Phish – Good for business too!

Europe’s electric vehicle charging infrastructure is fragmenting at precisely the moment it needs to unify. Whilst the continent races toward its 2035 combustion engine phase-out, charging networks remain isolated silos, each speaking different protocols and serving different operators. It’s against this backdrop that Pionix, the German open-source EV charging platform, has secured over €8M in seed funding led by Ascend Capital Partners. The Munich-based startup’s timing couldn’t be sharper. As European governments pour billions into charging infrastructure—France alone committed €100M in 2024—the industry desperately needs interoperability standards that work across borders. Pionix’s open-source approach promises exactly that: a unified software stack that charging point operators can deploy regardless of hardware vendor. EV charging tech funding attracts strategic European backing Ascend Capital Partners’ decision to lead this EV charging tech funding round reflects growing investor confidence in infrastructure software plays. Unlike previous charging industry investments focused on hardware manufacturing or network deployment, Pionix represents the middleware layer—the critical software that makes disparate systems communicate. “The European charging market is incredibly fragmented, with over 200 different charging point operators across the continent,” explains a partner at Ascend Capital Partners. “Pionix’s open-source stack could become the Android of EV charging—creating standardisation whilst preserving competition.” The investor’s thesis aligns with broader European regulatory momentum. The Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation, which came into force in 2023, mandates interoperability standards that favour open-source solutions over proprietary alternatives. This regulatory tailwind makes Pionix particularly attractive to European VCs who understand compliance complexities that US investors might miss. Open-source strategy targets European market fragmentation Pionix’s product differentiation lies in its comprehensive approach to charging point management. Rather than building another proprietary system, the company has developed EVerest—an open-source framework that handles everything from payment processing to grid balancing. This matters enormously in Europe, where charging operators must navigate different payment systems, languages, and grid regulations across member states. The startup’s go-to-market strategy explicitly targets this European fragmentation. Founded in 2019, Pionix already works with major European charging networks including IONITY and has partnerships with hardware manufacturers like ABB and Siemens. The new funding will accelerate expansion across Nordic markets, where government mandates for charging infrastructure create immediate revenue opportunities. “We’re not trying to build the largest charging network—we’re building the software that makes all networks work better together,” notes Pionix CEO. “Every new charging point installed with our stack makes the entire ecosystem more interoperable.” The company’s approach contrasts sharply with US competitors who focus on vertical integration. Whilst ChargePoint and EVgo build closed ecosystems, Pionix’s open-source model allows charging operators to maintain independence whilst achieving technical standardisation. This €8M+ funding signals growing European confidence in infrastructure software startups that solve uniquely European problems. As the continent’s EV adoption accelerates—sales grew 37% year-on-year in Q3 2024—the need for unified charging experiences becomes mission-critical. Pionix’s open-source bet may well determine whether European drivers enjoy seamless charging or endure the current postcode lottery of compatibility.

Europe’s sustainability tech sector continues its aggressive march toward circular economy solutions, with hygiene products representing one of the most challenging waste streams to tackle. Planet Smart has secured €920K in pre-seed funding led by General Inception and Vertical Venture Partners to address the mounting plastic waste crisis in disposable nappies and sanitary pads. The London-based startup’s approach comes at a critical moment for European environmental policy, as the EU prepares stricter regulations on single-use plastics and member states face mounting pressure to meet ambitious waste reduction targets by 2030. Sustainable hygiene funding attracts specialist investors General Inception and Vertical Venture Partners led the round, reflecting growing investor appetite for deep-tech sustainability solutions addressing massive market inefficiencies. Both firms have built portfolios around circular economy innovations, particularly those tackling traditionally difficult waste streams. “The hygiene products market generates over 45 billion units of waste annually in Europe alone, with conventional recycling unable to handle the complex material composition,” noted a partner at General Inception. “Planet Smart’s technology offers the first commercially viable pathway to process these materials at scale.” The investor backing signals institutional recognition that sustainable alternatives to petroleum-based hygiene products represent significant market opportunity rather than mere environmental virtue signalling. European venture capital increasingly prioritises startups with clear regulatory tailwinds and defensible technology moats. European market advantages drive expansion strategy Planet Smart’s technology platform addresses material composition challenges that have stymied recycling efforts for decades. Traditional hygiene products combine multiple polymer layers with absorbent materials, creating separation difficulties that render most items unrecyclable. The company plans to deploy funding across product development and pilot partnerships with European manufacturers, capitalising on increasingly stringent Extended Producer Responsibility regulations across EU member states. Unlike US counterparts focused purely on bio-based alternatives, Planet Smart’s approach works with existing supply chains. “European manufacturers face mounting compliance costs and supply chain disruption from environmental regulations,” explained Planet Smart’s CEO. “Our solution integrates with current production processes whilst dramatically reducing end-of-life environmental impact.” The startup targets partnerships with major European hygiene brands seeking to differentiate through genuine sustainability credentials rather than superficial packaging changes. Initial pilots are planned across three EU markets by Q3 2025. This funding positions Planet Smart within Europe’s broader cleantech renaissance, where regulatory certainty creates competitive advantages over markets with less predictable environmental policy. The company’s timing capitalises on both investor enthusiasm and policy momentum converging around circular economy solutions.

The European biotech sector is experiencing renewed investor confidence, particularly in diagnostic technologies that promise to revolutionise early disease detection. This trend reflects growing demand for precision healthcare solutions across fragmented European markets, where regulatory frameworks increasingly favour innovative diagnostic platforms. InvenireX, a UK-based biotech startup, has secured €2.4M (£2M) in seed funding to advance its proprietary disease detection platform. The round positions the company to accelerate commercialisation efforts across European markets, where demand for rapid diagnostic solutions has intensified following recent healthcare challenges. The funding represents a significant milestone for European diagnostic innovation, particularly as investors seek technologies that can navigate complex regulatory environments whilst delivering scalable solutions across diverse healthcare systems. DSW Ventures leads biotech diagnostics funding round DSW Ventures spearheaded the investment, recognising InvenireX’s potential to address critical gaps in European diagnostic capabilities. The venture firm’s thesis centres on supporting technologies that can achieve regulatory approval whilst maintaining commercial viability across multiple European jurisdictions. “InvenireX represents exactly the kind of deep-tech innovation we seek in the European biotech landscape,” noted a DSW Ventures representative. “Their platform addresses genuine market needs whilst leveraging regulatory advantages available to UK-based diagnostics companies.” The investor’s involvement extends beyond capital provision, offering strategic guidance on navigating European regulatory frameworks and accessing key healthcare networks across major markets. This support proves particularly valuable given the complexity of achieving CE marking and national approvals across different European territories. DSW Ventures’ portfolio strategy focuses on companies positioned to benefit from European regulatory harmonisation whilst maintaining competitive advantages through proprietary technologies. Disease detection platform targets European market expansion InvenireX’s diagnostic technology offers rapid disease detection capabilities designed specifically for European healthcare environments. The platform addresses growing demand for point-of-care solutions that can operate effectively within diverse regulatory frameworks whilst delivering consistent performance metrics. The funding will accelerate product development and support market entry strategies across key European territories. InvenireX plans to leverage its UK base to access both European markets and maintain regulatory flexibility as Brexit-related healthcare agreements stabilise. “We’re building diagnostic capabilities that reflect European healthcare realities,” explained the InvenireX leadership team. “Our platform recognises that successful deployment requires understanding local regulatory requirements whilst maintaining technical excellence.” The company’s go-to-market strategy emphasises partnerships with European healthcare providers, recognising that adoption requires demonstrable clinical outcomes alongside cost-effectiveness metrics. This approach aligns with European healthcare systems’ emphasis on evidence-based procurement decisions. The European diagnostic market presents significant opportunities, particularly as healthcare systems prioritise technologies that can reduce costs whilst improving patient outcomes. InvenireX’s platform addresses these dual requirements through innovative detection methodologies. This funding round signals growing investor confidence in European biotech innovations, particularly technologies that can achieve regulatory compliance whilst addressing genuine market needs. For the broader European startup ecosystem, it demonstrates that deep-tech solutions continue attracting meaningful investment despite economic uncertainties.