When founders dream of launching a startup under the Mediterranean sun, Barcelona and Madrid often come to mind first. But an increasing number of entrepreneurs are turning their gaze to Valencia — a city that’s building a vibrant, founder-friendly startup community. It’s not just about sunshine (though 300 days a year doesn’t hurt). It’s about momentum. Valencia’s startup scene is collaborative, affordable, and increasingly international. It’s big enough to see the benefits of accelerated growth — in 2024 the ecosystem experienced a 15.45% growth in the number of startups compared to 2023 — yet still retains a community vibe making…

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Munich-based defence tech startup Helsing has raised €600mn as geopolitical tensions trigger a flood of capital into AI warfare. The large investment was led by Spotify CEO Daniel Ek’s VC firm Prima Materia. It brings the company’s total raised to north of €1.3bn, building on a €450mn funding round in July last year.  Helsing didn’t disclose its updated valuation. However, according to the Financial Times, the unicorn company is now worth €12bn, making it one of Europe’s five most valuable private tech companies.  Prima Materia was one of Helsing’s earliest backers — a move that sparked boycotts among artists on…

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The Netherlands’ hottest tech festival is just around the corner, and the buzz is electric. TNW Conference brings together Europe’s sharpest minds, boldest startups, and game-changing tech leaders at Amsterdam’s NDSM on June 19 and 20. It’s two days packed with big ideas, fierce debates, and innovations that could shape the future. We’ve combed through the packed schedule and picked seven sessions you absolutely can’t miss — the ones set to challenge the status quo and get everyone talking. 1.Where’s Iron Man? Why tech belongs in defence — Purple Stage, Thursday 16:25 – 16:55 Capital is pouring into defence tech…

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Two satellites equipped with European tech have delicately pulled off an artificial solar eclipse — giving scientists unmatched views of the Sun’s scorching corona. The European Space Agency (ESA) developed the probes alongside more than 40 space tech firms. Among them are a trio of startups, which contributed several key technologies for the mission: sensors for solar tracking, light detectors to fine-tune positioning, and software that orchestrated the satellites’ intricate flight path. Launched from India’s Satish Dhawan Space Centre last year, the expedition — Proba-3 — could mark a new era for solar science. The Sun’s inner corona, coloured artificially…

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A few months ago, at the SmallSat Symposium, a panel issued a sobering warning to space startups: do not chase defence dollars at the expense of long-term sustainability. Why? Because companies, particularly in the space sector, might be tempted to follow the money rather than focus on producing valuable products and services with broader, longer-term applications. It’s of course true that any company should be wary of “leaning in” too closely to what seem like passing fads. But the warning overlooks an important reality: the shift towards defence investing is not a trend. It’s a transformation in space and space…

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