More Than 10 European Startups Reached Unicorn Status This Year

The funding season across Europe is gearing up for a revival post-summer, and if all goes well, we could see a rise in new unicorns — multiple. While mega-rounds are less frequent than in 2021, the first half of 2025 has already seen 12 European startups secure funding at valuations surpassing $1 billion.

As is often stated, past performance does not ensure future success, but this trend offers an optimistic perspective for the rest of the year. It also brings to light which sectors are gaining traction among investors, particularly biotech, defense technology, and — you guessed it — AI.

Here are the newest European unicorns of 2025:

July 2025

Lovable

Swedish AI coding startup Lovable achieved unicorn status at remarkable speed. In July, just eight months after launching, it secured a $200 million Series A led by Accel at a valuation of $1.8 billion. Although Lovable Labs Inc. is registered in Delaware, the majority of its team and available positions are located in Stockholm.

Fuse Energy

British renewable energy company Fuse Energy, founded in 2022 by two former Revolut executives, reportedly completed a funding round that valued the firm at over $1 billion, according to The Times this July.

June 2025

Mubi

Film-streaming platform Mubi secured a $100 million round in June, led by Sequoia Capital, elevating its valuation to $1 billion and marking its entry into unicorn status. Founded in 2007 as a curated platform, this indie rival to Netflix has transitioned to producing and distributing films.

Zama

French company Zama achieved a $57 million Series B, bringing its valuation above $1 billion. The firm specializes in homomorphic encryption, utilizing cryptographic algorithms to protect data.

Isar Aerospace

German space company Isar Aerospace reached unicorn status in June after securing a €150 million (approximately $173 million) convertible bond deal with Eldridge Industries. The launch firm emerged from the Technical University of Munich (TUM) and now boasts 22 unicorns.

May 2025

Tekever

Portuguese dual-use drone company Tekever announced a funding round in May that confirmed its valuation at over £1 billion, a figure that had not been publicly acknowledged before.

With backing from Ventura Capital, Baillie Gifford, the NATO Innovation Fund (NIF), Iberis Capital, and Crescent Cove, the funds will support a £400 million investment plan focused on U.K. development over the next five years.

Quantum Systems

German dual-use startup Quantum Systems reached unicorn status in May 2025 after raising a €160 million Series C (about $172 million) to enhance global expansion, boost production, and advance its autonomous drone technology, software, and AI.

This funding round was led by Balderton Capital, with contributions from Hensoldt, Airbus Defense and Space, Bullhound Capital, LP&E AG, and existing investors like HV Capital, Project A, Peter Thiel, DTCP, Omnes Capital, Airbus Ventures, Porsche SE, and Notion.

Parloa

German startup Parloa, which offers a conversational AI platform for customer support, raised $120 million in Series C funding, achieving a valuation of $1 billion in May 2025, nearly a year after its previous $66 million Series B and two years after raising $21 million in Series A. The Series C was led by Durable Capital Partners, Altimeter Capital, and General Catalyst.

March 2025

Isomorphic Labs

Isomorphic Labs, a London-based AI drug discovery platform spun off from Google’s DeepMind in 2021, raised external funding for the first time in March 2025, securing $600 million in a round led by Thrive Capital, with participation from GV and Alphabet. Although its valuation remains undisclosed, the round’s size firmly positions the British spinoff within unicorn territory.

February 2025

Tines

Dublin-based Tines, a startup focusing on AI-driven workflows, reached unicorn status in February 2025 following a $125 million Series C funding from both new and existing investors, achieving a valuation of $1.125 billion.

Initially centered on security workflow automation, the Irish startup has broadened its applications across various tech sectors, including infrastructure, engineering, and product management. Following its Series C raise, the company reported executing over a billion automated actions weekly for its customers.

January 2025

Verdiva Bio

Just under a year after launching, London-based biotech Verdiva Bio obtained a significant $410 million Series A in January 2025, marking its first major funding round and achieving unicorn status. The company’s pipeline includes an oral GLP-1 drug similar to Ozempic and Wegovy.

Neko Health

Co-founded by Spotify’s Daniel Ek, Neko Health, a preventative health startup, raised a $260 million Series B with a valuation of $1.8 billion in January 2025. This round was led by Lightspeed Venture Partners, with additional participation from General Catalyst, O.G. Venture Partners, Rosello, Lakestar, and Atomico.

Neko Health provides comprehensive body scans designed to foster health via early detection. According to CEO and co-founder Hjalmar Nilsonne, this funding will aid the company’s international expansion beyond Stockholm and London, as well as bolster investment in research and development.