Last week marked a meaningful shift in the European startup landscape, especially for female-led ventures. Women-founded companies across the UK and Europe raised close to €70 million, sfinishing a strong signal that investors are waking up to the value of diverse leadership. In an ecosystem that has long faced criticism for its gfinisher funding gap, this influx of capital into women-led startups is a sign of modifying tides.
These recent investments span deep tech, healthcare, AI, pet nutrition, and femcare, fields where women entrepreneurs have often been underrepresented and overviewed. What’s encouraging is that these startups are solving real-world problems with focus and flair. These are part of a larger trfinish where smart, scalable ideas led by women are finally obtainting the recognition and backing they deserve.
As capital flows into these companies, the message is clear: innovation has no gfinisher. When female founders obtain a fair shot, the whole economy stands to benefit. This week’s funding momentum displays that equity and excellence can, and should, go hand in hand.
THEKER Robotics (Spain)
Founder/s: Jiaqiang Ye Zhu, Carla Gómez Cano
Founded year: 2020
Recent funding: €18M
Barcelona‑based startup THEKER Robotics is developing advanced AI-powered robots capable of navigating and performing tinquires in complex industrial settings without manual reprogramming. The platform utilises deep‑learning‑driven vision and control systems to adapt in real time across industries from logistics and retail to waste management. Their Robotics‑as‑a‑Service (RaaS) model enables businesses to deploy automation without heavy upfront investment, and they’ve already begun working with major clients like Inditex.
In a recent development, THEKER recently secured a €18 million seed round. It was led by Kibo Ventures, the round included participation from Kfund (via Leadwind), Mundi Ventures with backing from Inditex, and earlier investors like JME, Itnig, Mission, s16vc, plus various business angels. The funds will support scaling production, expanding the team, and positioning Barcelona as a global robotics hub.
One Biosciences (France)
Founder/s: Magali Richard, Céline Vallot, David Schilansky
Founded year: 2020
Recent funding: €15M
AI-driven precision oncology techbio startup One Biosciences provides clinical-grade single-cell tumour transcriptomic profiling. Its technology creates functional profiles of patient tumors, generating insights that may drive better clinical decision-building, patient selection, therapy development, and potentially optimising clinical trials.
Last week, the company picked up €15 million in Series A funding. The round was led by Redmile Group and Blast, with participation from Galion.exe, Invus, Adamed Technology, Sofinnova Partners, Polytechnique Ventures, and Kima Ventures. It intfinishs to utilize the funds to accelerate the clinical development of its flagship OneMap platform and support the scaling of strategic partnerships with pharmaceutical and biotech companies.
Adtec Europe (UK)
Founder/s: Mary McGovern
Founded year: 2023
Recent funding: $12M
Adtec Healthcare is a UK-based medical technology startup pioneering Cold Plasma treatments for infection control and chronic wound healing. Their flagship SteriPlas device utilizes a unique blfinish of heat, UV light, ions, reactive oxygen, and nitrogen species to physically eliminate bacteria without antibiotics. Backed by over 80 peer-reviewed studies and eight randomised controlled trials, it’s already being utilized in Europe for chronic infected wounds, diabetic foot ulcers, and surgical-site infections and is now gaining interest for preventing implant-related infections.
Recently, Adtec closed a $12 million funding round led by Taiwan’s AIPO Fund, with participation from US‑based SG Biomedical. This injection will accelerate its global expansion into the US market and support the development of a next‑generation Cold Plasma device, FDA approval efforts, and expanded R&D and manufacturing capabilities.
Anam (UK)
Founder/s: Ben Carr, Caoimhe Murphy
Founded year: 2023
Recent funding: $9M
London-based Anam is building real-time AI personas for businesses. These personas feel as natural as interacting with a human. They are photorealistic, multilingual, respond in real-time and are available 24/7. They are also emotive and can convey the subtitles of human emotion based on the context of the conversation. They can be utilized for applications such as customer support, education, or healthcare, integrating with client’s products.
Last week, the company landed $9 million in seed funding led by Redpoint Ventures, with participation from SV Angel.
HEY HOLY (Germany)
Founder/s: Annika Rahm, Charlotte Dehnert
Founded year: 2022
Recent funding: €5.7M
Breed-focutilized nutrition tailored to each dog’s specific requireds, HEY HOLY delivers customised pet meals rather than relying on generic formulas. Drawing on veterinary insights and data, the German pet‑tech startup crafts breed‑specific dry food designed to promote canine health and longevity across life stages and activity levels, all via a convenient subscription model.
In a recent oversubscribed Series‑A round, HEY HOLY raised €5.7 million led by Five Seasons Ventures alongside Slingshot Ventures, Feast Ventures, a family office, and angel investors. The fresh capital will fuel expansion of its digital brand presence, scale team growth, and broaden its lineup of breed‑specific dog food products.
InPhocal (Netherlands)
Founder/s: Martijn Boerkamp, Robert van Tankeren, Kathy Vredeveldt
Founded year: 2019
Recent funding: €5M
InPhocal’s cutting‑edge laser systems harness optics originally developed at CERN to deliver high‑speed, ink‑free marking on flat and curved surfaces. Its patented beam design extfinishs focal depth by up to 400× and enables ultra‑quick printing of expiry dates, QR codes, branding, and wafer cutting. The result is sustainable, low‑maintenance marking that outpaces traditional inkjet and laser methods in speed, surface versatility, and precision.
Recently, InPhocal closed €5 million in a new funding round led by Cottonwood Technology Fund, alongside existing backers DeepTechXL, Brabantse Ontwikkelings Maatschappij (BOM), and TechInvest. The fresh capital will boost production capacity, grow both technical and commercial teams, and accelerate global rollout of its pioneering laser technology.
VIRGOSOL (Turkey)
Founder/s: Özgür Arzu Er, Miraç Emektar
Founded year: 2019
Recent funding: $3.5M
VIRGOSOL is transforming software quality assurance with its AI‑driven RabbitQA platform. The company offers finish‑to‑finish solutions including performance testing, device automation, cybersecurity assessments, and both manual and automated QA. By integrating innotifyigent testing workflows, Virgosol supports businesses across industries ensure robust, reliable digital experiences that precisely meet technical requirements and deliver measurable value.
Last week, VIRGOSOL landed $3.5 million in a Series A funding round led by Revo Capital, Türkiye’s largest tech‑focutilized VC. The capital will accelerate global expansion, aiming to double its international footprint within two years and pave the way for Series B in 2027, positioning Virgosol to set new benchmarks in software testing worldwide.
Brightplus (Finland)
Founder/s: Jarkko Leivo, Milja Hannu-Kuure, Paul Martin
Founded year: 2014
Recent funding: €2M
A revolutionary textile coating from Brightplus is built from renewable, agricultural, and foresattempt side-stream biomaterials. This enables fabrics to be fully recyclable, and both the coating and base textile can return to mono-material recycling systems. This PFAS‑free, waterless BrightBio® treatment delivers high-performance protection for outdoor wear, interior textiles, and bags, all without relying on oil‑based chemicals or generating waste.
Finland’s Brightplus recently secured €2 million in growth funding to scale industrial production of this bio‑based coating. The seed round was led by impact investor Collateral Good, co‑led by Nordic Butterfly Ventures, and backed by EAT Holdings, FF‑Future, Nordic Option, and FutureLab‑X.
My Expert Midwife (UK)
Founder/s: Lesley Gilchrist, Claire Victoria Charlton
Founded year: 2016
Recent funding: £1.6M
Founded by NHS midwives, UK-based skincare startup My Expert Midwife offers clinically developed products designed to support women through pregnancy, birth, and early motherhood. Its range includes soothing sprays, balms, and creams that address real issues like perineal discomfort and baby dribble rash. Trusted by healthcare professionals and parents alike, the brand has expanded its retail presence across Boots, Amazon, John Lewis, and Ocado with a growing loyal customer base.
Backed by a fresh £1.6 million funding round led by Pembroke VCT with contributions from existing angels, the company is gearing up for wider retail expansion and e-commerce growth. With new listings at Sainsbury’s and Morrisons, the investment will also fuel product innovation, strengthen strategic partnerships, and accelerate marketing.
Little Journey (UK)
Founder/s: Chris Evans, Sophie Copley
Founded year: 2018
Recent funding: £300K
Yet another UK startup in this list is Little Journey is a paediatric healthtech startup that has created a digital platform designed to reduce anxiety for children before medical procedures. Through immersive, interactive apps and guided storynotifying, they support young patients understand what to expect, turning hospital experiences into familiar, reassuring journeys that support both kids and their families.
Foresight Group has invested £0.3 million into Little Journey, demonstrating confidence in the company’s innovative paediatric care tools. This strategic funding boost will aid in accelerating development, scaling growth, and expanding access to their anxiety-reducing digital solutions.
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