Fundraising

Sequoia unveils €874M across two Europe venture funds, with partner Luciana Lixandru declaring Europe’s founder pool “never been stronger” amid AI boom.

The European media technology sector is witnessing a remarkable transformation as traditional entertainment boundaries blur with digital innovation. In this evolving landscape, Steven.com has secured €46 million in funding, marking one of the most significant media tech investments in the UK this year. The round, led by Slow Ventures and Apeiron Investment Group, positions the company at the intersection of content creation and technology platforms. This substantial investment reflects growing confidence in European media tech ventures that can bridge traditional entertainment with digital-first approaches, particularly those with proven track records in the competitive UK market. Media tech funding reaches new heights with strategic investor backing Slow Ventures, known for their investments in Twitter, Slack, and Robinhood, brings Silicon Valley expertise to this European venture, whilst Apeiron Investment Group adds deep media industry connections. This investor combination signals a strategic bet on the convergence of technology and entertainment sectors. “We’re seeing unprecedented opportunities where content creation meets scalable technology platforms,” noted a spokesperson from Slow Ventures. “Steven.com represents exactly the kind of European innovation that can compete globally whilst maintaining strong local roots.” The dual-lead structure is particularly noteworthy in the current European funding environment, where cross-Atlantic partnerships are becoming increasingly important for scaling media technology ventures beyond fragmented European markets. Building the Disney of digital-first entertainment Steven.com’s platform approach addresses a critical gap in the European media landscape—the lack of integrated content creation and distribution ecosystems. Unlike purely American platforms, the company’s model acknowledges European market fragmentation whilst building for global scale. The funding will accelerate product development and international expansion, with particular focus on European markets where regulatory frameworks like the Digital Services Act create opportunities for compliant, privacy-first platforms. Steven Bartlett, the company’s founder and former Dragons’ Den investor, brings unique credibility to the venture. “Our vision extends beyond traditional media boundaries—we’re building infrastructure that empowers creators whilst respecting European values around data privacy and content responsibility,” Bartlett explained. The company’s timing appears strategic, capitalising on the European Union’s increasing focus on digital sovereignty and supporting homegrown technology champions that can compete with American platforms whilst adhering to European regulatory standards. This funding round exemplifies the maturation of European media tech, where ventures are increasingly attracting international capital whilst maintaining their European identity and regulatory compliance advantages.

The ambient energy harvesting sector is experiencing unprecedented momentum across Europe as industries seek sustainable alternatives to traditional battery systems. French innovator Dracula Technologies has captured €30 million in its Series A extension round, positioning the company to accelerate the industrial rollout of its photovoltaic solutions that generate electricity from indoor ambient light. This substantial funding milestone reflects growing investor confidence in energy harvesting technologies that can power IoT devices indefinitely without battery replacement. The round’s completion signals a maturing European cleantech ecosystem where strategic capital allocation increasingly favours practical sustainability solutions over theoretical breakthroughs. Ambient energy funding attracts strategic European backing Banque des Territoires, France’s public investment bank, led this Series A extension, demonstrating how European institutional capital is backing the region’s transition to autonomous energy systems. The investor’s participation aligns with France’s broader industrial strategy to reduce dependence on imported battery technologies whilst strengthening domestic manufacturing capabilities. “Dracula Technologies represents exactly the kind of deep-tech innovation that positions Europe at the forefront of the energy transition,” noted a spokesperson from Banque des Territoires. “Their ability to transform any light source into sustainable power addresses critical industrial challenges whilst reducing environmental impact.” The funding round’s structure reflects sophisticated European venture dynamics, where public-private partnerships increasingly drive strategic technology development. This approach contrasts sharply with Silicon Valley’s purely private capital model, offering European startups patient capital aligned with long-term industrial objectives rather than rapid exits. Industrial IoT applications drive market expansion Dracula Technologies’ photovoltaic solutions target the exploding European IoT market, where battery replacement costs and environmental concerns create significant operational challenges. Their technology enables sensors, smart meters, and monitoring devices to operate autonomously in warehouses, factories, and urban environments using nothing more than ambient artificial lighting. The company’s go-to-market strategy focuses on European industrial clients seeking to reduce maintenance costs whilst meeting increasingly stringent sustainability regulations. Their solutions particularly resonate with manufacturers operating across fragmented European markets, where standardised power solutions can dramatically reduce operational complexity. “We’re not just replacing batteries; we’re eliminating an entire category of industrial maintenance whilst enabling truly sustainable IoT deployments,” explained Dracula Technologies’ leadership. “This funding allows us to scale production and accelerate our expansion across European industrial hubs.” The €30 million will primarily fund manufacturing capacity expansion and product development, enabling the company to meet growing demand from automotive, logistics, and smart building sectors. This capital deployment strategy reflects European startups’ characteristic focus on sustainable growth over aggressive market expansion. As European regulations increasingly mandate energy efficiency and sustainability reporting, ambient energy harvesting technologies like Dracula’s position the continent’s industries to meet these requirements whilst reducing operational costs. This Series A extension signals that strategic investors recognise the massive potential of turning every indoor environment into a distributed power grid.