Ben’s List 29

Finland’s gaming sector continues to demonstrate its global appeal, building on the legacy of companies like Rovio and Supercell. The latest example comes from Yrdvaab, an indie studio that has secured €130,000 in backing from the Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment of Northern Ostrobothnia to advance development of their space strategy title Ephemeris. This funding represents a significant validation of Finland’s commitment to nurturing its next generation of gaming talent beyond the established giants. The backing comes at a time when European gaming studios are increasingly competing with well-funded counterparts from Asia and North America, making government support crucial for indie developers. Government Backing Supports Finnish Gaming Innovation The Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment of Northern Ostrobothnia’s investment reflects Finland’s strategic approach to maintaining its gaming industry leadership. Unlike traditional venture capital, this government backing provides patient capital without the pressure for rapid returns, allowing creative studios to focus on product development rather than immediate monetisation. Finnish government agencies have consistently supported the gaming sector through various funding mechanisms, recognising games as both cultural exports and significant economic contributors. This €130,000 investment follows a pattern of targeted support for innovative gaming concepts that push creative boundaries. The backing enables Yrdvaab to continue refining Ephemeris, their ambitious space strategy title. Government funding at this stage typically focuses on product development milestones rather than market expansion, suggesting the studio is still in its creative development phase. Space Strategy Gaming Market Expansion Yrdvaab’s focus on space strategy gaming taps into a genre experiencing renewed interest globally. Strategy games have traditionally performed well in European markets, where players often prefer deeper, more complex gameplay experiences compared to casual mobile titles dominant in other regions. The European gaming market has shown particular appetite for strategy and simulation games, with titles like Cities: Skylines (another Finnish success) demonstrating the commercial potential. Ephemeris positions Yrdvaab to capitalise on this preference whilst exploring the popular space exploration theme. The funding will likely support continued development, team expansion, and preparation for eventual publishing partnerships. Finnish studios often leverage government backing as proof of concept before approaching international publishers or private investors for larger rounds. This investment reinforces Finland’s position as a European gaming hub, particularly for innovative indie studios willing to tackle complex genres. The combination of government support, technical talent, and creative ambition continues to distinguish Finnish gaming companies in an increasingly competitive global market.

Europe’s healthcare technology sector continues its momentum with patient access platforms emerging as a critical bridge between pharmaceutical innovation and real-world medical need. As regulatory frameworks evolve and drug approval timelines remain lengthy, companies facilitating early access to treatments are attracting significant investor attention across European markets. myTomorrows, the Amsterdam-based patient access platform, has secured €25 million in growth equity financing to expand its mission of connecting patients with investigational treatments. The funding round was led by Avego, with participation from existing investors, marking a significant milestone in European digital health investment activity. Patient access funding attracts European growth investors The investment from Avego reflects growing institutional confidence in the patient access sector, particularly within Europe’s increasingly sophisticated healthcare technology ecosystem. Unlike traditional pharma services companies, myTomorrows operates at the intersection of regulatory expertise and digital infrastructure, positioning itself as essential infrastructure for pharmaceutical companies navigating complex global access requirements. “Patient access represents one of healthcare’s most pressing challenges, with millions waiting for approved therapies while promising treatments remain trapped in development pipelines,” noted the lead investor. The timing aligns with heightened regulatory focus on expanded access programmes across European Union markets, where national health systems are increasingly supportive of structured early access initiatives. The investor composition suggests confidence in myTomorrows’ European market positioning, with growth equity backing indicating the platform has achieved meaningful scale metrics. For Avego, this represents a strategic bet on healthcare infrastructure plays that benefit from regulatory tailwinds rather than fighting against compliance complexity. Global expansion strategy leverages European regulatory expertise myTomorrows’ approach differentiates itself by combining pharmaceutical industry expertise with patient-centric technology, creating what founder and CEO Michel van Houten describes as “a bridge between innovation and access that works within existing regulatory frameworks rather than attempting to disrupt them.” This positioning proves particularly valuable in European markets, where medical device regulations and pharmaceutical oversight require nuanced navigation. The €25 million injection will fuel international expansion, with particular emphasis on strengthening operations across key European healthcare markets including Germany, France, and the United Kingdom. Unlike many healthcare technology companies that struggle with fragmented European compliance requirements, myTomorrows benefits from regulatory complexity, as pharmaceutical companies increasingly seek specialised partners for multi-jurisdiction access programmes. “We’re seeing unprecedented demand from both pharmaceutical partners and healthcare providers for structured patient access solutions,” van Houten explained. “European regulatory frameworks are evolving to support earlier patient access, creating a significant opportunity for platforms that can navigate these systems effectively.” The funding positions myTomorrows advantageously against competitors in the patient access space, many of which remain focused on single-market solutions or lack the regulatory expertise required for complex multi-national programmes. With European pharmaceutical companies increasingly prioritising patient access as a competitive differentiator, specialised platforms like myTomorrows are becoming essential infrastructure rather than optional services. This funding round signals broader institutional recognition of patient access as a critical healthcare infrastructure layer, with European investors demonstrating appetite for companies that solve regulatory complexity rather than attempt to circumvent it. For myTomorrows, the capital provides runway to capture growing demand while European healthcare systems increasingly embrace structured early access programmes.

The social commerce revolution is reshaping how European consumers discover and purchase products, with artificial intelligence emerging as the critical differentiator for platforms seeking to convert social engagement into revenue. This shift has captured the attention of forward-thinking venture capital, particularly as traditional e-commerce growth plateaus across European markets. Paris-based Paage has secured €2M in seed funding to accelerate development of its AI-powered social commerce platform, positioning itself at the intersection of artificial intelligence and social shopping trends sweeping across Europe. The round was led by Aglaé Ventures, with participation from Kima Ventures and Cassius, reflecting growing investor confidence in AI-driven commerce solutions. Strategic investors back social commerce AI vision Aglaé Ventures’ decision to lead this round signals their commitment to backing European AI startups that can compete on a global scale. The firm, known for its early-stage technology investments, sees Paage’s approach to combining artificial intelligence with social commerce as addressing a critical gap in the current market landscape. Kima Ventures, with its extensive portfolio of over 1,000 startups, brings valuable cross-pollination opportunities from their network of social media and e-commerce companies. Cassius rounds out the investor group with their focus on consumer technology platforms. This investor combination provides Paage with both capital and strategic guidance across AI development, social platform integration, and consumer behaviour analytics. The funding comes at a pivotal moment when European retailers are increasingly seeking sophisticated tools to navigate the complex social commerce ecosystem, where traditional advertising models are proving insufficient for driving meaningful engagement and conversion. AI cockpit addresses European market fragmentation Paage’s “AI cockpit” approach acknowledges the unique challenges facing European social commerce operators. Unlike the more homogeneous US market, European businesses must navigate diverse languages, cultural preferences, and regulatory frameworks across multiple countries simultaneously. The platform’s artificial intelligence engine is designed to optimise social commerce campaigns across different European markets, automatically adjusting messaging, timing, and channel selection based on local consumer behaviour patterns. This addresses a persistent pain point for European brands attempting to scale their social commerce operations beyond their home markets. The company plans to utilise the funding primarily for expanding its AI capabilities and building integrations with major European social platforms and e-commerce systems. With GDPR compliance built into its core architecture, Paage positions itself as a privacy-first alternative to US-based social commerce tools. This funding round reflects the broader maturation of European AI startups, moving beyond purely research-focused ventures toward practical applications that can compete with Silicon Valley counterparts while addressing uniquely European market dynamics.