The European Startups That Quietly Raised Millions This Week

Jan de Vries · 2026-09-18

Every week, I get a flood of emails about funding rounds across Europe. And honestly? Most of them blur together after a while. But this week — September 14 to 18 — had a few deals that made me stop and pay attention. So here's what actually happened, and why it matters if you're watching the European startup scene from the US. ### Why This Week's Deals Caught My Eye First, the numbers. We're talking hundreds of millions of dollars flowing into early and growth-stage companies. Not just the usual suspects in London and Berlin, either. We saw serious checks written in Stockholm, Paris, Amsterdam, and even a few places that don't usually make headlines. What's interesting is the mix. It wasn't all AI and fintech. There were health tech plays, climate-focused startups, and a couple of B2B SaaS companies that are quietly building really solid businesses. ### The Rounds You Probably Missed Let me break down a few that stood out: - A Berlin-based climate tech company pulled in $45 million to scale their carbon capture tech. That's a big number for a Series A in this space. - A Stockholm fintech raised $28 million to expand their embedded payments platform across the Nordics and into the UK. - A Paris health tech startup closed a $60 million Series B to bring their AI-powered diagnostics to more hospitals. - An Amsterdam B2B SaaS company raised $15 million to help mid-size manufacturers digitize their supply chains. These aren't flashy consumer apps. They're the kind of companies that build real infrastructure. And that's what makes them interesting. ### What This Means for US Investors and Founders If you're in the US and you've been ignoring Europe, you're missing out. The ecosystem here has matured a lot in the last five years. Founders are more experienced, the talent pool is deeper, and the exit opportunities are real. Plus, with the EU Inc proposal moving forward, incorporating across borders is going to get a lot easier. That means US investors can back a European startup without worrying about the legal mess of dealing with 27 different jurisdictions. > "Europe isn't just a nice place to visit anymore. It's where some of the smartest founders are building the future." That's not hype. That's what the data shows. ### The Bottom Line This week was a good reminder that European startups aren't waiting around. They're raising capital, shipping products, and growing fast. If you're paying attention, you'll see the next wave of unicorns forming right now. And if you're not? Well, you might want to start. I'll be back next week with another round-up. Until then, keep an eye on Europe. The deals are only getting bigger.