Highly dependent on imported fossil fuels and renewable energy technologies from foreign powers such as the US, China, and Russia, Europe’s energy security is in a precarious state. One potential fix? Harnessing nuclear fusion — the same atom-colliding reaction that powers the Sun and stars. While not yet proven commercially, fusion energy could provide Europe with a vital source of safe, locally produced, always-on clean power. Another plus is that future fusion power plants will likely run on abundant fuels like deuterium and tritium, which aren’t confined to specific geographies. Francesco Sciortino, co-founder and CEO of German startup Proxima Fusion, believes fusion energy can complement wind and solar power and become a “decisive building block” for Europe’s energy security. “Fusion holds the potential to fundamentally transform the way we think about energy, changing the world from a place that’s controlled by those with reserves of oil and gas, to one where technology lets countries control their own fate,” he told TNW.  One of the most advanced kind of fusion energy globally approaches is magnetic confinement. These ring-shaped machines use powerful magnetic fields to contain super-hot plasma, creating the conditions for fusion reactions to occur. It’s a technology in which Europe already has a head start.  REGISTER “Europe has an incredible strength in magnetic confinement fusion, with around twice the number of researchers and large-scale [fusion] devices than the US,” said Sciortino.  Proxima — the first company to spin out from the Max Planck Institute of Plasma Physics in Germany — is building a type of magnetic confinement device called a stellarator. This machine differs from the more common tokamak design at the heart of major international projects like ITER in France and STEP in the UK.   While more complex to build, ​​stellarators have several advantages over tokamaks. They need less power to operate and make the plasma easier to control. This stability is critical for a viable fusion energy plant.  Europe is a world leader in this kind of fusion technology. Germany hosts the most advanced stellarator, Wendelstein 7-X. That machine laid the foundation for Proxima’s Stellaris reactor design, revealed in February.  Stellaris is set to be completed in just six years. The machine will lay the foundation for Proxima’s first 1GW fusion reactor, which the company hopes will power up sometime in the 2030s.  Proxima is one of dozens of fusion energy startups racing to commercialise the technology, many of which are Europe-based. The best-funded include the UK’s Tokamak Energy and Germany’s Marvel Fusion.  The future of fusion energy There’s a cliche that fusion technology is always “30 years away,” but 70% of experts believe we’ll have a fusion device powering the grid by 2035, a Fusion Industry Association survey found last year.  If those predictions come to pass, fusion could become an important part of Europe’s renewable energy mix — and one with distinct advantages. Unlike wind or solar, fusion would provide continuous power. Unlike fossil fuels, much of which is imported from countries like Russia and the US, fusion is clean and could be homegrown, boosting energy security.    However, with the US leading in private investment in fusion energy, Sciortino warned that Europe may lose its advantage and urged governments to support emerging startups. “This is an important moment for Europe — a moment when we have the chance to make choices that will define the coming decades, and a chance to seize the lead in the global race to commercial fusion,” he said. “Europe cannot afford to squander the opportunity; it must invest in companies that are working towards our continent’s energy security and sovereignty.” European sovereignty 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 the check-out to get 30% off. Story by Siôn Geschwindt Siôn is a freelance science and technology reporter, specialising in climate and energy. From nuclear fusion breakthroughs to electric vehic (show all) Siôn is a freelance science and technology reporter, specialising in climate and energy. From nuclear fusion breakthroughs to electric vehicles, he's happiest sourcing a scoop, investigating the impact of emerging technologies, and even putting them to the test. He has five years of journalism experience and holds a dual degree in media and environmental science from the University of Cape Town, South Africa. When he's not writing, you can probably find Siôn out hiking, surfing, playing the drums or catering to his moderate caffeine addiction. You can contact him at: sion.geschwindt [at] protonmail [dot] com Get the TNW newsletter Get the most important tech news in your inbox each week. Also tagged with

Europe can dramatically cut its dependence on imported fossil fuels by adopting electricity-based technologies, according to a new report. Electric vehicles, heat pumps, and renewables could cut global reliance on imported fossil fuels by 70% when used to replaced them in transport, heating, and power, according to energy think tank Ember. They would also save importers an estimated $1.3 trillion (€1.14 trillion) globally each year, Ember found. The think tank refers to this trio of technologies as “electrotech.” Cutting reliance on US, Russian fossil fuels Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 exposed one of Europe’s greatest vulnerabilities — its reliance on imported fossil fuels to power its vehicles, heat its buildings, and drive its industries forward. Three years on, Europe is still hooked on foreign supplies of oil and gas. Many European states cater to the majority of their primary energy needs from these fossil fuel imports. The countries include Italy (77%), Spain (74%), Germany (67%), and France (51%), Ember found. 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!“Fossil-importing nations are like frogs in boiling water, failing to detect the gradually increasing danger,” said Kingsmill Bond, energy strategist at Ember. “Import dependency has been rising for decades, and now Donald Trump has turned up the heat to a boil.” Europe has more than halved its imports of Russian fossil fuels since Moscow invaded Ukraine. But in the process, it has shifted its dependencies across the Atlantic. The EU imported more oil and gas from the US than any other country in 2024.  Concerns over this dependence have grown since Donald Trump’s reelection. Trump’s tariff wars and rising regional conflicts have placed global trade under greater threat than at any time since the Second World War. Faced with increasingly volatile global markets, “electrotech offers the fastest escape route,” said Bond. Looking east Rapid adoption of electric vehicles would make the largest single contribution to Europe’s energy independence, the report found. By cutting oil use in road transport, EVs could slash imports by a third. Scaling up solar and wind adds another 23%. Replacing imported fossil fuels in buildings with heat pumps contributes a further 14%.  In 2024, China was by far the largest exporter of solar panels, batteries, and electric vehicles to the EU. However, even though boosting Europe’s share of electrotech might deepen the region’s reliance on China, this poses a less significant threat to energy security than depending on fossil fuel imports, the report found. Fossil fuels must be imported and burned without pause. Electric technologies, however, need just one import — of a solar panel or battery, for instance — to secure energy for years, if not decades. Rapid adoption of electric technologies will also be crucial to meeting the EU’s target of carbon neutrality by 2050. Story by Siôn Geschwindt Siôn is a freelance science and technology reporter, specialising in climate and energy. From nuclear fusion breakthroughs to electric vehic (show all) Siôn is a freelance science and technology reporter, specialising in climate and energy. From nuclear fusion breakthroughs to electric vehicles, he's happiest sourcing a scoop, investigating the impact of emerging technologies, and even putting them to the test. He has five years of journalism experience and holds a dual degree in media and environmental science from the University of Cape Town, South Africa. When he's not writing, you can probably find Siôn out hiking, surfing, playing the drums or catering to his moderate caffeine addiction. You can contact him at: sion.geschwindt [at] protonmail [dot] com Get the TNW newsletter Get the most important tech news in your inbox each week.

Berlin-based startup Xayn has rebranded itself after its flagship product, “Noxtua” — a “sovereign European legal AI” aimed at law professionals.  Alongside its new name, Noxtua has secured €80.7mn in funding to refine its AI models and expand to new markets.  The lead investor in the round was C.H.Beck, one of Germany’s oldest publishing houses. Noxtua will use the firm’s database of over 55 million law-related documents to train a new AI model called Beck-Noxtua.  Beck-Noxtua will join Noxtua’s suite of AI models, which work a bit like ChatGPT. However, unlike more general-purpose chatbots, all of the company’s models are trained on “exclusive high-quality legal data sets selected and meticulously labelled by legal experts,” its CEO and co-founder, Dr. Leif-Nissen Lundbæk, 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!“Noxtua has a deep understanding of the nuanced differences between various legal definitions,” Lundbæk said. Law professionals use the tool to conduct legal research as well as analyse, review, summarise, translate, and draft legal documents. It’s available in several languages, but focuses on German and English.  Noxtua is a AI copilot for lawyers. Credit: Noxtua European ‘sovereign AI’ Noxtua — then Xayn — first launched in 2017. Lundbæk and fellow co-founder Professor Michael Huth spun out the company from research on privacy-first AI solutions at Oxford University and Imperial College London.  Noxtua’s first product was a data privacy-focused mobile search engine. But it later pivoted to fully focus on legal AI, following the launch of its first model last year in collaboration with CMS, Germany’s largest business law firm. Noxtua bills itself as “Europe’s secure and sovereign legal AI.”  “The geopolitical situation has become highly volatile, with historical certainties being questioned,” said Lundbæk. “During these times, independence, sovereignty, and autonomy become ever more important.” Europe’s digital sovereignty 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 the check-out to get 30% off. Story by Siôn Geschwindt Siôn is a freelance science and technology reporter, specialising in climate and energy. From nuclear fusion breakthroughs to electric vehic (show all) Siôn is a freelance science and technology reporter, specialising in climate and energy. From nuclear fusion breakthroughs to electric vehicles, he's happiest sourcing a scoop, investigating the impact of emerging technologies, and even putting them to the test. He has five years of journalism experience and holds a dual degree in media and environmental science from the University of Cape Town, South Africa. When he's not writing, you can probably find Siôn out hiking, surfing, playing the drums or catering to his moderate caffeine addiction. You can contact him at: sion.geschwindt [at] protonmail [dot] com Get the TNW newsletter Get the most important tech news in your inbox each week. Also tagged with

UK startup Aquark Technologies has used Boaty McBoatface — the internet’s best-loved submarine — to test its quantum sensing technology underwater for the first time. The NATO-backed company put its so-called “cold atom” system inside the autonomous submarine. Boaty McBoatface then descended to the bottom of a giant indoor tank at the National Oceanography Centre (NOC) in Southampton. The idea was to test how Aquark’s quantum tech — which must be completely isolated from external disturbances to function — would fare in the temperatures and pressures of an underwater environment.  Boaty Mcboatface with its quantum payload being lowered into the test tank. Credit Aquark/NOC Andrei Dragomir, the startup’s co-founder and CEO, called the trial a “resounding success” as the device performed just as it would on dry land. Dragomir said he expects practical applications of the technology to follow shortly. 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!Aquark’s patented cold atom technology can be used as an alternative position, navigation, and timing (PNT) device, independent from satellites and thus immune to external tampering such as GPS interference.  That’s especially useful for vehicles like planes, drones, and submarines — hence NATO’s interest. The tech can also be used to measure minute variations in gravity caused by different densities in the seabed.  Dr Alex Phillips, head of marine autonomous and robotics systems at NOC, believes the technology has the potential to make a “substantial contribution to underwater navigation and seabed imaging.”    How does Aquark’s “cold atom” quantum sensing work? Aquark cools atoms — typically from rubidium, a soft, silvery-white metal — to near absolute zero using lasers to create what’s known as a cold atom “trap”. At these ultra-low temperatures, the atoms slow down and take on quantum properties.  These quantum atoms are extremely sensitive to external forces such as gravity, acceleration, or rotation. By analysing those forces, scientists can measure acceleration, magnetic fields, rotation, gravity, and time with far greater precision than classical devices such as accelerometers, atomic clocks, or gravimeters. Cold atom traps form the foundation of quantum sensors — a bit like how a chip forms the basis of a quantum computer. These sensors could transform everything from air traffic control to underground exploration.  Scientists have been trapping atoms for decades, using magnetic fields. But during his PhD, Dragomir found a way to trap atoms without magnetic fields at all.   This translates to systems that are smaller, lighter, cheaper, and more energy-efficient than existing ones, the company previously told TNW. They are also more robust and can be used in difficult terrain. Aquark has developed a cold atom trap that can operate virtually anywhere — including underwater. Credit: Aquark/NOC Aquark has previously tested its tech onboard a Royal Navy vessel and inside a small drone. It’s now been further validated on the NOC’s Autosub Long Range, affectionately known as Boaty McBoatface after the title won a public poll to name the vessel.  Dragomir has high hopes for Aquark’s next adventures. “In the future, we may be able to measure the density of minerals under the sea floor using gravity measurements or perform high-sensitivity magnetic field measurements, giving scientists new ways of seeing things that were previously hidden,” he said. “We may even uncover some hidden treasures!” Story by Siôn Geschwindt Siôn is a freelance science and technology reporter, specialising in climate and energy. From nuclear fusion breakthroughs to electric vehic (show all) Siôn is a freelance science and technology reporter, specialising in climate and energy. From nuclear fusion breakthroughs to electric vehicles, he's happiest sourcing a scoop, investigating the impact of emerging technologies, and even putting them to the test. He has five years of journalism experience and holds a dual degree in media and environmental science from the University of Cape Town, South Africa. When he's not writing, you can probably find Siôn out hiking, surfing, playing the drums or catering to his moderate caffeine addiction. You can contact him at: sion.geschwindt [at] protonmail [dot] com Get the TNW newsletter Get the most important tech news in your inbox each week.

As the Trump administration ramps up what academics call a  “war on science,” US researchers are increasingly looking to Europe for new opportunities — which could be good news for the continent’s tech sectors. France, in particular, is positioning itself as a safe haven for scientists. In a not-so-subtle appeal to disaffected US talent on Friday, the country’s president, Emmanuel Macron, called on researchers to “choose France, choose Europe” for their next job. In a post on X, he promoted a new platform that aims to make it easier for international scientists to conduct research in the country.  “Here in France, research is a priority, innovation a culture, science a limitless horizon,” he said. Yann LeCun, Meta’s chief AI scientist, called Macron’s announcement a “smart move.” LeCun has previously criticised Trump’s cuts to science funding at institutions such as Harvard, Columbia, and NASA. REGISTER “The US seems set on destroying its public research funding system,” he said in a LinkedIn post last month. “[Europe] may have an opportunity to attract some of the best scientists in the world.” European institutions are already seizing that opportunity. Last month, France’s Aix-Marseille University opened applications for its Safe Space for Science scheme, which specifically targets US researchers looking to relocate. Belgium’s Vrije Universiteit Brussel has opened a similar programme targeting American scientists “under threat.” Europe’s appeal to refugees from a war on science Three out of four US researchers recently surveyed by Nature said they were thinking about relocating to Europe or Canada, driven by growing concerns over President Trump’s stance on science.  An exodus of US researchers could have knock-on impacts on Europe’s tech ecosystem. Many of the continent’s most successful startups — from DeepMind to ClimeWorks — emerged from university labs.   Kanika Chandaria, a climate expert at Danish carbon credit startup Agreena, told TNW that the exodus of US researchers presents a “strategic opportunity for European countries,” especially in climate tech. With the US rolling back climate protections, European countries could move to “attract top talent and position themselves at the forefront of climate research and technology development,” she said. However, while Europe hopes to lure in disillusioned US scientists with promises of a high quality of life and research freedoms, there are potential drawbacks to relocating. LeCun highlighted several of them, including lower compensation than in the US and limited access to research funding. “To attract the best scientific and technological talents, make science and technology research professions attractive,” he wrote. “It’s pretty straightforward.” European tech talent will flock to Amsterdam on June 19-20 for TNW Conference. Tickets for the event are now on sale. Use the code TNWXMEDIA2025 at the check-out to get 30% off the price tag. Story by Siôn Geschwindt Siôn is a freelance science and technology reporter, specialising in climate and energy. From nuclear fusion breakthroughs to electric vehic (show all) Siôn is a freelance science and technology reporter, specialising in climate and energy. From nuclear fusion breakthroughs to electric vehicles, he's happiest sourcing a scoop, investigating the impact of emerging technologies, and even putting them to the test. He has five years of journalism experience and holds a dual degree in media and environmental science from the University of Cape Town, South Africa. When he's not writing, you can probably find Siôn out hiking, surfing, playing the drums or catering to his moderate caffeine addiction. You can contact him at: sion.geschwindt [at] protonmail [dot] com Get the TNW newsletter Get the most important tech news in your inbox each week. Also tagged with

IBM and the European Space Agency (ESA) today launched TerraMind, a new open-source AI model with an “intuitive” understanding of Earth. According to the research team, the system is the best-performing AI model for Earth observation. In an ESA-led evaluation, TerraMind beat 12 leading AI models on the PANGAEA benchmark — a community standard for Earth observation. The model excelled at various real-world tasks, including land cover classification, change detection, and multi-sensor analysis. On average, it outperformed other models by 8% or more. “To me, what sets TerraMind apart is its ability to go beyond simply processing earth observations with computer vision algorithms,” said Juan Bernabé-Moreno, director of IBM Research UK and Ireland. “It instead has an intuitive understanding of geospatial data and our planet.” TerraMind is a generative AI model that can understand different types of data — such as images, text, and time-based sequences (like climate patterns) — and spot connections between these different kinds of information. That’s particularly useful when dealing with an immensely complex system like Earth.   REGISTER The model was trained on 9 million samples drawn from nine different data types, including satellite images, climate records, terrain features, and vegetation maps. The broad dataset covered every region and biome on Earth. It was designed to minimise bias and ensure the model can be used reliably across the globe, the researchers said.  ESA and IBM expand AI’s push into climate modelling TerraMind is built on Prithvi, an open-source family of foundational climate models launched by IBM and NASA in 2023. The Prithvi models require relatively less computational power than traditional climate modelling software, making them potentially more environmentally friendly. A standout feature of TerraMind is its “Thinking-in-Modalities” (TiM) tuning. Similar to chain-of-thought reasoning in language models, TiM lets TerraMind self-generate extra data to improve its performance.  “TiM tuning boosts data efficiency by self-generating the additional training data relevant to the problem being addressed — for example, by telling the model to ‘think’ about land cover when mapping water bodies,” said Johannes Jakubik, an IBM research scientist based in Zurich.  TerraMind was built in collaboration with Polish spacetech firm KP Labs, the Jülich Supercomputing Centre in Germany, and the German Space Agency (DLR). The model is now available open-source on Hugging Face. Fine-tuned versions will be released in the coming months.  ESA, NASA, and IBM are by no means the only organisations experimenting with AI models for climate forecasting. Another example emerged from Google DeepMind, which recently unveiled an AI weather forecaster that makes faster and more accurate predictions than the best system available today. The EU has also experimented with the tech. Last year, the union unveiled a comprehensive digital twin of the Earth that uses vast troves of data to improve climate predictions. Story by Siôn Geschwindt Siôn is a freelance science and technology reporter, specialising in climate and energy. From nuclear fusion breakthroughs to electric vehic (show all) Siôn is a freelance science and technology reporter, specialising in climate and energy. From nuclear fusion breakthroughs to electric vehicles, he's happiest sourcing a scoop, investigating the impact of emerging technologies, and even putting them to the test. He has five years of journalism experience and holds a dual degree in media and environmental science from the University of Cape Town, South Africa. When he's not writing, you can probably find Siôn out hiking, surfing, playing the drums or catering to his moderate caffeine addiction. You can contact him at: sion.geschwindt [at] protonmail [dot] com Get the TNW newsletter Get the most important tech news in your inbox each week. Also tagged with

Europe’s housing crisis is deepening. High building costs, tight regulations, and labour shortages have choked the supply of affordable homes. As cities swell with new arrivals and construction workers retire en masse, the gap between supply and demand is only widening. Endless solutions have been proposed. Mass housing projects, revamping the planning system, modular buildings, pre-fabricated materials, rent controls, and restrictions on corporate acquisitions of homes have all been explored with mixed success. But the shortage of affordable housing has only grown. Dutch startup Monumental has pitched another fix: automation. The company is developing a suite of autonomous, electric robots that work on construction sites around the clock. Salar al Khafaji, the startup’s CEO and co-founder, believes the tech can overcome the labour, cost, and regulatory hurdles crippling the industry. 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!“It’s obvious that we need some forms of automation and robotics to solve these problems,” he tells TNW. “There’s almost no other way around it.” At TNW Conference on June 19-20 in Amsterdam, al Khafaji will share his tips on building a thriving robotics business. Ahead of his talk, he outlined his vision of the future of construction.  Why construction has stagnated Before launching Monumental in 2021, al Khafaji cofounded a visualisation startup called Silk. When Silk was acquired by US analytics giant Palantir in 2016, he began pondering his next venture. His plan was to focus on a major global challenge. “I wanted to solve a serious problem in society,” he says. “And I became obsessed with construction and infrastructure.”  Al Khafaji was stunned to see so little technological progress in the industry. The built world in which we live, work, and play had become severely restricted as a result. His focus turned to a central problem: a productivity collapse in construction. Labour shortages, strict regulations, and high costs, he feared, were worsening the housing crisis. New developments had become eye-wateringly expensive and painfully slow to construct. They also often result in unpopular buildings.  The past offers unflattering comparisons. The Empire State Building, for instance, was completed in 1931 after just 410 days. Eighty-four years later, 432 Park Avenue took 1,500 days — and became infamous for leaks, malfunctions, and a divisive design. The problem extends beyond landmark buildings. Construction of standard homes has also lost pace. The average time taken to build a single-family house went from 4.8 months in 1971 — the earliest year with data available — to seven months in 2019. Even after scaling this to account for the growth in average house size, the process is still slower today. Longer projects also bring higher costs, with labour often forming the bulk. “It’s very, very labour-intensive because we’ve barely automated anything there,” al Khafaji says. Monumental is his attempt to overhaul the status quo. Credit: MonumentalAl Khafaji (right) and Monumental co-founder and CTO Sebastiaan Visser. Credit: Monumental Tackling the housing crisis Al Khafaji founded Monumental in 2021 alongside his long-term business partner, Sebastiaan Visser, who serves as the company’s CTO. Their big idea was automating on-site construction with robotics and software. They began by building a prototype robotic crane, which evolved into autonomous ground vehicles that carry building materials around a construction site. The first finished system off the production line focused on one crucial construction craft: bricklaying. It was a logical starting point. Bricklaying is a skilled but physically demanding and sometimes dangerous job with a rapidly dwindling workforce. In 2022, researchers found that 19 European countries had a shortage of bricklayers, which made it the occupation with the biggest labour scarcity. As a result, construction projects suffer from delays and increased costs. With the profession struggling to attract young talent, the shortage of workers is only set to grow. In the UK, the number of bricklayers recently hit a 25-year low, and a third of them are forecast to retire within the next decade. Monumental’s systems aim to fill the gap — and, ultimately, strengthen the supply of affordable housing. The startup’s electric bricklayer robots work autonomously alongside humans. Using sensors, computer vision, and small cranes, the machines precisely lay bricks and mortar in walls. The system also integrates with existing construction processes — a crucial requirement in an industry that isn’t always open to new technologies. The robot builders Al Khafaji compares the robots to distributed computers. Composed of multiple, interconnected modular components, they function like network devices. To prepare the machines for construction jobs, the startup’s software models both the site and the robots themselves. A machine vision stack then allows them to localise in the building zone. While they work, AI coordinates their tasks. “We really think of it as an operating system for construction sites,” al Khafaji says. “We’re trying to make construction more software-defined.” In 2023, the robots completed their first large-scale, 15-metre wall. Since then, the machines have built facades for houses, canal retaining walls, and other structures that stand across the Netherlands today. Investors have been impressed by the progress. Last year, Monumental raised $25mn in seed funding to bring the concept closer to reality. But the company still has to win over the construction industry. Labour’s role in the housing crisis Across construction sites, many labourers’ tasks have changed relatively little over recent decades. Bricklayers, for example, continue working in much the same way. Shipyard workers, by contrast, have had their jobs transformed — if not replaced — by containerisation and automated pickers.  Al Khafaji was shocked by construction’s lack of innovation. “It doesn’t feel like enough time, money, or talent is flowing there… It’s the industry with the most stagnation,” he says. “Construction basically works the same way as a century ago.” It’s a curious inertia given the size of the industry. Construction employs over 100 million people and accounts for about 13% of global GDP. Yet the sector still can’t come close to matching demand. Take the Netherlands. In 2020, the Dutch government set a goal of building 1 million new homes – two-thirds of them affordable — within a decade. Since then, the country has consistently fallen short of the target. Automation and digital tools could bring enormous benefits on building projects. But construction firms have historically been reluctant to adopt them. The industry is typically cautious of new technologies for fundamentally logical reasons.  Businesses often operate on boom-and-bust cycles, prioritising financial reserves over long-term investments in new, unproven ideas. Costs are enormous, project cycles are extremely long, and project margins low, fostering conservative and risk-averse strategies.  “No one wants to take a bet,” al Khafaji says. “Imagine if you were to build your own house for your family… Are you gonna take a bet on a new material that no one has tried before or a process that no one has done before?” Monumental hopes to ease the industry’s concerns. The robot march towards building sites The company offers services in ways that are familiar to construction projects. Quotes are offered in common market terms, such as per square metre or brick. Standard materials are used, supply chains are conventional, and clients aren’t asked to do CapEx investments. Instead, they can simply tell Monumental which bricks and mortar they desire and the company will construct the project. At any point, they can also swap the technology out for human masons. “We’re not selling them robots,” al Khafaji says. “We’re not selling them software licenses… We’re selling them a wall.” But bricks on walls are just the start of Monumental’s plans. The company plans to apply robotics to numerous building tasks. “A brick is just a building block,” al Khafaji says. “You could imagine the brick being different things — concrete blocks, window frames, door frames, roofing elements. All these things, you grab them, hold them, and put them in a different place.” Monumental estimates that these functions account for a third of the tasks on a construction site. As the technology evolves, autonomous machines could take on even more building jobs. Al Khafaji has grand visions for the future.  “That’s an almost science fiction version of this, where everything is automated,” he says. “You could imagine electric robots coming in for just a couple days and silently building beautiful structures in a very short amount of time — with limited pollution and more safety.” It’s a long way from laying bricks, but the foundations are already being set — one robot at a time. Salar al Khafaji will be among the standout speakers at TNW Conference, which takes place on June 19-20 in Amsterdam. Tickets are now on sale — use the code TNWXMEDIA2025 at the 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 newsletter Get the most important tech news in your inbox each week. Also tagged with

Five flourishing French scaleups have made it into TECH5 — the “Champions League of Technology.” The quintet will now compete for the title of top scaleup in Europe. The contest concludes on June 19-20, when the TECH5 champion will be announced on the main stage of TNW Conference. But first, the contenders have to win a regional crown. For the French challengers, that’s no easy task.  The country’s tech sector has been going through a historic boom. Over the past decade, the startup scene has seen the most dramatic growth of any European country, with investments surging nearly 1000% to €53bn, according to VC firm Atomico. 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!One of the largest recent funding rounds went to French AI darling Mistral. In June 2024, the Paris-based company raised €468mn and became Europe’s most valuable AI startup. France’s blend of highly skilled talent, increased government support, and expanded investment streams has created fertile ground for tech firms to grow. This has laid the foundation for an impressive flock of scaleups. Yet only five of them could enter the TECH5 finals. Our judges selected them based on an analysis of their growth, impact, and future potential. Their evaluation led us to the following high-flying scaleups, listed in random order: 1. Kinetix A frontrunner in the thriving AI scene of Paris, Kinetix specialises in 3D character animation for games. Using GenAI tools, the company transforms camera footage and text prompts into precise animations. AI filters can then add extensive customisations to the visuals. The platform makes 3D content creation accessible to anyone. “At Kinetix, we believe character motion is at the heart of storytelling,” the scaleup told TNW. “Whether in games, entertainment, or branded content, movement brings digital characters to life and creates meaningful, engaging narratives.” Kinetix is best known for its embeddable AI emote feature, which lets players create and use custom emotes in-game. It’s a concept that has attracted booming demand. Fortnite alone has over 1,000 emotes. By 2030, the digital human avatar market is forecast to reach over €450bn. 2. Kovalee Kovalee has developed a powerful publishing platform for non-gaming apps. The scaleup wants to give every promising content creator a chance to build the best app in their field — regardless of their resources. Through product enhancement, monetisation boost, user acquisition, and app store optimisation services, Kovalee has fostered numerous success stories. Several have become category leaders in the App Store, from stretching platform Bend to motivational companion PetTalk. The model has fostered a rapid rise for Kovalee, which was founded in 2020. Last year, the company topped Sifted’s list of France’s fastest-growing startups after an eye-catching 626% two-year revenue growth. VC firm Iris, which led an €8mn Series A investment in the company in 2023, said Kovalee has “the potential to become the leading non-gaming publishing platform.” 3. Swan One of Europe’s premier fintechs, Swan provides a straightforward route to embedding banking features. Via simple APIs, companies can quickly integrate services including accounts, cards, and payments into their own products. Swan was founded in 2019 by three fintech veterans and seasoned entrepreneurs. The trio had first-hand experience with the frustrations of embedded finance, from the interminable meetings and piles of paperwork to the clunky APIs. They launched Swan to offer an alternative.  Nicolas Benady, the company’s CEO and co-founder, has an ambitious goal for the business: “Swan is on a mission to build the leading tech-driven bank in Europe.” Investors have been impressed by the plans. In January, Swan announced it had raised €42mn, bringing the scaleup’s total funding to an estimated €100mn.  4. Qovoltis Qovoltis has created an innovative all-in-one EV charging solution. It comprises a smart charging station that adjusts power in real time, a mobile app for remote management, and a novel energy optimisation system. Last year, Qovoltis expanded its product line with the launch of the Qobox mini, an ultra-compact smart charger. The model is the first charging station to earn an “Origine France Garantie” certificate — a guarantee of French production and quality. It also won the Made in France Innovation Grand Prix 2024. The milestone year culminated in a €45mn Series A funding round. Qovoltis president Ehsan Emani — who founded the company in 2019 — described the cash injection as a “decisive step” for the business. “It will enable us to expand our commercial offerings and solidify our role in the transition to sustainable electric mobility,” he said. 5. Dalma Dalma has pioneered a new approach to pet insurance. The company’s insurance reimburses all veterinary expenses within 48 hours — with no excess or hidden fees. Founded in 2021, Dalma has rapidly expanded — and still has enormous growth potential. Nearly half of European households have a pet, on which they collectively spend an estimated €24.6bn annually, opening up a lucrative market for insurers.  Investors have identified Dalma as one of the industry’s front runners. Last month, the company raised €20mn, taking its total funding to over €50mn, according to Bounce Watch data. “Our ambition for Dalma is to build the pet insurance leader in Europe — one that not only provides financial protection but also fundamentally improves pet healthcare,” Dalma told TNW. What’s next for the French scaleups? The fabulous French five will compete for the TECH5 title with contenders from six other regions. At TNW Conference in June, the grand champion will be crowned Europe’s hottest scaleup.  The challengers from France, Benelux, the Nordics, and DACH have now all been chosen. Next week, we reveal the finalists from another region in the tournament: Southern Europe. TECH5 is part of a packed programme for TNW Conference, which takes place on June 19-20 in Amsterdam. Tickets for the event are now on sale. Use the code TNWXMEDIA2025 at the check-out 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 newsletter Get the most important tech news in your inbox each week. Also tagged with

Songs generated by AI tools such as Suno and Udio are flooding Deezer — but the French music streaming platform is trying to fight back.  Deezer said on Wednesday that users are adding over 20,000 fully AI-generated tracks to its platform each day. This bot-made audio now makes up 18% of “total uploaded content” — almost double the 10% figure the company shared in January.  Aurelian Herault, Deezer’s chief innovation officer, said the flood of AI-generated slop songs is an issue that shows “no sign of slowing down.” In January, Deezer launched a tool that detects AI-generated music. The algorithm can identify artificially created songs made using several popular generative AI models, including Suno and Udio, which turn basic text prompts into “music.”   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!Thanks to the tool, Deezer is already “removing fully AI-generated content from the algorithmic recommendations,” Herault said. The company also plans to develop a tagging system for fully AI-generated content, it said in January.   Deezer’s tool stands out in an industry that largely seems to be turning a blind eye to the issue. Rival platform Spotify has yet to launch any equivalent tool to track AI-generated music. It also hasn’t made any attempts to label such content, at least not publicly.      CEO Daniel Ek previously said that tracks created with AI were fair game on the platform — unless they mimicked real artists. However, Spotify seems to be doing a lousy job of identifying and removing these AI imitations, according to several reports.  Other music streaming platforms, including Apple Music, Amazon Music, and Tidal, have remained virtually mute on the topic. It’s perhaps unsurprising that popular music streaming platforms are sitting on their hands. There are currently no laws in place to regulate the flow of AI-generated songs, or a consensus on what kinds of artificial music are acceptable or not.  Last year, a group of US record labels sued Suno and Udio, alleging copyright infringement on a “massive scale.” However, the two companies claim that training their models on copyrighted music falls under “fair use,” a common defence from AI firms. “Generative AI has the potential to positively impact music creation and consumption, but we need to approach the development with responsibility and care in order to safeguard the rights and revenues of artists and songwriters, while maintaining transparency for the fans,” said Herault. Story by Siôn Geschwindt Siôn is a freelance science and technology reporter, specialising in climate and energy. From nuclear fusion breakthroughs to electric vehic (show all) Siôn is a freelance science and technology reporter, specialising in climate and energy. From nuclear fusion breakthroughs to electric vehicles, he's happiest sourcing a scoop, investigating the impact of emerging technologies, and even putting them to the test. He has five years of journalism experience and holds a dual degree in media and environmental science from the University of Cape Town, South Africa. When he's not writing, you can probably find Siôn out hiking, surfing, playing the drums or catering to his moderate caffeine addiction. You can contact him at: sion.geschwindt [at] protonmail [dot] com Get the TNW newsletter Get the most important tech news in your inbox each week. Also tagged with

Astronomers using the James Webb Space Telescope say they have detected the “strongest evidence yet” that life exists outside our solar system.   Scientists at the University of Cambridge found signs of the gases dimethyl sulfide (DMS) and/or dimethyl disulfide (DMDS) in the atmosphere of exoplanet K2-18b. On Earth, these gases are only produced by living organisms like phytoplankton, suggesting that K2-18b may also support life.  Located 124 light years away, K2-18b is almost three times the size of Earth and inhabits a region in space where temperatures might allow liquid water. This has long made the exoplanet a top candidate in humanity’s search for alien life.  Armed with the world’s most powerful space telescope, scientists are closer than ever to unearthing the mysteries of this far-off world.  How did the team spot signs of extraterrestrial life? View the full agenda To arrive at their conclusions, the scientists employed a technique known as transit spectroscopy.  When K2-18b transits in front of its parent star, some of the starlight passes through its atmosphere before reaching Earth. Different gases absorb specific colours or wavelengths of the starlight, which can be picked up by James Webb’s instruments.  By studying the “missing” light colours, the scientists could piece together which gases are present in the exoplanet’s atmosphere.  The new findings support existing theories that K2-18b is a “hycean planet” — home to vast oceans and a hydrogen-rich atmosphere. “Given everything we know about this planet, a Hycean world with an ocean that is teeming with life is the scenario that best fits the data we have,” said Professor Nikku Madhusudhan from Cambridge’s Institute of Astronomy, who led the research.  Madhusudhan and his team admit that an unknown chemical process may be the source of these gases. However, the observations reached a “three-sigma” level of statistical significance, meaning there’s only a 0.3% probability they occurred by chance. That’s not the 0.00006% needed to reach the accepted classification for a scientific discovery — but it’s compelling evidence nonetheless. In 2023, the same team of Cambridge researchers found signs of methane and CO2 in K2-18b’s atmosphere using two different James Webb instruments — the Near-Infrared Imager and Slitless Spectrograph (NIRISS) and the Near-Infrared Spectrograph (NIRSpec). This marked the first detection of carbon-based molecules on an exoplanet within the habitable zone.  During these first observations, the researchers also noticed faint signals that potentially indicated DMS. Intrigued by this possibility, the team conducted follow-up observations two years later, this time using the Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI).  “This is an independent line of evidence, using a different instrument than we did before and a different wavelength range of light, where there is no overlap with the previous observations,” said Madhusudhan. “The signal came through strong and clear.”  The researchers estimate that 16 to 24 hours of follow-up observation time with JWST may push the findings past the threshold for a scientific discovery.   Story by Siôn Geschwindt Siôn is a freelance science and technology reporter, specialising in climate and energy. From nuclear fusion breakthroughs to electric vehic (show all) Siôn is a freelance science and technology reporter, specialising in climate and energy. From nuclear fusion breakthroughs to electric vehicles, he's happiest sourcing a scoop, investigating the impact of emerging technologies, and even putting them to the test. He has five years of journalism experience and holds a dual degree in media and environmental science from the University of Cape Town, South Africa. When he's not writing, you can probably find Siôn out hiking, surfing, playing the drums or catering to his moderate caffeine addiction. You can contact him at: sion.geschwindt [at] protonmail [dot] com Get the TNW newsletter Get the most important tech news in your inbox each week. Also tagged with

A new contest is searching for solutions to a defining problem of the AI era: soaring energy consumption. The Energy Innovation for AI Startup Challenge launches amid growing concern over the environmental cost of artificial intelligence. Just last month, the International Energy Agency (IEA) warned that global electricity demand from data centres is set to more than double by 2030 — with AI the main driver. Demand from dedicated AI data centres alone is forecast to more than quadruple. The surge threatens to deepen an already critical issue. Last year, Growth in global energy demand soared to almost twice its recent average, according to the IEA. As the increase accelerates, it’s set to intensify climate change, strain infrastructure, widen inequalities, and deplete vital resources. 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!It’s a problem partly caused by tech. It’s also a problem we need tech to solve. That’s the impetus behind the Energy Innovation for AI Startup Challenge. Powered by Extreme Tech Challenge (XTC) — the world’s largest startup competition for entrepreneurs addressing global challenges — and run in partnership with TNW, the contest is looking for startups tackling AI’s growing appetite for energy. The challenge welcomes a range of ideas, from advanced renewables and next-gen energy systems to smart grids and data centre optimisation. Young Sohn — the chairman and co-founder of XTC and the founding managing partner of VC fund Walden Catalyst Ventures — said the need for new approaches is essential.  “The next era of AI cannot be built on yesterday’s energy paradigms,” he told TNW. “We’re challenging innovators to deliver transformative energy solutions that will power the AI revolution sustainably.”  Applications for the challenge are open now — but startups need to act fast. The deadline for entries is April 30. Five finalists will pitch their ideas on stage at TNW Conference on June 19 in Amsterdam.  As well as gaining global exposure, the startups will connect with top-tier investors, corporate leaders, and policymakers. Sohn — who will discuss the future of deep tech at TNW Conference with former ASML CEO Peter Wennink — urged startups to submit their energy ideas. “Show us your breakthroughs in advanced renewables, high-density energy storage, intelligent grid architectures, or novel harvesting technologies — the systems that will allow AI to scale responsibly,” he said. “The five selected startups invited to pitch on stage at TNW 2025 will define how the world balances technological progress with planetary boundaries.” If you want to watch the pitching contest, Young Sohn’s talk with Peter Wennink, or anything else on the packed agenda for TNW Conference, we have a special offer for you. Use the code TNWXMEDIA2025 at the check-out to get 30% off your ticket. 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 newsletter Get the most important tech news in your inbox each week. Also tagged with

The Trump administration’s sweeping tariffs have ruffled feathers across the world — and reignited Europe’s push for digital sovereignty.  One of the key focus points has been Europe’s cloud infrastructure, which is currently dominated by US tech giants: Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform (GCP). Together, the “big three” account for more than 50% of the continent’s cloud market. “Europe has been heavily reliant on US tech and cloud for decades,” said Mark Boost, CEO of UK-based web hosting company Civo. “But there are alternatives, where France, Germany, and the UK have full control of their data and cloud landscape.” Trump’s tariffs, Boost added, had “cemented the idea that Europe can no longer afford to rely on the US for its digital infrastructure.” Thankfully, Europe has loads of homegrown cloud providers. The largest is France’s OVHcloud, which runs the world’s largest data centre by surface area. Others include Finland’s UpCloud, Switzerland’s Exoscale, Germany’s IONOS, and France’s Scaleway (the cloud provider of choice for French AI unicorn Mistral). View the full agenda These alternative cloud providers may not match the scale and breadth of services offered by the US hyperscalers. They do, however, offer something very attractive in these uncertain geopolitical times: data sovereignty and privacy.    As Alexander Samsig, senior consultant and partner at Norwegian tech consultancy Funktive, put it in a recent blog post: “In 2025, the choice of a cloud provider isn’t just about technology or price.” Boost echoes that sentiment. “A sovereign European cloud could foster an ecosystem defined by fairness and transparency, in which domestic providers can compete, and customers have maximum freedom to choose the service that’s right for them,” he said.   It’s not a pipedream, either — Europe has cut its dependence on powerful American tech before and can do it again.  Europeans once relied entirely on the US for GPS access, but today, smartphone users on the continent can access navigation through the EU’s Galileo satellite system. Launched in 2016, Galileo is one of the world’s best satellite networks, and unlike others, it’s a civilian system designed with secure service provision at its core. It cost around €10bn to build and deploy. If Europe is truly committed to building sovereign cloud infrastructure, it will need to back up its ambitions with significant investment. “Allocating funding for domestic sovereign clouds would also go a long way to supporting domestic industries, and would send a clear signal that Europe can chart an independent path from the US and China,” said Boost.  Political momentum on this front looks to be building. In a speech yesterday, France’s AI minister, Clara Chappaz, called on the continent to “work as a pack” to take on US “predator” tech firms, particularly in the cloud services sector.  To shield Europe from US tech dominance, Chappaz urged the bloc to enforce its digital rulebook, stand up to Trump’s “idiotic” trade war, and hit back with digital taxes on Big Tech — if required. She also slammed “sovereignty washing” — when US cloud giants partner with EU firms to appear sovereign — and backed strict standards like France’s SecNumCloud certification, which disqualifies foreign-owned providers based on shareholding caps. Chappaz said Europe is finally “waking up” to the need for true cloud independence. The minister also claimed that both OVHcloud and Scaleway saw record client growth since Trump took office.  Europe’s digital sovereignty 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 the check-out to get 30% off the price tag. Story by Siôn Geschwindt Siôn is a freelance science and technology reporter, specialising in climate and energy. From nuclear fusion breakthroughs to electric vehic (show all) Siôn is a freelance science and technology reporter, specialising in climate and energy. From nuclear fusion breakthroughs to electric vehicles, he's happiest sourcing a scoop, investigating the impact of emerging technologies, and even putting them to the test. He has five years of journalism experience and holds a dual degree in media and environmental science from the University of Cape Town, South Africa. When he's not writing, you can probably find Siôn out hiking, surfing, playing the drums or catering to his moderate caffeine addiction. You can contact him at: sion.geschwindt [at] protonmail [dot] com Get the TNW newsletter Get the most important tech news in your inbox each week. Also tagged with

Paebbl has opened its first demo plant in Rotterdam as it looks to ramp up its carbon capture technology.   When we visited Paebbl’s sprawling facility in June last year, it was a mishmash of prototype machines, batch samples, machinery, and equipment — some of it still in its packaging. Now, the site is purportedly the world’s biggest plant capable of continuously mineralising CO2. Paebbl said the plant was completed in “record time” with the help of Dutch engineering companies Spie and Vicoma. The project also received an undisclosed financial investment from the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO).   Andreas Saari, co-CEO and co-founder of Paebbl, said the milestone brings the Dutch-Nordic startup “one step closer” to bringing high-performance materials and climate impact together “on a scale that really matters.”  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!Saari, the former CEO of Slush, co-founded Paebbl in 2021 alongside his former Northzone partner Marta Sjögren, early Klarna investor Jane Walerud, and Dutch scientist Pol Knops.       How does Paebbl’s technology mineralise CO2? Paebbl’s technology artificially accelerates the slow, natural process of carbon mineralisation.   Paebbl feeds crushed olivine rock and CO2 captured from heavy industry into its machine, where it undergoes enhanced mineralisation. The CO2 turns into CO3 (carbon trioxide) and binds to the olivine.  For every ton of CO2 captured, it produces about three tons of powder, the scientific name for which is “silicon-rich” magnesium carbonate.  This powder feels like a soft, fine dust and is grey with a tinge of green from the olivine it’s made from. Around half of the emissions from cement are produced when limestone is heated to produce lime. Paebbl’s powder can replace lime and other additives in substances like wall filler, turning buildings into carbon sinks.  Paebbl is one of an emerging cohort of carbon removal startups looking to capture CO2 and use it as a resource to make new, cleaner products.  Known as carbon capture, utilisation, and storage (CCUS), this approach differs from the more established carbon capture and storage (CCS) championed by the oil and gas industry, where carbon is captured at source and buried underground.  In October, Paebbl secured $25mn from the likes of Amazon and German cement industry giants Holcim and Goldbeck, bringing its total raised to $38mn, according to Dealroom data. Paebbl aims to build a commercial-scale plant in 2027. While the company hasn’t yet disclosed the location of this facility, Marta previously told TNW that they will focus on setting up factories in areas with “high demand for end products (building material), nearby feedstock supply (CO2 and olivine rock)”, and access to renewable energy. In Europe, the Nordics, Spain, and Portugal stand out in this respect.   Paebbl aims to bring 1 million tons of its product to the market by 2030. The startup plans to make money by selling the rock powder itself and through providing carbon removal credits to companies looking to offset their emissions. Sustainability 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 the check-out to get 30% off the price tag. Story by Siôn Geschwindt Siôn is a freelance science and technology reporter, specialising in climate and energy. From nuclear fusion breakthroughs to electric vehic (show all) Siôn is a freelance science and technology reporter, specialising in climate and energy. From nuclear fusion breakthroughs to electric vehicles, he's happiest sourcing a scoop, investigating the impact of emerging technologies, and even putting them to the test. He has five years of journalism experience and holds a dual degree in media and environmental science from the University of Cape Town, South Africa. When he's not writing, you can probably find Siôn out hiking, surfing, playing the drums or catering to his moderate caffeine addiction. You can contact him at: sion.geschwindt [at] protonmail [dot] com Get the TNW newsletter Get the most important tech news in your inbox each week. Also tagged with

The British Army has successfully neutralised swarms of drones in a trial of the “RapidDestroyer” — a new kind of weapon that uses high-frequency microwaves to disable critical electronic components in unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), causing them to crash. The Army said it took down two swarms of eight drones during a single test at a site in West Wales. During the entire trial period, the weapon was used to “track, engage and defeat” more than 100 drones.  RapidDestroyer could be deployed in war zones across the world, including Ukraine, where drones have become ubiquitous on the battlefield. The UK’s Defence Intelligence agency estimates that Ukraine had to defend against attacks from more than 18,000 Russian drones last year.  “With improvements on range and power, which could come with further development, this would be a great asset to Layered Air Defence,” said Sergeant Mayers, who became the first British soldier to bring down drones using a radiofrequency weapon.   View the full agenda While still under development, the weapon could provide a cheaper alternative to missile-based defence systems for specific applications, like taking down large swarms of drones. The Army estimates that each microwave blast costs just £0.10 (€0.12), with one shot enough to take out several small UAVs from a maximum range of 1km.  The RapidDestroyer was transported on a truck. Credit: GOV.UK RapidDestoyer isn’t the only direct-energy weapon the UK is working on. The British Army has also carried out several tests of DragonFire, a machine that fires high-powered laser beams at aerial targets.    These developments come amid a Europe-wide push in defence tech spending, as the continent looks to better arm itself amid tensions with the US. In March 2025, EU leaders endorsed the “ReArm Europe” plan, aiming to mobilise up to £683bn (€800bn) over the next four years to enhance military capabilities. The UK government, meanwhile, has committed to raising defence spending to 2.5% of GDP and wants to spend at least 10% of its defence budget on “innovative technologies.” Defence tech is a key theme of this year’s Assembly, the invite-only policy track of TNW Conference. The event takes place on June 19 and 20 — a week before the NATO Summit arrives in Amsterdam. Tickets for TNW Conference are now on sale — use the code TNWXMEDIA2025 to grab an exclusive discount. Story by Siôn Geschwindt Siôn is a freelance science and technology reporter, specialising in climate and energy. From nuclear fusion breakthroughs to electric vehic (show all) Siôn is a freelance science and technology reporter, specialising in climate and energy. From nuclear fusion breakthroughs to electric vehicles, he's happiest sourcing a scoop, investigating the impact of emerging technologies, and even putting them to the test. He has five years of journalism experience and holds a dual degree in media and environmental science from the University of Cape Town, South Africa. When he's not writing, you can probably find Siôn out hiking, surfing, playing the drums or catering to his moderate caffeine addiction. You can contact him at: sion.geschwindt [at] protonmail [dot] com Get the TNW newsletter Get the most important tech news in your inbox each week. Also tagged with

If you’ve been scrolling social media over the past week, you may have noticed miniature action figure versions of friends, family, or colleagues neatly wrapped in a blister pack. These plastic-fantastic portraits are the latest AI-powered photo trend to sweep the internet — especially LinkedIn. After digital avatars and Studio Ghibli-inspired selfies, we now have the action figure, produced using ChatGPT’s free image generator.  It’s all fun and games, right? But look closer, and behind the gloss and giggles lies some pretty crucial fine print. With this action figure, sustainability is not included.  Mel Morris, the founder of research engine Corpora.ai and former chairman of Candy Crush creator King, has slammed the environmental costs. 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 LinkedIn action figure trend and its demand on GPUs is obviously unsustainable,” he said.  Some researchers estimate that using AI to generate text consumes 20-30 times more energy than a traditional search, depending on the model. Creating AI-generated images from written prompts uses at least double that amount, according to data from HuggingFace.  “GPUs aren’t infinite,” said Morris. “They come at a carbon cost, and this kind of casual overuse shows how disconnected we’ve become from the true costs associated with these tools.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Artificial Intelligence (AI) • ChatGPT (@chatgptricks) Energy use from data centres, including for AI applications, is predicted to double over the next five years to 3% of global energy use, according to the International Energy Agency’s latest figures. Globally, almost half of that power is predicted to come from burning fossil fuels like coal and natural gas.   “As a technologist, I believe in the power of AI, but not at any cost,” said Morris. “If we want sustainable innovation, then we need to learn what genuine progress looks and feels like — I’m willing to bet that it’s not the dopamine hit after posting your AI-made figurine.” AI and sustainability feature heavily on the agenda of TNW Conference, which takes place on June 19-20 in Amsterdam. Tickets for the event are now on sale. Use the code TNWXMEDIA2025 at the check-out to get 30% off the price tag. Story by Siôn Geschwindt Siôn is a freelance science and technology reporter, specialising in climate and energy. From nuclear fusion breakthroughs to electric vehic (show all) Siôn is a freelance science and technology reporter, specialising in climate and energy. From nuclear fusion breakthroughs to electric vehicles, he's happiest sourcing a scoop, investigating the impact of emerging technologies, and even putting them to the test. He has five years of journalism experience and holds a dual degree in media and environmental science from the University of Cape Town, South Africa. When he's not writing, you can probably find Siôn out hiking, surfing, playing the drums or catering to his moderate caffeine addiction. You can contact him at: sion.geschwindt [at] protonmail [dot] com Get the TNW newsletter Get the most important tech news in your inbox each week. Also tagged with

Dutch neobank Bunq, Europe’s second-largest digital bank, is gearing up to expand across the Atlantic. The fintech company has filed for a broker-dealer licence with US regulators, completing the first phase of its two-step expansion strategy. The licence will allow Bunq to offer American users investment options — stocks, ETFs, and mutual funds — alongside cash management tools. These will include features like automatic transfers and Mastercard-backed debit cards. However, Bunq isn’t diving into the deep end just yet. This phased approach lets the company gather real-world data and user feedback before it applies for a full US banking licence later this year, Bunq said. A US banking licence would let Bunq operate like a fully regulated American bank. It would be able to offer checking and savings accounts, hold deposits directly, and issue credit. View the full agenda Ali Niknam, Bunq’s founder and CEO — who will share his company’s story at TNW Conference on June 20 — said the move aligns with his mission to serve a growing base of “location-independent” users: digital nomads, expats, remote workers, and global entrepreneurs.  Like most neobanks, Bunq doesn’t have physical branches. Instead, its customers do their banking fully online. “Our users live an international lifestyle, and they need a bank that’s global too,” said Niknam. “Today’s step brings us closer to making that vision a reality.”  Amsterdam-based Bunq has already seen rapid growth in Europe, where it now counts 17 million users. The company also reported €85.3mn in profit for 2024 — marking its second consecutive year of profitability and a 65% jump from the previous year.  Bunq said it plans to reinvest those profits into its international expansion, with the US a key target. At TNW Conference, Ali Niknam will explain how he built a bank that moves at startup speed. The event takes place on June 19-20 in Amsterdam — and tickets are now now on sale. Use the code TNWXMEDIA2025 at the check-out to get 30% off the price tag. Story by Siôn Geschwindt Siôn is a freelance science and technology reporter, specialising in climate and energy. From nuclear fusion breakthroughs to electric vehic (show all) Siôn is a freelance science and technology reporter, specialising in climate and energy. From nuclear fusion breakthroughs to electric vehicles, he's happiest sourcing a scoop, investigating the impact of emerging technologies, and even putting them to the test. He has five years of journalism experience and holds a dual degree in media and environmental science from the University of Cape Town, South Africa. When he's not writing, you can probably find Siôn out hiking, surfing, playing the drums or catering to his moderate caffeine addiction. You can contact him at: sion.geschwindt [at] protonmail [dot] com Get the TNW newsletter Get the most important tech news in your inbox each week. Also tagged with

“The Future is Here,” declares a glowing neon sign at the entrance to IQM’s quantum data centre in Munich. It’s a bold claim — but one the Finland-based startup is determined to fulfil. To the right of the entrance sign stands a hefty, metal blue door. My host, physicist Frank Deppe, IQM’s head of quantum processing unit (QPU) technology, ushers me inside. Opened last year as part of IQM’s European expansion, the facility hosts six state-of-the-art superconducting quantum computers — used for the company’s own research and offered as a cloud-based service to scientists around the globe. IQM’s Munich quantum data centre. Credit: Siôn Geschwindt My initial impression is the sound — a low, steady purr punctuated by a bizarre rhythmic pumping noise. That, I would later discover, was the heartbeat of a quantum computer.   View the full agenda The centrepiece of the data centre, though, is the cryostats — the golden chandelier-like structures that have become synonymous with quantum computing in the public imagination.  Cryostats are made up of an intricate system of gold-plated brass and copper wiring that channels microwave signals down to the QPU or “chip,” which sits right at the bottom of the chandelier. These microwave pulses allow scientists to control and manipulate the qubits on the chip, and, in turn, run algorithms to perform quantum calculations.  Intricate wiring inside the cryostat channels microwave pulses down to the quantum chip. Credit: Siôn Geschwindt For all this to work, however, superconducting quantum computers need to be cooled to close to absolute zero (or -273.15 degrees Celsius). That makes machines like these among the coldest places in the known universe. Qubits, which are the basic units of information in a quantum computer, are incredibly sensitive — to heat, vibration, stray particles, or electromagnetic signals. Even the slightest disturbance can cause errors or wipe out information entirely, says Frank, gesturing around us as if he can see the waves and particles flying around the room.    At ultra-cold temperatures, however, superconducting materials lose all electrical resistance, allowing qubits to maintain their delicate quantum properties. But ultra-cold isn’t enough — qubits also need near-perfect isolation from other particles in the air. That’s why cryostats are placed in a thick metal vacuum chamber, which helps to shield the qubits from interference. When operational, the cryostat is locked inside a super-cooled, vacuum chamber, which makes machines like this among the coldest places in the known universe. Credit: Siôn Geschwindt Each machine is supported by some serious industrial hardware. One of the largest pieces of equipment in the lab is the cryogenics system. Comprising a network of compressors, tanks, pumps, and pipes, its job is to transfer liquid helium to super-cool the cryostat. The helium compressor produces the distinctive rhythmic sound of a quantum computer — the cryostat itself is completely silent. Then there are the servers, placed beside each cryostat. They provide the precise control and support infrastructure that allows delicate quantum systems to operate effectively. They also produce the specific microwave pulses required to keep the qubits stable.  Yes, even the quantum computers of the future will need classical computers to function, Frank says.  An example of the classical electronics cabinet required run one of IQM’s quantum computers. Credit: IQM I was amazed by the extraordinary amount of infrastructure needed to power a quantum chip barely larger than my fingernail. But all that tech is essential — it protects the fragile qubits while still allowing for their manipulation.  “You need to isolate qubits from the environment — but still control them,” says Frank. “That’s the engineering paradox of quantum computing.”  Tapping into the subatomic world of quantum mechanics — with phenomena such as superposition and entanglement — to perform useful calculations is one of the toughest challenges in modern science. It’s baffled researchers for decades. But now, after years of steady progress, we’re closer than ever to potentially world-changing applications — and the payoffs could be huge. Towards quantum advantage The quantum computers of the future are expected to solve problems that are far beyond the reach of today’s most powerful supercomputers — a point known as “quantum advantage.” These machines could simulate complex molecules for drug discovery, design new materials from the atomic level up, and revolutionise logistics and finance by cracking massive optimisation problems. They could also break all internet encryption on what is known as Q-Day — so there are risks, too. However, most experts agree that we’ll need a 1 million-qubit system and beyond to make those sorts of calculations — and that’s still a long way off. We’re currently in what is known as the Noisy Intermediate-Scale Quantum (NISQ) era, where we have small quantum computers that can run real experiments but are still too “noisy” and error-prone to do anything truly groundbreaking. IQM’s quantum processors currently range from six to 50 qubits. Next year, it’s set to release a larger 54 to 150-qubit system called Radiance, which it says will “pave the way” to quantum advantage — when a quantum computer can solve a problem no classical computer can). The company hopes to produce a 1 million-qubit system by 2033.  One of IQM’s open cryostats. The chip is housed behind the metal cylinder right at the bottom of the chandelier. Credit: IQM Headquartered in Helsinki, IQM has built a business based on helping researchers train on and navigate smaller systems before larger ones become commercially available. Using these machines, scientists can already explore quantum algorithms, develop hardware, and prototype solutions for specific problems such as climate modelling or drug discovery.  Founded in 2018, IQM has raised $210mn to date, making it Europe’s second best-funded quantum computing company. According to Bloomberg, the startup is also in talks to raise over $200mn in fresh capital, which would bring its total to over $400mn. In June, the company’s co-founder and CEO, Jan Goetz, will share his vision of Europe’s quantum future at TNW Conference. Located in Finland’s thriving quantum startup ecosystem, IQM has built over 30 full-stack quantum computers to date at its facility in Espoo, west of the capital, Helsinki. This site also houses Europe’s only private quantum chip factory.  Inés De Vega, vice president of innovation at IQM, tells TNW that its quantum processors have “similar, if not better, performance in terms of fidelities” than IBM, often considered the world leader in quantum technology. Fidelity refers to the accuracy with which a quantum computer can perform operations on qubits without introducing errors — a critical metric for building reliable and scalable quantum systems.  IQM’s headquarters in Espoo, Finland, is home to Europe’s only quantum chip fabrication facility. Credit: IQM While IQM is one of Europe’s most prominent quantum startups, it’s far from alone. There are currently 122 quantum computing companies on the continent, with a combined value of almost $13bn, according to Dealroom data.   UK-based Quantinuum is the best-funded, having raised $647 million at a $5bn valuation. Instead of using super-cooled superconducting circuits, Quantinuum develops trapped-ion quantum computers, which use electrically charged atoms controlled by lasers for qubits. Other European big shots include French startup Pasqal and the UK’s Oxford Quantum Circuits.  In the US, tech giants such as IBM, Google, Amazon, Microsoft, and Intel, plus well-funded startups like PsiQuantum, are all racing to scale up their own quantum computers and reduce error rates.  Globally, more than 30 governments have pledged over $40bn in public funding for quantum technologies, set to be deployed over the next decade. Both the private and public sectors are chasing the holy grail: a fault-tolerant quantum computer — one powerful and stable enough to run complex algorithms with minimal errors. IQM aims to get there by 2030, according to its publicly available roadmap. IQM’s estimate is on the optimistic side. In February, Google’s CEO Sundar Pichai said he believes “practically useful” quantum computers are five-to-10 years away. A month earlier, Nvidia’s Jensen Huang suggested we’re still at least 15 years out — a comment that sent quantum stocks tumbling. Truth is, no one knows exactly when we’ll get there. But one thing is clear: reaching the quantum finish line will demand years of experimentation, iteration, and engineering breakthroughs. That work is already underway in labs such as IQM’s, where the boundaries of physics are being pushed, one qubit at a time. At TNW Conference on June 19, IQM CEO and co-founder Jan Goetz will join Elvira Shishenina, senior director at Quantinuum, and Tom Henriksson, general partner at OpenOcean, for a panel discussion titled “Quantum Race: Can Europe Secure Leadership in Quantum?” Tickets for the event are now on sale. Use the code TNWXMEDIA2025 at the check-out to get 30% off the price tag.

Five fast-rising scaleups from the DACH region have qualified for TECH5 — the “Champions League of Technology.” The DACH entrants fought off off stiff competition to reach the finals, which will crown the hottest scaleup in Europe. Comprising Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, DACH blends deep industrial roots, high R&D spending, elite research institutions, and a growing startup scene. Collectively, the three nations have created a regional tech powerhouse. Individually, each of them has unique strengths.  Germany leads with a booming startup scene in Berlin and a deep tech hub in Munich. The county also had Europe’s second-highest total VC investment last year, after the UK.  Austria’s compact but vibrant ecosystem has an impressive track record of greentech and health innovation. The industry centres in Vienna, which was named the world’s most liveable city for the third year running in 2024 by the Economist Intelligence Unit. Register here Switzerland blends scientific excellence, fintech nous, and blockchain leadership. In 2024, the country ranked number one in the Global Innovation Index (GII) for the 14th consecutive year.  Funding in DACH has also enjoyed a solid start to 2025, growing in deal value year-on-year. The region aggregated €12bn in exit value in Q1 — 20% more than its average quarter over the past five years — according to Pitchbook.  Scaleups from all three DACH nations have qualified for TECH5. Our judges picked them based on an analysis of their growth, impact, and future potential and then placed them in random order. It’s time to introduce them. 1. The Exploration Company The Exploration Company is an emerging European leader in the limitless universe of space travel. The Franco-German scaleup develops reusable, modular spacecraft that make access to the cosmos more affordable, sustainable, and open to a broader ecosystem. Hélène Huby, the company’s founder and CEO, said she plans to democratise the routes to space. “By working together across borders and sectors, we can make space exploration a cooperative effort rather than a competition between nations, ensuring it remains accessible and drives innovation that benefits many, not just a few,” Huby told TNW. The Exploration Company enjoyed a banner 2024, raising a whopping €151.6mn in a Series B round and winning a contract with the European Space Agency (ESA) to develop cargo shuttle vehicles for low Earth orbit. This year has also had a strong start, with the German aerospace agency becoming an anchor customer for the scaleup’s Nyx spacecraft. 2. Neustark Swiss sustainability scaleup Neustark has an ambitious target: remove 1 million tons of CO₂ by 2030. The company plans to achieve this by storing CO₂ from the air in recycled mineral waste — specifically demolished concrete, which Neustark calls “the world’s largest waste stream.” The scaleup’s solution mineralises CO₂ in demolished concrete aggregate, removing the compound from the atmosphere and permanently storing it. “We need to exponentially accelerate the removal of CO2 if we want to reach net-zero goals by 2050,” said Johannes Tiefenthaler, Neustark’s co-founder and co-CEO. “This target will only be possible by globally deploying highly scalable, measurable, and commercially viable carbon removal solutions at the scale of millions of tons per year.” Tiefenthaler founded Neustark alongside Valentin Gutknecht in 2019 as an ETH Zurich spin-off. Last year, they secured their biggest funding round yet, raising $69mn to take their carbon capture tech global. 3. Metaloop The sole Austrian contender in the DACH finals, Metaloop aims to fundamentally reshape the global metal recycling industry. To reach that goal, the scaleup has developed an all-in-one platform for metal scrap trading. The company’s matchmaking system connects buyers and sellers in real time. Consequently, clients can generate revenue, safe time, and fosters sustainability. The software also eliminates fraud, enhances transparency, and optimises supply chains — valuable services for the traditionally opaque and fragmented metal scrap sector. The solution has enjoyed a rapid rise. In 2024, Metaloop was named by the Financial Times as one of Europe’s fastest-growing companies for a third year in a row. “By directly connecting industrial manufacturers with certified smelters, we ensure fair pricing, consistent quality, and streamlined logistics — turning scrap metal from a risk factor into a reliable, high-value asset,” the company told TNW. “Ultimately, we see Metaloop as a catalyst for a more sustainable, circular economy.”  4. Vytal Before contending for TECH5, Germany’s Vytal had already claimed an impressive title: the world’s largest provider of smart reusable packaging solutions. Founded in 2019, Vytal has created a new form of sustainable containers for takeaway and delivery food. Investors have been impressed, injecting a steady stream of cash into the scaleup. Just last month, the company secured another €14.2mn to accelerate its international growth. The round was led by Inven Capital, a VC firm that specialises in scaling climate tech. “This new funding comes less than nine months after our last raise and reflects an incredibly successful 2024 for the Vytal team,” said Dr Tim Breker, Vytal’s co-founder and managing director.  “With Inven Capital’s expertise in supporting international growth strategies, we are well-positioned to scale our impact further and make tech-enabled reusable packaging the new standard in gastronomy, events, and entertainment globally.” 5. Yokoy The second Swiss contender in the DACH finals, Yokoy develops a powerful all-in-one spend management solution. The AI-powered platform simplifies the management of expenses, invoices, and corporate cards, while delivering new insights, eliminating routine work, and providing full control. Founded in 2019, Yokoy is a resident of TNW City. Last year, the company topped Sifted’s inaugural rankings of Central Europe’s fastest-growing startups by revenue. Across the past three financial years, the company had hit a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 281.88%. In January, Yokoy was acquired by the Spanish travel-management company TravelPerk. Philippe Sahli, the scaleup’s co-founder and CEO, heralded the deal as the beginning of a new era for intelligent spend management. “Starting the next chapter in our story presents an incredible opportunity to combine Yokoy’s innovative AI and automation with TravelPerk’s industry-leading platform to deliver a first-of-its-kind experience to all our customers,” he said. What’s next for the TECH5 scaleups? The DACH quintet join rivals from Benelux and the Nordics in the finals of TECH5. Contenders from a further four European regions will also be announced in the weeks to come. All the challengers will then compete for the title of hottest scaleup in Europe. Stay tuned next week to meet the TECH5 qualifiers from France. TECH5 is part of a packed programme for TNW Conference, which takes place on June 19-20 in Amsterdam. Tickets for the event are now on sale. Use the code TNWXMEDIA2025 at the check-out 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 newsletter Get the most important tech news in your inbox each week. Also tagged with

Quantum professionals around the world overwhelmingly agree that quantum utility will arrive within the next decade, according to a new survey by Economist Impact. Quantum utility refers to the point at which quantum computers provide practical advantages over classical computers in solving specific real-world problems. A whopping 83% of the survey’s respondents think that moment will come within 10 years or less.  One-third of them are even more optimistic, predicting that quantum utility could be achieved within the next one-to-five years. That’s more in line with the roadmaps of quantum companies like Finnish startup IQM, which is targeting quantum utility as early as next year.  Some of the world’s biggest tech leaders have also cast their predictions on this hot topic in recent months. In February, Google’s CEO Sundar Pichai said he believes “practically useful” quantum computers are five-to-10 years away. A month earlier, Nvidia’s Jensen Huang suggested we’re still at least 15 years out — a comment that sent quantum stocks tumbling. The discrepancy in estimates reflects the uncertainty over when quantum will have its breakout moment. It also points to a broader confusion over quantum jargon.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! Quantum utility will mean that quantum computers can solve meaningful real-world problems. However, even within the industry, the term is often used interchangeably with quantum “advantage” or “supremacy,” which is widely considered the point at which quantum computers outperform classical ones.  Economist Impact — a research-driven consultancy and content arm of Britain’s Economist Group — illustrates how muddled the terms have become in its own press release: “Quantum utility [is] when quantum computers will overcome hardware and error correction challenges to perform better than classical computers.”   That makes the next finding from the survey quite fitting.  Quantum utility challenges Over half of the respondents believe misconceptions about quantum computing are actively hindering advancement. The findings highlight a gap between technological progress and business preparedness, emphasising the need for improved education about what quantum computing is. Public misunderstanding of quantum computing is far from the biggest headache for quantum professionals, however. Overcoming engineering challenges and acquiring enough talent to grow are right at the top of the list of concerns.   Over 80% of respondents cited overcoming technical challenges — particularly error correction — as a key hurdle to reaching quantum utility.  Three-quarters identified a shortage of talent and expertise as a critical issue. Quantum experts are in short supply, exacerbated by the rapid growth of the quantum sector, where startups and tech giants alike are competing for a small pool of qualified professionals.    Tapping into the subatomic world of quantum mechanics to perform useful calculations was never going to come easy, though. It is one of the toughest challenges in modern science — but if cracked, the payoff could be huge.  Quantum computers have the potential to solve problems that are far beyond the reach of today’s most powerful supercomputers. They could simulate complex molecules for drug discovery, design new materials from the atomic level up, and revolutionise logistics and finance by cracking massive optimisation problems. They could also break all internet encryption on what is known as Q-Day — so there are risks, too. Europe’s race to secure leadership in quantum is on the agenda for TNW Conference, which takes place on June 19-20 in Amsterdam. Tickets for the event are now on sale. Use the code TNWXMEDIA2025 at the check-out to get 30% off the price tag. Story by Siôn Geschwindt Siôn 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) Siôn 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. Siôn 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 newsletter Get the most important tech news in your inbox each week. Also tagged with

Motorheads have long theorised that the extreme downforce generated by high-performance cars could one day let them drive upside down. Now, British carmaker McMurtry has turned that wild idea into a reality for the first time. In a stunt that would make Batman jealous, McMurtry drove its insanely fast electric Spéirling flipped over. More impressively, it did that for over a minute while keeping the vehicle completely stationary — save for a quick acceleration to prove the car wasn’t tied down.  While it might look like the car has defied gravity, in reality, it’s basic physics coupled with some clever engineering.  To drive upside down using conventional aerodynamics, an F1-style car would need to hit at least 100–150 mph to generate enough downforce to exceed its own weight and “stick” to the ceiling.   Register here But the Spéirling is a fan car. Twin electric turbines positioned behind the cockpit of the vehicle pull air from under the chassis and expel it through a rear-mounted exhaust system, creating a low-pressure zone underneath that presses the car onto the road. This system means the Spéirling can generate 2,000kg of downforce on demand. That’s great for grip in high-speed turns, but it also means the 1,000kg car can hang upside down, even when standing still.  That’s how McMurtry’s co-founder Thomas Yates was able to drive the Spéirling onto a rotating rig, flip it 180 degrees upside down, and have it stay there. No wires. No magnets. Just an insane amount of downforce.  The route to public roads for McMurtry McMurtry steered the Spéirling up a ramp and drove it upside down. Credit: McMurtry While this was just a stunt — for now — one can’t help but wonder what the future might hold. Stuck in tunnel traffic? Just drive up the wall, flip upside down, and cruise on the ceiling. Goodbye, gridlock.  The Spéirling Pure, the company’s first commercially available vehicle, is set to go on sale next year for £895,000. So, technically, you could try upside-down driving yourself.  “That said, customers are strongly advised not to try [driving upside down] at home,” a McMurtry spokesperson told TNW. If you’re mad enough to give it a go, McMurtry recommends contacting the company directly to discuss “pre-flight checks, preparation and safety equipment, and controlled demonstration environments.” For now, though, McMurtry is preoccupied with smashing records the right side up. On the same day as the Batmobile-like stunt, the Spéirling beat the all-time Top Gear track record by 3.1 seconds, dethroning a Renault F1 car at the top of the leaderboard. The McMurtry Spéirling’s fan-based tech gives it incredible grip in corners. It’s no slouch, either. Dual electric motors — one for each rear wheel — deliver over 1,000 horsepower combined. Paired with a featherweight chassis, this allows the car to clock 0–60mph in 1.5 seconds. Story by Siôn Geschwindt Siôn 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) Siôn 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. Siôn 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 newsletter Get the most important tech news in your inbox each week. Also tagged with

After steering Dutch chip giant ASML to become Europe’s most valuable tech firm, Peter Wennink is now focused on the next frontiers of deep tech. Wennink has already been involved in numerous breakthroughs in the field. Over his 25-year career at ASML — including over a decade as CEO — the company laid foundations for countless deep tech innovations. Under his leadership, the business earned renown as the sole supplier and producer of extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography machines. These systems are essential for manufacturing the world’s most advanced chips. They have become a crucial force in today’s AI boom, supporting everything from ChatGPT to brain-computer interfaces. ASML has also extended the life of Moore’s Law — the observation that transistors on chips double roughly every two years. This exponential growth has fuelled breakthroughs that once seemed unimaginable. The next advances, Wennink believes, are even harder to envision. Register here “It’s difficult for mankind to foresee the impact of exponentiality because it often yields something seemingly impossible,” he told TNW. “But that’s exactly what science and deep tech will create, making the impossible possible.” At TNW Conference in Amsterdam on June 20, Wennink will share his vision of a new era of innovation. The future of deep tech In an exclusive session titled Gods of Industry: The Battle for Deep Tech Dominance, Wennink will take the stage alongside Young Sohn, another digital visionary. Formerly the President and Chief Strategy Officer of Samsung Electronic, Sohn is now the founding managing partner at Walden Catalyst Ventures, a VC fund dedicated to deep tech. Together, the duo will unpack the next decade of innovations. Their insights will shine a light on the next era of tech leaders. During Wennink’s tenure, ASML became one of these leaders. The company’s machines still produce the chips for all kinds of advanced device, from iPhones to self-driving cars. ASML has also supported the broader deep tech ecosystem. The firm backed DeepTechXL, a Dutch fund that last year raised €110mn, and was deeply involved in Brainport Eindhoven, which Wennink calls “probably unique” in the world of deep tech. Since retiring from ASML last year, Wennink has remained a key figure in the field. He believes the next wave of deep tech will unlock possibilities that are hard to imagine. They may require challenging paths from lab to market, deep domain expertise, and patient capital — but the payoffs will be truly transformative. At TNW Conference, Wenwick will offer a glimpse into what comes next. Peter Wennink will join a packed lineup 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 the check-out 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 newsletter Get the most important tech news in your inbox each week. Also tagged with

The International Energy Agency (IEA) has published its first major report on the AI gold rush’s impact on global energy consumption — and its findings paint a worrying, and perhaps contradictory, picture.   Energy use from data centres, including for artificial intelligence applications, is predicted to double over the next five years to 3% of global energy use. AI-specific power consumption could drive over half of this growth globally, the report found. Some data centres today consume as much electricity as 100,000 households. The hyperscalers of the future could gobble up 20x that number, according to the IEA. By 2030, data centres are predicted to run on 50% renewable energy, the rest comprising a mix of coal, nuclear power, and new natural gas-fired plants. The findings paint a bleak picture for the climate, but there’s a silver lining, the IEA said. While AI is set to gobble up more energy, its ability to unlock efficiencies from power systems and discover new materials could provide a counterweight.   “With the rise of AI, the energy sector is at the forefront of one of the most important technological revolutions of our time,” said Fatih Birol, IEA’s executive director. “AI is a tool, potentially an incredibly powerful one, but it is up to us – our societies, governments, and companies – how we use it.”  AI can help to optimise power grids, increase the energy output of solar and wind farms through better weather forecasting, and detect leaks in vital infrastructure. The technology could also be used to more effectively plan transport routes or design cities. AI also has the potential to discover new green materials for tech like batteries.  However, the IEA warned that the combined impact of these AI-powered solutions would be “marginal” unless governments create the necessary “enabling conditions.” “The net impact of AI on emissions – and therefore climate change – will depend on how AI applications are rolled out, what incentives and business cases arise, and how regulatory frameworks respond to the evolving AI landscape,” the report said.  Divisions in the AI energy debate While AI could, theoretically, curb energy use, major questions remain. Meanwhile, the technology’s negative climate impact is already set in.  The IEA predicts data centres will contribute 1.4% of global “combustion emissions” by 2030, almost triple today’s figure and nearly as much as air travel. While that doesn’t sound like much, the IEA’s figure doesn’t account for the embodied emissions created from constructing all those new data centres and producing all the materials therein.  Alex de Vries, a researcher at VU Amsterdam and the founder of Digiconomist, told Nature that he thinks the IEA has underestimated the growth in AI’s energy consumption. “Regardless of the exact number, we’re talking several percentage of our global electricity consumption,” said de Vries. This uptick in data centre electricity use “could be a serious risk for our ability to achieve our climate goals,” he added.  Claude Turmes, Luxembourg’s energy minister, accused the IEA of presenting an overly optimistic view and not addressing the tough realities that policymakers need to hear.   “Instead of making practical recommendations to governments on how to regulate and thus minimise the huge negative impact of AI and new mega data centres on the energy system, the IEA and its [executive director] Fatih Birol are making a welcome gift to the new Trump administration and the tech companies which sponsored this new US government,” he told the Guardian.  Aside from AI, there are more proven ways to curb energy use from data centres. These include immersion cooling, pioneered by startups like Netherlands-based Asperitas, Spain’s Submer, and UK-based Iceotope. Another is repurposing data centre heat for other applications, which is the value proposition of UK venture DeepGreen.  All of these weird and wonderful solutions will need to scale up fast if they are to make a dent in data centres’ thirst for electricity. Ultimately, we also need to start using computing power more wisely.    The debate on sustainable AI will continue 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 the check-out to get 30% off the price tag. Story by Siôn Geschwindt Siôn 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) Siôn 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. Siôn 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 newsletter Get the most important tech news in your inbox each week. Also tagged with

US biotech startup Colossal Biosciences has resurrected the dire wolf — or at least that’s what the company would like you to believe. Social media is abuzz with viral videos, memes, and images of fluffy white puppies. The Game of Thrones references are — predictably — omnipresent. The news even made it to Time magazine’s latest cover.  But behind the hype lies a dangerous de-extinction delusion that could distract from proven solutions to the biodiversity crisis. The Trump administration is already using Colossal’s claims as an excuse to slash endangered species protections. First, let’s set something straight — Colossal didn’t bring back the dire wolf. It took DNA from ancient dire wolves’ remains and then edited a handful of those genes into the genomes of modern grey wolves to give them larger bodies, broader skulls, and specific coat colours. It’s an impressive feat of tech-wizardry, but these fluffy white cubs are, at best, mutations. Register here Colossal claims it has “successfully restored a once-eradicated species through the science of de-extinction” for the “first time in human history”. That’s factually incorrect, as many scientists have already pointed out. As University of Maine paleoecologist Jacquelyn Gill wrote on Bluesky on Monday, “To see this work being done with such a casual disregard not only for the truth but for life itself is genuinely abhorrent to me.” But Colossal shows no signs of slowing down. Last month, the $10bn company used a similar technique to create a wooly mouse — a rodent genetically engineered to have mammoth-like pelts. In the future, Colossal plans to “resurrect” other extinct creatures, including the dodo, Tasmanian tiger, and the giant mammoth. The company says that these projects serve as proof of concepts for de-extinction technologies, which could aid in bringing back lost species and restoring ecological balance. It’s the flagbearer of a growing de-extinction movement in the US, joined by organisations like Revive & Restore and Re:Wild. Europe, in contrast, has focused its rewilding efforts more on bringing back existing species, like bison, wolves, and beavers, to regions where they were hunted to extinction.  While genetically engineered “dire wolves” are going viral, the extant Iberian wolf is endangered. Credit: Animal Record/Creative Commons Meanwhile, an emerging cohort of biodiversity-focused startups is tapping tech to restore nature in more sane ways. For instance, Stream Ocean from Switzerland has developed a face recognition technology for fish that helps scientists monitor species numbers. Germany’s Soilytix tracks soil health using environmental DNA, while UK startup Pivotal Earth connects corporate funding to credited conservation projects.   This is where technology can find its use in biodiversity restoration, not in Frankensteinian conservation attempts, which aren’t just over-hyped but present a dangerous distraction from proven measures.  Colossal has broadcast the message that extinction is reversible — but it is not. While the public fawns over adorable mutated “dire wolves” on Instagram, biodiversity loss is snowballing. One million (known) species are threatened with extinction, with extinction rates now occurring up to 1,000 times the rate in pre-humanity.  We need to mobilise resources to protect the species that we still have left, like the Iberian wolf. Once widespread, the canid is now confined to mountainous regions of Portugal and Spain. Only around 2,200 individuals remain.  Humanity’s top priority should be to safeguard existing biodiversity and restore what’s been damaged. Instead of playing God with long-extinct creatures, we must fight for the endangered species we still have left. Story by Siôn Geschwindt Siôn 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) Siôn 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. Siôn 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 newsletter Get the most important tech news in your inbox each week. Also tagged with

Hospitality software firm Mews raised Dutch tech’s biggest funding round in the first quarter of 2025, in what was a tough start to the year for the sector. Dutch startups raised around €460mn in the quarter, with a 59% decline in growth-stage funding raising alarm bells, according to the Quarterly Startup Report. Together, the top 10 deals accounted for over €320mn — more than 75% of all funding raised last quarter. Here are the biggest Dutch deals of Q1 2025: 1. Mews — €68mn ($75mn)  Mews, based at TNW City in Amsterdam, has built a cloud-based system that helps hotels and other hospitality businesses streamline tasks like booking rooms, checking guests in and out, and processing payments. 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! This round follows a raise of $100mn in credit financing in September and a $110mn equity round in March 2024 — when the scaleup became a unicorn.  2. Alesta Therapeutics — €65mn Alesta Therapeutics, based in Leiden, Netherlands, is a biotechnology company focused on developing novel oral small-molecule therapies for rare diseases.  3. Leyden Labs — €63mn ($70mn) Leyden Labs is another biotech startup from Leiden — home to one of Europe’s leading life science hubs. The company is developing intranasal medicines to protect against respiratory viruses.  4. Vivici — €32.5mn Vivici is a Dutch foodtech startup using precision fermentation to produce animal-free dairy proteins. Its proteins are designed to replace traditional dairy ingredients like whey and casein.  5. QuantWare — €20mn Quantware designs and manufactures superconducting quantum processors. The startup 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 Big Tech companies.    6. Thorizon – €16mn Deep tech startup Thorizon is developing modular molten salt reactors (MSRs) that utilise long-lived nuclear waste as fuel.  7. Varmx — €15mn Varmx is a biotech startup developing a treatment to reverse bleeding in patients taking blood thinners. 8. Workwize — €12mn ($13mn) Workwize provides cloud-based software for managing IT hardware in remote and hybrid workplaces. 9. Sirius Medical — €10mn Another biotech startup, Sirius Medical has developed a tumour localisation technology that helps surgeons to precisely locate and remove breast tumours. 10. Stacks — €9mn ($10mn)  ​Amsterdam-based Stacks provides an AI-driven platform that streamlines financial closing processes for businesses. Despite several eye-catching deals, a significant drop in growth-stage funding and fewer deals overall are raising concerns about the long-term health of the  Dutch tech ecosystem.  Fewer deals, fewer growth rounds for Dutch tech In total, just 79 deals were recorded in Q1 2025 — an 11% drop compared to the same period last year. It marked the fifth consecutive quarter in which deal count has fallen. Most striking is the sharp decline in later-stage funding. Series B+ rounds halved from 14 in Q1 2024 to just seven this year. In total, late-stage startups raised €287mn — down an eye-watering €609mn from the previous year.  Equally telling, for the second quarter in a row, there were no Dutch mega-deals above €100mn — a stark contrast to previous years when such rounds were relatively common, the report found. Early-stage startups, on the other hand, were a rare bright spot in an otherwise poor outlook. Seed deals (typically €1mn-€4mn) accounted for nearly half of all investments in Q1 2025, with total funding in this category growing over 15% year-on-year to €58.4mn. That’s a healthy sign for future innovation, but without sufficient late-stage capital, there’s a risk that promising Dutch startups will be forced to look abroad for growth funding. What’s next? The outlook for the rest of 2025 is mixed. On the one hand, the resilience of seed investment and a growing interest in deep tech and hardware — areas where Dutch startups like QuantWare and Thorizon excel — provide reasons for optimism. “We can be proud of the Dutch entrepreneurs who, together with investors, realise world-class deep tech innovations,” said Myrthe Hooijman, director of ecosystem change and governmental affairs at Techleap.  On the other hand, several issues are causing concern. Global trade tensions, a sluggish exit market, and the increasing caution of international investors could slow down growth-stage funding even further, according to the report. “We are not yet sounding the alarm, but standing still means going backwards,” said Lucien Burm, chairman of the Dutch Startup Association. “Not only did Europe lose its position internationally, but within Europe, the Netherlands is now losing importance.” “With the geopolitical and economic unrest of the moment, instead of reactive measures, broad and deep investment in the business and investment climate is the recipe.” The Quarterly Startup Report was put together by Dealroom.co, Golden Egg Check, KPMG, the Regional Development Companies (ROMs), the Dutch Association of Private Equity Companies (NVP), the Dutch Startup Association (dSa), and Techleap. The future of Dutch tech is a key theme 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 the check-out to get 30% off the price tag. Story by Siôn Geschwindt Siôn 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) Siôn 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. Siôn 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 newsletter Get the most important tech news in your inbox each week. Also tagged with

Body-scanning startup Neko Health has opened its largest clinic yet, continuing its expansion in London — just six months after launching its first site in the city. The futuristic new facility expands access to Neko’s high-tech health vision. Blending body scans, lidar sensors, and AI with blood tests, eye pressure checks, and strength tests, the startup maps millions of data points in minutes.  The findings can reveal warning signs about the skin, heart, blood vessels, and inflammation. A human doctor then immediately takes the user through the findings. Within an hour of arriving, they’re on their way out of the clinic. The system is the brainchild of Spotify CEO Daniel Ek and his business partner Hjalmar Nilsonne. The duo want to shift healthcare systems from reactive to proactive. After launching Neko in their native Sweden in 2023, they began expanding the service to London last year, starting with a new health centre in the chic neighbourhood of Marylebone. Register here The second London facility dramatically expands the company’s capacity. Located in the buzzy Spitalfields Market, the centre covers a roomy 7,466 square feet, with capacity for up to 30,000 scans annually. “This health centre is built for scale, and we’re doubling down in London,” said Nilsonne. London calling Neko The new centre has a suitably space-age design, which echoes the aesthetic of the inaugural London site. Neko already has plans to open two more clinics in the UK’s capital, with launches in other cities in the country also targeted for this year. A spokesperson for the company told TNW that London was “a strategic choice” for Neko’s international expansion beyond Stockholm. “It represents the global market in a way; offering a lot of health tourism and a very competitive space when it comes to private healthcare,” they said. “If we can break into this market we have a chance to do it elsewhere. Additionally, London is a global healthcare hub, with world-class medical institutions and research centres.” The city also evidently has enough people prepared to pay the £299 that each body scan costs. The Marylebone centre attracted lengthy waitlists. Across the London and Stockholm sites, 80% of members book and prepay a scan for the following year at the end of their appointment, Neko said. Between the two centres, Neko has now completed over 15,000 scans. Earlier this year, TNW added one more to the total. During the doctor’s consultation, we were advised to seek a further review. Once we finally have our appointment with the NHS, we’ll reveal all the details about our experience — and Neko’s findings. If you want to try the scan out for yourself, you can sign up to the waitlist here. The future of healthcare on the agenda for TNW Conference, which takes place on June 19-20 in Amsterdam. Tickets for the event are now on sale. Use the code TNWXMEDIA2025 at the check-out 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 newsletter Get the most important tech news in your inbox each week. Also tagged with

German startup ARX Robotics has announced plans to invest £45mn into a new UK facility, where it will build autonomous battlefield robots for deployment in war zones around the world. Located at an undisclosed site in southwest England, ARX expects the plant to produce 1,800 ground-based drones each year once up and running. ARX’s battlefield robots look like small tanks — but without guns. The vehicles drive around on treads and can be fitted with equipment such as radar, mine-sweeping devices, or medical stretchers.  The largest of ARX’s machines carries military payloads weighing up to 500kg — including injured soldiers — across the battlefield. Another model acts as a moving target-practice device, while another carries aerial drones into combat.  Register here The robots are modular, built using off-the-shelf components. They’re designed so soldiers can fix them on the battlefield within minutes, without tools. The drones move around autonomously, but military personnel can also control them remotely from a tablet. Soldiers can control the robots with a tablet. Credit: ARX Robotics The armed forces of Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Hungary, and the UK have already conducted field tests of ARX’s technology. In February, the company delivered 30 of its war bots to Ukrainian Armed Forces units engaged in active combat.   Marc Wietfeld, ARX’s CEO — who will speak at TNW Conference in June — said the facility in Britain would contribute to the “long-term technological sovereignty” of both the UK and broader Europe. He noted that we live in an “increasingly volatile and fast-moving world.”  “This is about strengthening European resilience, through technological sovereignty, scalable autonomy, and the modernisation of land forces,” he said. Defence tech rising in Europe ​In response to escalating geopolitical tensions, European nations have pledged substantial increases in defence spending in recent months.  In March 2025, EU leaders endorsed the “ReArm Europe” plan, aiming to mobilise up to £683bn (€800bn) over the next four years to enhance military capabilities. Similarly, the UK government has committed to raising defence spending to 2.5% of GDP and wants to spend at least 10% of its defence budget on “innovative technologies”.  ARX looks to capitalise on this political momentum.  The UK Secretary of State for Defence, John Healey, said he “warmly welcomed” the startup’s £45mn investment into the UK. “It will create highly skilled jobs and support European security,” Healey said. Wietfeld founded ARX in 2022 alongside fellow German army veterans Stefan Röbel and Maximilian Wied. Last year, the company raised £7.7mn (€9mn) in seed funding from NATO’s innovation fund.  Marc Wietfeld will share his insights 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 the check-out to get 30% off the price tag. Story by Siôn Geschwindt Siôn 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) Siôn 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. Siôn 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 newsletter Get the most important tech news in your inbox each week. Also tagged with

Despite recent claims that European startups aren’t working hard enough, new research shows the continent’s founders are putting in serious shifts to turn their ideas into successful businesses. A survey of 128 founders by early-stage VC firm Antler found that three-quarters of them work more than 60 hours weekly, with 19% exceeding 80 hours.  German founders emerged as Europe’s hardest workers, with 94% working more than 60 hours weekly and 38% exceeding 80 hours.  Daria Stepanova, co-founder of German startup AIRMO, said she’s sacrificed “time, stability, and relationships” to grow her company. However, she sees a certain level of obsession is a good thing. Otherwise, “what you’re building probably isn’t worth building.” Register here Swedish entrepreneurs followed closely behind. While UK founders were still working long hours, they were least likely to cross the 80-hour threshold, with only 10% doing so. Over 70% describe building their company as “easily the hardest thing they have ever done.” Yet nearly all (98%) remain passionate about their career choice.  That’s despite feeling underappreciated for their hard work. Nearly three-quarters (73%) of European founders feel their dedication goes unacknowledged.  “In Europe, you are more likely to be an Olympic medalist than the founder of a unicorn company,” said Alan Poensgen, a partner at Antler. “Whilst both require similar levels of ambition, resilience, and endurance, founders don’t get the same level of recognition.” What’s motivating founders? The survey paints a picture of founders driven more by impact than income. Only 4% cited financial reward as their primary motivation, with the majority instead pointing to creating innovation (27%), positive global impact (22%), and proving they can tackle difficult challenges (19%). This commitment comes at a cost. Founders identified their biggest sacrifices as work-life balance (61%) and salary reduction (36%). Family concerns add another layer of pressure, with 62% reporting that relatives expressed confusion about their decision to leave stable careers.  What keeps these ambitious entrepreneurs awake at night? Execution speed (40%), customer acquisition (24%), and runway concerns (18%) top the list of worries — reflecting the intense pressure to deliver results with limited resources and time. The findings come amid a growing debate in European tech over whether workplace culture is holding the region back compared to the US or China.  In a podcast interview last month, Revolut boss Nik Storonsky criticised European startup entrepreneurs, saying they weren’t working hard enough and valued work-life balance too highly. Those comments followed a lively social media debate earlier this year about whether French founders lacked the “grindset” to succeed.   However, Antler’s findings challenge the notion that European founders prioritise balance over hustle — suggesting that behind the continent’s startup scene is a culture of quiet, often overlooked, hard work.  “People often see the headlines but not the sleepless nights or personal risks behind them,” said Danyal Oezdeuzenciler, co-founder of London-based Capsa AI. “Founders pour so much into an idea — financially, emotionally, mentally — and the resilience it takes is pretty extraordinary.” Startup founders from all over Europe are heading to Amsterdam for TNW Conference, which takes place on June 19-20. Tickets for the event are now on sale. Use the code TNWXMEDIA2025 at the check-out to get 30% off the price tag. Story by Siôn Geschwindt Siôn 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) Siôn 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. Siôn 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 newsletter Get the most important tech news in your inbox each week. Also tagged with

A UK startup wants to build a cosmic radio station in the Moon’s orbit to listen to radio waves from the early universe.   Blue Skies Space has secured a contract from the Italian Space Agency to design a fleet of tiny satellites that could orbit the Moon and listen for signals from the cosmic “dark ages.” That’s the time before the first stars lit up, when the universe was mainly a swirling mass of hydrogen gas.  Hydrogen atoms naturally emit radio waves at a very specific frequency: 1420MHz  – known as the hydrogen line. When you stretch that signal across 13 billion years of cosmic expansion, it gets redshifted down into the FM radio band (about 88-108MHz). These ancient radio signals are almost impossible to detect from Earth, thanks to all our radio chatter. But parking some satellites on the far side of the Moon – away from that interference –could help scientists cut through the noise and unravel clues from the early universe.  That’s what Blue Skies Space, the Italian Space Agency, and space contractor OHB Italia will investigate under the joint project, dubbed RadioLuna.  Blue Skies Space will study whether small, low-cost CubeSats — built from commercial, off-the-shelf parts — can survive and do real science while orbiting the Moon. OHB Italia will figure out how to build the spacecraft. Mapping these signals could fill in the missing piece between the Big Bang and the first stars — showing how the universe evolved from smooth hydrogen fog to the cosmic web of galaxies we see today.  Dr Marcell Tessenyi, CEO and co-founder of Blue Skies Space, told TNW that if the idea proves feasible, it could result in a commercial service.  “Depending on the technical feasibility, the funding landscape, and the appropriate infrastructure, we anticipate being able to deliver such a system within five years of the end of the study,” he said.    RadioLuna isn’t the only project Blue Skies Space is working on. In October, the startup is set to launch its first satellite into orbit. The probe — Mauve — is a stargazing satellite that will gather data on stars in the visible and UV parts of the spectrum. Scientists and academics will then be able to access the data for a small membership fee. Europe’s spacetech strategy is on the agenda for TNW Conference, which takes place on June 19-20 in Amsterdam. Tickets for the event are now on sale. Use the code TNWXMEDIA2025 at the check-out to get 30% off the price tag. Story by Siôn Geschwindt Siôn 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) Siôn 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. Siôn 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 newsletter Get the most important tech news in your inbox each week. Also tagged with

Five fast-growing Nordic scaleups have reached the finals of TECH5 — the “Champions League of Technology.” They join a standout quintet from Benelux, unveiled last week, in the race to be crowned Europe’s hottest scaleup. The Nordics — comprising Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden — boast just 27 million people but punch well above their weight in innovation. The region has Europe’s highest density of unicorns — privately held companies valued at over $1bn. Despite accounting for only 4% of Europe’s population, the Nordics hosted 17% of the continent’s unicorns between 2013 and 2023. Sweden leads the pack with the EU’s top startup ecosystem, according to StartupBlink’s 2024 rankings. The Nordics also possess one of Europe’s leading investment landscapes. The region is home to over 14,000 funded startups, which collectively raised $5.6bn in 2024, according to Dealroom data. Sweden, Norway, Finland, and Denmark rank among Europe’s top 15 countries for VC investment, while Iceland sits in the top 50. View the Speakers This thriving ecosystem has produced global giants like Spotify and Klarna. Now, TECH5 aims to uncover the next wave of tech titans. TNW’s judges selected the five finalists based on their growth, impact, and future potential. Let’s meet them (listed in no particular order). 1. Kompasbank The Nordics have a thriving stable of fintechs. Over 1,500 of them currently reside in the region, which has also raised a herd of unicorns in the sector, from buy-now-pay giant Klarna to open banking platform Tink. Kompasbank is a leader of the new breed. The Danish scaleup has developed a new type of bank — exclusively for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). These businesses are the backbone of the European economy, representing 99% of all EU firms and over 100 million jobs. Yet they remain underserved by traditional banks, facing slow decision-making, rigid processes, and financial barriers that hinder growth. Kompasbank wants to change that. Founded in 2018 by Michael Hurup Anderson — a Saxo Bank and Deloitte veteran — the company rapidly delivers loans, currency trading, payments, and other banking services to SMEs. “Our ambition is to empower SMEs to achieve their full potential by providing them with the speed, flexibility, and tailored financial solutions they need to invest, grow, and succeed,” kompasbank told TNW.   2. Lassie Sweden’s Lassie is redefining pet care — with insurance at its core. The fast-rising scaleup has a preventative focus that combines veterinary care, coaching for owners, e-commerce, and advice from vets to keep our furry companions healthy. The company’s founders have an ideal blend of skills and experience. CEO Hedda Båverud Olsson grew up with a veterinarian parent. COO Sophie Wilkinson is a former head of pet insurance at a Nordic insurer, while CTO Johan Jönsson has developer expertise honed at Spotify and King. After launching in 2020, Lassie rode a boom in pet ownership during the pandemic. By 2023, almost half of European households owned pets, which generated an estimated €24.6bn in spending on products and services. Investors have taken note, pumping over €36.5mn into Lassie. “Our ambition is to become the European leader in pet insurance and preventive care — then go global,” the company told TNW. “We’re not just covering medical costs; we’re improving pet health, extending lifespans, and giving owners peace of mind.” 3. NORNORM The norm that Denmark’s NORNORM wants to foster is circularity. Its target for the transition is office furniture. The scaleup helps businesses cut their environmental impact by ditching single-use furniture for a circular, subscription-based service. Founded in 2020 by former IKEA manager Anders Jepsen and Skype co-creator Jonas Kjellberg, NORNORM is based in Copenhagen. In 2022, the company secured €110mn in a funding round led by growth equity firm Verdane. Inter IKEA Development also contributed to the round. Today, NORNORM is active in 17 countries and 59 cities. The company plans to bring its service to many more businesses — and not only big brands. “Real impact comes from reaching the many, not the few, which is why we have designed an accessible and highly affordable solution that requires no upfront investment or long-term commitment,” NORNORM told TNW. “By making circular office interiors both attractive and scalable, we are driving systemic change in the industry and proving that sustainability and business success go hand in hand.” 4. Flower Flower is fighting climate change with power – energy grid power, to be precise. The Swedish company combines energy forecasting, optimisation, and trading software to stabilise grids by feeding them stored power when demand is high.   John Diklev founded the company in 2020 while still a university student in Stockholm. Within a few years, Flower had amassed Sweden’s largest portfolio of battery systems for electricity storage. Last April, Flower bought the largest battery facility in Sweden from wind energy developer OX2 AB. A few months later, the company completed a €45mn funding round, which took its total investments to a whopping €100mn. Diklev wants his home country to set a standard in the energy transition. “Sweden can take the lead in the electricity industry, a flourishing future sector, while also protecting Swedish consumers from price increases,” he said. 5. Collective Minds Radiology Collective Minds Radiology believes there is “almost infinite” expertise and data in healthcare. The problem is it’s trapped in siloes at hospitals and medical institutions. The Swedish scaleup has created a cloud-based collaboration platform that connects healthcare professionals, medical educators, and researchers. Its goal? Accelerating patient access to accurate diagnoses and effective treatments. “We are on a mission to build the world’s largest platform and community for professional healthcare collaboration that ultimately makes a difference for each patient in getting to the right diagnosis faster,” the company told TNW. “Long-term, this will increase efficiency in healthcare by saving time and money while improving the patient journey.” Collective Minds has high hopes for Sweden’s digital future. Alongside its talent, culture, and history of scaling big ideas, the scaleup emphasised the country’s focus on sustainability and impact-driven innovation — which makes it “an exciting place to build something meaningful.” What’s next for the TECH5 scaleups? With the Nordic challengers joining the Benelux contenders in the TECH5 regional finals, the competition for the hottest scaleup in Europe is heating up. Next Monday, we unveil the five finalists from another rising region: DACH. TECH5 is part of a packed programme for TNW Conference, which takes place on June 19-20 in Amsterdam. Tickets for the event are now on sale. Use the code TNWXMEDIA2025 at the check-out 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 newsletter Get the most important tech news in your inbox each week. Also tagged with

Consumer tech devices, including smartwatches, have deplorably short lives. Most are tossed aside when the screen cracks, the battery dies, or the software falls behind — adding to the world’s whopping great pile of e-waste.   Scottish startup Una aims to upend this take-make-waste cycle. The company’s sports smartwatch is built to be repaired. Users can easily swap, replace, and upgrade individual components like the screen, battery, and health sensors, extending the device’s lifespan. “Customers are tired of replacing expensive tech every few years,” said Lewis Allison, Una’s founder. “We’re showing the industry there’s a better way.” The Una Watch can be disassembled and reassembled like LEGO. Credit: UNA Una had a blockbuster launch on Kickstarter last week, signalling early demand for its repairable, upgradable smartwatch. The startup raised over £200,000 in just 48 hours after its launch on the crowdfunding platform. That’s more than 20 times its initial fundraising goal of £10,000. Check It Out Over 3,000 people have pre-ordered Una’s smartwatch. The first deliveries are due to begin in August 2025 to customers in the EU, UK, Canada, and the US. Early backers can secure one of the watches for £210 ($275) — £60 ($75) off the retail price of £270 ($350).  High-tech, open-source  While sustainability is at its core, Una’s watch doesn’t compromise on high-tech features. The smartwatch uses dual-frequency GPS, improving the accuracy, reliability, and robustness of location data. The device also packs a bunch of sensors. These include a barometric altimeter for elevation changes, an accelerometer to track movement, and a magnetometer for orientation. It also measures heart rate and blood oxygen levels. Powered by an ultra-efficient Cortex-M33 chip, the smartwatch offers up to 10 days of battery life. It charges via a regular USB-C cable. Una is targeting outdoor and sports users for activities like running, hiking, and cycling. Credit: UNA Una runs on FreeRTOS, an open-source operating system for microelectronics. The company also offers add-on hardware and software “kits” that allow users to build custom apps, create new hardware modules, and even write their own firmware. Una departs from proprietary, closed-source devices like the Apple Watch and Garmin, which dominate the global smartwatch market, worth $33bn last year. The Edinburgh-based startup is one of a growing number of tech companies developing products that customers can fix and upgrade themselves. Other examples include Fairphone, which makes smartphones that can be repaired at home using just a screwdriver and a video manual, and Framework, which builds modular laptops. Una’s Kickstarter success follows a £300,000 investment from SFC Capital in March. The company also won £100,000 in the Scottish EDGE startup competition last year. Story by Siôn Geschwindt Siôn 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) Siôn 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. Siôn 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 newsletter Get the most important tech news in your inbox each week.