January was such a protracted yr that it has already introduced us 5 contemporary European unicorns: from Belgium to Ukraine, a number of tech startups raised funding at valuations above the symbolic $1 billion threshold.
However earlier than we take a more in-depth take a look at who joined the membership, two caveats.
First: This rely consists of startups that could be integrated elsewhere however have their roots or a big a part of their staff in Europe. Till EU Inc exists as a pan-European company construction, this break up will stay widespread — and we’ve determined to miss it. Take Lovable, which is integrated in Delaware however can’t be dissociated from Stockholm’s startup scene.
Second: valuation doesn’t equal business success, and it’s too early to inform whether or not all of those firms will observe in Lovable’s footsteps, with the corporate not too long ago crossing $300 million in annual recurring income. However within the present local weather, the truth that VCs have been keen to put money into them at unicorn valuations is a powerful sign of the place the urge for food is.
With these caveats out of the way in which, let’s dive in.
Aikido
Belgium-based cybersecurity startup Aikido Safety reached unicorn standing with its $60 million Collection B. Valuing the corporate at $1 billion, the spherical was led by DST International, with participation from PSG Fairness, Singular, Notion Capital, and others.
In accordance with a press launch, the funding will assist Aikido improve its platform, which was constructed to unify safety throughout the whole software program lifecycle and is already utilized by greater than 100,000 groups globally. Per the identical supply, the Collection B “follows a yr of fast progress for the corporate, together with five-times income progress and practically three-times buyer progress.”
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In a weblog put up, the startup celebrated this milestone and its significance. In accordance with its staff, “in an business dominated by Palo Alto and Tel Aviv heavyweights, Aikido exhibits that Europe can construct a world-class software program safety firm and win globally.”
Solid AI
Cloud optimization firm Solid AI is headquartered in Florida, however has Lithuanian roots and an vital workplace in Vilnius — which explains why many additionally think about it has now grow to be Lithuania’s fifth unicorn.
That Solid AI’s valuation now exceeds $1 billion is the results of a strategic funding from Pacific Alliance Ventures (PAV), the U.S.-based company enterprise arm of Korean conglomerate Shinsegae Group. In April 2025, Solid AI had raised a $108 million Collection C that had reportedly already put the corporate in “close to unicorn” territory.
Alongside its newest funding spherical, the corporate additionally launched OMNI Compute for AI, which goals to assist customers deploy extra AI workloads on fewer GPUs and take away regional capability constraints.
Harmattan AI
French protection tech firm Harmattan AI was solely based in 2024, however is already value $1.4 billion, based on its newest funding spherical. The $200 million Collection B was led by Dassault Aviation, maker of the Rafale fighter jets, and in addition ties right into a broader partnership.
Earlier than securing this key associate, Harmattan AI had already signed agreements with the French and British ministries of protection and with Ukrainian drone maker Skyeton, amid rising urge for food for autonomous protection plane.
Osapiens
German ESG software program agency Osapiens raised a $100 million Collection C led by Decarbonization Companions, a three way partnership between BlackRock and Temasek, which valued the corporate at over $1.1 billion.
Based in Mannheim in 2018, Osapiens now has greater than 2,400 clients worldwide, together with giant multinational firms that depend on its platforms and instruments for sustainability reporting and knowledge compliance, but additionally to mitigate provide chain dangers.
Preply
Fourteen-year-old language studying market Preply is now a unicorn valued at $1.2 billion — a milestone that additionally embodies Ukrainian resilience. The edtech firm was based in america, however its founders are Ukrainian and supporters of their dwelling nation, the place Preply has a staff of 150 staff.
In accordance with its CEO, Kirill Bigai, who believes in AI-amplified studying, proceeds from the $150 million Collection D spherical will assist the startup rent extra AI expertise throughout its 4 places of work — now situated in Barcelona, London, New York, and Kyiv.
