Finnish Deep Tech & Hardware Startup News

A test reveals significant differences in charging speeds among 50 electric car models. The fastest and slowest charging vehicles were identified, offering consumers data-driven insights.

A combat robot fought against Russia in Ukraine for 45 days, completing over 21,000 tasks on the front lines, according to Ukrainian reports, showcasing the increasing role of robotics in modern warfare.

A British Typhoon fighter jet successfully tested a new air-to-air missile designed to intercept and destroy drones. The missile travels at 3,600 km/h and carries a 4.5 kg explosive warhead.

Finland has received a substantial €33 million in mining taxes, a significant boost to the national treasury. A noteworthy aspect of this revenue distribution is the concentration of benefits in six specific locations, with one small town receiving an impressive €5 million. This influx of funds is tied to the extraction of various minerals, including but not limited to nickel, zinc, and copper, all of which are vital components in modern technology and manufacturing. The specific town receiving the €5 million is located near a particularly active mining operation, highlighting the direct link between resource extraction and local economic gain. The amount of tax collected is linked to the volume and value of minerals extracted, as well as the prevailing tax rates for the mining industry.

Arago, an Nvidia competitor, has successfully taped out its first chip using GlobalFoundries tech. This marks a critical milestone for the semiconductor startup as it moves towards product development.

Xoople, a data infrastructure company building a 'global system of record' for physical changes on Earth, closed a $130M Series B round. Investors include Nazca Capital, MCH, CDTI, Buenavista Equity Partners, and Endeavor Catalyst.

A Finnish company took 4000+ images of Russia and provided them to Ukraine, revealing billions in damages to Kremlin military sites, according to a report by Tekniikkatalous.

Finland has quietly initiated a €160 million space warfare project with the potential to revolutionize combat strategies. Details are scarce due to the sensitive nature of the project.

An unmanned robot fought against Russian forces on the front lines in Ukraine for 45 days. The details of its operation and eventual fate remain undisclosed for security reasons.

A vegan sausage entrepreneur is launching 'Keith,' an AI law firm. This venture aims to disrupt legal services using artificial intelligence, offering accessible legal assistance.

Italian firm Exein, focused on embedded cybersecurity, raised €170M in 2025 across two rounds to scale its platform. They protect IoT devices at the firmware level, securing critical systems.

Espoo-based IQM raised €50M from BlackRock funds to boost its quantum computing tech. The funding precedes IQM's planned public listing via SPAC merger with Real Asset Acquisition Corp.

European Deeptech Week, held in Paris, convened 2500+ stakeholders including founders, investors, and policymakers. Organized by Bpifrance and INSKIP, it focused on translating scientific leadership into industrial strength.

Insurtech Qover marks its 10th anniversary by extending a $12M growth capital facility from CIBC Innovation Banking, bringing total funding over $100M. Qover powers embedded insurance for brands like Revolut, BMW, and Mastercard.

Stockholm-based Nordic Air Defence (NAD) appointed James Heappey, former UK Armed Forces Minister, and Nicholas Högasten, Head of Product, to its board. The move supports NAD's European expansion.

Finnish quantum computing startup IQM Quantum Computers secured a €50 million financing package from BlackRock funds. The funding will support IQM's global growth and strengthen its market position.

In 2025, Finnish tech saw €2.9B raised, with Nokia securing $1B from Nvidia. Early-stage activity remained strong across deeptech, AI, cleantech, and healthcare.

Giraffe360, a real estate marketing tech firm, secured $10M in Series B funding led by Cipio Partners. Existing investors Founders Fund, Hoxton Ventures, and Change Ventures joined, demonstrating continued confidence in the company's vision and execution.

Arkadia Space, a Spanish space firm, secured €14.5M from the EIC (European Innovation Council) for its development of green propulsion technology using hydrogen peroxide. This funding package includes a €2.5M grant, €6M equity investment, and an additional €6M in private investment, showcasing a blended finance approach to supporting deep-tech innovation.

SOUS, an Amsterdam-based AI growth platform specifically designed for restaurants, has successfully raised €4M in seed funding. The funding round was led by Seed +Speed Ventures, with participation from PeakBridge and āltitude, reflecting strong investor interest in AI-powered solutions for the hospitality sector.

German deeptech company INCIRT closed a €4.8M funding round led by Lifeline Ventures with participation from High-Tech Gründerfonds. INCIRT develops data converters with 100x faster conversion. March 2026. Based in Aachen.

Sifted maps over 50 European quantum startups betting on revolutionary technology. Report covers diverse applications from computing to sensing. March 2026.

Swedish Everdrone raised €3.3M led by Sciety to expand its autonomous drone service for emergency healthcare. Drones deliver defibrillators alongside ambulances in Sweden, France.

Air defense startup Egide, founded in 2023, has raised an €8M seed round. The funding will accelerate the development and deployment of its autonomous drone defense systems. Investors not named.

A Finnish factory, operating for only 10 months, has filed for bankruptcy. The facility's brief operational period highlights challenges in the current manufacturing landscape in Finland.

A global helium shortage, exacerbated by disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz (affecting 30%+ of global shipments), threatens chip production worldwide. Finnish companies reliant on chips could be affected, the news outlet reported today.

Spanish tech companies raised €3.1B in 2025, highlighting growth and maturity. AI, deeptech, and frontier infrastructure led the way, alongside healthtech and enterprise software. Multiverse Computing raised the most at €256M.

Stockholm-based Noru, founded by Kivra's Bip Thelin and Therese Ruth, raised €560K led by Ampli Ventures to develop an AI-native regulatory compliance platform for businesses.

Swiss startup Rhonexum raised $1M in pre-seed funding led by QDNL Participations to develop cryogenic electronics for quantum computing, enabling operation near absolute zero temperatures.

Partech closed its inaugural €300M Impact Fund to support European B2B tech scaling up. The fund targets commercially mature firms exceeding €10M revenue, addressing a funding gap in the impact investing landscape.

Alomana, an Italian startup focused on developing Alo - an AI operating layer (or platform) specifically designed for enterprises - has successfully closed a €4M seed funding round. The investment was primarily led by CDP Venture Capital, signaling strong confidence in Alomana's vision and technology. Alo is designed to personalize AI at scale, with the core objective of automating workflows across a diverse range of enterprise applications. This includes connecting disparate systems and data sources to enable intelligent automation of complex tasks.

First Concepts, a London-based AI workspace for creative agencies, raised $1M in pre-seed funding led by Arāya Ventures & Antler. The platform coordinates AI models through a shared context and creative 'taste'.

Tracebit, a cloud cybersecurity firm, raised a $20M Series A led by FirstMark, with Accel participating. The platform deploys decoy assets (canaries) across cloud environments to detect threats early and improve cloud infrastructure security.

Two Finnish defense companies are collaborating to ensure drone countermeasures don't interfere with military radio systems. The partnership aims to address potential conflicts between drone defense tech and existing communication infrastructure.

At GDC 2026, Nvidia showcased Remedy Entertainment's 'Control Resonant' with advanced RTX features, DLSS 4.5, and path tracing technology. The demonstration highlighted the visual fidelity and performance enhancements enabled by Nvidia's hardware.

Maria 01's impact report shows Finnish startups tripled funding to €337M in 2025, up from €102M. The report emphasizes Finland's growing prominence in deeptech and defence tech, sectors that are becoming increasingly important in the global landscape. This substantial increase in funding underscores the attractiveness of Finnish startups to investors seeking innovative solutions in these critical areas. The report signals a significant shift in the Finnish startup ecosystem and its growing maturity.

AIRMO, a space tech startup, raised €5M in seed funding led by Ananda ImpactVentures for its greenhouse gas monitoring tech. They plan a 2027 satellite mission and expanded airborne coverage, demonstrating a commitment to providing comprehensive and accurate data on greenhouse gas emissions. This funding round will enable AIRMO to accelerate the development and deployment of its technology, contributing to global efforts to address climate change. The investment reflects growing investor interest in innovative solutions for environmental monitoring and sustainability.

A Finnish startup, whose name is not provided, landed a $4M contract with a large US university boasting 160,000 students. The deal was announced recently by Tekniikkatalous.

Rights & Brands, licensors of Moomin and Pippi Longstocking, partner with Swedish TrusTrace for supply chain transparency. The platform monitors manufacturing, ensuring ethical production by mid-2026.

Austrian deeptech Fibionic raised €3M seed led by Redstone for its FFP technology that uses bionic principles for precise fiber placement in composites.

Photoncycle, a Norwegian startup, raised €15M in Series A led by NordicNinja and Voima Ventures. They'll scale their solid-state hydrogen energy storage, converting summer sun into winter power for homes across Europe.

Vertical Compute, an AI chip startup, raised €37M to tackle AI's memory overload. The funding will support the development of their specialized chips designed to improve efficiency and reduce the energy consumption of AI workloads.

British defense tech startup Mutable Tactics raised $2.1M in pre-seed funding, led by Seraphim Space, to develop AI software that improves drone deployment when communications are lost. The software allows defense forces to leverage multiple drones simultaneously.

Open Cosmos, a UK-based spacetech startup, is planning a European alternative to Starlink called ConnectedCosmos, aiming to build up to 200 satellites per year to provide sovereign communication channels.

A 600-space parking facility in Helsinki has closed its top level due to safety concerns after four deaths. Further details about the deaths are not provided.

China is implementing a significant change in car manufacturing, moving away from Tesla's design principles. The specific details of the ordered change are not given.

German space tech company ISPTech raised €5.5M in seed funding to advance its non-toxic propulsion systems for in-orbit maneuvering. The funding will support deployment of propulsion technologies and expand commercial engagement with satellite manufacturers.

Founders House, a workspace and community for ambitious startup founders, has launched in Helsinki. Located in the Sähkötalo building, it offers free workspace and access to investors and experienced founders, aiming to foster globally competitive companies.

YOU(th) Health Tech, a digital health company focused on preventive care, has secured $4.5 million in funding. The company uses smartphone sensor data and machine learning for health screenings, aiming to improve access to preventive tests.

Grodi, a Spanish company focused on autonomous robotics and computer vision for intensive agriculture, has raised €2.5 million in a round led by Swanlaab Innvierte Agri FoodTech. The funding will support the industrialization of their VEGA 11 robot and international expansion.

Danish deeptech spin-out Thiax received investment from PSV Hafnium for its non-destructive 3D X-ray inspection technology for polymer and composite parts. They are initially targeting aerospace manufacturing, but long-term applications will extend to spacecraft and recycled polymers.

A Finnish company manufacturing highly precise lasers is experiencing 100% annual growth and collaborating with a Nobel laureate. Their lasers boast over 1 billion times the accuracy of many others.

Munich-based Sitegeist, a construction robotics startup developing AI-enabled modular robots for concrete renovation, has raised €4 million in a pre-seed funding round.

Robotics startup Allonic in Hungary secured funding from OpenAI and Hugging Face angels. Details of the investment and startup activity are not available in the provided summaries.

ITA Nordic, a Finnish company specializing in demanding machined components, has experienced rapid growth through strategic acquisitions and investments in automation and robotics to enhance competitiveness and address the shortage of skilled labor.

Finnish laser technology company Vexlum has announced a 10 million euro funding round to increase its semiconductor laser production in Tampere. Tesi made its first investment in the company in a round led by Kvanted.

Dutch startup QT Sense raised €4 million, including a €3 million seed round, to advance its Quantum Nuova platform for real-time cell analysis, enabling new approaches in spatial biology and drug discovery.

SmartyPlants, a UK startup developing smart sensors for houseplants, secured £190,000 in funding to further develop its technology and software for data-driven plant care.

An article discusses the potential of drones becoming a significant export product for Finland, with assessments from a member of parliament.

A massive new chip factory with a budget of €20,000 million is being constructed near the equator, marking a significant development in the semiconductor industry.

Sifted has compiled a list of 14 wealthtech startups that investors are watching. The article provides insights into promising companies in the wealth management and financial technology space.

The inventor who created 1X, a humanoid robotics startup, is now developing robots intended for use in factory environments.

ABZ Innovation, a drone manufacturer, has secured €7 million in funding led by Vsquared Ventures to scale its autonomous heavy-lift drones for agricultural and industrial applications. Based in Hungary, the company aims to expand manufacturing, accelerate product development, and grow its global presence.

PROTOTYPE Capital, an early-stage investor, has launched its Fund III, focused on robotics, automation, and deeptech. The fund invests in founders obsessed with their ideas and has seen strong returns from previous funds, backing 15 European startups in 2025 alone.

A Finnish company specializing in drone countermeasure technology is planning to go public with a valuation of €595 million.

Munich-based lytra completed its pre-seed financing led by High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF) to expand its AI platform for manufacturing service automation. The platform automates core service processes like spare parts ordering and technician scheduling.

This article discusses a Finnish drone with a patented propeller mechanism, potentially making it the best in the world for a specific function. (Note: without access to the full article, a more detailed summary is not possible)

Zepo Intelligence, a workspace security platform, closed a $15M seed round to combat AI-driven social engineering attacks with real-time threat detection and human risk management.

United Manufacturing Hub (UMH), an industrial data management platform, secured €5 million in funding to develop its open-source platform for factories and expand product development including broader connectivity, advanced data modelling and AI agents.

ViCentra, a Dutch medical device company that commercializes the Kaleido insulin patch pump system, has raised an additional $13 million as part of its Series D financing to expand manufacturing, strengthen commercial operations, and accelerate preparations for bringing its next-generation Kaleido system to the U.S. market.

Bactolife, a Copenhagen-based company developing Binding Protein technology for gut health, raised over €30 million in a Series B round to fund large-scale human studies, scale manufacturing, and support global market entry, with the first product launch planned in the US in 2026.

American companies Chevron and Quantum are reportedly interested in acquiring Teboil, but the deal requires approval from Donald Trump.

Sifted makes predictions for the European tech landscape in 2026, including potential IPOs and major players in the space and robotics sectors. Provides insights into future trends relevant to startups.

A large-scale factory is commencing the production of innovative batteries within the facilities previously owned by a battery startup that went bankrupt.

An article highlighting 33 European robotics startups that have collectively raised over €10 million this year.

The Phasa-35 intelligence drone can fly and conduct surveillance for months continuously, showcasing advancements in drone technology.

ABB is acquiring a Finnish company specializing in electrical network automation, which has 100 employees and a turnover of €20 million. This acquisition will likely strengthen ABB's offerings in the smart grid space.

Cloudberry, a venture capital company operating in Helsinki and London, has announced a EUR 30 million semiconductor fund, the first of its kind in Europe, with Tesi as an anchor investor.

Cloudberry, a venture capital firm focused on semiconductor technology, has closed a €30m fund to invest in European companies addressing the chip shortage and advancing semiconductor innovation.

QuantumDiamonds GmbH, a spin-off from the Technical University of Munich, is investing over €150 million to build a production facility for quantum-based chip metrology systems in Munich. The facility will focus on Quantum Diamond Microscopy (QDM) systems.

A simple Finnish invention reduces the heating of apartments in the sunshine surprisingly much - up to 6-10°C less heat in the intermediate space.

Matta, an industrial AI spin-out from the University of Cambridge, has raised $14M in seed funding to develop AI-powered solutions for quality control and anomaly detection in manufacturing.

A cofounder of Lilium, the electric jet startup, is reportedly working on a new venture in the drone space. Details are currently scarce, but it signals continued innovation in the aerial mobility sector.

AILOS Robotics, a spin-off from Vrije Universiteit Brussel, has raised €3.5 million in a seed round. The company is developing robotic gearboxes for humanoids and collaborative robots, aiming for lighter, safer, and more energy-efficient robots.

Article discusses a counter-weapon developed by Ukraine against Russian Geran drone attacks and its upcoming mass production in the West. The details of development are not provided.

Finnish Technology & Trends presents five new companies operating in the defense sector that are developing products such as a kamikaze drone, a microwave pulse weapon, and an underwater drone.

Neuracore, a London-based robot learning platform, has raised $3 million in a pre-seed round to develop its infrastructure for intelligent robots. Their cloud-based system aims to streamline the robot learning pipeline, enabling faster deployment of machine learning models. They are also launching a free academic program.

PowerUP Energy Technologies, based in Tallinn, secured €10 million in Series A funding to scale the manufacturing and commercialization of its hydrogen-powered electric generators for defense, industrial, and off-grid applications.

Okmetic, a Finnish company in the semiconductor industry, addresses the talent shortage through strategic recruitment campaigns, collaboration with educational institutions, and active training programs, aiming to meet the growing demand for skilled professionals.

A new funding round of €250 million has been allocated to drone defense. The article explores potential benefits for Finland from this development.

A Finnish company has developed an underwater drone for an unexpected use case, details of which are available in the article.

A Finnish company has developed a new kamikaze drone and hopes to test it in Ukraine.

Paris-based deeptech company Rift has raised €4.6 million to advance its on-demand aerial intelligence network, aimed at protecting infrastructure and populations through autonomous drone-based observation. The funding will support scaling production and expanding across Europe.

Finland is starting to build a new defense capability in space, including Finnish satellites praised by Ukraine.

CERPRO, a Berlin-based startup for industrial quality assurance, has raised €2 million in a pre-seed funding round to automate quality processes in manufacturing and expand its European market presence.

Swiss-based YQuantum has received €161,000 from Venture Kick to develop miniaturised hardware components for the next generation of quantum computers, aiming to improve scalability and move quantum computing hardware from research settings toward practical use.

Commercial real estate in Helsinki is facing challenges, with vacancy rates increasing and trade volumes significantly declining.

Balnord, an early-stage investor focused on the Baltic Sea region, has exceeded its €70 million fund target and is on track for a final close of €100 million by mid-2026. The fund targets companies advancing Europe’s technological reindustrialisation, focusing on space, healthcare, and industrial resilience.

Swiss battery start-up BTRY raised $5.7 million to industrialise ultra-thin solid-state batteries. BTRY focuses on high-value applications where size and longevity are critical, such as smart connected labels, high-temperature industrial sensors, and lightweight consumer electronics.

A new €80m fund has been launched with support from Quantum Systems and Rohlik, along with over 100 other executives, to invest in European AI and deeptech startups.

ETH robotics spinout Mimic raises $16m seed led by Elaia and Speedinvest.

Teknologiateollisuus (Technology Industries of Finland) has released a statement regarding the EU's quantum strategy and the EuroHPC regulation, emphasizing Finland's key role in the European quantum economy, the need for industrial scaling and agile regulation, and support for gigafactories in Finland.

A Finnish quantum technology company has achieved a world record by creating the shortest possible quantum circuits.

Cyberwave, a Milan-based startup building an operating layer between AI agents and real-world machines, has raised €7 million. Their platform connects AI systems to physical machines through digital twins, simulation, and orchestration tools, enabling developers to control robots, machines, and sensors with minimal code.

YC and Google alumni have raised €7m for a startup aiming to be the 'Hugging Face of robotics'. The company is developing tools and infrastructure to simplify robotics development.

A significant portion of global battery manufacturing utilizes Finnish technology, highlighting Finland's important role in the battery industry.

Creator Fund, a pre-seed VC that helps scientific founders turn university research into deeptech startups, has closed an initial $41 million for its first European institutional fund. They focus on AI, life sciences, robotics, and quantum computing.

Robotics startup Sereact is aiming to disrupt the labor market with its innovative robotics solutions, acknowledging the significant capital investment required for their ambitious goals.

Sereact has launched Cortex, a Vision-Language-Action (VLA) model that unifies perception, reasoning, and control within a single framework. The model has been trained on the largest real-world robotics dataset, aggregated from over 100 industrial deployments.

Firehawk Aerospace, a Czech startup, has closed a $60 million Series C funding round to scale its 3D-printed rocket propellants technology. The funding, which includes a European defense-focused investor, will support the transition from R&D to full-scale production.

An article details the development of a highly advanced robotic sweeper in Finland, intended to replace four traditional driving machines. This signifies innovation in robotics and automation within the Finnish tech landscape.

A Finnish engineer's 1970s invention is crucial for manufacturing modern smartphones and computers.

Article discusses the implementation of a drone surveillance system on Finland's eastern border and analyzes Russia's drone warfare tactics.

IQM Quantum Computers, based in Espoo, has raised $320 million in Series B funding, bringing its total funding to $600 million. The funding will be used to expand operations in the U.S. and other international markets, scale production, and further research on error correction and large-scale quantum architectures.

Munich-based Hive Robotics, founded in 2025, raised €2 million in a pre-seed round led by b2venture to build integrated, compact, and modular systems for collaborative robotics. The company's C3 architecture enables unmanned systems to operate collaboratively in complex environments.

Espoo-based Agate Sensors, an Aalto University spin-out developing smart sensors for material analysis, has raised €5.6 million in seed funding and grants. The funding will help commercialize its chip-scale spectral sensing technology for various applications, including healthcare, defense, and environmental monitoring.

ReOrbit has secured Europe’s largest spacetech Series A round, indicating strong investor confidence in the company's satellite technology and the growing demand within the defense sector.

Quantum Systems, a provider of unmanned aircraft systems, is expanding its operations to the UK, signifying growth in the drone technology sector.

Korean Kia's electric cars have started being manufactured in Europe with a range of 630 km on a single charge.

This article indicates that Finnish startups have recently secured notable funding rounds; however, the summary is missing. Further details are required from the article to provide more information.

This article discusses Iceye, a Finnish startup whose satellite technology plays a crucial role in modern warfare and defense applications.

Highlights eight female founders who are making significant contributions to the field of quantum technology.

Phasecraft, a quantum algorithms company, has raised $34 million in Series B funding to accelerate the development of its algorithms and transition quantum computing from theoretical to practical applications. The algorithms are hardware-agnostic and are being used to optimize material science, biological research and energy networks.

Due to the war in Ukraine, the ownership of the Finnish satellite company Iceye has changed.

This article lists the most active venture capital firms investing in robotics companies.