The Next Web TNW

A giant umbrella-like satellite fitted with European tech has revealed its first images of Earth’s surface. The probe, called “Biomass,” was built by a host of aerospace giants and startups for the European Space Agency (ESA). It launched in April on a Vega-C rocket from Europe’s spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana. European Astrotech, a UK-based startup, was responsible for fuelling the satellite ahead of takeoff. Biomass’ mission is to capture the most detailed measurements of forest carbon ever recorded from space. To get the job done, it’s been equipped with the first-ever P-band radar to enter orbit. It aims to deepen our understanding of changes in the Earth’s forests — and the impact on the global carbon cycle. Built by Airbus, this type of radar instrument uses long wavelengths that can slice through thick canopies to reach the woody structures underneath, where most of a forest’s carbon is stored.  Beyond forests, the probe can also map subsurface geology in deserts, the structure of ice sheets, and forest floor topography. Image of the Rio Beni meandering through Bolivia’s rainforests. It was created using the radar instrument’s different polarisation channels. Each colour reveals distinct characteristics of the landscape. For instance, green hues mainly represent rainforest, red hues forested floodplains and wetlands, and blue–purple is indicative of grasslands, while black areas are rivers and lakes. Credit: ESA Biomass circles Earth in a Sun-synchronous orbit at an altitude of around 666 kilometres. It transmits raw radar data from its P-band instrument to ESA’s Kiruna ground station in Sweden, where the information is received and sent to processing facilities. There, the data is calibrated and transformed into usable scientific products such as biomass density maps and forest height models.  Once processed, these datasets are made accessible through a Multi-Mission Algorithm and Analysis Platform (MAAP), designed by Belgian tech firm Spacebel. The MAAP enables scientists worldwide to search, access, and analyse Biomass data directly in the cloud without needing to download massive files or manage complex infrastructure. Tropical forest on islands in the Halmahera archipelago, Indonesia. Beyond providing insights into rainforests, the Biomass P-band radar also reveals topographic features, as its long wavelength can penetrate down to the forest floor. Credit: ESA The giant umbrella’s job is to direct radar pulses from the P-band radar instrument mounted on the satellite’s body down to the forests below. When the radar signals hit Earth’s surface, they bounce back.  The umbrella-shaped antenna, built by US space firm L3Harris, catches the returning signals and redirects them to the satellite. From there, the onboard systems process the data to create detailed 3D maps of global biomass and other features in the landscape.   A view over the Amazon rainforest in northern Brazil. Pink and red hues reveal the presence of wetlands. The dominance of red tones along the river indicates forested floodplains, while the northern area, depicted in rich green, reveals more rugged topography and dense, continuous forest cover. Credit: ESA. Michael Fehringer, ESA’s project manager for Biomass, said the satellite was still in its commissioning phase — the period of testing and calibration after launch. He expects to gather even better data over time.  “Biomass is equipped with novel space technology, so we’ve been closely monitoring its performance in orbit, and we’re very pleased to report that everything is functioning smoothly and its first images are nothing short of spectacular — and they’re only a mere glimpse of what is still to come.” source

When founders dream of launching a startup under the Mediterranean sun, Barcelona and Madrid often come to mind first. But an increasing number of entrepreneurs are turning their gaze to Valencia — a city that’s building a vibrant, founder-friendly startup community. It’s not just about sunshine (though 300 days a year doesn’t hurt). It’s about momentum. Valencia’s startup scene is collaborative, affordable, and increasingly international. It’s big enough to see the benefits of accelerated growth — in 2024 the ecosystem experienced a 15.45% growth in the number of startups compared to 2023 — yet still retains a community vibe making it easy for newcomers to network and make connections. And its sights are set on growing its ecosystem exponentially into the future. In 2024, the Invest in València Program, aimed at attracting foreign investment and entrepreneurs, resulted in more than 1,500 new jobs and generated an economic impact of €149 million over a two-year period. To strengthen its support for early-stage startups, Valencia City Council also increased seed funding by 50%, raising the total to €600,000. This Mediterranean city has become a magnet for startups in AI and Big Data, climate tech, mobility, logistics, healthtech, and gaming. With strong university talent, deep ties to legacy industries (like shipping and food production), and regional government investment in R&D, Valencia is quickly becoming a launchpad for mission-driven, high-growth companies. TNW Conference 2025 – That’s a wrap! Check out the highlights! What’s more, the city is launching a new initiative, the Urban Innovation Sandbox, aimed at providing companies, startups, and academic institutions with spaces to test their inventions with streamlined bureaucracy. These ‘sandboxes’ will allow innovators to experiment in relevant or real conditions, expediting product development and time to market. And advancements in connectivity will help to facilitate this. Supported by European funding, late last year Valenciaport rolled out a €6 million 5G network project to deliver secure connectivity for over 25,000 devices, including vehicles, sensors, and drones—driving forward the port’s digital innovation efforts. It’s also interesting to note that 34% of startups in Valencia have a female co-founder showing a promising growth in female entrepreneurship that the ecosystem plans to foster as its community grows. Add to that a relatively low cost of living, a strong talent pool flowing from the local universities, and a highly navigable regulatory landscape. Whether you’re an EU founder seeking sun and scale or a non-EU entrepreneur eyeing a soft landing in the Schengen Zone, this guide breaks down how to relocate your startup to Valencia — from administrative queries to breaking into the startup community once you’re there. Practical guide to moving your startup to Valencia EU Founders: Residency and paperwork If you’re from the EU, relocating to Valencia is straightforward. The main administrative hurdle is securing your NIE (Número de Identificación de Extranjero) — a personal tax ID number required to open a bank account, sign rental contracts, and register your business. If staying longer than 90 days, you’ll also need an EU Certificate of Registration. Choose the right structure Spain offers two main business structures: Autónomo (sole proprietor): Ideal for freelancers or solo founders. Beware the flat-rate social security contribution (~€300/month), regardless of income. Sociedad Limitada (SL): A limited liability company, the go-to for most startups. Minimum capital: €3,000 Tax and compliance New businesses enjoy a reduced corporate tax rate of 15% for the first two years of profit (standard rate is 25%). VAT (IVA) sits at 21%, and if you’re hiring, you’ll need to register with Spanish social security. Visa pathways for non-EU founders Moving to Valencia from outside the EU means securing a residence permit — but Spain offers startup-friendly pathways. Entrepreneur Visa (Ley de Emprendedores) This visa is tailored for innovative ventures that contribute to Spain’s economy. Key requirements: Scalable business model with economic potential Solid business plan Proof of funding and health insurance Clean criminal record You’ll first submit your plan to the Spanish Economic and Commercial Office. Upon approval, you apply for the visa via your local Spanish consulate. Self-Employed Visa (Autónomo) More suitable for freelancers or non-scalable businesses. It demands a viable business plan, qualifications, and financial means to support yourself. Health insurance Spain requires private, no-copay, comprehensive health coverage for most visa applicants. Insurers like Innoinsure cater specifically to startup founders and expats. Step-by-step: Launching a business in Valencia Whether you’re a local or newly arrived, here’s how to set up shop: Obtain NIE — Your tax ID number for all official interactions. Choose legal structure — Decide between Autónomo or SL. Register business name — With Spain’s Mercantile Registry. Open a bank account — Essential for operations and depositing capital. Sign incorporation deed — Via notary for SL companies. Get your CIF (Company Tax ID) — From the tax office. Register for social security — Especially if hiring staff. Tap into funding and support Valencia isn’t just pretty beaches — it’s investing in brains. IVACE (Valencian Institute of Business Competitiveness) offers grants and subsidies for innovation. Lanzadera, Spain’s answer to Y Combinator, incubates hundreds of startups per year with funding and mentoring. BigBAN Angels connects local startups with seasoned investors. The EU also offers broader support via Horizon Europe and related innovation grants. Coworking and accelerators Wayco and Vortex offer dynamic, founder-filled workspaces. Lanzadera accelerator, backed by Mercadona’s founder, also offers office spaces. To find out if Valencia is the right spot to set up shop, a great way to test the waters is to check out VDS 2025 taking place on October 22 – 23. Every year Valencia’s very own tech event brings together over 1200 attendees, both from Valencia’s tech community and abroad, to share ideas, network, and build connections that will shape the future. source

Danish biotech Cellugy has raised €8.1mn in EU funding to accelerate production of a biodegradable material designed to replace microplastics in cosmetics. The grant, awarded under the EU’s LIFE Programme for environmental projects, will support the commercialisation of EcoFLEXY, a cellulose-based material for use in personal care products such as creams, gels, and toothpaste.  Cellugy claims EcoFLEXY is the first material of its kind to match the performance of fossil-based carbomers, which are famed for their ability to give cosmetics a smooth, consistent texture and a long shelf life. Currently, carbomers dominate the global cosmetics market despite links to microplastic pollution and human health side effects.  “An alternative material that simply aims to be more sustainable is not enough,” said Dr Isabel Alvarez-Martos, CEO and co-founder of Cellugy. “The critical challenge is about delivering bio-based solutions that actually outperform petrochemicals… Good intentions won’t drive industry change.” TNW Conference 2025 – That’s a wrap! Check out the highlights! Cellugy estimates that its product could prevent 259 tonnes of microplastic pollution annually, scaling to over 1,200 tonnes by 2034, which it says is equivalent to removing millions of contaminated beauty products from the market each year. The funding will also support process optimisation and environmental validation, in partnership with Danish consultancy The Footprint Firm and Berlin-based AI company Sci2sc, which develops AI agents for biotech companies. “Our role is to optimise every layer of production so that EcoFLEXY can compete not just on environmental benefits, but on cost and performance metrics that matter to manufacturers,” said Angelina Lesnikova, Sci2sci’s CEO. With regulatory pressure against microplastics mounting in both the EU, Cellugy is positioning itself to meet the demand for more sustainable materials in the cosmetics sector.  “Within three to five years, we expect to be generating significant revenue while delivering a measurable environmental impact,” Alvarez-Martos said.   source

Berlin-based startup Nox Mobility emerged this month with ambitious plans for a night train service connecting more than a dozen European cities. The network will feature sleek, private cabins — all for the price of a short-haul plane ticket. While there are some night trains operating in Europe, cabins are typically very small and private booths are hard to find. Some, like the European Sleeper, which runs from Brussels to Prague, use repurposed trains, which some travellers report being noticeably dated. Nox’s co-founder Janek Smalla said sleeper trains were the “worst-managed transport mode” in Europe.  “Right now, night trains are unreliable and uncomfortable — you’re crammed into a noisy cabin with strangers, and private cabins are either incredibly cramped or very expensive,” he said. “And with fares often more expensive than air travel, it’s just not an attractive option for most people.” But Smalla believes that sleeper trains have the potential to not only be as affordable as flying, but more comfortable and convenient as well.  The 💜 of EU tech The latest rumblings from the EU tech scene, a story from our wise ol’ founder Boris, and some questionable AI art. It’s free, every week, in your inbox. Sign up now! “Short-haul flights are a headache with security, queues, tight seating, little privacy,” said Smalla, who previously co-launched FlixTrain and before that headed up Bolt’s German ridesharing market. “With night trains, you just get on, sleep during the trip, and wake up refreshed somewhere new,” he added. “It’s way more relaxed, and a lot better for the planet.” Nox aims to run 100 routes between major European hubs by 2036. Credit: Nox Mobility To realise that vision, Smalla launched Nox in March alongside his co-founder, Thibault Constant — known as Simply Railway to his 500k social media followers. Together, they plan to tackle the practical shortcomings that have long plagued overnight rail. Nox aims to offer three cabin types. The “Single” and “Double Loft” rooms feature elevated beds accessed by ladder, with separate seating and table areas. You sleep perpendicular to the direction of travel and can look out through a small window. Single Loft Room. Creidt: Nox Mobility Double Loft Room. Credit: Nox Mobility For more luxury, the “Double Vista” cabins come with low-floor beds at chest height that convert into daytime seating. These rooms let you sleep in line with the train’s direction. They also offer a larger, panoramic window. All the rooms offer 2-metre-long mattresses. Smalla said the company is exploring the possibility of installing soundproof doors between select cabins. These would give passengers the option to connect rooms — ideal for families or groups travelling together. When not in use, the doors could be securely closed, returning the cabins to private single or double occupancy. The Double Vista room. Credit: Nox Mobility Nox says it will offer an onboard food and drink service, bike storage, and wheelchair-accessible coaches.   Single rooms will start from €79 and double rooms from €149. Prices will fluctuate based on demand, and the rate will be charged per room.  Nox aims to launch the first route in 2027 and expand to 100 routes across Europe by 2036. Cities in the planned network include Amsterdam, Paris, Barcelona, Stockholm, Copenhagen, Berlin, Warsaw, Frankfurt, Munich, Vienna, Zurich, Milan, and Rome.  A long track ahead Nox isn’t the first startup with ambitions to disrupt the night train sector. French venture Midnight Train launched in 2021 with its concept for a “hotel on wheels,” but the company folded last year after failing to attract enough investment.   Smalla hopes Nox will have better fortune. The startup plans to handle the booking platform and timetabling in-house to improve the customer experience. It also plans to build new trains, not repurpose old stock. For that, the company will partner with established rail companies. The carriages will be standardised and modular to reduce costs.  While the promise is appealing, especially for those looking for greener alternatives to flying, Nox faces an uphill battle as it tries to disrupt one of Europe’s most traditional and heavily regulated industries.  European rail is notoriously slow-moving, with complex national regulations, fragmented infrastructure, and long procurement cycles. For a startup promising sleek design, private cabins, and airline-level pricing, the real challenge will likely lie not in reimagining the customer experience, but in working in a system that wasn’t built to be agile. Smalla isn’t oblivious to these challenges, though. “We know that what we’re doing isn’t easy,” he said. “But if we can pull it off, it could unlock a new way to get around Europe. It could get more people out of planes and cars and into trains, which I’m sure most of us can agree would be a good thing.” Nox is now working on securing final approval for its cabin designs as it plans its first major funding round later this year.  source

A Swedish startup is taking defence tech back to basics — by building the country’s first TNT factory since the Cold War. Stockholm-based Swebal has secured a €3mn investment for the plant, slated to enter full operation in late 2027. Located in Nora, a town about three hours from the capital, the factory is expected to produce more than 4,000 tonnes of TNT a year. Investors in the facility include the co-founder of venture capital firm EQT, Thomas von Koch, serial entrepreneur Pär Svärdson, and Sweden’s former army chief, Major General Karl Engelbrektson.   Joakim Sjöblom, Swebal’s founder, said the funding would help fast-track construction of the factory, which he hopes will bolster European security. “The investment will help us speed up further towards the final approvals, allowing us to have the shovel in the ground as soon as possible,” he said. “All enabling our mission to strengthen Europe’s defence resilience and ensure long-term security by addressing critical gaps in ammunition production.”  TNW Conference 2025 – That’s a wrap! Check out the highlights! TNT, or trinitrotoluene, is a powerful explosive used in everything from artillery shells to air-dropped bombs. Europe is only able to access around 6,000 tonnes of locally produced TNT per year. By contrast, Russia’s production capacity of explosives is about 50,000 tonnes annually, according to Swebal’s estimates.  Pär Svärdson, the founder of two prominent Swedish tech firms, Apotea and Adlibris, said investing in local TNT production was a logical step given the current security concerns in Europe.  “Sweden needs a strong defence — but behind a Swedish defence, we must also have a capable Swedish defence industry,” he said. “Therefore, it feels natural to invest in the Swedish defence industry — both to contribute and because it could potentially be a very smart investment.”   The investment comes amid a broader defence tech boom in Europe, as politicians increasingly look to arm themselves with technologies like drones, submarines, and AI-based weaponry.  Rather than high-tech warfare, though, Swebal’s TNT plant falls into the more traditional category of ammunitions production, an industry largely dominated by one player: Poland’s Nitro‑Chem, Europe’s primary military-grade TNT producer.  Swebal’s plans for a TNT factory still require further regulatory approvals from the Swedish government before construction can commence. Sjöblom believes the recent investment will help accelerate that process. source

Swedish energy tech pioneer Flower has won TECH5 — the “Champions League of Technology.” The company clinched the title of Europe’s hottest scaleup after developing a novel way to store energy and stabilise the grid. Flower works with clients running battery storage systems — including EV fleets, home batteries, solar parks, and data centres — to push power back into the grid when demand spikes. The Stockholm-based business applies its software platform to portfolios of energy assets, uncovering insights that guide storage and management strategies. This improves predictability and flexibility for both energy producers and consumers. The 💜 of EU tech The latest rumblings from the EU tech scene, a story from our wise ol’ founder Boris, and some questionable AI art. It’s free, every week, in your inbox. Sign up now! The result is a more balanced energy supply, smoother integration of renewables, reduced reliance on fossil fuels, stronger grid resilience, and new revenue streams for asset owners. “With a higher share of renewable energy comes a lot of volatility and uncertainty,” said Hampus Jildenbäck, marketing director at Flower. “The most efficient way to manage that volatility is through battery energy storage, and if we want to rely on a fossil free energy system, we will need to solve a lot of problems — this is the key one.” Path to the TECH5 title Flower emerged from a standout shortlist of TECH5 challengers across seven regions: Benelux, the Nordics, DACH, France, Southern Europe, the Baltics, and the UK and Ireland. From those contenders, our judges selected five formidable finalists: Flower, DataSnipper (Netherlands), Swan (France), Gain.pro (Netherlands), and Turing College (Lithuania). Each was assessed on growth, impact, and future potential. All five scored highly in each category — but Flower bloomed just above the rest. Jildenbäck told TNW that the scaleup’s work goes beyond grid stabilisation and asset optimisation. “We take a holistic ecosystem approach, using our storage portfolio not only to stabilise the power grid, but as an enabler for something bigger,” he said. “We buy energy from wind and solar farms, use our storage portfolio to manage their volatility and are then able to supply society with cheap, reliable, and plannable green electricity, which has so far been the holy grail of renewable energy.” Future energy Flower’s victory in TECH5 was announced today at TNW Conference in Amsterdam. Jildenbäck described winning the contest as “a true testament to our mission and motivation for keeping the whole team continuing the work we have started.” Looking ahead, he said Flower plans to expand into six European markets and collaborate with the broader European energy and tech ecosystem “to enable the energy system of tomorrow.” Winning TECH5 puts Flower alongside some of Europe’s top scaleups. Past winners include fintech giant Revolut, food recovery app Too Good To Go, and online supermarket Picnic. Now Flower joins them, adding fresh growth to the green tech landscape. source

Two satellites equipped with European tech have delicately pulled off an artificial solar eclipse — giving scientists unmatched views of the Sun’s scorching corona. The European Space Agency (ESA) developed the probes alongside more than 40 space tech firms. Among them are a trio of startups, which contributed several key technologies for the mission: sensors for solar tracking, light detectors to fine-tune positioning, and software that orchestrated the satellites’ intricate flight path. Launched from India’s Satish Dhawan Space Centre last year, the expedition — Proba-3 — could mark a new era for solar science. The Sun’s inner corona, coloured artificially to appear dark green, in an image taken on23 May 2025 by the ASPIICS coronagraph aboard Proba-3. Credit: ESA/Proba-3/ASPIICS The pair of satellites orbits the Earth in formation, 150 metres apart. One of them, Occulter, acts as the Moon would in a solar eclipse down on Earth. It blocks the Sun, allowing its counterpart satellite, the Coronagraph, to view the Sun’s outer atmosphere or “corona” without being blinded by the intense light.  The Sun’s corona is the outermost part of its atmosphere. Surprisingly, it’s far hotter than our star’s surface, sometimes reaching up to 2 million °C. This tumultuous region of superheated, radiative gases is the source of solar storms and coronal mass ejections, which can disrupt telecommunications on Earth — and produce breathtaking Northern Lights displays. Welcome to TNW Conference Week! Get your sun cream and sunglasses out as it’s going to be HOT. Last chance to join the get a ticket! The corona is typically only visible to the naked eye during a total solar eclipse, giving scientists only a brief window to study it. But Proba-3’s achievement could change that.  “We can create our eclipse once every 19.6-hour orbit, while total solar eclipses only occur naturally around once, very rarely twice a year,” explained Andrei Zhukov of the Royal Observatory of Belgium, which developed the Coronagraph’s main optical sensing instrument ASPIICS.  While natural total eclipses only last a few minutes, Proba-3 can maintain its artificial eclipse for up to 6 hours. Both satellites can remain perfectly aligned with each other and the Sun to within millimetre precision — all while racing around Earth at a speed of 1 kilometre per second.  That precision relies on the combined innovations of several European companies. Dutch startup Lens R&D, a graduate of ESA’s business incubator, provided sensors that continuously track the Sun’s position to within fractions of a degree, enabling the delicate choreography of formation flying.  Meanwhile, engineers at Irish firm Onsemi (formerly SensL) added highly sensitive light detectors called silicon photomultipliers, which measure tiny shifts in the Sun’s shadow across the satellite’s structure to fine-tune their positioning during the eclipse.  Supporting this hardware is software from Poland’s N7 Mobile, a startup that pivoted from consumer apps to computer systems that control spacecraft. Its code contributes to the probe’s formation control systems.  All these technologies are part of a European effort to make a six-hour eclipse in orbit not only possible, but repeatable. source

A saliva-based fertility tracker has received regulatory approval for use as a contraceptive in Europe. Developed by Berlin-based startup Inne, the at-home testing device — called the “Minilab” — tracks daily changes in progesterone levels, a hormone that plays a key role in regulating the menstrual cycle. It’s billed as a non-invasive alternative to hormonal birth control methods like the pill — and early tests have shown promising results. A year-long clinical study involving 300 women over 1,500 cycles found Inne’s at-home fertility tracker to be 100% effective when used perfectly, and 92% effective for typical use. That’s similar to the progesterone pill (99% and 92%), and far more effective than condoms (98% and 82% respectively), according to statistics from the NHS. However, it’s worth noting that those forms of contraceptives have been researched for decades while Inne’s sample was small and the study has not been peer-reviewed.    Inne’s saliva-based Minilab has been available for years as a fertility tracker to help women conceive. But only now has it received official approval for sale as a medical contraceptive device, following a review by the British Standards Institution — one of the key regulators for medical devices in Europe. Welcome to TNW Conference Week! Get your sun cream and sunglasses out as it’s going to be HOT. Last chance to join the get a ticket! Eirini Rapti, Inne’s founder and CEO, told TNW in an interview that the tech helps women avoid the potential side effects linked to hormonal contraceptives like birth control pills or IUD implants. “Once you’re off the pill, the first thing you do is start understanding your body — how you feel, how you respond,” said Rapti. “You stop experiencing things like weight gain, migraines, and low libido. And suddenly, you see women really come alive, thinking, ‘Oh, so this is what I actually feel like’.”  Inne is one of several tech-based contraceptive apps and devices to have emerged in recent years, driven by demand for hormone-free options to the pill or IUD.  Period-tracking apps, such as Flo, help women track their fertility windows based on data from their previous cycles. Others, such as Natural Cycles, take that a step further by determining where you are in your cycle based on daily temperature readings.   But, according to Rapti, saliva is more reliable than both those methods because it relies on clearer biological data.  “Period and temperature trackers rely on patterns or symptoms, but your body isn’t always predictable,” she said.  “Temperature can fluctuate for many other reasons, like if you’re sick or going through perimenopause,” Rapti continued. “Inne looks at what’s actually happening with your hormones, day by day — it’s just more precise.”  Inne’s technology uses a lateral flow strip similar to those used in COVID-19 or pregnancy tests. Users place a small amount of saliva on the strip, which contains antibodies that bind to progesterone hormones. The strip is then inserted into a matchbox-sized reading device that takes photos of the strip over 10 minutes, analysing how hormone particles move and develop across the strip.  The reader processes these photos using biochemistry and image processing techniques to determine hormone intensity, which is then synced to a companion mobile app. From there, users can track their hormonal fluctuations throughout their menstrual cycle, gaining insights into fertility, potential contraception, and overall hormonal health. Following the regulatory approval, Innie’s birth control is now available for purchase in Germany and Austria, with plans to expand to the UK later this year.  The Minilab will be available on subscription only. Prices start at €24 per month if you pay up front for a two-year subscription. The device recently received coverage from Germany’s largest public health insurer, and Inne plans to extend coverage to more providers in the future. Ultimately, Rapti wants to make saliva-based testing a readily available option for women everywhere. “It won’t be everyone’s first choice, but we believe it’s a really good alternative that allows women to take back control of their bodies and their health.” source

Two satellite heavyweights are about to form a European rival to Starlink. But they’ll face an uphill battle to compete with Elon Musk’s firm. Luxembourg-based SES’ proposed $3.1bn takeover of Intelsat is set to get the green light from EU officials, Reuters reports. A final verdict is expected by June 10.   SES first announced plans to acquire Luxembourgish-American rival Intelsat in April 2024, calling it a “transformational merger” that could reshape the satellite internet market. The merged company would have a fleet of more than 100 geostationary and 26 medium Earth orbit satellites. Intelsat would contribute 75 of those probes, which provide a range of services, including TV, radio, satellite internet, and secure communications for governments and militaries. A SES-Intelsat tie-up would create Europe’s second-largest satellite internet provider, after Franco-British firm Eutelsat. Smaller contenders include the UK’s Inmarsat and Spain’s Hisdesat.  Combined, Europe’s satellite firms could offer the continent much-sought alternatives to Musk’s Starlink or Amazon’s Project Kuiper, at a time when tech sovereignty is high on the political agenda.  European leaders are increasingly concerned about relying on Starlink. Their fears have been stoked by reports that US officials threatened to cut off the system in Ukraine if the country didn’t meet their demands on sharing its mineral wealth.   The situation raised doubts about the security implications of Ukraine — and broader Europe — relying on a single, privately owned network whose boss has direct ties to the Trump administration. Eustalstat, SES, Inmarsat, and Hisdesat reportedly entered talks with EU governments in March about providing back-up connectivity to Ukraine.  Despite the SES–Intelsat merger creating a more formidable European player, the new alliance will still face a daunting challenge against Starlink’s dominance.  Musk’s firm dwarfs its competitors in satellite numbers, with over 7,000 in low-Earth orbit (LEO). Its closest rival, Eutelsat, has around 600. Meanwhile, Amazon’s Project Kuiper is planning to deploy a constellation of 3,236 satellites.   Being part of SpaceX also affords Starlink direct access to satellite manufacturing and launch capacity. In contrast, SES and Intelsat depend on third-party launch providers and currently lack a proprietary low-Earth orbit network. While Intelsat has a $250mn agreement to access Eutelsat’s LEO capacity, this reliance on external constellations puts the merged entity at a disadvantage.  Even when combined with Europe’s other players — including Eutelsat, Inmarsat, and Hisdesat — the proposed merger pales in comparison. As European policymakers push for strategic autonomy in space, the SES–Intelsat merger may be a step in the right direction, but it’s still a far cry from a true Starlink rival. source

Munich-based defence tech startup Helsing has raised €600mn as geopolitical tensions trigger a flood of capital into AI warfare. The large investment was led by Spotify CEO Daniel Ek’s VC firm Prima Materia. It brings the company’s total raised to north of €1.3bn, building on a €450mn funding round in July last year.  Helsing didn’t disclose its updated valuation. However, according to the Financial Times, the unicorn company is now worth €12bn, making it one of Europe’s five most valuable private tech companies.  Prima Materia was one of Helsing’s earliest backers — a move that sparked boycotts among artists on Spotify, who feared their use of the platform was helping to fund war. That backlash clearly hasn’t deterred Ek, though, who said Helsing’s technology ensures “strategic autonomy” for Europe. Are you ready for TNW Conference 2025? Less than one week to go! Last chance to join the get a ticket before we sold out! “By doubling down on our investment, Prima Materia reaffirms its commitment to empowering Europe’s technological sovereignty — an ambition Helsing perfectly embodies,” said Ek.  Founded in 2021, Helsing has developed an autonomous strike drone now in use by several European militaries, including Ukraine’s. The company also recently unveiled plans for a fleet of autonomous reconnaissance submarines, and last week successfully used its self-driving system to pilot a Saab fighter jet. Helsing is riding a defence investment boom as war in Ukraine and rising security concerns push European governments to double down on military spending and explore AI technologies for warfare.  According to a new report from McKinsey, investment in European defence tech startups rose by over 500% between 2021 and 2024 compared to the previous three years. While Helsing is currently Europe’s most valuable defence tech startup, many other companies are experiencing rising demand for their technologies.  In May, German dual-use drone maker Quantum Systems raised €160mn at a valuation north of €1bn, shortly after Portuguese drone startup Tekever also reached the coveted unicorn status.  ARX Robotics, another Munich-based company, recently raised €31mn to expand its fleet of autonomous land drones, shortly after announcing its plans to invest £45mn into a new UK factory.  Kate Leaman, chief market analyst at online broker AvaTrade, previously told TNW that military tech companies have “huge potential” for growth — particularly those with AI-driven solutions. “We’re already seeing a shake-up in the defence sector, with AI-focused players like Palantir outperforming more traditional defence giants,” Leaman said. “This suggests that cutting-edge, tech-centric firms could possibly capture a sizeable share of the market.” source