In the run-up to every International Womens Day (IWD), new data is released on gender inequity in tech. Frequently, the findings are disheartening.This week, one report estimated that female founders in Europe secured just 12% of last years total VC funding. Another calculated that overlooking women-leddeep tech firms over the past decade cost the economy 198.8bn.Yet there are also reasons for optimism. One is that the investment landscape is showing signs of progress. According to the Female Innovation Index, last year saw a 7% increase in round size and a 15% rise in M&A activity for tech firms founded by women.Another source of hope is the transformative technologies emerging from their companies. As IWD approaches, we spoke to four women propelling powerful innovations in TNWs home country, the Netherlands, about their work and why the tech sector must do more for gender equity.Anne Berends, co-founder and CTO at SunLED Life ScienceThe of EU techThe latest rumblings from the EU tech scene, a story from our wise ol' founder Boris, and some questionable AI art. It's free, every week, in your inbox. Sign up now!Anne Berends has a rare blend of academic expertise and business nous. As a materials scientist and program director at Dutch LED pioneer Seaborough, she substantiated a compelling hypothesis: near-infrared light can improve our health and well-being.Under her watch, the idea grew into anew spin-off company: SunLED Life Science.As the co-founder and CTO, Berends shapes the technological and strategic direction of the business.She makes a clear case for supporting women in tech.Half of the population is female, and girls consistently outperform boys in school, she says. The reality is that while there are countless women with brilliant, entrepreneurial ideas, they remain underrepresented in the startup world. This isnt just a diversity issue; its a missed opportunity. When female founders are rare, valuable innovation and economic potential are left untapped.To unlock this talent, she continues, fundingaccess must improve.Its time for VCs and [private equity] firms to recognise this and actively invest in the next generation of women-led venture because the talent is there, waiting to be unlocked.Kiki Lauwers, CEO at ThorizonLike Berends, Kiki Lauwers has a glittering resume of business and scientific credentials. She holds a Masters degree in Aerospace Engineering from Delft University of Technology and an MBA from INSEAD.After working at McKinsey, online retailer bol.com, and audiovisual businessKinly, she joined deep tech scaleup Thorizon as CEO in 2023. The company is developing a nuclear reactor with an unusual power source: molten salt. The approach could realise the dream ofsustainable, and green nuclear energy.Lauwers sees two sides to her position as a woman leader in tech.Being different has its advantages people remember you, and with all-male panels fading out, I get more opportunities to speak. But I also have to fight bias.Im not here because Im a woman; Im here despite it, she says.Every day, I push against biases that Im less technical, smart, persistent, or experienced. In a recent interview I was quoted as the Belgian woman, and my peer was quoted as the engineer from Delft. I am an engineer with an MBA degree, a former strategy consultant with a lot of management experience, but sometimes, I do wonder if securing funding would be easier if my name were Peter.Beyond the ethical issues, Lauwers emphasises the business argument for greater equality.Europes deep tech sector needs all the talent it can get, which means encouraging more women to pursue STEM and highlighting engineering role models, she says. Im proud that Thorizon has over 30% female employees.Esther Bisschop, co-founder of Th3rdEsther Bisschop is an entrepreneur with a flair for storytelling. She deployed these skills to turn her startup Th3rd into a global leader in 3D scanning software.Th3rds digital models were a hit with clothing brands. Social media giants also recognised the techs value. In 2022, Snap acquired the Amsterdam-based business as part of a drive to embed AR into e-commerce.Bisschop points to the societal benefits of diversity in tech.The worlds most pressing challenges wont be solved by a select few, they require all of us.To build a better future, we need founders of different genders, backgrounds, ages, and cultures to drive innovation, she says.Investing in women founders isnt just about fairness, its about unlocking the full potential of entrepreneurship.Lea Milovich, CEO and co-founder at FlowBeamsLea Milovich has over 15 years of experience as a senior business development manager, team leader, and startup coach. In 2021, she added founder to her extensive list of professional achievements.The company she built FlowBeams began with the idea of applying tattoos without needles. The concept evolved into a non-invasive injection system for cosmetic and pharmaceutical treatments.Milovich highlights the benefits of being a woman leader.Being a female founder means navigating uncharted waters with hidden and declared biases. However, for me it has brought a unique perspective where resilience drives innovation much stronger, she says.I truly believe that, to unlock the potential of the tech ecosystem, we must actively invest in brave and brilliant women that are willing to risk their time and reputation, not as a gesture, but as a strategic imperative.This years TNW Conference features aWomen in Tech ticket. The pass provides 50% off access to the event, which takes place on June 19-20 in Amsterdam.TNW is also hosting a Female Founders Brunch on March 15. You can register here to attend. Story by Thomas Macaulay Managing editor Thomas is the managing editor of TNW. He leads our coverage of European tech and oversees our talented team of writers. Away from work, he e (show all) Thomas is the managing editor of TNW. He leads our coverage of European tech and oversees our talented team of writers. Away from work, he enjoys playing chess (badly) and the guitar (even worse). Get the TNW newsletterGet the most important tech news in your inbox each week.Also tagged with

Europes space launch industry is set to reopen for business today. Arianespaces heavy rocket Ariane 6 is scheduled to blast off at 16:24 GMT (17:24 CET) from Europes spaceport in French Guiana.Originally scheduled for December, the Ariane 6 mission was delayed first to February 26 and subsequently to March 3 due to issues in transporting the satellite to the launchpad. However, just minutes before Mondays launch, engineers identified an anomaly in one of the refueling pipes, postponing the launch further.If todays attempt is successful, it will mark Ariane 6s first-ever commercial launch. The heavy-lift rocket made its maiden flight in July last year restoring sovereign access to space for Europe.Ariane 6 will be carrying CSO-3, a French military spy satellite capable of taking high resolution images of Earth. The probe is the final piece of a three-satellite system designed to improve Frances ability to monitor global activities from space. The first two probes were launched aboard Russian Soyuz rockets in 2018 and 2020.Since Moscows full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in 2022, Europe has been unable to access Soyuz rockets. Meanwhile, the retirement of the Ariane 5 in 2023 and delays to the new Vega-C small-launch vehicle left the continent without independent access to space. Europe was forced to rely on Elon Musks SpaceX for over a year.The of EU techThe latest rumblings from the EU tech scene, a story from our wise ol' founder Boris, and some questionable AI art. It's free, every week, in your inbox. Sign up now!The Ariane 6 missionIn 2023, Europe completed only three successful orbital launches its lowest total since 2004. The US, meanwhile, had 109 the most a single country has ever made.However, with Ariane 6 now up-and-running and Vega-C having launched in December, things are looking up for Europes space capabilities. And its not just publicly-funded missions that are on track.German startup Isar Aerospace is ready to blast Europes first privately-funded rocket in orbit from Andya Spaceport in Norway, pending regulatory signoff. Isar is one of several startups like PLD Space and Rocket Factory Augsburg looking to provide a local alternative to SpaceX. Both of those companies are also set to launch for the first time this year.The progress of European rocket startups and veterans like Arianespace and Avio (the company behind Vega-C) couldnt come at a better time. European states have long sought to strengthen their security autonomy, a priority that has gained renewed urgency following the Trump administrations thawing relations with Russia.However, Europe might not be able to replace SpaceX altogether. Ariane 6, unlike SpaceX rockets, is not reusable. And while Europe is fostering private companies with reusable, light-lift rockets, it likely wont have a reusable heavy-lift option until the 2030s, when a successor to Ariane 6 may emerge.Nevertheless, while not a panacea for Europes autonomy in space, the boost in local capabilities is still good news for the regions broader space tech sector. The increased access [to space] will no doubt accelerate the pace of innovation and deployment of new space technologies in Europe, Mark Boggett, the CEO of investment firm Seraphim Space, previously told TNW.The progress could also yield immense financial rewards. McKinsey and the World Economic Forum expect the global space economy to rise from $630 billion in value in 2023 to $1.8 trillion by 2035. Story by Sin Geschwindt Sin is a climate and energy reporter at TNW. From nuclear fusion to escooters, he covers the length and breadth of Europe's clean tech ecos (show all) Sin is a climate and energy reporter at TNW. From nuclear fusion to escooters, he covers the length and breadth of Europe's clean tech ecosystem. He's happiest sourcing a scoop, investigating the impact of emerging technologies, and even putting them to the test. Sin has five years journalism experience and holds a dual degree in media and environmental science from the University of Cape Town, South Africa. Get the TNW newsletterGet the most important tech news in your inbox each week.Also tagged with

Hospitality scaleup Mews, based at TNW City in Amsterdam, has secured $75mn in its third major cash injection of the last year. The round follows a raise of $100M in credit financing in September and a $110mn equity round in March 2024 when the startup became a unicorn. In total, Mews has bagged over $500mn to date, making it one of the Netherlands most cash-flooded scaleups.Mews was founded in 2012 by Richard Valtr, an ex-hotelier on a mission to transform the way hotels do business. Digital transformation is challenging for many hospitality brands because too many run their systems with legacy, on-premise technology, Valtr previously told TNW.Mews has built a cloud-based system that helps hotels and other hospitality businesses handle tasks like booking rooms, checking guests in and out, processing payments, and managing housekeeping. It also provides tools for reporting and analytics.The company is riding sustained growth in global travel to fuel its expansion. Mews reported 50% year-on-year growth in 2024, processing more than $10bn in payments volume and surpassing $200mn in revenue. It has also acquired 12 companies in total at it looks to swallow up market share. The most recent acquisitions include Swedens Atomize, a cloud-based revenue management system for hotels, and Germanys HS/3 Hotelsoftware.Mews plans to continue its shopping spree, aiming for up to four acquisitions in 2025. Fuelled by fresh funding, its also looking to expand its presence in the US. Its no surprise then that the main investor in this latest capital raise was American investment firm Tiger Global.The of EU techThe latest rumblings from the EU tech scene, a story from our wise ol' founder Boris, and some questionable AI art. It's free, every week, in your inbox. Sign up now!Tiger Global is a compelling partner for the next chapter of our journey, said Valtr. Their experience with high-growth technology companies and category winners in the US, including Toast, Procore and ServiceTitan, is invaluable as we continue to expand our footprint, accelerate innovation, and pursue strategic acquisitions. Story by Sin Geschwindt Sin is a climate and energy reporter at TNW. From nuclear fusion to escooters, he covers the length and breadth of Europe's clean tech ecos (show all) Sin is a climate and energy reporter at TNW. From nuclear fusion to escooters, he covers the length and breadth of Europe's clean tech ecosystem. He's happiest sourcing a scoop, investigating the impact of emerging technologies, and even putting them to the test. Sin has five years journalism experience and holds a dual degree in media and environmental science from the University of Cape Town, South Africa. Get the TNW newsletterGet the most important tech news in your inbox each week.Also tagged with

As Elon Musk was saluting Donald Trump in the US Congress yesterday, the South Africans divisive politics were opening new doors to his business rivals in Europe.Musks role in the White House had already been linked to Tesla sales and stock tanking. Now, the repercussions appear to have spread to SpaceX.The fallout centres on the companys Starlink satellite internet service.The network has provided a vital communications system to Ukraines military since Russias full-scale invasion began in 2022. But concerns are now growing that the service could soon be disrupted.The of EU techThe latest rumblings from the EU tech scene, a story from our wise ol' founder Boris, and some questionable AI art. It's free, every week, in your inbox. Sign up now!According to Reuters, US officials recently raised the prospect of cutting off Kyivs access to Starlink. Musk, the CEO of SpaceX, refuted the report. Nonetheless, his control over Ukraines connectivity has caused growing alarm. The anxieties have escalated as he and Trump have become increasingly critical of the countrys government.Amid the rising tensions, European satellite internet providers have proposed replacing Starlink with their own systems.Europes rivals to Starlink and TeslaOn Tuesday, Franco-British rival Eutelsat said it was in talks with the EU about extending its internet service to Ukraine. By the days end, shares in the company were up by 77%.As the stock surged, French satellite firm Thales fired another apparent warning about Starlink. Speaking at a results briefing on Tuesday, Thales CEO Patrice Cain pointed to the risks of governments relying on certain network providers.Government actors need reliability, visibility and stability,Caine said. A player that as we have seen from time to time mixes up economic rationale and political motivation is not the kind that would reassure certain clients.Similar concerns have been raised about Musks impact on Tesla. Capitalising on the blowback from his political moves, Swedish EV maker Polestar offered Tesla owners a discount on leases for its latest SUV.Jordan Hofmann, head of sales for Polestar US, said the response had been incredible.This week saw some of the highest order days for Polestar 3, he wrote on LinkedIn.Now, concerns over Starlink may have created another opening for Musks competitors. Story by Thomas Macaulay Managing editor Thomas is the managing editor of TNW. He leads our coverage of European tech and oversees our talented team of writers. Away from work, he e (show all) Thomas is the managing editor of TNW. He leads our coverage of European tech and oversees our talented team of writers. Away from work, he enjoys playing chess (badly) and the guitar (even worse). Get the TNW newsletterGet the most important tech news in your inbox each week.Also tagged with

Its no secret that European tech has a gender equity problem. Men dominate the leadership of most companies in the sector. Women founders struggle to raise VC money, and theres a stark pay gap between male and female workers. This gender imbalance is especially glaring in the STEM-dominated world of deep tech.Women lead just 22% of European deep tech companies, according to a new report from the EU-funded GENDEX project, released today. Securing funding remains a challenge, with women-led firms taking six months longer to sign their first term sheet. Over the past decade, women-led companies raised 1.8 times less capital than those led by men. Even those that get funded often face less favourable terms.European deep tech gender inequity limits diversity of thought and stifles innovation. Its also pouring hundreds of billions of euros in potential revenue down the drain.Data from the GENDEX report shows that women-led deep tech companies have generated over 11% of the total value raised at non-IPO exits in the past decade a disproportionately low figure. However, these firms account for just 0.6% of such deals, highlighting the outsized value created when women take the lead.Group BundlesAchieving greater representation of women-led companies at the exit stage both IPO and non-IPO over the past decade would have unlocked an estimated 198.8bn in additional value, GENDEX found.This data proves we need structural change, said Tanya Suarez, the chair at GENDEX, as well as the CEO of consultancy firm BlueSpecs and founder of tech accelerator IoT Tribe. Not only is it needed to fairly represent women, but evidence shows a gender-balanced ecosystem delivers the best results.Restricting European deep tech talentWhile women make up 42% of STEM graduates in Europe, their representation drops sharply in the workforce. The GENDEX report finds that women account for just 24% of patent applicants, highlighting a talent drain that limits deep techs potential.Tapping into Europes diverse talent pool in the tech and investment sectors in the broadest and most effective way possible is vital if we are to capitalise fully on our many strengths in innovation, said Stphane Ouaki, head of department at the European Innovation Council, which funded the report.The deep tech gender imbalance reflects broader societal gender issues. There is no quick fix addressing it requires systemic change across education, investment, and workplace culture.However, GENDEX makes four key recommendations to remedy the problem. First, investors should demand that companies report on gender diversity before deploying capital. Second, more funding should be allocated to women-led teams, which have been shown to deliver better outcomes. Third, better legal and funding support is needed for women to secure IP rights. Finally, government co-investment should require gender-balanced portfolios to ensure accountability in public funding. This years TNW Conference features a Women in Tech ticket. The pass provides 50% off access to the event, which takes place on June 19-20 in Amsterdam. Story by Sin Geschwindt Sin is a climate and energy reporter at TNW. From nuclear fusion to escooters, he covers the length and breadth of Europe's clean tech ecos (show all) Sin is a climate and energy reporter at TNW. From nuclear fusion to escooters, he covers the length and breadth of Europe's clean tech ecosystem. He's happiest sourcing a scoop, investigating the impact of emerging technologies, and even putting them to the test. Sin has five years journalism experience and holds a dual degree in media and environmental science from the University of Cape Town, South Africa. Get the TNW newsletterGet the most important tech news in your inbox each week.Also tagged with

The obscure world of quantum computing is emerging from the lab and into the public domain fuelled by Big Techs recent progress in quantum processors. In the past few months alone, Google launched a chip called Willow, Microsoft unveiled Majorana, and this week, Amazon revealed Ocelot.While tech giants are making great strides, these companies are still working in dozens of qubits far from the numbers needed for a practical quantum computer. QuantWare, a startup from the Netherlands, could help them unlock millions more.QuantWare claims to have created a 3D chip architecture that offers the fastest route to a 1-million qubit quantum computer and plans to sell it to Silicon Valley. We need to get to around a million qubits for a quantum computer capable of economically-relevant, world-changing calculations, said QuantWares co-founder and CEO Matthijs Rijlaarsdam. These would be large, megawatt-scale systems, comparable to todays AI clusters, he said.The of EU techThe latest rumblings from the EU tech scene, a story from our wise ol' founder Boris, and some questionable AI art. It's free, every week, in your inbox. Sign up now!Qubits, like bits in a regular PC, are the basic units of information in a quantum computer. The more you have, the faster the machine.Even Google took five years to double the number of qubits on its chips from 50 to 100, said Rijlaarsdam. If this is the pace of scaling up, were not going to get there fast enough.Solving the quantum qubit conundrumOne of the biggest bottlenecks to scaling quantum computers is making room for more qubits.Current designs route the electronic signals used to control the qubits to the edge of the chip. But as qubit numbers grow, space runs out.Then youve got components like amplifiers, filters, and mixers that ensure signals are delivered with the right frequency, amplitude, and noise levels to perform accurate quantum calculations. In todays quantum computers, each component is housed on a separate chip in a separate metal box resulting in quantum computers growing too large too quickly.QuantWares core offering vertical integration and optimisation, or VIO promises to solve quantums scaling problem.The 3D chip architecture replaces edge-based wiring, allowing signals to travel from above, producing higher qubit densities. VIO also integrates bulky components like amplifiers and filters onto a single quantum processor or chip. In effect, it creates the quantum computing version of an integrated circuit in modern PCs.We provide the fastest path towards scaling towards a million qubit system, said Rijlaarsdam. And because VIO enables all those qubits to be integrated into one chip, it will be exponentially faster than a system made up of several chips connected together, he said.QuantWare cofounders Alessandro Bruno (left) and Matthijs Rijlaarsdam. Credit: QuantWareRijlaarsdam and Alessandro Bruno founded QuantWare in 2020 as a spinoff from TU Delft. The startup makes its own quantum chips and amplifiers, which are already found in quantum computers in 20 countries. It will use VIO to rapidly scale its processors. But it will also offer the technology to companies building their own quantum machines.Big Tech, big customersAs tech giants compete in the race to a viable quantum computer, QuantWare is positioning itself to cash in. The startup aims to become the quantum equivalent of what TSMC is to Apple or Microsoft in classical computing an enabler, not a competitor.Each Big Tech breakthrough reinforces QuantWares value proposition, said Rijlaarsdam.Quantum computing has transformed in recent years from a speculative moonshot into a technology poised to turbo-charge everything from drug discovery to cryptography. Last year, quantum technologies attracted over $49bn in public and private investment.Quantum computing is less now a science problem than an engineering problem, and it will quickly become an economic problem: how can we scale as quickly as possible? said Rijlaarsdam.Today, QuantWare raised 20mn in Series A funding to further develop VIO and build out its chip fabrication facilities. The round was co-led by Invest-NL Deep Tech Fund and Innovation Quarter. Job van der Voort, founder and CEO of Remote, also came on board as an angel investor.If QuantWares bet on 3D chip architecture pays off, it could offer a route to the million-qubit milestone needed to get quantum computers that truly change the world. The race is on.The next big thing in tech is one of three key themes at TNW Conference, which takes place on June 19-20 in Amsterdam. Tickets for the event arenow on sale. To get 30% off, use the code TNWXMEDIA2025 at the check-out. Story by Sin Geschwindt Sin is a climate and energy reporter at TNW. From nuclear fusion to escooters, he covers the length and breadth of Europe's clean tech ecos (show all) Sin is a climate and energy reporter at TNW. From nuclear fusion to escooters, he covers the length and breadth of Europe's clean tech ecosystem. He's happiest sourcing a scoop, investigating the impact of emerging technologies, and even putting them to the test. Sin has five years journalism experience and holds a dual degree in media and environmental science from the University of Cape Town, South Africa. Get the TNW newsletterGet the most important tech news in your inbox each week.Also tagged with

Fintech startup Cino, a TNW community member, has secured 3.5mn for its shared payments app that lets friends and family pay together.Cino is designed for tech-savvy Gen Zers, who expect to split bills instantly and effortlessly together without financial awkwardness, the company said.Unlike payment request appslike Tikkie ubiquitous in the Netherlands Cino splits bills in real-time, so you dont have to chase down your mates to cough up on that exorbitant sushi bill you covered last week.Cino is available across the EU but, fuelled by fresh funding, the startup will now expand to the UK. Balderton Capital led the seed round, with participation from Connect Ventures, Tera Ventures, and angels including founder of Cleo AI Barney Hussey-Yeo.Cinos CEO Elena Churilova, a former product lead at Bumble, and COO Lina Saleh founded the startupin 2023 to reduce financial friction between friends and family. I realised that everyone was trying to solve the process of settling debt, instead of coming earlier, at the moment of payment, Churilova previously told TNW.The of EU techThe latest rumblings from the EU tech scene, a story from our wise ol' founder Boris, and some questionable AI art. It's free, every week, in your inbox. Sign up now!Cino users link their bank card to the app, where they get a virtual card. They can then create or join custom payment groups with fully adjustable split ratios. Everyones share is then deducted at checkout. Every payment appears in a shared group feed for total transparency, and users can hop in or out of groups anytime.Fintech has always been one-dimensional but we are social creatures, said Churilova. Our payments should reflect how we actually spend money together. Back in the cash days, it was simpler. Now that weve gone digital, payments need to evolve to keep up.Cino said it has seen 100% month-on-month growth in Finland and Italy. Groups use Cino 17 times a month on average, spending up to 3,000. Story by Sin Geschwindt Sin is a climate and energy reporter at TNW. From nuclear fusion to escooters, he covers the length and breadth of Europe's clean tech ecos (show all) Sin is a climate and energy reporter at TNW. From nuclear fusion to escooters, he covers the length and breadth of Europe's clean tech ecosystem. He's happiest sourcing a scoop, investigating the impact of emerging technologies, and even putting them to the test. Sin has five years journalism experience and holds a dual degree in media and environmental science from the University of Cape Town, South Africa. Get the TNW newsletterGet the most important tech news in your inbox each week.Also tagged with

British autonomous driving startup Wayve is set to establish a testing and development hub in Germany as it prepares to deploy self-driving vehicles in Europes largest automotive market.Wayves new hub will be built near Stuttgart, home to big name car brands including Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, and Audi. Alex Kendall, co-founder and CEO of Wayve, called it the perfect place for the company to accelerate the development and testing of AI-powered driving technology.2025 is a year of global expansion for Wayve, and we are incredibly excited to establish operations in Germany, said Kendall.Wayve is already testing its technology in the UK and the US. The startups newtesting hub in Baden-Wrttemberg will focus on refining its Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) features, including lane change assistance, and advancing automated driving technology. The site also offers access to Germanys deep pool of software engineering talent, key to the companys development efforts.Founded in Cambridge in 2017, Wayve fits a regular car with a range of cameras and sensors that interpret the surrounding environment. This data gets fed to Wayves so-called embodied AI system.Group BundlesUnlike many other self-driving AI models, which have to be trained on each possible driving scenario and are confined to geofenced limits, Wayves AI is more free to act and learn on its own. The more the AI drives, the better it becomes at responding to hazards.Wayves approach to autonomous driving is similar to Teslas. But unlike Elon Musks firm, Wayve will sell its technology directly to carmakers. This means you wont have to buy a Tesla to access top spec self-driving tech.I look forward to partnering with Germanys world-leading manufacturers and Tier 1 suppliers to bring safe, scalable, and production-ready AI software to vehicles worldwide, said Kendall.The news follows Wayves mega $1bn raise in May the largest-ever single investment in a European AI startup.SoftBank led the Series C round alongside tech giants Nvidia and Microsoft.Wayve is a singularly important company for Europe, Suranga Chandratillake, partner at Balderton and an early investor in Wayve, told TNW at the time.Embodied AI will be the next big frontier of artificial intelligence bringing machine intelligence to the physical world around us and not just the computer screen that large language models are confined to.The approach has also attracted attention in the US. In August, Wayve secured a strategic investment from Uber, which is integrating autonomous driving tech into its fleet of taxis. Story by Sin Geschwindt Sin is a climate and energy reporter at TNW. From nuclear fusion to escooters, he covers the length and breadth of Europe's clean tech ecos (show all) Sin is a climate and energy reporter at TNW. From nuclear fusion to escooters, he covers the length and breadth of Europe's clean tech ecosystem. He's happiest sourcing a scoop, investigating the impact of emerging technologies, and even putting them to the test. Sin has five years journalism experience and holds a dual degree in media and environmental science from the University of Cape Town, South Africa. Get the TNW newsletterGet the most important tech news in your inbox each week.Also tagged with

Opera has previewed a new AI agent feature that promises to complete online tasks on your behalf, based on simple, written prompts.Want to book a flight but dont want to spend ages comparing prices? Tell the bot your preferred flight times, seats, and budget and itll get to work in the background, letting you carry on with whatever it was you were doing. Once its done, itll add the item to your cart and you can proceed to pay.Unlike existing tools like Google AI assistant or ChatGPT, which help you find information by summarising search results, answering questions, and suggesting links, Operas AI agent does the browsing for you.Opera claims the tool dubbed Browser Operator signals a new paradigm in the history of browsing.The of EU techThe latest rumblings from the EU tech scene, a story from our wise ol' founder Boris, and some questionable AI art. It's free, every week, in your inbox. Sign up now!For more than 30 years, the browser gave you access to the web, but it has never been able to get stuff done for you. Now it can, said Operas executive vice president Krystian Kolondra. This is different from anything weve seen or shipped so far.Browser Operator isnt just for shopping, though. It can search the web for whatever you need, potentially saving you time on menial tasks. Importantly, the tool comes with some built-in safeguards. You see what its doing at every step in the process and can easily pause or cancel any task.Opera claims the AI agent is the first agentic browsing feature launched by any major browser. However, major AI firms are working on their versions of similar systems.Last year, Anthropic launched a computer use feature that allows its Claude chatbot to take over your computer and browse on your behalf. OpenAI unveiled a similar feature Operator in January.Both of those tools, however, are virtual machines that operate in the cloud. Simply put, this means theyre slow. In contrast, Operas tool operates locally, directly on your browser, making it potentially much faster and more secure.Unlike Claude or Operator, Operas agent doesnt take screenshots or capture videos of your screen. By processing tasks locally, it ensures user data remains on the device, which the company said enhances privacy.Opera plans to launch the full version of the Browser Operator in the near future. The tool is the latest in a long line of AI developments at the Norwegian company. In 2023, Opera launched a fully AI-enabled browser, and last year it became the first major browser to integrate large language models (LLMs). Story by Sin Geschwindt Sin is a climate and energy reporter at TNW. From nuclear fusion to escooters, he covers the length and breadth of Europe's clean tech ecos (show all) Sin is a climate and energy reporter at TNW. From nuclear fusion to escooters, he covers the length and breadth of Europe's clean tech ecosystem. He's happiest sourcing a scoop, investigating the impact of emerging technologies, and even putting them to the test. Sin has five years journalism experience and holds a dual degree in media and environmental science from the University of Cape Town, South Africa. Get the TNW newsletterGet the most important tech news in your inbox each week.Also tagged with

Germanys armed forces have commissioned Bremen-based startup Polaris to develop a two-stage, fully reusable hypersonic space plane and given the team just three years to build it.Dubbed Aurora, the 28-metre-long aircraft will be part rocket, part plane designed to take off and land on a runway but also blast through the atmosphere and place payloads up to 1-ton in low-Earth orbit.Under the contract, the startup will design, build, and flight test the spaceplane. The aircraft will serve as a testbed for hypersonic flight and defence research. It could be used as a small satellite carrier if fitted with a non-reusable upper stage, Polaris said.Polaris was founded in 2019 by Alexander Kopp as a spin-off from the German Aerospace Center (DLR). It builds upon over three decades of German and European spaceplane research.Group BundlesThe startup has already built three demonstrators of its Aurora spaceplane. The first, Mira I, crashed shortly after its inaugural flight. But the next two iterations Mira-II and Mira-III had better luck. These 5-meter-long vehicles, each weighing 240kg, have completed over 100 successful test flights since they first launched in September last year.The Mira prototype series relies on jet engines for takeoff, cruise, and landing, while incorporating an aerospike rocket engine for high-speed propulsion tests. First conceived in the 1960s, aerospike engines adjust to air pressure changes at all altitudes, making them more efficient than traditional designs.However, aerospikes never entered the mainstream because they are hard to cool and difficult to build. Polaris work on advanced cooling technologies and materials may just overcome past engineering challenges.Polaris made history in October last year when it conducted the first-ever flight powered by an aerospike engine. The AS-1 engine was ignited in flight for three seconds aboard the Mira-II over the Baltic Sea, delivering a thrust of 900 Newtons and accelerating the 229kg vehicle to 864km/h.The Miras future big sister Aurora, however, will be designed to reach hypersonic speeds above Mach 5 (over 6,125km/h) and beyond.Spaceplanes like Aurora could prove a more cost-effective way to access space than rockets because they can take off from a conventional runway and be reused time and time again just like a plane, but with more juice.Polaris announcement comes days after Germanys incoming Chancellor Friedrich Merz cast doubts over whether NATO would remain in its current form, urging Europe to increase defence spending. Story by Sin Geschwindt Sin is a climate and energy reporter at TNW. From nuclear fusion to escooters, he covers the length and breadth of Europe's clean tech ecos (show all) Sin is a climate and energy reporter at TNW. From nuclear fusion to escooters, he covers the length and breadth of Europe's clean tech ecosystem. He's happiest sourcing a scoop, investigating the impact of emerging technologies, and even putting them to the test. Sin has five years journalism experience and holds a dual degree in media and environmental science from the University of Cape Town, South Africa. Get the TNW newsletterGet the most important tech news in your inbox each week.Also tagged with

Gene-edited pig livers, synthetic embryos, and 3D-printed tissue implants the world of organ transplantation is becoming increasingly bizarre as scientists explore high-tech ways to keep people alive.These experiments are birthing new business opportunities. One company cashing in is University of Oxford spinout OrganOx, which this week secured $142mn in funding to fuel its expansion in the US as it mulls a potential IPO.OrganOxs Metra machine pumps oxygenated blood and nutrients through the liver, mimicking natural conditions during a transplant. This helps the organ stay healthier for up to 12 hours longer than traditional methods giving doctors more time to find a suitable recipient and improving transplant success rates. To date, the technology has been used in more than 5,000 transplant operations.OrganOx isnt the only player disrupting organ preservation, which has relied on one technique static cold storage for decades.The of EU techThe latest rumblings from the EU tech scene, a story from our wise ol' founder Boris, and some questionable AI art. It's free, every week, in your inbox. Sign up now!Across the pond, Paragonix Technologies has developed an organ transportation device that preserves organs by cooling them and then pumping a special preservation solution through them. This helps to keep the organ cells alive and reduces damage during transport or storage, ensuring the organ stays viable for transplant. The tech caught the eye of Swedish medical-equipment giant Getinge, which acquired Paragonix for $477mn last year.Meanwhile, US biotech scaleup eGenesis, founded in 2015, has raised $456mn to advance xenotransplantation using CRISPR gene-editing techniques to develop human-compatible organs derived from pigs. Yes, you read that correctly: pig organs for human transplants.Last year, surgeons at the University of Pennsylvania successfully attached one of eGenesis genetically-altered pig livers to a brain-dead person. The organ functioned normally for 72 hours. The team used OrganOxs machine to carry out the transplant. The endeavor aims to address the chronic shortage of donor organs from humans, potentially saving countless lives. In December 2024, there were over 104,000 people in the US waiting for an organ donor. Every day, 17 people die waiting.Craig Marshall, CEO of OrganOx, said that the company is preparing to launch clinical trials for new devices designed to assist kidney transplants, as well as advance its work in genetically-engineered pig livers.Other companies are taking organ transplantation into the realm of science fiction and raising some ethical questions in the process. Renewal Bio, a startup from Israel, is using cutting-edge stem-cell science to create synthetic human embryos. The company wants to use the embryos grown in an artificial womb as a source for harvesting cells and tissues for medical applications, such as organ transplants.While Renewal Bio insists that these entities are not intended to develop into human beings, the potential for creating embryos that resemble people raises ethical questions about the limits of scientific experimentation. Story by Sin Geschwindt Sin is a climate and energy reporter at TNW. From nuclear fusion to escooters, he covers the length and breadth of Europe's clean tech ecos (show all) Sin is a climate and energy reporter at TNW. From nuclear fusion to escooters, he covers the length and breadth of Europe's clean tech ecosystem. He's happiest sourcing a scoop, investigating the impact of emerging technologies, and even putting them to the test. Sin has five years journalism experience and holds a dual degree in media and environmental science from the University of Cape Town, South Africa. Get the TNW newsletterGet the most important tech news in your inbox each week.Also tagged with

For decades, European tech insiders have looked across the Atlantic with a mix of admiration and frustration. Casting envious eyes on the deep-pocketed VCs, an enormous consumer market, and a pipeline of elite talent,they often view the US as a promised land for business growth.The sentiment fuels calls for Europe to replicate Silicon Valleys model. But Vidya Peters, CEO of Dutch unicorn DataSnipper, argues this approach is flawed.Rather than merely mimicking US tech, she urges startups and scaleups to embrace Europes strengths. A key one is sustainable, long-term growth.Five years ago, it wasnt very fashionable to be profitable, Peters tells TNW. But I think this is where the European sensibility is a strength, because European companies have always taken this approach, and now its hugely valued in the current economic climate.This sharply contrasts with Silicon Valleys growth-at-all-costs mentality. European businesses are already benefiting from this distinct approach. When you watch some of these companies come out, they are much more durable in their growth and competitive advantage, Peters says.Group BundlesDataSnipper is a prime example. The company was profitable early on, scaled rapidly, and recently hit a $1bn valuation. Ahead of her headline talk at TNW Conference in June, Peters shared a few secrets behind the companys success.One is based on another European trademark: data protection. Privacy and security are integral features of DataSnippers core product, an AI-powered platform that automates repetitive finance and audit procedures.Its been super important to our customers that were not training on their documents and data and thats been a central piece of how we built our AI products, Peters says. We review and look at their data to provide insights, but that data is theirs.The company must also abide by the EUs stringent data laws. Critics argue that these rules stifle innovation, but Peters points to the advantages.Europe really has the opportunity to lead in this space by balancing innovation with customer data protection, she says.By embedding safety and transparency into AI, she continues, startups and scaleups can carve out a competitive edge over US rivals.Doing it from a base of trust can help European companies win customers in a different way than their American counterparts can.DataSnipper also has roots in another European hallmark: a bar in Amsterdam.From Amsterdam to the worldIn 2017,Maarten Alblas and Jonas Ruyterwere having a beer. Joining them was a friend who worked in auditing for KPMG. He faced a common affliction in his profession: an enormous spreadsheet that required painstaking scrutiny. He had to search through the document for invoices, bank statements, and receipts all the while cross-checking the data.Alblas and Ruyter believed software could ease his suffering. They settled on a solution: an intelligent automation platform that would dramatically increase the quality and efficiency of common audit procedures. The idea led to the founding of DataSnipper.Their software proved a hit with auditors. Soon, their user base had spread from the Netherlands to the UK and Germany. After finding success in Europe, they targeted new markets beyond the continent.To further fuel the growth, the company appointed Vidya Peters as CEO in 2023. She joined with expertise honed in Silicon Valley, most recently as Chief Marketing Officer of MuleSoft. During her time at the software giant, the company went public on the NYSE before being acquired by Salesforce for $6.5bn.She later gained extensive experience of Europes tech landscape. In 2019, she served as Chief Operating Officer of Marqeta, a payment processing firm. Again, she helped her company go public. In 2022, Marqeta made its market debut on the Nasdaq. The company ended the day with a market cap of over $16bn.At DataSnipper, she set her sights on accelerating growth and global expansion.The strategy has reaped rewards. In 2024, Deloitte named DataSnipper the fastest-growing tech company in the Netherlands for the second year in a row. Last month, the business reached the coveted unicorn status after raising $100mn at a $1bn valuation. Over 500,000 audit and finance professionals across more than 125 countries now use the software.As DataSnipper scaled, the company benefited from another European advantage: access to international talent.DataSnippers talent pipelinePeople undervalue the ability to hire from across the world here, says Peters.DataSnipper has directly benefited from this access. From the Netherlands, the company can hire global talent on a visa with greater ease than in the US. Peters describes this as a secret weapon for European startups and scaleups.It is much easier to do so with the visa opportunities that you have in Europe, the ability to issue work visas is significantly easier in Europe than it is in the US.A diverse range of people now work for DataSnipper. In the companys Amsterdam headquarters, 70% of employees are from outside the Netherlands.Thats incredibly valuable because we have every language that you could possibly want to sell in Europe, and you can attract them right here to Amsterdam, says Peters.DataSnippers global outlook has been instrumental in its expansion. After establishing itself in Europe, DataSnipper opened offices in New York, Tokyo, Kuala Lumpur, and Mexico City.Despite its global expansion, DataSnipper remains firmly rooted in the Netherlands. One of the countrys many attractions is a simple matter of time.People forget that America is not the heart of the world, says Peters. You can wake up in Europe and sell to Asia Pacific. And after your lunch, you can sell to the US.Europes pros and consDespite the advantages of life in Europe, startups here still face substantial challenges. One is the diverging regulations, tax laws, and banking systems, which present roadblocks to growth across the continent.Were not taking full advantage of being part of one European Union and allowing companies to expand within the continent, Peters says. It would be tremendously beneficial if we could open locations within Europe, just like you would in the US, in a different state.Funding is another hurdle. European VCs tend to be more risk-averse, making capital harder to secure. We had conversations with probably every major venture capital firm in the US they were pounding on our door, says Peters. Yet the European VCs were not reaching out.For DataSnipper, that wasnt a big problem. The US firms alone had produced anoversubscribed round. Nonetheless, Peters was surprised: where were the European investors? With curious timing, they started reaching out after the funding was announced.Was it the risk appetite? Peters wonders. What was it that made them a little bit more cautious?These are common questions in European tech. But startups and scaleups dont need to wait for the answers.Peters advises them to think beyond borders. Dont be limited to the country you are in or to Europe, she says. Reach out to VCs all over the world.When that happens, Peters hopes that Europes investment landscape will shift to a braver funding model. But even if it doesnt, companies across the continent can forge their own paths to success.Vidya Peters will provide further insights atTNW Conference, which takes place on June 19-20 in Amsterdam. Tickets for the event arenow on sale. To get 30% off, use the code TNWXMEDIA2025 at the check-out. Story by Thomas Macaulay Managing editor Thomas is the managing editor of TNW. He leads our coverage of European tech and oversees our talented team of writers. Away from work, he e (show all) Thomas is the managing editor of TNW. He leads our coverage of European tech and oversees our talented team of writers. Away from work, he enjoys playing chess (badly) and the guitar (even worse). Get the TNW newsletterGet the most important tech news in your inbox each week.Also tagged with

Venus Williams is most famous for being one of the best tennis players of all time, but shes also a prolific angelinvestor. In her latest business move, Williams has backed French startup WeWard.WeWard is a free app that offers real-world rewards for walking. It tracks your steps and lets you earn points (called Wards), which can be exchanged for gift cards, donations, or discounts. The goal is to encourage people to be more active while benefiting from their daily movement.Williams has invested an undisclosed sum in the company and will also act as an ambassador. WeWard, meanwhile, has committed to donating $25,000 to her charity, CARE, and will host a month-long Venus Williams Championship where users can unlock up to $40,000 in donations by reaching step milestones.A large part of staying well and active is simply by moving your body whichever way you can, and with WeWard, walking becomes a fun and rewarding experience, said Williams, whose portfolio also includes French social investing app Shares and Pelago, a British startup tackling substance abuse via virtual clinics.The of EU techThe latest rumblings from the EU tech scene, a story from our wise ol' founder Boris, and some questionable AI art. It's free, every week, in your inbox. Sign up now!Beyond physical rewards, users can collect virtual trading cards dubbed WeCards placed at specific locations on the map, a bit like Pokmon Go. Users can compete with friends or join virtual leagues, tracking their progress on leaderboards and earning gold, silver, or bronze medals based on activity levels.The idea is to incentivise people to walk further and more often and it seems to be working. Approximately 6.5 million WeCards are collected daily by the roughly 20 million people who use the app, the company said.Walking plansWeWards CEO, Yves Benchimol, founded the startup in 2019 alongside Nicolas Hardy and Tanguy de la Villegeorges. The company is almost completely bootstrapped, save for a few hundred thousand euros in seed funding raised in 2020.While WeWard has not raised much capital itself, it has handed plenty of money out. To date, the company has given $20mn in cash back to users and $1mn to charity partners, it claims.WeWard generates revenue through retail partnerships, advertising, and features like Playtime, where users can earn additional rewards by engaging with third-party mobile games directly through the app.WeWard is just one of a cohort of pro-walking fitness startups. Rivals include Walk15, a Lithuanian company thats trialled its tech with public healthcare services. Walk15s co-founder and CEO, Vlada Musvydait-Vilciauske, told TNW last year that she wants to create a pharmacy for walking. Story by Sin Geschwindt Sin is a climate and energy reporter at TNW. From nuclear fusion to escooters, he covers the length and breadth of Europe's clean tech ecos (show all) Sin is a climate and energy reporter at TNW. From nuclear fusion to escooters, he covers the length and breadth of Europe's clean tech ecosystem. He's happiest sourcing a scoop, investigating the impact of emerging technologies, and even putting them to the test. Sin has five years journalism experience and holds a dual degree in media and environmental science from the University of Cape Town, South Africa. Get the TNW newsletterGet the most important tech news in your inbox each week.Also tagged with

Most of us share and store huge amounts of personal data online, from our names and addresses to photos of our loved ones. In many ways, firms like Apple, Google, and Meta are the gatekeepers of this sensitive information. But what happens when the authorities come knocking? It appears that Silicon Valley often rolls over and complies.Over the last 10 years, Apple, Google, and Meta have handed over data on 3.1 million accounts to the US government, according to a new report by Swiss software company Proton.The number of times officials have requested user data from Big Tech has skyrocketed by an average of 600% over the same timeframe, Proton found. Metas data sharing surged by 675%, marking the largest increase, followed by Apple at 621% and Googleat 530%.Apple, Google, and Meta comply with between 80-90% of US government data requests, according to Proton. This potentially includes handing over user emails, files, messages, and other highly personal information.The of EU techThe latest rumblings from the EU tech scene, a story from our wise ol' founder Boris, and some questionable AI art. It's free, every week, in your inbox. Sign up now!While data requests also saw an uptick from countries including Germany, France, and the UK, the US took the lions share.All thats required for the government to find out just about everything it could ever need is a request message to Big Tech in California, said Raphael Auphan, COO of Proton. And as long as Big Tech refuses to implement widespread end-to-end encryption, these massive, private data reserves will remain open to abuse.Data sharing with US authorities has surged since 2014. Credit: ProtonGovernment desires for dataProton best known for its products ProtonMail, ProtonVPN, and ProtonDrive has long positioned itself as a privacy-first alternative to Big Tech firms. However, the company also complies with its fair share of government requests for user data.According to Protons own transparency report, it received 13 data requests from Swiss authorities back in 2017, soaring to 6,378 by 2024. Of those, it complied with 5,971 of the requests. Thats 93% higher than the Big Tech companies highlighted in the new report.However, unlike Silicon Valleys giants, Proton encrypts emails, files, and VPN traffic in a way that even the company itself cannot read or access. So, even if authorities demand data, theres very little it can provide.In no circumstances can we share emails, files, contact lists, calendar entries or other personal content, a Proton spokesperson told TNW. We cannot share what we do not have.Moreover, Proton operates under strict Swiss privacy laws, which means foreign governments cannot request data from it without first going through Swiss courts, adding an extra layer of security for users.But under specific circumstances, the company can hand over metadata about the account, including IP address, email address, and recipient emails.Proton is dedicated to protecting user privacy but that does not mean its a safe haven for illegal activity, the spokesperson said. Proton is subject to national laws and has legal obligations, to which we are obliged to comply unless we have legal grounds to contest, which does not happen very often in Switzerland. Story by Sin Geschwindt Sin is a climate and energy reporter at TNW. From nuclear fusion to escooters, he covers the length and breadth of Europe's clean tech ecos (show all) Sin is a climate and energy reporter at TNW. From nuclear fusion to escooters, he covers the length and breadth of Europe's clean tech ecosystem. He's happiest sourcing a scoop, investigating the impact of emerging technologies, and even putting them to the test. Sin has five years journalism experience and holds a dual degree in media and environmental science from the University of Cape Town, South Africa. Get the TNW newsletterGet the most important tech news in your inbox each week.Also tagged with

As the US and China pursue dominance in the global technology race, concerns are mounting among European founders that the regions entrenched bureaucracy is impeding its capacity for innovation and growth.The EU is going overboard on tech regulation, said Job van der Voort, CEO and founder of Remote, an HR tech company valued at over $3bn. Its stifling innovation and its a massive risk for Europe.Van der Voort told TNW that many business leaders share his view. Most entrepreneurs agree this is a huge problem, he said.Indeed, such concerns are being raised with growing frequency.Register NowAt a conference in Paris earlier this month, the likes of Mistral CEO Arthur Mensch and DeepMind founder Demis Hassabis repeatedly called for regulation in Europe that is flexible enough to support innovation and competitiveness. A little over a week later, Dutch software unicorn Bird took drastic steps to escape overregulation, announcing plans to move most of its operations out of Europe.I think more companies will be forced to do the same [as Bird], said van der Voort. But the biggest impact will be at the early stage.The founder highlighted the ongoing trend of European startups crossing the Atlantic to scale. Research by London-based VC Hoxton Ventures found that nearly all European startups with over $500mn in revenue including Spotify, Wise, and Adyen succeeded by winning the US market.Van der Voort believes burdensome tech regulation is encouraging moves beyond the continent. Its becoming unattractive to start and maintain a business here, he said. Thats why I tell startups to leave Europe if they want to succeed.Van der Voort has followed his own advice. After he and Marcelo Lebre founded Remote in 2019, the partners decided to base the company in San Francisco. It was simply easier to start it there, he said.Remote, which helps businesses hire and manage remote teams, has grown rapidly since then. In 2022, the company raised $300mn in a Series C round that pushed its valuation above $3bn.The EU needs to consider its own fate over the next decades, warned van der Voort. Regulation standing in the way of innovation that makes it harder for startups and is incredibly hurtful for the economy. Job van der Voort is a former speaker atTNW Conference, which takes place on June 19-20 in Amsterdam. Tickets for the event arenow on sale. Use the code TNWXMEDIA2025 at the check-out to get 30% off the price tag. Story by Sin Geschwindt Sin is a climate and energy reporter at TNW. From nuclear fusion to escooters, he covers the length and breadth of Europe's clean tech ecos (show all) Sin is a climate and energy reporter at TNW. From nuclear fusion to escooters, he covers the length and breadth of Europe's clean tech ecosystem. He's happiest sourcing a scoop, investigating the impact of emerging technologies, and even putting them to the test. Sin has five years journalism experience and holds a dual degree in media and environmental science from the University of Cape Town, South Africa. Get the TNW newsletterGet the most important tech news in your inbox each week.Also tagged with

German startup Proxima Fusion whose team includes engineers from MIT, Google, SpaceX, and McLaren has unveiled a fusion energy reactor design it believes offers the quickest route to commercially viable fusion power.Dubbed Stellaris, the machine is a quasi-isodynamic (QI) stellarator with high-temperature superconducting (HTS). This type of reactor uses complex, twisted magnetic fields to confine hot plasma, creating the conditions needed for fusion reactions.Stellaris is designed to operate in continuous mode and be intrinsically stable, Francesco Sciortino, Proximas co-founder and CEO, told TNW. No other fusion power plant design has yet been demonstrated to be capable of that. Stellaris design builds on the Wendelstein 7-X, the worlds largest stellarator, located at the Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics in Germany. While Wendelstein 7-X was developed for research, Stellaris could one day power the grid.The of EU techThe latest rumblings from the EU tech scene, a story from our wise ol' founder Boris, and some questionable AI art. It's free, every week, in your inbox. Sign up now!Proxima aims to bring the design to life with its first demonstrator Alpha slated for completion in just six years. Alpha will be the first-ever fusion device demonstrating net energy production in a steady state, said Sciortino. The machine will lay the foundation for Proximas first 1GW fusion reactor, which the company hopes will power up sometime in the 2030s.Stellarators have several advantages over their more popular cousin, the tokamak (the type adopted by ITER mega project under construction in France). They need less power to operate and are more stable. Their biggest drawback is complexity stellarators are notoriously hard to design and build. This is why they were largely set aside in the 1960s for the tokamak. However, advances in computational power are closing the gap.An AI-enabled fusion reactor designSimilar to other industries like automotive or aerospace, Proxima uses AI supercomputers to rapidly iterate the best fusion reactor designs based on key parameters like cost, material availability, and efficiency. So instead of having to build multiple prototypes, Proxima can jump straight into building a functioning demonstrator.The understanding of complex geometry and its consequences is everything in stellarators, said Sciortino. AI is helping Proxima to uncover patterns that lead to simpler, faster, and cheaper designs.Stellaris is designed to generate more power per unit volume than any previous stellarator. High-temperature superconducting (HTS) magnets create stronger magnetic fields, allowing for smaller, faster-to-build, and more efficient reactors. This approach also reduces costs in both construction and operation. Stellaris uses only existing materials, making it buildable with todays supply chains, the company said. Full details of the reactor were published today in the journal Fusion Engineering and Design.The renders of Stellaris feature a unique twisting design. Credit: Proxima FusionMunich-based Proxima made history in 2023 as the first company to spin out from the esteemed Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics, one of the worlds leading fusion research centres. The institute focuses exclusively on fusion and has more plasma physicists than MIT.Proxima raised 20mn in funding last year as it looks to turn the mind-bending physics of fusion into a viable business. When Proxima started its journey, the founders said, This is possible, well prove it to you, and they did, said Ian Hogarth, a partner at Plural, one of Proxima Fusions earliest investors. Stellaris positions QI-HTS stellarators as the leading technology in the global race to commercial fusion. Story by Sin Geschwindt Sin is a climate and energy reporter at TNW. From nuclear fusion to escooters, he covers the length and breadth of Europe's clean tech ecos (show all) Sin is a climate and energy reporter at TNW. From nuclear fusion to escooters, he covers the length and breadth of Europe's clean tech ecosystem. He's happiest sourcing a scoop, investigating the impact of emerging technologies, and even putting them to the test. Sin has five years journalism experience and holds a dual degree in media and environmental science from the University of Cape Town, South Africa. Get the TNW newsletterGet the most important tech news in your inbox each week.Also tagged with

An AI-powered note-taking app developed by Munich-based startup Bliro could offer a more secure way to transcribe audio.Bliro uses natural language processing and machine learning algorithms to extract relevant information from in-person or virtual conversations. It then generates structured meeting notes and automates follow-up tasks. So far, pretty standard.However, unlike popular transcription tools like Otter, Fireflies, or Notta, Bliro isnt a bot that hops onto your call, records an audio file, and then transcribes it. Instead, the platform transcribes in real-time, ensuring that no audio recordings of conversations are ever created.This guarantees compliance with strict privacy and security requirements like GDPR, the company said. That also means you dont need the other partys consent to record, streamlining the note-taking process.Register NowMaurice Schweitzer, Bliros co-founder, told TNW that the approach eliminates risks associated with audio and video recordings.A transcript lacks personally identifiable elements like voice or facial recognition, making it impossible to verify who said what with absolute certainty, he said. For those transcripts that do contain personal information like names, the company prioritises compliance at every step, Schweitzer added.Schweitzer co-founded Bliro in 2022 alongside data scientist Martin Thoma, as a privacy-first transcription tool, spun out from AI research at the Technical University of Munich.In addition to eschewing the recording process, Bliro encrypts all data processed in the app and stores it on servers in Frankfurt. It does not share data with third parties, including its own employees, without explicit consent. Nor does it use user data to refine its AI models, the company said.Many large companies avoid recording-based solutions due to privacy and compliance concerns making Bliro the only viable option for them, said Schweitzer.Bliro targets customer-facing teams who use the app to automate meeting transcriptions, generate AI-driven summaries, and create follow-up actions while maintaining privacy and compliance. The app currently supports 15 languages.Today, Bliro announced it has raised 2.8mn in a funding round led by German early-stage VC LEA Partners, with participation from 468 Capital and Dutch seed investor Rockstart. Bliro also launched its iOS app, which transcribes and analyses face-to-face conversations.The new funding will be used to accelerate product development and win more customers. Schweitzer said more than 1,000 companies already use Bliro, including well-known German brands such as ImmoScout24, OMR, and Telefnica Germany. Story by Sin Geschwindt Sin is a climate and energy reporter at TNW. From nuclear fusion to escooters, he covers the length and breadth of Europe's clean tech ecos (show all) Sin is a climate and energy reporter at TNW. From nuclear fusion to escooters, he covers the length and breadth of Europe's clean tech ecosystem. He's happiest sourcing a scoop, investigating the impact of emerging technologies, and even putting them to the test. Sin has five years journalism experience and holds a dual degree in media and environmental science from the University of Cape Town, South Africa. Get the TNW newsletterGet the most important tech news in your inbox each week.Also tagged with

Dutch software firm Bird is moving most of its operations out of the Netherlands and opening new global hubs as it seeks a reprieve from overregulation in Europe, said co-founder and CEO Robert Vis.The AI Act, financing, compensation, taxes, employment law starting and running a company [in Europe] is hard, Vis told TNW, adding that there are too many disparate markets that are overregulated with no clear vision for the future while the world around us is changing.Bird (formerly MessageBird) is one of the Netherlands leading tech scaleups, reaching unicorn status in 2018. Birds main product is a cloud-based platform that manages customer communications across messaging apps, calls, video, SMS, and email. The company also recently launched a new AI employee chatbot, which handles tasks such as responding to customer inquiries, qualifying leads, and providing personalised support.Vis is now looking overseas to fuel the companys next advances.Both The Hague and Brussels enjoy being in meetings and talking more than they get shit done, Vis said, adding that EU policymakers are killing innovation. Amsterdam-based Bird will now open up three new offices in the US, and one each in Singapore, Dubai, and Istanbul. It will also open a meditation, rejuvenation, and health centre in Thailand for its employees, Vis said in a LinkedIn post.Nevertheless, Bird will maintain an office in Lithuania and keep its tax base in the Netherlands for now so its not leaving the EU entirely.Earlier this month, Bird cut 120 jobs roughly one-third of its total workforce, which is mainly based in Europe. New AI tools contributed to the staff cuts, said Vis, but it was also an effort to position our teams closer to our customers in the Americas and Asia, he told TechCrunch.The news comes as the EU pushes ahead with its landmark AI Act, which entered force last year. The act lays out a rulebook for governing AI based on risk levels, designed to ensure the technology is deployed safely, transparently, and ethically.The US, meanwhile, is moving in the opposite direction. While the EU imposes strict rules, the Trump administration is removing AI restrictions and giving tech sector leaders such as Elon Musk prominent roles in government.There is no stopping this technology whether we like it or not, said Vis. Whatever the future will hold if you want to compete you need to be liberal not restrictive.Vis is a former speaker atTNW Conference, which takes place on June 19-20 in Amsterdam. Tickets for the event arenow on sale. Use the code TNWXMEDIA2025 at the check-out to get 30% off the price tag. Story by Sin Geschwindt Sin is a climate and energy reporter at TNW. From nuclear fusion to escooters, he covers the length and breadth of Europe's clean tech ecos (show all) Sin is a climate and energy reporter at TNW. From nuclear fusion to escooters, he covers the length and breadth of Europe's clean tech ecosystem. He's happiest sourcing a scoop, investigating the impact of emerging technologies, and even putting them to the test. Sin has five years journalism experience and holds a dual degree in media and environmental science from the University of Cape Town, South Africa. Get the TNW newsletterGet the most important tech news in your inbox each week.Also tagged with

Two European sports tech startups are heading to the US for an R&D programme run by media giant Comcast.Irelands Orreco will cross the Atlantic with a trove of athletic performance software, while Icelands Oz Sports will bring an AI-driven camera system. On arrival, the duo will join Comcast NBCUniversal SportsTech, a six-month accelerator.During the programme, the companies will tap into expertise from various industry leaders. Among them are Comcast broadcasting networks NBC Sports, Sky Sports, and the Golf Channel from Comcasts broadcasting empire. Further support will come from a star-studded squad of partners, including the Premier League, the PGA Tour, and NASCAR.Register NowThe diverse lineup of experts is a key selling point.On a video call from Comcasts headquarters in Philadelphia, Jenna Kurath, Head of Comcast NBCUniversal SportsTech, said the programme is powered by partnerships.By bringing the best of innovation into our organisation, forging those strategic relationships with emerging startups, and working alongside some of the most elite sports organisations in the world, were able to really push us beyond the status quo, Kurath told TNW.The collaborative approach has one overall target: cultivating a new generation of sports tech. But for the teams involved, the attractions are varied.The selected teams receive new routes to accelerate product development, forge industry relationships, and refine commercial strategies. Their partners gain access to emerging technologies that could enhance future broadcasts and sporting events.Comcast, meanwhile, can get an edge on market trends, strengthen partnerships, unlock new revenue streams, and enhance customer experiences. The company is also investing in startups selected for the programme.Inside the programmeThe potential benefits have proved alluring for startups. Over 1,600 teams applied to this years programme. The cohort was then whittled down to just 10 companies.Kurath breaks down the selection process into three key criteria. The first is, is it a problem were solving? The second is, do we have a line of sight on how well test and pilot that technology over the six-month programme and beyond? But probably most important of all is, is this the team that we believe can do it and is this the team we want to work alongside?Orreco impressed the selectors with an AI sports analytics platform. The software interprets camera data, blood biomarkers, GPS, and other data sources. It then provides personalised insights on performance, nutrition, training, sleep, and recovery.OZ Sports, meanwhile, earned a spot on the roster after developing an AI-driven, multi-camera 4K60p HDR production unit for broadcasting. The system offers remote sports coverage in top-notch quality at a fraction of the price.With Comcast recently winning new rights to NBA and Premier League games, the system could support the expanded coverage. This is a really cost-effective, efficient way for us to do that and make it the best broadcast experience, Kurath said.Orreco and Oz Sports join a range of European companies that have entered the programme.Europes sports tech rosterOne recent European graduate is the UKs Kymira, which developed infrared-infused recovery apparel for the Philadelphia Flyers ice hockey team. The gear was initially built for the players, but the benefits have also been tested on front office staff.Another alumnus is Manchester-based Dizplay, meanwhile, makes sports fans active participants in the spectator experience. In partnership with Sky Sports, the startup introduced a Viewers Verdict for boxing broadcasts, allowing audiences to share real-time opinions and enhance social commentary. This technology could also expand beyond sports, bringing interactivity to live news, talk shows, and other broadcasts.A third British graduate, Tickets for Good, provides a platform that offers discounted tickets to tailored audiences. That could mean sports fans, but it could also serve teachers or first responders.Were always looking for companies that are proving themselves in the grand stage of sports, but when they have extensibility into other areas of our business, its just all the more powerful, Kurath said.For European members of the programme, the accelerator offers a springboard to the worlds biggest market.A lot of the international companies are very strong within their own specific country, but are looking to break into the US market, Kurath said. It is huge, it is nuanced. It is not an easy market. The sports industry is not an easy one to break into, so were opening doors for them and giving them really deep customer insights on what it means for your technology to succeed in the US market. Story by Thomas Macaulay Managing editor Thomas is the managing editor of TNW. He leads our coverage of European tech and oversees our talented team of writers. Away from work, he e (show all) Thomas is the managing editor of TNW. He leads our coverage of European tech and oversees our talented team of writers. Away from work, he enjoys playing chess (badly) and the guitar (even worse). Get the TNW newsletterGet the most important tech news in your inbox each week.Also tagged with

Europes biggest food delivery firm Just Eat Takeaway.com is set to be acquired by tech investor Prosus for 4.1bn, in one of the biggest acquisitions in the history of Dutch tech.Prosus the investment arm of South African tech firm Naspers has agreed to buy Just Eat Takeaways shares at 20.30 each in an all-cash offer. Thats a 22% premium over the delivery apps recent three-month high but only a fifth of its pandemic-era peak of above 100 per share. Following the announcement, Just Eat Takeaways shares climbed 53% on the Amsterdam Stock Exchange this morning.Just Eat Takeaway was formed in 2020 through the merger of UK-based Just Eat and Dutch company Takeaway.com. The 7.4bn deal made the Amsterdam-based company which has been both a speaker and partner at TNW Conference one of the worlds largest food delivery platforms.However, its been a turbulent few years for Just Eat Takeaway since then, amid cooling demand and tough competition from rivals. The company also had a few missteps, most notably its botched takeover of US delivery app Grubhub. Just Eat Takeaway acquired Grubhub for $7.3bn in 2021 only to sell it off for $650mn just three years later.Register NowFor Prosus, the deal is an opportunity to turn Just Eat Takeaway into a European tech champion, said its CEO, Fabricio Bloisi.The Prosus plan for Just Eat TakeawayProsus already owns iFood, Latin Americas largest food delivery platform. The firm also has stakes in Germanys Delivery Hero, Chinese shopping platform Meituan, and Swiggy, a grocery delivery app in India.Prosus firm has wanted to add Just Eat Takeaway to its delivery empire for years. The South African-ownedtried to hijack the merger of Just Eat and Takeaway.com in 2019 with a 5.1bn (6.1bn) bid. Just Eat Takeaway announced the deal today alongside its annual results, reporting a 35% jump in pre-tax profits for 2024, reaching 460mn. Jitse Groen, the companys CEO, said it was now a faster growing, more profitable, and predominantly European-based business.Groen hopes that Prosus expertise in the delivery sector and AI technology will bring further profits for Just Eat Takeaway.Prosus fully supports our strategic plans, and its extensive resources will help to further accelerate our investments and growth across food, groceries, fintech and other adjacencies, said Groen.Just Eat Takeaway confirmed that its current leadership would remain in place under the agreement, which is still subject to shareholder approval.If the deal is approved by shareholders and the relevant authorities, it will be one of the largest acquisitions of a Dutch tech company in history.Other notable buyouts in the country include Warburg Pincus and Apax Partners 5.1bn acquisition of T-Mobile Netherlands in 2021 and Siemens 628mn purchase of Rotterdam-based software startup Mendix in 2018. US chip maker Qualcomms $44bn attempt to acquire its Dutch rival NXP in 2018 wouldve been by far the largest buy, but it fell through after failing to win approval from Chinese regulators. Dutch tech will be a hot topic atTNW Conference, which takes place on June 19-20 in Amsterdam. Tickets for the event arenow on sale. Use the code TNWXMEDIA2025 at the check-out to get 30% off the price tag. Story by Sin Geschwindt Sin is a climate and energy reporter at TNW. From nuclear fusion to escooters, he covers the length and breadth of Europe's clean tech ecos (show all) Sin is a climate and energy reporter at TNW. From nuclear fusion to escooters, he covers the length and breadth of Europe's clean tech ecosystem. He's happiest sourcing a scoop, investigating the impact of emerging technologies, and even putting them to the test. Sin has five years journalism experience and holds a dual degree in media and environmental science from the University of Cape Town, South Africa. Get the TNW newsletterGet the most important tech news in your inbox each week.Also tagged with

Europes startup scene has entered troubled waters. Long overshadowed by Silicon Valley and now being chased down by China,thecontinent is urgently looking for boosts. Increasingly, the search is leading to ecosystems.The ecosystem model creates networks of individuals, organisations, and resources. Their shared expertise and resources can produce a multiplier effect, driving innovation and accelerating growth.A core component of European ecosystems is the EU. While its tech strategy often faces criticism, the bloc has also played a key role in driving startup success.Just ask Nicolas Benady, the CEO of Swan, a thriving banking-as-a-service (BaaS) fintech based in France.Our company wouldnt exist without the European Union, he says.The of EU techThe latest rumblings from the EU tech scene, a story from our wise ol' founder Boris, and some questionable AI art. It's free, every week, in your inbox. Sign up now!Benady points to the impact of the Payment Service Directive, an EU law that established standardised rules for electronic payments. The legislation sparked the success of many global fintech leaders, from Revolut to Adyen. They finally had a chance to compete with banks in payments.Swan has reaped the benefits. Last month, the startup announced it had raised 42mn the second part of a Series B round that brought Swans total funding to an estimated 100mn.Without this directive, I dont think wed have so many fintechs today in Europe, Benady says.Fintechs are far from the only beneficiaries of the EU ecosystem but the network still needs work.At TNWs Nurturing Scaleup Success webinar on Tuesday, Benady joined a panel of European tech experts to explain the power and peril of ecosystems. Their message was clear: no startup scales alone. Their success depends on a thriving ecosystem of partners.4 pillars of a thriving ecosystemJason Lynch, CEO of quantum computing startup Equal1, has firsthand experience of the power of ecosystems. His company has partnered with Arm on computing breakthroughs, collaborated with Nvidia to blend hardware with software, and teamed up with the Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research (TNO) on product development.Equal1 also recently secured investment from TNO. To strengthen the alliance, the startup has set up shop in another component of the Dutch ecosystem: the House of Quantum in Delft, a national campus for quantum startups.Lynch has high hopes for the relocation. Being in a centre of excellence is a critical piece of an ecosystem, he says.At the TNW webinar now available to watch on-demand Lynch broke down four crucial benefits of an ecosystem.1. TalentAs Silicon Valleys network effects continuously prove, startups benefit immensely from proximity to talent. The House of Quantum provides another promising example. With a steady stream of experts flowing through the site, the centre is giving Equal1 a fresh talent pipeline.2. InfrastructureComputation costs for startups can be astronomical. With access to shared infrastructure, startups can achieve dramatic savings.3. PartnershipsTech firms often rely on complex supply chains. Ecosystems offer a route to bring each component together. What a centre of excellence like Delft offers is an ability to work very closely with companies that are just across the corridor, says Lynch.4. CustomersEnd users are drawn to areas with substantial expertise and companies. They help startups to validate and commercialise their products more quickly. A hub like this really attracts in those end users, says Lynch.Yet Lynch also has concerns about EU ecosystems. Chief among them is a failure to commercialise ideas.Its well-recognised that European research is leading the world. People would probably say that bringing that research to market is where Europe has more of a challenge. For me, thats about speed, getting out of the way of startups, and trying to lower the barriers as much as possible.The money streamsEU policymakers are often slated for providing insufficient support to startups. There are growing signs, however, that their attitudes are changing.Clotilde Hocquard, Public Affairs Lead at France Digitale, a European organisation that connects startups and investors, points to several positive developments.One is an expansion of funding streams, such as a new EU initiative to mobilise 200bn for AI investments. Another is Frances Tibi Initiative, which brings institutional investors together with accredited VC firms to encourage tech investing. It should be replicated at the European level, Hocquard says.Big ideas like this have been hard to bring to life, but theyre now attracting growing support. Hocquard noticed the momentum shift after last years publication of the Draghi Report, which revealed alarming problems for European innovation.Policymakers are starting to realise that they need to do something to make sure startups can thrive in Europe, she says.Despite the positive signs, Hocquard wants faster progress. She points to another example set in the US.We have to make sure to mobilise pension funds and insurers, like in the United States. And we have to make sure the money is targeted towards VC funds and to finance innovation.But funding isnt the only challenge for EU ecosystems.The double-edged sword of regulationSwan may only exist thanks to EU rules, but the blocs regulation is a double-edged sword.One big problem is the diversity of laws. Despite the single market, the EUs legislation is fragmented. We dont have anything single, says Hocquard. We have 27 member states doing what they want with their rules.This smorgasbord of laws raises barriers to scaling across borders. If the ecosystem could harmonise the rules, startups would face smoother paths to expansion.Hocquard points to company law as a powerful and straightforward initial target. She also urges member states to stop twisting EU rules in different directions.If theres a European law, it should be applied in a uniform way across the continent, she says.Ecosystems for scaleThe urge to scale can lead to premature decisions. Benady advises early-stage founders to first focus on the product-market fit.Once you start to see commercial traction, then you have to scale your company and this is a totally different game, he says.At that point, ecosystems become a key player. For Swan, they provided a vital boost to the companys progress.At first, however, Benady underestimated the value of two essential supporting structures.Even though my investors warned me, I paid attention a little bit too late to HR and finance, he admits. When you scale, you cant mess with HR and finance.Benady compares their impact to musicians in a band.Finance and HR are the drum and the bass. Thats not what you hear; you hear the singer, you hear the guitar but if you dont have a perfect drum and bass, you wont scale your company. So pay attention to finance and HR.To make sweet startup music, ecosystems need an orchestra of instruments. They require one section for talent, a second for infrastructure, another for partnerships, and a fourth for customers.They also need the public and governments to hum along. The goal now is convincing citizens that investing in innovation is actually investing in the future of Europe, Hocquard says. Once we have the citizens with us, we need the policymakers to make all the legal changes.With that support, Europes band of startups could be heading for the world stage.Ecosystems will be a hot topic at TNW Conference, which takes place on June 19-20 in Amsterdam. Tickets for the event are now on sale. Use the code TNWXMEDIA2025 at checkout to get 30% off the price tag. Story by Thomas Macaulay Managing editor Thomas is the managing editor of TNW. He leads our coverage of European tech and oversees our talented team of writers. Away from work, he e (show all) Thomas is the managing editor of TNW. He leads our coverage of European tech and oversees our talented team of writers. Away from work, he enjoys playing chess (badly) and the guitar (even worse). Get the TNW newsletterGet the most important tech news in your inbox each week.Also tagged with

Elon Musks MAGA politics are fast becoming a mega problem for Tesla.New registrations of Tesla vehicles plummeted across Europe last month amid widespread boycotts against the EV brand. While broader economic forces are at play, Musks role in the Trump administration and his open support of far-right politicians appears to be fuelling his companys precipitous fall from grace and gifting rival brands a golden opportunity.Germanys transport authority reported that new Tesla registrations in January fell by nearly 60% year-on-year. Thats despite the countrys battery-electric vehicles sector seeing a combined 53.5% growth in sales last month.Dramatic declines in registrations were also reported in Spain (75.4%), France (63.4%), Sweden (46%), and the Netherlands (42.5%). The dip has been linked to the behaviour of Teslas CEO.Register NowThere is no doubt that the Musk factor has influenced Teslas sales in the same way as his reputation impacted Twitter when he bought it and rebranded it as X, Andrew Fellows, an automotive industry expert at Star, a market intelligence firm, tells TNW.Musk, an already divisive figure, has gone on a MAGA rampage in recent months, with the worlds richest man and the social media platform X, which he owns fast becoming a mouthpiece for Trump-era conservatism.In Europe, Musk has openly endorsed Germanys populist AfD, even hosting an interview on X where he heaped praise on the partys leader Alice Weidel. At the Trump inauguration on January 20, Musk made a controversial hand gesture, which many interpreted as a Nazi-style salute.Musks actions are either despicable or courageous, depending on whom you ask. But for those who deplore his actions, Tesla a brand hard to set apart from its leader is an obvious target.The backlash against TeslaOn January 23, political campaigners beamed an image of Musk making the Nazi-like salute along with the word Heil onto Teslas gigafactory in Berlin.After Musk joined an AfD rally by video call in late January, Polands Tourism Minister Slawomir Nitras called for a boycott ofthe EV brand. In early February, a Tesla showroom in the Netherlands was defaced with swastikas and anti-fascist slogans.Its not hard to argue that public sentiment against Musk is souring. However, whether the entrepreneurs actions are hurting Teslas bottom line is harder to measure.One of the best ways to gauge that is to ask Tesla owners.In the Netherlands, one in three Tesla drivers want to get rid of their car because of Musk, according to a recent survey. One such individual is Tim Kraaijvanger, the founder of Tesla360.nl, a Dutch site dedicated entirely to Tesla products. In an ironic twist, Kraaijvanger recently sold his Tesla and bought a Polestar instead.I do not wish to be associated with [Musks] ideology, he told Wired. While Musk might get away with a [Nazi-like] salute in some parts of the world, European markets reject such behaviour.Musks antics could be good news for other EV-makers, as more people like Kraaijvanger jump ship. Its a fantastic opportunity for rival manufacturers, says Fellows.Among those poised to take advantage is Polestar, the Swedish EV brand. Polestars CEO Michael Lohscheller said that the company has seen a spike in enquiries from disgruntled Tesla owners in recent months and hes encouraging his salespeople to target them.We get a lot of people writing that they dont like all this, Lohscheller told Bloomberg News. Its important to listen closely to what they say. And I can tell you, a lot of people have very, very negative sentiment.Some drivers, not yet ready to part with their Tesla, have begun attaching stickers to their cars bearing messages such as, I bought this car before Elon went crazy. Even some of Teslas employees want to distance themselves from their boss, according to the Washington Post.As of today, Tesla stock has fallen 15% in the last month.Tesla is developing a serious reputational problem, says Fellows. The automotive industry expert believes Musk and Trump share around 30% of the blame for the EV makers sales decline. He attributes the remaining 70% to industry factors.The blame gameTeslas Model Y was Europes best-selling car in 2023, but intense competition has challenged the brands market share. In 2024, Teslas sales declined by 1.1%, its first drop in over 10 years. In September, Chinese automaker BYD became the worlds leading EV brand, thanks to its aggressive pricing strategy.While Tesla has made modest changes to its lineup in the past few years, rival brands like VW, Renault, and BMW have been rolling out new models, sometimes with lower prices.Tesla has also been subject to many of the same challenges as other EV makers slowing demand, supply chain shocks, and decreased subsidies for first-time buyers. But the company also has some unique issues of its own.Tesla was already facing several headwinds in 2025 before CEO Elon Musk found himself at the centre of several controversies with the potential to impact the companys sales volume and profitability, Peter McNally, senior analyst at London-headquartered research firm Third Bridge, tells TNW.Musks firm has also been busy updating its Model Y, which McNally believes contributed to the sales drop as customers wait for the latest model before upgrading. The refreshed Model Y is set to go on sale in the US next month.Musks antics couldnt have come at a worse time for Tesla, as it grapples with intense competition, an ageing model lineup, and a wider slump in demand for electric vehicles.Teslas reputation in Europe now largely hinges on its CEO unless the company decides to oust him. Story by Sin Geschwindt Sin is a climate and energy reporter at TNW. From nuclear fusion to escooters, he covers the length and breadth of Europe's clean tech ecos (show all) Sin is a climate and energy reporter at TNW. From nuclear fusion to escooters, he covers the length and breadth of Europe's clean tech ecosystem. He's happiest sourcing a scoop, investigating the impact of emerging technologies, and even putting them to the test. Sin has five years journalism experience and holds a dual degree in media and environmental science from the University of Cape Town, South Africa. 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Shares in European aerospace and defence companies soared to record highs this week, elevating expectations for the continents military tech startups.Britains BAE Systems leapt by 9% on Monday, while Germanys Rheinmetall jumped by 14%. Stocks in Swedens Saab, Italys Leonardo, and Frances Thales also boomed. By the days end, the Stoxx Europe aerospace and defence index had hit an all-time peak.Military tech firmshave also been surging. Kate Leaman, chief market analyst at online broker AvaTrade, said these companies have huge potential for growth particularly those with AI-driven solutions.Were already seeing a shake-up in the defence sector, with AI-focused players like Palantir outperforming more traditional defence giants, Leaman told TNW. This suggests that cutting-edge, tech-centric firms could possibly capture a sizeable share of the market.Register NowEuropean defence tech startups have also grabbed investors attention.In 2024, they attracted a record $5bn in VC funding a 24% increase over the previous year.The momentum has raised expectations of future public listings.Many defence tech startups havent gone public yet, but with the market heating up and investor interest growing, theres a strong possibility well see more IPOs in the near future, Leaman said.That could open the door to fresh investment opportunities and raise the profile of these emerging companies.The push for defence techThe spending spree comes amid mounting concerns about Europes military sovereignty.Leaders across the continent have been shaken by the Russia-Ukraine war and tensions with the Trump administration.Ukraines President, Volodymyr Zelensky, has called for the creation of an army of Europe. His French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, has urged his allies to wake up and spend more on defence. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyenwants to trigger an emergency clause exempting military expenditures from the fiscal restraints on EU countries.A growing share of their budgets is going to military tech and startups are beginning to cash in.According to a new report from McKinsey, investment in European defence tech startups increased by over 500% between 2021 and 2024 compared to the previous three years.The report added, however, that the sector remains about five years behind the USs in terms of maturity.A major factor in this gap is the struggle to secure late-stage funding a common problem for European startups across industries.Nonetheless, the rise of defence tech is set to continue.Military spending is rapidly moving away from traditional hardware toward software, drones, and robotic solutions, Leaman said. As a result, defence tech companies specialising in these areas may enjoy increasing demand for their products and services.Defence tech is a key theme at this years Assembly, the invite-only policy track ofTNW Conference. The event takes place on June 19 and 20 a week before the NATO Summit arrives in Amsterdam. Tickets for TNW Conference arenow on sale. Use the code TNWXMEDIA2025 for an exclusive subscriber discount. Story by Thomas Macaulay Managing editor Thomas is the managing editor of TNW. He leads our coverage of European tech and oversees our talented team of writers. Away from work, he e (show all) Thomas is the managing editor of TNW. He leads our coverage of European tech and oversees our talented team of writers. Away from work, he enjoys playing chess (badly) and the guitar (even worse). Get the TNW newsletterGet the most important tech news in your inbox each week.Also tagged with

A British R&D unit thats been compared to DARPA is funding synthetic muscles, electronic skin, and mechanical hands for a robotics dexterity project.The Advanced Research and Invention Agency (ARIA) today unveiled the 10 teams selected for the programme. Their mission: usher in a new era of dexterity that will transform robotics and human productivity.Members of the group span startups, university labs, public research organisations, and large companies. Collectively, they will receive 52mn to advance the physical dexterity of robots.The funds aim to bridge the software-hardware gap in robotics,which has widened during the AI boom.The of EU techThe latest rumblings from the EU tech scene, a story from our wise ol' founder Boris, and some questionable AI art. It's free, every week, in your inbox. Sign up now!Robot bodies now lag behind advances in computation. Their failure to match the flexibility, speed, and precision of humans has severely restricted their use.Algorithms, meanwhile, are rapidly reaching new levels of intelligence. ARIA wants the hardware to catch up.The agency argues that theres a pressing need for progress. The proportion of the global population aged over 65 is set to triple by 2100. At the same time, labour shortages for physically demanding jobs are increasing. Robots could provide essential support.The robotics teamsMembers of the programme have proposed diverse solutions to the challenge.Arthur Robotics, a startup based in London, wants to commercialise an mechnical hand inspired by biology. Focused on manufacturing, the motorised limb blends soft, deformable contact surfaces with rich tactile sensing and reinforcement learning.A team led by Lorenzo Jamone, an associate professor in robotics and AI at University College London, will develop electronic skin. Based on magnetic technology, the skin aims to measure 3D contact forces at multiple points. It can also bend and stretch.Startups from outside the UK are also contributing. Denmarks Pliantics will create soft linear actuators, which will serve as artificial muscles that enhance a robots physical interactions. Another set of artificial muscles will be built by Artimus, a US company, alongside researchers from the University of Bristol.Nicholas Kellaris, the co-founder and Chief Research Officer of Artimus, praised the projects emphasis on cooperation.This programme is unique in how it encourages and actively facilitates collaboration amongst creators at all levels of development, from fundamental hardware to the simulation, integration, and validation of full solutions, he said. Were thrilled to have the opportunity to [join] this multi-level and cross-disciplinary approach.The ARIA modelEstablished in 2023, ARIA funds high-risk, high-reward research. The strategy has drawn comparisons to DARPA, a US Department of Defence agency that develops emerging technologies.The Pentagon unit has been involved in a variety of transformative innovations, from the internet and GPS to stealth technology and autonomous vehicles.At ARIA, a diverse array of projects is already underway. One unveiled last year plans to provide quantitative safety guarantees for AI with digital gatekeepers. Another aims to create early warning systems for climate tipping points. A third looks to nature to train AI at 0.1% of the cost.With the arrival of the robotics dexterity teams, ARIA is now adding futuristic hardware to its labs.You can find the full list of the concepts in the programme here. Story by Thomas Macaulay Managing editor Thomas is the managing editor of TNW. He leads our coverage of European tech and oversees our talented team of writers. Away from work, he e (show all) Thomas is the managing editor of TNW. He leads our coverage of European tech and oversees our talented team of writers. Away from work, he enjoys playing chess (badly) and the guitar (even worse). Get the TNW newsletterGet the most important tech news in your inbox each week.Also tagged with

British startup Earthwave and a group of European scientists have used satellite data to map out glacial melt across the globe and the results are alarming.The team discovered that the European Alps glaciers have shrunk the most of all 39% in just over two decades, compared to a global average of 5%.Earthwave co-founder Livia Jakob said the project was invaluable to our understanding of glacier ice loss.We developed an algorithm to combine all the different datasets into one common estimate of glacier mass balance, giving us a new and improved picture of glacier behaviour in the past two decades, Jakob told TNW via email.The of EU techThe latest rumblings from the EU tech scene, a story from our wise ol' founder Boris, and some questionable AI art. It's free, every week, in your inbox. Sign up now!Across the world, glaciers have lost an average of 273 billion tonnes of ice per year since 2000, according to the research, which was published in Nature today. Thats equivalent to the entire global populations drinking water consumption for 30 years.And the situation is snowballing. The rate of ice loss increased from 231 billion tonnes per year (20002011) to 314 billion tonnes per year (20122023) and doesnt show any signs of slowing down.The Alps worst hitTemperatures in Europes highest mountain range are rising twice as fast as the global average. Swiss glaciers lost 6% of their total volume in 2022 alone, following intense summer heatwaves.Dust from the Sahara could also be to blame for the rapid decline of central Europes glaciers. Particles in the air come from the Sahara desert and settle on glacier surfaces, darkening the ice. This causes them to absorb more solar radiation and melt faster.But ultimately, human-induced climate change is the greatest culprit. If greenhouse gas emissions keep increasing, scientists predict the Alps could lose over 90% of their glacier mass by 2100.Glacial retreat spells trouble for millions who rely on glacial melt for drinking water, agriculture, and hydropower while coastal communities brace for the rising tides. Over the study period, glaciers contributed 18mm to global sea-level rise.The research was conducted as part of the Glacier Mass Balance Intercomparison Exercise, or Glambie for short. The project is a major research initiative coordinated by the World Glacier Monitoring Service (WGMS) hosted at the University of Zurich, in collaboration with the University of Edinburgh and Earthwave.Jakob co-founded Earthwave in 2018. The startup uses satellite remote sensing to monitor the effects of climate change or help other scientists unlock valuable insights from satellite data.Eyes over glaciersWhile many have experienced glacial decline first-hand, tracking it planet-wide is a bit more challenging. Thats where satellites can help.Numerous satellites monitor Earths ice thickness from orbit. They use optical, radar, laser, and gravimetry instruments to provide data on glacier loss, sea ice changes, and rising sea levels.The Glambie study used this information to compile one of the most comprehensive overviews of glacier retreat ever conducted.The study included data from satellites including the USAs Terra/ASTER and ICESat-2, the USGerman GRACE, the German TanDEM-X, and the European Space Agencys CryoSat.As global temperatures continue to rise, studies like these deepen our understanding of how glacial melt impacts freshwater supplies, ecosystems, and sea-level rise and what must be done to mitigate the worst effects of climate change. Story by Sin Geschwindt Sin is a climate and energy reporter at TNW. From nuclear fusion to escooters, he covers the length and breadth of Europe's clean tech ecos (show all) Sin is a climate and energy reporter at TNW. From nuclear fusion to escooters, he covers the length and breadth of Europe's clean tech ecosystem. He's happiest sourcing a scoop, investigating the impact of emerging technologies, and even putting them to the test. Sin has five years journalism experience and holds a dual degree in media and environmental science from the University of Cape Town, South Africa. Get the TNW newsletterGet the most important tech news in your inbox each week.Also tagged with

British tech mogul Mel Morris has announced the general release of AI research engine Corpora.ai.The system provides a new approach to research. Built to generate comprehensive reports from single prompts, Corpora promises in-depth analysis and accurate outputs.Speed is another big selling point. According to Corpora, the engine can process 2 million documents per second.After receiving a prompt, the AI model scans through academic papers, news articles, legal documents, and other data on the web. The content is then compiled into summaries or reports.Corpora has sharedan array of the results. They range from analyses of autism and AI investments to reports on documentaries about the Roswell incident. Links to sources are provided throughout every text.The of EU techThe latest rumblings from the EU tech scene, a story from our wise ol' founder Boris, and some questionable AI art. It's free, every week, in your inbox. Sign up now!Were a research engine were not a search engine, Morris said. The breadth and depth of what we produce and look at is really important.Morris shared news of Corporas public release exclusively with TNW.The announcement marks another milestone in his colourful career.Behind the AI research engineA self-made tycoon who left school at 16, Morris is the former chairman of Candy Crush creator King. When the company went public in 2014, Morris became one of Britains richest men. A further windfall flowed from his dating website uDate, which he sold for around $150mn.An ill-fated spell running Derby County Football Club bit a painful chunk out of his fortunes, but Morris remains a wealthy man.Last August, he placed in the top 10 of the first-ever Sunday Times Gaming Rich List.A substantial slice of his funds is now going into Corpora.ai.Corpora.ai vs OpenAIAlongside the launch announcement, Morris revealed that hes invested $15mn of his own money into Corpora.His funding aims to create a new business model for LLMs. Rather than challenge the leading GenAI firms, Corpora plans to bring a new service to the sector. The research engine can also integrate existing models on the market.We dont compete with OpenAI, Google, or DeepSeek, Morris said. The nice thing is, we can play with all of these AI vendors quite nicely. As they improve their models, our output gets better. Its a really great symbiotic relationship.Those outputs are where Corpora plans to make its mark. According to the companys tests, the engine produces superior research at faster speeds and lower costs than the latest reasoning models on the market.The service is now available via a subscription-based model. Users are offered monthly plans tailored to their needs.To tempt them in, Corpora is also introducing an array of new features:Instant running of new queries on highlighted textHashtags to categorise reports easy searchingSupport across more than 20 languagesAccess to lesser-known studies, alternative viewpoints, and hidden connectionsPrioritisation of original sources to eliminate repetitive or derivative contentMorris envisions Corpora.ai digger further into research than the likes of OpenAI and DeepSeek.These technologies skim the tip of the iceberg, he said. Were letting you see beneath the surface. Story by Thomas Macaulay Managing editor Thomas is the managing editor of TNW. He leads our coverage of European tech and oversees our talented team of writers. Away from work, he e (show all) Thomas is the managing editor of TNW. He leads our coverage of European tech and oversees our talented team of writers. Away from work, he enjoys playing chess (badly) and the guitar (even worse). Get the TNW newsletterGet the most important tech news in your inbox each week.

Do you remember your first phone? The thought of mine brings a tear to my eye. It was a beautiful blue Nokia 3310 and it was borderline indestructible. Best of all, the handset had the greatest mobile feature of all time: Snake.It also offered calls and SMS, but I had little use for those extravagances. I had a pay-as-you-go contract, and money was tight back then. I also had a home phone and Mum footed the bills. As for SMS, what was the point of that when you had the joys of MSN Messenger available for free?Mobile calls and texts were strictly reserved for emergencies like getting attacked in the street. Unfortunately, when that moment came, the assailants also stole my beloved Nokia 3310.Those were the days. They were also the days when Europe led the world in mobile telecoms. Finlands Nokia was the worlds largest handset manufacturer, with Swedens Ericsson holding down third place. US rival Motorola sandwiched the two Scandinavian competitors.Yet none of them could maintain those positions for long. Europe lost its lead due to slow adoption of smartphones, weak software ecosystems, and fierce competition. American and Asian manufacturers now dominate the industry.But Europes old mobile guard isnt finished yet. The continents phone makers are still finding new routes into the market.One of them stems from the resurgence of dumbphones. A reminder of simpler times, the basic bricks offer a digital detox and an escape from relentless data harvesting.A range of new versions have recently been launched. Older ones are also enjoying comebacks including the legendary 3310.Hackaday recently spotlighted a technique that revitalises the classic handset: installing a USB-C socket.The mod is the brainchild of Andrea Salvadori, a developer based in Italy. Salvadori adds the USB-C port by integrating a small adapter into the phone. Hes selling the parts online for 25.My beloved 3310 would have cherished the upgrade, but the old device is sadly no longer with me. Thankfully, a host of modern dumbphones are now available.Europes dumbphone rallyMany of the new dumbphones are made in Europe. One thats caught our eye is the plastic-and-fantastic Barbie Phone. Built by Finlands HMD Global in partnership with Mattel, the handset launched last year.HMD bills the handset as a tool to take a vacation from your smartphone. It features a few basic apps and one extremely intriguing game: Malibu Snake. Digital wellbeing tips and Barbie Meditation are also available on the flip phone.TNW contributor Sin Geschwindt was dazzled by the device. Well, his four-year-old daughter was. I love that pink one, she said. Wow stickers. I want it!Adults have also been impressed, but the lurid pink and Barbie branding arent for everyone. Fortunately, there are numerous other dumbphones on the market.An impressive number of them are built by European companies. Among them are the Nokia 2660 Flip, the Swiss-made Punkt MP02, and the 6820 from Swedish firm Doro.Europe may have lagged behind in the smartphone era, but the continent is now leading the dumbphone revival. Story by Thomas Macaulay Managing editor Thomas is the managing editor of TNW. He leads our coverage of European tech and oversees our talented team of writers. Away from work, he e (show all) Thomas is the managing editor of TNW. He leads our coverage of European tech and oversees our talented team of writers. Away from work, he enjoys playing chess (badly) and the guitar (even worse). Get the TNW newsletterGet the most important tech news in your inbox each week.Also tagged with

The US continues to hog the global herd of unicorns, dwarfing the EU in both the number and total valuation of billion-dollar startups. However, the Netherlands provides a minor bright spot, according to a new report by PwC.More than 3,000 companies worldwide have reached unicorn status since 2013, collectively reaching a staggering valuation of $27 trillion, according to the study. The US accounts for 55% of these and a whopping 75% of their total valuation.In stark contrast, the EU has contributed just 9% of billion-dollar startups and generated 4% of global unicorn value in that timeframe.Despite the blocs poor performance, the Netherlands punches above its weight, ranking as the fourth-largest unicorn hub in the EU.The country has produced 32 unicorns, with 72% still active. Most emerged between 2018 and 2022, mirroring global trends.The majority of the active flock have engaged with TNWs services. Among them are Ayden, Bird, Bunq, Booking.com, and Picnic.Overall, Dutch unicorns account for 11% of the EU total, ranking behind Germany, France, and Sweden. Amsterdam alone hosts 7% of all unicorns in the bloc.The Netherlands has also done better than most at attracting unicorns to relocate. Five billion-dollar startups have migrated to the country. Only one unicorn has left for the US.In contrast, 64 unicorns have left the EU (excluding the Netherlands) while only 10 startups have entered from outside its borders.The data was released just days after a worrying report on the Dutch tech ecosystem. The new findings provides a glimmer of hope for the Netherlands, but also raises concerns.Like the rest of the EU, the country lags far behind the US in fostering high-growth companies, even after adjusting for economic size, population, and venture capital availability.New tips on breeding unicornsThere are four primary reasons why the US remains the preferred playground for billion-dollar startups, according to PwC.First, venture capital intensity (as a share of GDP) is significantly higher in the US than in Europe 0.7% compared to just 0.2%.Second, regulatory fragmentation is causing disruption. Differences in language, local business conditions, and the lack of an integrated capital or banking union can impede growth.Third, the sheer size and uniformity of the US domestic market provide a competitive edge. Finally, companies often move stateside to access a deeper talent pool.If the EU wants to close the unicorn gap, PwC advises the bloc to act decisively. Increasing venture capital investment, streamlining regulations, and fostering a more integrated single market could help startups scale faster.The EUs tech ecosystem will be a hot topic atTNW Conference, which takes place on June 19-20 in Amsterdam. Tickets for the event arenow on sale. Use the code TNWXMEDIA2025 at the check-out to get 30% off the price tag. Story by Sin Geschwindt Sin is a climate and energy reporter at TNW. From nuclear fusion to escooters, he covers the length and breadth of Europe's clean tech ecos (show all) Sin is a climate and energy reporter at TNW. From nuclear fusion to escooters, he covers the length and breadth of Europe's clean tech ecosystem. He's happiest sourcing a scoop, investigating the impact of emerging technologies, and even putting them to the test. Sin has five years journalism experience and holds a dual degree in media and environmental science from the University of Cape Town, South Africa. Get the TNW newsletterGet the most important tech news in your inbox each week.Also tagged with

Sustainability tech has been all the buzz in the last few years. Investors are hunting promising ESG businesses, governments are pushing ambitious legislation, and companies are getting on board to adopt new solutions. Sustainability funding is projected to reach unprecedented levels, with BCG Henderson Institute estimating accumulated global investment to achieve net zero to hit $75 trillion by 2050.And yet, behind the curtain, the picture isnt quite as rosy. According to Statista, VC investment in sustainability and climate tech has been steadily declining since 2021. While AI startups often manage to secure funding rounds within mere weeks, sustainability-focused companies can spend years in fundraising limbo. As a partner at VC consulting agency Waveup, Ive seen dozens of exceptional startups forced to bootstrap despite having validated technology and clear market potential from sustainable agriculture solutions to carbon capture technologies.Something just doesnt add up in venture capital. Why arent investors backing the innovations needed to create a more sustainable future? The core issue lies in how they evaluate investment opportunities.When looking at sustainability tech companies, most VCs expect rapid adoption, hockey-stick growth, and massive total addressable markets (TAMs) (understandably so, as otherwise, the VC formula might simply not work). They apply the same metrics and expectations used for SaaS and AI startups, and while some sustainability companies might fit this mould, many simply are too early in market adoption to demonstrate these characteristics.Register NowConsider one of the clients we worked with developing revolutionary ocean-cleaning technology. The team managed to build a product with a clear and proven ability to drastically lower ocean pollution by reducing the amount of microplastics that enter the water. Despite recognition from the UN and an excellent client roster, the company has struggled with financing for years. For VCs, an absence of rapid growth overshadowed patented tech, past environmental impact, and excellent business economics. While recognising impressive results, most investors couldnt get comfortable with the adoption timeline and speed of growth as, for many corporate clients, sustainability investments remain a nice-to-have category rather than a must-have.It doesnt help that many sustainability solutions require buy-in from multiple stakeholders within organisations, leading to longer and more unpredictable sales cycles. Worse, many companies also need significant upfront investment in physical assets or infrastructure, unlike purely software-based startups. The result? Gloomy statistics: while traditional tech companies typically take three years from Series A to Series B, sustainability technologies need an average of seven-plus years to achieve scale.The bottom line: impact investments arent yet firmly matching traditional VC returns. While theres been a concerted push since 2015 to argue that impact returns are approaching venture returns, the data often tells a different story and this performance gap creates a fundamental tension with the VC model. Venture funds operate under strict constraints: they have fiduciary duties to their limited partners, closed-end fund structures, and defined timelines for delivering returns. A funds ability to raise Fund II or III depends entirely on the performance of its previous investments. In this context, backing good investments that havent proven viable enough becomes paradoxically risky even for an industry built on taking risks.Rethinking the climate tech modelFinancing the next generation of climate techmight require new solutions from everyone. The question is, are investors truly willing to find new models?With many VCs (without calling out names), were seeing a troubling trend: rather than looking for new ways to adapt investment frameworks and funding mechanisms or dedicating more time to sourcing high-potential nascent climate tech startups, they hire consultants to reposition their existing portfolio companies as ESG-friendly. Essentially, this involves finding an ESG angle in otherwise traditional software companies to report to LPs strides made in financing sustainable tech solutions. Needless to say, this approach does little to drive meaningful environmental and social change.Whats the alternative? We have a few ideas.1. Rethink traditional funding mechanismsVC investors need to work with other ecosystem players to offset financing risks while balancing risks and returns. Today, leading impact investors are working to combine traditional VC money with impact-first capital and structuring investments with different return tranches for various investors. Some use catalytic capital to de-risk early-stage investments or create revenue-based financing options for steady-growth sustainability companies. Others develop outcome-based funding models tied to impact metrics.For companies struggling with VCs altogether, evergreen funds that dont have fixed lifecycles and allow for extended holding periods can better match sustainability techs development timelines. Corporate venture capital and large corporations facing pressures to transition to net zero can also become viable backers by providing both capital and pilot opportunities for sustainability startups.2. Provide actionable help to accelerate the road to scalingMonthly advice in board meetings will be valuable, but the true contribution lies in hands-on help driving adoption. The best impact investors put their time where their money is by partnering with corporate venture arms to secure pilot opportunities and market validation for their portfolio companies, collaborating with government agencies on grants and subsidies, and working with industry consortiums to accelerate adoption.3. Adjust metrics and expectationsInvestors need to consider new frameworks for evaluating sustainability investments. Traditional SaaS metrics could be replaced with impact-adjusted indicators that consider both financial and sustainability outcomes or allow for longer return lifecycles that align with the sectors development timeline and adoption curves.Important to note: this isnt about lowering standards; its about adapting them to match the unique characteristics of sustainability technologies.For VCs, the question shouldnt be whether to invest in sustainability tech but how to adapt their approach to these critical innovations. Without this shift in perspective, we risk missing out on the next wave of transformative technologies that could help address our most pressing environmental and social challenges. After all, the biggest risk might not be backing sustainability tech too early but too late.Tech investing is a key theme of this summers TNW Conference. The event takes place on June 19 and 20 and tickets are now on sale. Use the code TNWXMEDIA2025 for an exclusive subscriber discount. Story by Olena Petrosyuk With 10 years of experience in corporate finance and consulting, Olena Petrosyuk has worked in the world's top-tier M&A and consulting t (show all) With 10 years of experience in corporate finance and consulting, Olena Petrosyuk has worked in the world's top-tier M&A and consulting teams. She currently serves as a partner at the VC consulting agency Waveup. Get the TNW newsletterGet the most important tech news in your inbox each week.Also tagged with

For the third time, stop tapping! my primary school teacher screams at me from across the room. I must not have heard her the first two times. Id been drumming on the desk again, using my fingers for sticks and the floor beneath for a kick drum. While my body was in maths class, my mind was elsewhere.It was 1970. I was John Bonham, drummer of legendary rock band Led Zeppelin, on stage at the Royal Albert Hall, performing Moby Dick one of the most iconic drum solos of all time. The lights are low, the atmosphere electric, and Im thundering along, each beat pulling the crowd deeper into my rhythmic spell.These kinds of daydreams happened a lot. More than my teacher, and my parents, would have liked. But that didnt stop me. Drumming was my creative outlet, an escape from the whirlwind of adolescence and maths, of course.Back then, the ultimate form of musical immersion was playing drums to my favourite tunes. For that, you had to get your hands on drumless tracks. This way you wouldnt just play with your favourite drummer you could become your favourite drummer.The of EU techThe latest rumblings from the EU tech scene, a story from our wise ol' founder Boris, and some questionable AI art. It's free, every week, in your inbox. Sign up now!But in the early 2000s, removing drums from a song was almost impossible. The only option was to get your hands on an original recording of the band playing the song without drums. There were a few of these tracks scattered across the web or recorded on CDs, but only for the most popular songs. This technological impasse forced me, and millions of others, into the role of backup drummer. If only there were a simple way to remove the drums from any song, I musedFast forward to the present day and my musical dreams have become reality. There are now several apps that use AI to separate and remove stems like bass, drums or vocals from any song. One of them is Moises, founded by Brazilian web developer Geraldo Ramos.Like me, Ramos is a drummer. Unlike me, hes also a tech whizz.Ive been involved with computers since very young, but I also play the drums, Ramos tells TNW. I always had these two tracks in my life: music as a hobby, and then tech as a career. With Moises, I bought the two together.Ramos first launched Moises using Spleeter, an open-source AI model created by the research team at French music streaming company Deezer. Spleeter was revolutionary for the time, but it was built for researchers, not musicians. Ramos took the model and used it to create an alpha version of the Moises app. Over 50,000 people signed up within the first week.I realised that this was just the tip of the iceberg this new generation of tools will be able to change everything, how people create, consume, produce music, says Ramos.Geraldo Ramos, the founder and CEO at MoisesMoises says it now has 50 million registered users on its platform. The app is used by amateurs looking to practise their craft. Its also endorsed by an ensemble of rising stars.YouTube drummer Jorge Garrido, aka El Estepario Siberiano, says the tool is a total game changer.Now not only can I play any drum part over the songs that I cover but also I can learn any song by extracting the drums out of the original mix, he tells TNW.El Estepario, from Valencia, Spain, rose to fame through viral Instagram videos. The drummer, who has over 4.5 million subscribers on YouTube, is one of a cohort of young musicians using technology to perfect their art and reach wider audiences. Increasingly, that includes using artificial intelligence.Tools like AI are just making things easier, he says. You no longer require a PhD in mastering to be able to master nor do you need a PhD in audio engineering to separate the instruments on a song. Technology is the new democracy for artists.You judge the results in this clip of El Estepario in action:How does AI separate drums from a song?Moises developers train their machine learning algorithms on thousands of stems so that the AI can learn to recognise the unique frequencies and rhythms of each instrument. Over time, it gets better at identifying and separating these sounds from mixed audio, even when they overlap.Once the AI isolates and removes an instrument, it fills in the space by reconstructing the remaining audio, smoothing over any gaps to make it sound seamless.While Moises got its break with song separation, it has since developed a whole suite of AI tools aimed at helping musicians practise. One of these tools picks up the beat of any song and then adds a metronome to it. Another for guitarists can automatically detect the chords of any track.Moises is also working on a generative AI toolset to launch later this year that can create an entirely original stem for you.While Moises designed the first version of its app using Deezers Spleeter, it now has a team of data scientists building AI models in-house.According to the company, all the algorithms are trained on licensed music from studio houses and compositions created by producers in Moises studios.Ramos says the company is committed to ethical AI.Ninety percent of our team are musicians, he says. Were not trying to replace real music but enhance it.The good and bad of AI for musicIn recent years, AI has faced significant scrutiny in creative industries over concerns ranging from copyright infringement to job losses.Last year, a band of US record labels sued Suno and Udio, two of the most prominent AI music generators, alleging copyright infringement on a massive scale.Udios and Sunos tools allow users to produce entire songs by typing in written descriptions. The companies claim their use of copyrighted material falls under fair use, a common defence from AI companies.Aside from allegations that AI companies are ripping off original works, some worry that using algorithms to generate music risks replacing the vital human element that makes every piece of art unique.Im fascinated and horrified in equal measure, British new wave artist Gary Numan told Blitzed Magazine in an interview last month. I fully expect Al to write great songs. There will be Al pop stars and actors who will become as popular, if not more so, than any human. We will go to shows where the stars are Al but appear on stage just the same. Everything is about to change.But Numan does believe that human creativity will endure. I think for quite some time the world will be amazed and entertained by all the wonders Al will create in the arts. But, ultimately, if we survive long enough, I hope and suspect that people will slowly return to human-created art, he said.Others are less doomsday-ish.The phonograph, synthesizer, cassette tape, computer, and internet didnt manage to kill the music industry as many feared, so there is no reason to start clutching our pearls now, Austin Milne, a lecturer at the London College of Contemporary Music (LCCM), tells TNW.LCCM is one of many music schools that have integrated AI into their teaching approach. However, Milne stresses that AI in music isnt a monolith.There are some types which take the authorship and human touch out of the equation, and there are others that merely speed up processes musicians already undertake manually, he says.Its an important distinction like any powerful tool, its how AI is wielded that makes all the difference.Whether AI popstars will usurp their human counterparts or not, Im more excited about the potential of the technology to up my drumming game. So for now, thank you, machines, for allowing me to relive my musical fantasies. Story by Sin Geschwindt Sin is a climate and energy reporter at TNW. From nuclear fusion to escooters, he covers the length and breadth of Europe's clean tech ecos (show all) Sin is a climate and energy reporter at TNW. From nuclear fusion to escooters, he covers the length and breadth of Europe's clean tech ecosystem. He's happiest sourcing a scoop, investigating the impact of emerging technologies, and even putting them to the test. Sin has five years journalism experience and holds a dual degree in media and environmental science from the University of Cape Town, South Africa. Get the TNW newsletterGet the most important tech news in your inbox each week.Also tagged with