Mistral's AI assistant, Le Chat, surpassed one million downloads within 13 days of its February 6 launch, reflecting its rapid adoption and competitive edge. French President Macron endorsed it, possibly boosting its popularity against rivals like ChatGPT and Google's Gemini.

Europe experiences a tech funding surge with over 80 deals, exceeding €1.1 billion, and notable investments in startups like BRU and AI-BOB. Meanwhile, Microsoft plans a significant €670 million investment in Poland to boost AI and cybersecurity capabilities, highlighting Europe's growing tech landscape.

Graphmatech, a Swedish startup, has developed Aros Graphene, a groundbreaking material that significantly reduces the cost and production issues of traditional graphene. This innovation is set to revolutionize industrial applications by enabling large-scale use and improving materials like plastics, potentially impacting sectors from hydrogen storage to aerospace.

InVirtuoLabs, a Swiss startup, has secured €2.85 million in funding to revolutionize drug development using AI and physics-based simulations. The company aims to expedite and reduce costs in drug discovery, focusing on metabolic diseases and cancers.

The Federal Reserve's interest rate cuts are boosting venture capital access for European tech startups by lowering capital costs. This shift is expected to drive growth in AI, space tech, and defense sectors, even as geopolitical risks loom.

Startups like Hertwill are increasingly hiring AI agents over humans, spotlighting a tech trend toward automation. This move aims to boost efficiency and cost-effectiveness in early-stage companies.

Unbank, the oldest Bitcoin ATM network in the U.S., has processed over $40 million in Bitcoin transactions in the past six months. The company switched to BTCPay Server in mid-2024 for enhanced reliability and cost efficiency, moving away from centralized payment processors.

Swiss startup DPhi Space has secured CHF 2.1 million in pre-seed funding to revolutionize space access with shared satellite infrastructure. The funds will expand their engineering team and develop the Clustergate platform, which aims to democratize space by offering a plug-and-play solution for payloads, reducing costs and complexity for commercial customers.

The AI boom has ignited a surge in data centre startups seeking venture capital, with notable funding successes for Ori and Nscale. Despite growing interest, VCs remain cautious due to high costs and competition, while European governments are poised to boost investments in AI infrastructure.

Visionaries Club, a venture capital firm founded in 2019, has raised over $600 million across five funds and is working on a sixth focused on deeptech startups. With a selective investment approach, it backed only four startups in 2024, focusing on quality, and boasts successful investments in companies like TrueLayer and UiPath.

Together AI, valued at $3.3 billion, has secured $102.5 million in funding to bolster its open-source AI platform. The company aims to scale its infrastructure amid growing demand and competition.

Bengaluru's OneTab AI secures $3.3 million in seed funding to revolutionize software development with AI-driven tools. The funds will bolster their AI agent, OneAsk, to streamline the entire SDLC process.

Spore.Bio, a Paris-based deeptech startup, has raised $23 million in Series A funding to revolutionize pathogen testing in the FMCG industry with machine learning. Co-founded in 2023, the company aims to cut testing time from days to minutes, preventing costly recalls as they expand their workforce and US market presence.

Sanas, an AI company focused on real-time accent modification for call centers, has raised $65 million in Series B funding, now valued over $500 million. This funding will support expanding their Speech Understanding AI Platform and entering new markets, amidst a growing demand for voice recognition technology.

Crunchbase has transitioned from a historical data provider to an AI-driven predictions engine, forecasting startup funding and growth with 95% accuracy. This pivot caters to investors' demands for predictive insights, signaling a shift from traditional data models.

Saudi Arabia's Palm Ventures has introduced a $30 million investment fund to support early-stage MENA startups, focusing on AI, fintech, and business solutions. This move underscores the region's growing startup ecosystem, aiming to drive digital transformation through strategic investments and guidance.

Afore Capital unveils its fourth fund at $185 million and introduces 'pre-seed 2.0' to enhance startup support. This strategy offers flexible investments and a Founders-in-Residence program, focusing on product development for emerging entrepreneurs.

OpenInfer has launched a groundbreaking AI inference technology aimed at executing large models directly on devices, enhancing performance and privacy. Founders Behnam Bastani and Reza Nourai secured $8 million to propel this edge-focused solution, promising up to 3 times faster speeds than competitors.

AI startup Codeium is raising a new funding round to reach a $2.85 billion valuation, led by Kleiner Perkins. The company, serving over 1,000 enterprises, boasts $40 million in ARR, outpacing rivals with a 70x revenue multiple.