Amsterdam-based Farmless, a startup focused on producing carbon-negative food ingredients by converting renewable energy and CO2, has secured a €1M grant from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

The grant will support the company in validating its fermentation method for protein production, a process that does not require agricultural land, in an operational environment. 

“Our protein is locally brewed at the Farmless Brewery in Amsterdam, using food grade ingredients and a regionally produced, sustainable feedstock,” says the Dutch company in a LinkedIn post.

What does Farmless offer?

Founded by Adnan Oner, Farmless has developed a fermentation platform that produces protein locally, unaffected by climate and agricultural land constraints. 

Using natural microorganisms and a liquid mix of CO2, hydrogen, nitrogen, and renewable energy, the process requires up to 5,000 times less land than beef production. The resulting protein, containing all essential amino acids, can be used to create meat, dairy, and egg alternatives. 

Farmless aims to reduce reliance on animal products, restore farmland, and combat ecological issues caused by agriculture, such as biodiversity loss and climate change. The company seeks to offer economically viable alternatives to animal-based proteins.

Brief about the ERDF

The ERDF aims to reduce economic, social, and territorial disparities across EU regions by providing funding to public and private bodies. 

For the 2021-2027 period, the fund will support investments focused on making Europe and its regions more competitive, greener, connected, social, and closer to citizens. 

Key areas of investment include innovation, support for small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs), digitisation, low-carbon initiatives, mobility enhancement, inclusive employment, and education.

The ERDF operates under shared management, with local authorities leading projects tailored to regional needs. It is governed by the Common Provisions Regulation.

Paris-based Omnidoc, a tele-expertise and e-RCP solutions provider for healthcare professionals and medical organisations, has secured €6M in a new funding round.

The round was led by Alven, with support from existing investors Kurma and Newfund. 

The company plans to use the funds to expand its operations in France and internationally. Omnidoc aims to establish itself as a leading platform for medical collaboration, enhancing the way healthcare professionals connect and share expertise.

A platform that facilitates and enhances medical collaboration

Omnidoc is a tele-expertise platform that facilitates secure and efficient exchanges of medical opinions between doctors, enabling easier access to specialist advice, faster diagnoses, and optimised treatment. 

The company also helps to streamline patient care by improving the tracking, traceability, and financial valuation of medical exchanges. 

Deployed in 50 per cent of French public hospitals, the platform supports over a million tele-expertise consultations annually, contributing to more efficient healthcare delivery amid a medical workforce shortage.

The company was launched in 2019 and claims that its platform has become widely adopted in France, with its solution now used by 60 per cent of University Hospital Centers (CHU) and over 80,000 healthcare professionals.

Capital utilisation

The funds will help Omnidoc to enhance its services further. The company intends to recruit 20 additional staff members to strengthen its engineering and support teams. 

Omnidoc also aims to expand its platform’s capabilities beyond tele-expertise, developing new features such as multidisciplinary concertation meetings, assisted teleconsultation, emergency management, and inter-institutional services. 

The company aims to connect various healthcare players—hospitals, specialists, clinics, and primary care organisations—to streamline communication and optimise patient care pathways.

Expansion in 2025

Omnidoc’s new financing will help fuel its international expansion, building on its initial roll-out in Belgium last October at the Brugmann and Saint-Pierre teaching hospitals in Brussels. 

The company plans to accelerate its growth in Belgium and expand into Germany by 2025. This expansion aims to address the increasing demand for medical collaboration in European markets, which are facing similar healthcare challenges.

London-based Synthera, a fintech company leveraging generative AI to transform financial market analysis, has raised $1.86M (approximately €1.77M) in a pre-seed funding round.

Led by Motive Ventures, the round also saw participation from Entrepreneur First, Transpose Platform, KDX (led by Stanford Professor Ashby Monk), BuenTrip Ventures, Robin Capital, and Angel Invest. 

Angel investors, including a former Citadel Portfolio Manager and experienced asset managers, further showed confidence in Synthera’s approach.

Michael Hock, Partner at Motive Ventures, says, “Synthera is solving a fundamental problem in the financial industry: the inability of historical data and traditional models to account for the realities of today’s markets.”

“By leveraging cutting-edge generative AI, they are creating a product that addresses a critical need for financial institutions looking to improve risk management and portfolio outcomes. We’re proud to back such a visionary team.”

What does Synthera offer?

Synthera claims to leverage generative AI to address flaws in traditional financial forecasting methods like Monte Carlo simulations. According to the company, these conventional approaches often overfit historical data, fail to account for dynamic market changes, and miss non-linear correlations, increasing investors’ exposure to risks.

By generating synthetic market data, Synthera enables investment teams to forecast risks, including rare tail events, identify non-linear correlations for better diversification, and stress-test portfolios using bespoke forward-looking scenarios. 

The platform’s AI-driven models simulate realistic market conditions across yield curves, equities, FX, and other financial factors, providing deeper insights and precision in portfolio optimisation and risk management.

Synthera was founded by Mariana Barona, a Cambridge graduate and former Goldman Sachs Asset Management specialist, and Lukas Schreiner, an AI and quantitative finance expert with experience at LPA and Swiss Quant. 

Oxford Professor Rama Cont, an expert in quantitative finance and risk management who serves as Synthera’s scientific advisor, advises the team.

Co-founder and CEO Barona says, “By bridging the gaps in traditional approaches, Synthera provides financial institutions with the tools to anticipate and navigate market complexities in ways that weren’t possible before. This fresh funding allows us to bring our solution to market and help investment teams unlock better, data-driven decisions.”

Capital utilisation

Synthera will use the funds to accelerate product development, expand its team of engineers and data scientists, and collaborate with financial institutions to pilot its technology.

The company aims to help hedge funds, asset managers, pension funds, and banks improve insights and enhance risk-adjusted returns.

Barona says, “Our technology is not just about improving what exists—it’s about redefining how investment teams think about data and risk in a dynamic market environment.”

Alstin Capital, a Munich-based venture capital firm specialising in early-stage B2B software investments, has raised €175M for its Alstin III fund. The investors include foundations, banks, insurance companies, family offices, and high-net-worth individuals.

Originally targeting €100M with a hard cap of €125M, the fund exceeded its goal within four months, prompting an increase in the cap to €175M with investor approval.

Alstin I was initially funded with family capital, while Alstin II raised around €108M from external partners in 2017. As of fall 2023, Alstin II is fully invested. The firm’s fundraising for Alstin III commenced in February 2024.

What to expect from the new fund?

Alstin III will focus on Series A investments in European B2B software companies, with initial funding ranging from €2M to €7M.

Carsten Maschmeyer, Managing Partner of Alstin Capital, says, “We are particularly proud that more than 90 per cent of all investors from Alstin II have now joined Alstin III.”

“We received so many commitments that we could have raised the hard cap to €250M, but we chose not to. We aim to further internationalise our portfolio, and our first three investments already span three different countries.”

Even before its final closing, Alstin III has already made several investments. These include:

• Flowit, a Zurich-based company offering employee development solutions for frontline workers
• NORBr, an Amsterdam-based provider of software to streamline payment infrastructure setup
• Etalytics, a Darmstadt-based firm developing AI-driven energy management solutions for data centres, reduces energy consumption by an average of 37 per cent.

Brief about Alstin Capital

Alstin Capital is an independent early-stage venture capital fund that focuses on fast-growing B2B technology companies in the DACH region and across Europe, primarily at the Seed and Series A stages. The firm provides both pre- and post-investment support. 

Alstin Capital leverages its network to assist portfolio companies with financing rounds, customer acquisition, partnerships, and talent recruitment. It offers sales coaching, strategy development, KPI definition, and sales operations setup. 

Additionally, Alstin provides tailored PR and marketing support, helping companies build their brand through media placements and social media strategies. The firm also aids in scaling businesses through expansion strategies, internationalisation, and optimising sales channels.

Alstin Capital’s portfolio includes companies like Blacklane, Orderbird, pflege.de, alyne, and Klarna. Its sector focus includes fintech, insurtech, regtech, and cyber security.

Amsterdam-based venture capital firm 819 Capital Partners announced that it has acquired and invested in CiMaas, a Dutch biotech company specialising in Natural Killer (NK) cell therapy aimed at advancing cancer treatment. 

Earlier, CiMaas had filed for bankruptcy, effective June 11, 2024, due to financial challenges that hindered its ability to fund necessary clinical studies, despite having proprietary feeder cell technology and an advanced NK cell expansion methodology.

Following the acquisition, CiMaas expressed commitment to continuing its mission of developing effective, low-side-effect cancer therapies. The company plans to focus on GMP-grade NK cells.

CiMaas mentions in a statement, “Thanks to an investment from 819 Evergreen Fund I, we are pleased to be able to continue working on our ambitions: cure cancer patients by making Natural Killer cells a reality. Our activities will be realised in Maastricht.”

On a mission to achieve a better cure for cancer

Founded in 2015 as a spin-off from Maastricht University and Maastricht University Medical Center+, CiMaas is focused on transforming cancer treatment with immunotherapies. 

These therapies aim to harness the body’s immune system to treat metastatic and late-stage cancers, addressing unmet needs in areas where current treatments are often ineffective, especially in advanced cases.

With a focus on safety, effectiveness, and minimising side effects, CiMaas looks to provide more robust and lasting solutions, offering new hope for patients with limited treatment options.

CiMaas is now offering (non-) GMP-grade feeder cells for collaborations, enabling the expansion of Natural Killer (NK) cells to produce sufficient quantities for scientific research and patient treatment.

The company is also working towards having clinical-grade NK cell production ready, with plans to initiate clinical research in collaboration with various partners.

Gerard Bos, CEO of CiMaas, says, “We are pleased to partner with 819 Capital Partners. This investment enables us to continue working on our ambitions: cure cancer patients by making Natural Killer cells a reality.”

“Our commitment to advancing cell-therapy opportunities for cancer treatment remains as strong as ever, and we are very motivated to continue our work in this vital field now In the coming period, we will further strengthen our team with highly skilled professionals.”

Brief about 819 Capital Partners

819 Capital Partners is an investment firm focused on venture capital, private equity, and corporate finance, with a mission to drive innovation and growth in key sectors. 

The firm prioritises healthcare, technology, and leisure, and recently launched the 819 Evergreen Fund to invest in early-stage deeptech ventures. It also supports growth through private equity investments in platform companies, using buy-and-build strategies. 

With over €60M in assets under management and 14 active portfolio companies generating €500M in revenues, the firm provides hands-on support to entrepreneurs to help realise their growth ambitions.

Speaking about the acquisition and investment in CiMaas, Thomas Smit, Director of 819 Capital Partners, says, “We are delighted to welcome CiMaas to 819 Evergreen Fund I. Our investment in CiMaas perfectly aligns with our vision to accelerate the growth of cutting-edge ventures.”

“CiMaas’ pioneering technology has great potential and could be a transformative breakthrough in cancer treatment in the future.”

Helsingborg-based Acorai, a Swedish company specialising in heart failure management devices, announced that it secured $4.5M (approximately €4.28M) in a fresh round of funding. 

The investment, made by the European Innovation Council (EIC) Fund, Taiwan Medical University, and private investors, will support the completion of clinical studies and regulatory approvals in the US and Europe.

Earlier this year, in January 2024, Acorai closed an oversubscribed seed equity round, raising over $4.5M.

Capital utilisation

Acorai has completed patient enrollment for its CAPTURE-HF study, involving over 1,600 participants from 20 hospitals across six countries.

With an FDA Breakthrough Device Designation and collaboration through the FDA’s TAP Pilot programme, the company is on track for regulatory submissions and a planned commercial launch by 2026. 

With an additional $6M provisioned from the EIC Fund for future equity financing, Acorai is preparing to raise additional capital in 2025 to support clinical validation, regulatory approvals, and early commercialisation of its heart failure management technology.

Acorai CEO, Filip Peters, says, “We are happy to welcome the EIC Fund as an investor in Acorai and look forward to working closely with the fund as one of Europe’s leading deep tech investors. Acorai is at a transformative point and has built a solid foundation to become a world leader in non-invasive cardiac care.”

“With more than $6M in additional capital provisioned from the EIC Fund to Acorai’s future funding rounds, this investment will allow Acorai to scale up its clinical and regulatory efforts to reach the market.”

Peters adds, “This represents another important step toward bringing our solution to the market, with the potential to impact over 60 million heart failure patients worldwide positively.”

A device for heart failure management

Acorai is developing a non-invasive intracardiac pressure monitoring device to improve heart failure management for over 64 million patients worldwide. The device, built on the patented SAVE Sensor System, combines non-invasive hardware with machine learning.

The SAVE Sensor System combines seismic, acoustic, visual, and electrical sensors to provide detailed cardiac data. This data is analysed in real time by a machine learning engine trained on one of the largest clinical datasets. 

In 2023, the company received FDA Breakthrough Device Designation, enabling participation in the FDA’s TAP Pilot programme. Backed by institutional medtech investors, healthcare systems, and strategic partners, Acorai aims to shape the future of cardiac care through non-invasive solutions.

Brief about EIC Fund

The EIC Fund, established by the European Commission, invests in a wide range of technologies and sectors across EU countries and those linked to Horizon Europe.

As part of the EIC Accelerator blended finance, the fund addresses financing gaps by supporting the development and commercialisation of disruptive technologies. 

It collaborates with market players, encourages co-investments, and builds networks of capital providers and strategic partners. The fund also emphasises empowering female founders and reducing innovation disparities across the EU.

Netherlands-based family-owned enterprise VANAD Group has acquired Utrecht’s sports tech company SciSports.

Arthur Nederlof of VANAD Group highlighted the company’s ties to sports, mentioning a past attempt to acquire Dutch football club ADO Den Haag. He says, “While that venture didn’t materialise, this acquisition aligns our passion for sports with our expertise in technology. It feels like a natural progression for us.”

Founded in 2013, SciSports is a sports analytics company specialising in football data intelligence. It provides actionable insights to help football organisations optimise performance and make informed decisions.

By leveraging artificial intelligence and machine learning, SciSports offers deep analyses for players, clubs, and federations, supporting strategic planning and team development. 

Currently operating in Europe and North America, the company aims to enhance the game on the pitch and enrich the experience of football fans globally.

Vincent van Renesse van Duivenbode will remain the CEO of SciSports following the acquisition. He says, “We’ve already achieved significant success in Europe, and this collaboration positions us to accelerate our expansion in the United States.”

Aim of the acquisition

SciSports plans to use VANAD Group’s financial resources and strategic expertise to improve its technology, grow its operations, and expand further in Europe and North America.

“This partnership allows us to deepen our existing relationships, invest in cutting-edge product innovation, and take our solutions to a broader audience,” says van Renesse van Duivenbode. “The North American market is a vital part of our growth strategy, and we are determined to establish a leading position with our products.”

Arthur Nederlof, CEO of VANAD Group, adds, “This acquisition represents an exciting step into the sports world, blending our IT expertise with a state-of-the-art software platform.”

VANAD Group’s founder, Ad Nederlof, brings extensive experience in the American market, including Silicon Valley, to support SciSports’ growth in the region. He is a seasoned entrepreneur who previously served as President and CEO of Genesys and led it through a $1.8B acquisition deal by Alcatel in 2000.

Brief about VANAD Group

VANAD Group is a family-owned company that operates internationally, offering innovative solutions in software, information, and communication technology. It focuses on improving customer experience and helping clients gain a competitive edge in their markets. 

With over 1,500 employees worldwide, VANAD Group includes several subsidiaries, such as VANAD Engage, Tangelo Software, Cybertwice, Early Friday, SciSports and QuandaGo.

Dutch financial services company NN Group and Amsterdam-based venture capital firm Rubio Impact Ventures, have announced the winners of the first edition of the NN Social Innovation Startup Award, held during Impact Week in Bilbao.

Three startups addressing equal opportunities and mental and physical well-being, including The Linghos (Poland), Whispp (Netherlands), and Bugeto (Poland), were chosen as winners from 362 applications across 17 countries.

Fleur Hudig, Head of Sustainability & Social Impact at NN Group, says, “We are thrilled to announce The Linghos as the winner of this year’s NN Social Innovation Startup Award. The NN Social Innovation Startup Award has been an incredible journey, and we are honoured to have received so many outstanding applications from around the world.”

“We were impressed by the passion, dedication, and innovative solutions presented by all the finalists. While only three startups were named winners, we want to acknowledge and thank each and every participant for their hard work and commitment to improve the financial, physical and/or mental well-being of those at risk.”

The Linghos received €100,000 as the winner, while the runners-up each secured €50,000. All winners will participate in a year-long venture development programme that offers tailored mentorship, expert support, and investor-readiness training to help them grow.

Meet the winner!

Founded in 2022, The Linghos uses AI to transform pediatric speech therapy with a platform that diagnoses speech impediments and provides personalised, game-based therapy for children aged 3 to 10. 

Its voice-controlled exercises make therapy more engaging and accessible, helping children improve through active participation.

Brief about the runners-up

Founded in 2020 in Leiden, Netherlands, Whispp uses AI to help individuals with voice disabilities communicate clearly. Its app supports phone and video calls, offering voice conversion for conditions like spasmodic dysphonia, vocal cord paralysis, and total laryngectomy.

Based in Rzeszów, Poland, Bugeto aims to make financial education more engaging and practical for students in schools and colleges. By moving beyond theory, the team develops tools to teach personal finance management through hands-on learning experiences.

Diverse applicants

The NN Social Innovation Startup Award drew 362 applications from 17 countries across Europe and Japan, showcasing diversity and a focus on impact.

Over half (58 per cent) of the teams included a female founder, with the highest representation in Spain and the Czech Republic. 

Key themes included equal opportunities (52 per cent) and well-being (43 per cent), with solutions addressing areas like financial inclusion and mental health. 

Startups averaged 2.9 years old, had 6.5 team members, and raised an average of €624K in funding.

Ilonka Jankovich, Venture Partner at Rubio Impact Ventures, says, “In these geopolitically turbulent times, highlighting the impactful initiatives in social innovation is more crucial than ever.”

“The number and quality of applications we received for the NN Social Innovation Startup Award exceeded all expectations, showcasing the incredible potential of startups tackling equal opportunities and mental and physical well-being with innovative solutions.”

“While all the finalists delivered strong pitches and demonstrated how their businesses unite powerful impact with scalable commercial models, the winners stand out as perfect examples of entrepreneurs driving both impact and growth.”

Jankovich adds, “We look forward to supporting them as true partners and mentors, helping them scale their impact and work toward solving humanity’s biggest challenges.”

About NN Group and Rubio Impact Ventures

NN Group is an international financial services company operating in 11 countries, with “strong” presence in Europe and Japan. It serves about 19 million customers with services including retirement, pensions, insurance, banking, and investments. The group includes brands like Nationale-Nederlanden, NN, ABN AMRO Insurance, and others. NN Group is listed on Euronext Amsterdam (NN).

Rubio Impact Ventures is an impact venture fund with €150M in assets under management. It invests in entrepreneurs who combine positive social impact with scalable businesses. Rubio supports its investments with capital, expertise, and network access to help them grow and succeed.

Amsterdam-based Cargoplot, a digital platform for global freight brokerage, has raised €3.84M in an equity funding round.

The lead investor in the funding round is Ubbo Hempenius, an entrepreneur known for his success with H&S Group, a logistics company. His experience in the logistics industry is expected to help drive Cargoplot’s growth and development.

Making logistics straightforward and transparent

Cargoplot, an AI-driven logistics platform, addresses challenges in global freight by connecting exporters and importers with logistics service providers. The company was founded in 2021 by Maarten de Reij and was later joined by Daniel Schreij and Henk-Jan Meijer.

Cargoplot’s platform offers 24/7 insights into market disruptions caused by geopolitical unrest, such as shipping detours around the Cape of Good Hope instead of the Suez Canal. These disruptions lead to volatile prices and transit times, particularly affecting businesses during peak seasons like the holidays.

The Dutch company helps European importers and exporters maintain efficiency by providing instant access to shipping prices, transit times, and direct collaboration with service providers. 

The platform enhances transparency and fosters competition, enabling customers to secure better prices and reliable services. The software simplifies logistics management, offering real-time support and coordination across the global supply chain.

In January 2023, Cargoplot closed an extended pre-Seed funding round of over €1M. Investors included ASIF Ventures, a student-run Amsterdam VC fund, and several angel investors. Prior to that, the company had raised €425K in May 2021.

Capital utilisation

The funds will help the company expand its services and support more businesses in managing logistics through its platform.

Maarten de Reij, CEO and founder of Cargoplot says, “This financing is an important milestone for Cargoplot and confirms the confidence our investors have in our vision for global logistics.”

“With this support, we can help companies even better to reliably and competitively provide their customers with services and products. This is particularly  crucial during the year-end rush and geopolitical unrest in general.”

France-based Lactips, a company that creates a biodegradable, water-soluble polymer made from natural materials, has raised €16M in a new funding round. 

The investment was led by the Blue Ocean Fund, managed by SWEN Capital Partners, and supported by Impact Ocean Capital Fund, managed by GO CAPITAL.

The round also saw participation from the SPI Fund, managed by Bpifrance on behalf of the French government, BNP Paribas Développement, as well as Sogive, a family office.

Chloé Schiaffino, Investment Director at Bpifrance, says, “As a shareholder since 2020, we have supported Lactips in developing innovative products, enhancing its industrial facilities, and seizing new market opportunities within a positive societal and regulatory environment.”

“Today, Lactips provides relevant, industrially-proven solutions that have been embraced by several prominent clients. Building on its successful track record, this new funding round offers an opportunity to strengthen and solidify the company’s assets while accelerating its commercial growth and international expansion.”

Brief about Lactips

Founded in 2014 by Marie-Hélène Gramatikoff and Frédéric Prochazka, Lactips creates plastic-free, biobased alternatives to traditional plastic. Its water-soluble and fully biodegradable products offer sustainable solutions for packaging, labelling, agriculture, and outdoor sports. 

The company uses natural proteins, like caseins, in its patented technology, and its products are edible, mass-producible, and have “strong” barrier properties. 

In 2021, Lactips opened a new 2,500 m² production site and plans to increase its capacity to produce up to 10,000 metric tons of material. In 2022, Alexis von Tschammer became CEO, succeeding Gramatikoff.

Currently, the company employs 45 people, including a skilled management team.

Capital utilisation

Lactips offers sustainable, natural alternatives to traditional plastics. With patented technology, expert teams, and a large industrial facility, it has formed “strong” commercial partnerships. The company will use the funds to support its growth, aiming to expand in Europe, the Americas, and Japan.

The proceeds will also support ongoing research and development to improve products and reduce environmental impact, as well as investments in its industrial facility to increase production capacity.

Alexis von Tschammer, CEO of Lactips, says, “We are thrilled to reach this important milestone in Lactips’ development. The entry of impact funds into our capital is a genuine recognition of our long-term growth potential and our commitment to responsible development within the global ecological transition.”

“Our historic shareholders have once again confirmed their commitment to Lactips. These long-term partnerships provide us with the means to achieve our ambitions.”

What do the investors have to say?

Julie Peyrache, SWEN Capital Partners, says, “As plastic pollution poses a major threat to our oceans, we are particularly proud to support Lactips in its new phase of development. Lactips is an innovative industrial deeptech company with 10 years of research and development.”

“Since its creation, it has been committed to guiding manufacturers and brands in their ecological transition by providing 100 per cent bio-sourced solutions that are fully biodegradable in all environments and water-soluble, leaving no microplastics behind. With sustained development and a passionate team, Lactips has established itself as a market leader.”

Jérôme Gueret, GO CAPITAL, adds, “GO CAPITAL is proud to support Lactips in this new phase of its international expansion. With a talented team driven by impact, Lactips is positioning itself as a key player in the shift away from petroleum-based plastics. Their casein-based natural polymer addresses critical environmental challenges, particularly in safeguarding the health of marine ecosystems.”