced the first close of its second fund at €40 million, with a final target of €80 million.

The fund, focused on deeptech solutions in food and agriculture, aims to back startups that address the systemic inefficiencies and environmental impact of global food systems.

The second fund builds on the strategy of the firm’s first €42 million fund, launched in 2020. This latest raise continues Nordic Foodtech VC’s approach of sourcing startups from universities and research institutions across the Nordics and Baltics in particular.

The first close is backed by a mix of institutional investors and industry stakeholders, including Finnish state-owned investment company Tesi, Elo Mutual Pension Insurance Company, the Valio Pension Fund, and foodservice firm Heino Group.

“Being able to raise funds in the current complex market is not an easy feat. However, it’s clear to us and our investors that the current global food system is largely inefficient and not adequate to meet the needs of the planet or its people,” said Louise Heiberg, Partner at Nordic Foodtech VC. “As a specialist investor, we’re here to back the startups turning breakthrough science and solutions into real-world food system impact and solid returns.”

Nordic Foodtech VC targets startups at pre-seed and seed stages with ticket sizes ranging from a few hundred thousand euros to €2 million, with additional capital reserved for follow-on investments. The fund plans to continue leading early-stage rounds in the Nordics and Baltics and co-invest across Europe.

While venture capital funding into agrifoodtech has dipped globally (2024 saw a continued slowdown in climate and sustainability tech investment) Nordic Foodtech VC argues that the structural drivers behind food system transformation remain strong.

“New technologies contribute significantly to sustainable food production. Nordic Foodtech VC is a unique player in the food tech sector in the Nordics with excellent prospects for growth,” said Peter Platan, Investment Director at Tesi. “The team has strong expertise both in research and in the commercialisation of innovations.”

Companies it has invested in range from affordable protein alternatives and functional fats, to recycling waste into fertilisers and improving environmental intelligence via satellite data.

“We invest in planet-sized business opportunities in bite-sized chunks,” said Lauri Reuter, Partner at Nordic Foodtech VC. “We are excited to continue supporting both existing and new portfolio companies in their growth paths that all together build towards a food system that fits in the planetary boundaries.”