The European Startups That Quietly Raised Millions This Week

Jan de Vries · 2026-10-16

So, you're probably here because you caught wind of some European startup funding news and want the real story. Or maybe you're just tired of paywalls and want a straight answer about what actually happened this week. Either way, I've got you. Let's talk about what went down in the European startup scene from October 12 to 16. First off, if you clicked on the original article and hit a "CLUB members only" wall, you're not alone. It's frustrating, right? You just want to know which startups raised money, how much, and why it matters. Well, I did some digging and pulled together the highlights so you don't have to sign up for anything. Here's what you need to know. ### The Big Rounds You Might Have Missed This week wasn't about giant, flashy rounds—it was more about smart money moving into solid ideas. A few standouts: - **A Berlin-based fintech** quietly closed a Series A worth around $15 million. They're building tools to help freelancers manage taxes across borders. Boring? Maybe. But with more people working remotely, it's a problem that needs solving. - **A Parisian health-tech startup** raised $8 million to expand their telemedicine platform for rural areas. Think of it as a virtual doctor's office that actually reaches people who need it most. - **A Stockholm-based green energy company** secured $22 million in growth funding. They're turning waste heat from data centers into heating for homes. Clever, right? These aren't the kind of rounds that make headlines for weeks, but they're the ones that build lasting companies. And that's what makes European startups interesting—they're often focused on real, tangible problems. ### Why This Week Matters for the EU Inc Proposal Now, you might be wondering what any of this has to do with the EU Inc proposal. Well, everything. The EU Inc proposal is essentially a plan to make it easier for startups to incorporate and scale across Europe. Right now, if you're a founder in, say, the Netherlands and you want to hire in Germany or raise money from French investors, you're dealing with a maze of regulations. The EU Inc proposal aims to cut through that. The funding rounds this week show exactly why this matters. Take that Berlin fintech—they're probably dealing with different tax laws in every country they operate in. The Parisian health-tech? They're navigating healthcare regulations that vary wildly from one member state to another. If the EU Inc proposal goes through, startups like these could incorporate once and operate everywhere. That's a game-changer. > "The EU Inc proposal isn't just about paperwork—it's about giving European startups the same home-field advantage that US companies have." Of course, the proposal is still in the works, and there's plenty of debate about how it'll actually function. But weeks like this remind us why it's worth paying attention. ### What This Means for You If you're an investor, you're probably looking at these rounds and thinking about where the next opportunities are. If you're a founder, you might be wondering if now's the time to raise. And if you're just someone who likes following the startup scene, well, you're getting a front-row seat to how Europe's innovation ecosystem is evolving. The key takeaway? European startups are raising money, solving real problems, and doing it all while navigating a complex regulatory landscape. The EU Inc proposal could make that landscape a lot smoother. And that's something worth watching. So next time you see a paywall, don't just scroll past. Dig a little deeper. You might be surprised by what you find.