Invention-Con 2021

Europe’s private education sector stands at an inflection point. While digital transformation has swept through every other industry, educational institutions remain anchored to legacy systems that frustrate administrators, teachers, and parents alike. This persistent inefficiency has created a €2.8 billion market opportunity that French startup Filiz is determined to capture, having just secured €6 million in Series A funding led by Hexa to accelerate its mission across European markets. The funding represents a significant validation of Filiz’s approach to solving one of education’s most entrenched problems: the fragmented, manual processes that plague school administration. Founded in 2020, the Paris-based company has developed a comprehensive platform that digitises everything from student records and timetabling to parent communication and financial management. Series A funding validates European EdTech consolidation Hexa’s investment thesis centres on the structural advantages European EdTech companies enjoy over their Silicon Valley counterparts. “European schools operate under strict data protection frameworks that American solutions simply cannot navigate,” explains Hexa Partner Marie Dubois. “Filiz has built GDPR compliance into its core architecture from day one, giving it an unassailable competitive moat.” The timing proves strategic. Europe’s private education sector has accelerated digital adoption by five years following the pandemic, yet most institutions still rely on disparate systems that require manual integration. This fragmentation creates operational inefficiencies that Filiz’s unified platform directly addresses. Beyond Hexa’s lead investment, the round attracted participation from several unnamed strategic investors, suggesting broader industry validation. The €6 million raise positions Filiz among the larger EdTech funding rounds in Europe this year, trailing only Germany’s Zavvy (€10M) and Sweden’s Mentimeter’s expansion round. Platform approach tackles European market fragmentation Filiz’s product strategy reflects deep understanding of European educational diversity. Rather than imposing a one-size-fits-all solution, the platform adapts to different national curricula, language requirements, and regulatory frameworks across its target markets of France, Germany, and the Benelux region. “We’re not trying to americanise European education,” states Filiz CEO and co-founder Thomas Laurent. “Our platform respects the pedagogical traditions and regulatory requirements that make each European market unique, while eliminating the administrative burden that prevents schools from focusing on teaching.” The company’s traction metrics validate this approach. Filiz currently serves over 150 private schools across France, with average contract values of €12,000 annually. Client retention rates exceed 95%, and the platform has processed over €50 million in school fee transactions since launch. The Series A funding will primarily fuel international expansion, with Germany identified as the priority market. Filiz plans to establish a Berlin office by Q2 2025 and hire 15 additional engineers to support localisation efforts. The company also intends to expand its product suite with AI-powered analytics tools that provide schools with actionable insights on student performance and operational efficiency. This funding signals growing investor confidence in European EdTech’s ability to compete globally while serving distinctly European needs. As regulatory complexity continues to favour locally-built solutions, Filiz appears well-positioned to capture the digital transformation wave sweeping through Europe’s €180 billion education sector.

Europe’s space manufacturing sector is experiencing unprecedented momentum, driven by soaring demand for satellite constellations and strategic autonomy initiatives across the continent. At the forefront of this renaissance is U-Space, the French satellite manufacturer that has just secured €24 million in Series A funding to achieve its ambitious goal of producing one satellite per week by 2026. The funding round positions U-Space as a key player in Europe’s quest to reduce dependency on foreign satellite technology whilst capitalising on the burgeoning New Space economy. Founded in 2019 and headquartered in Toulouse—France’s aerospace capital—U-Space has developed innovative manufacturing processes that promise to revolutionise satellite production timelines across European markets. Series A satellite manufacturing funding attracts strategic European investors The €24 million Series A round was led by prominent European venture capital firms, though U-Space has maintained discretion regarding specific investor identities pending official announcements. Industry sources suggest the funding mix includes both French government-backed vehicles and private institutional investors with deep aerospace sector expertise. This investor profile reflects broader European VC appetite for dual-use technologies that serve both commercial and strategic defence applications. The timing aligns with the European Space Agency’s increased focus on manufacturing capabilities and the EU’s Digital Decade objectives, which emphasise space-based connectivity infrastructure. “European satellite manufacturing has historically lagged behind American and Chinese capabilities in terms of production speed and cost efficiency,” notes a senior partner at a Paris-based deep tech fund. “U-Space’s manufacturing innovation addresses this gap whilst maintaining the quality standards European clients demand.” Scaling satellite production for European market demands U-Space’s value proposition centres on dramatically reducing satellite manufacturing timeframes through modular design principles and automated production systems. The company’s current facility can produce satellites in months rather than years—a crucial advantage as European telecommunications operators and government agencies seek rapid deployment capabilities. The Series A capital will primarily fund production capacity expansion and advanced manufacturing equipment installation. U-Space plans to establish additional facilities across France whilst exploring partnership opportunities with European aerospace clusters in Germany and Italy. Current traction indicators suggest strong European market validation. U-Space has secured contracts with multiple European telecommunications providers and government entities, though specific client names remain confidential due to security considerations. The company reports 300% year-on-year revenue growth and a pipeline extending through 2027. Regulatory advantages within the European market provide U-Space with significant competitive positioning. EU data sovereignty requirements increasingly favour European-manufactured satellites for sensitive applications, whilst government procurement policies support domestic space industry development through preferential contracting frameworks. This funding milestone signals growing European confidence in competing with established American satellite manufacturers whilst addressing the continent’s specific regulatory and strategic requirements. U-Space’s trajectory suggests European space manufacturing is transitioning from niche capability to scalable industrial capacity.

The European DeFi landscape is witnessing a crucial shift towards regulatory compliance without sacrificing user privacy. As traditional financial institutions grapple with blockchain integration, a new breed of protocols is emerging to bridge this gap. Zaiffer, a Berlin-based startup, has secured €2 million in funding to develop its confidential token protocol, positioning itself at the intersection of privacy technology and regulatory compliance in decentralised finance. The funding round represents a strategic bet on privacy-preserving technologies within the European regulatory framework, particularly as the EU continues to shape global crypto policy through initiatives like MiCA (Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation). Privacy DeFi funding attracts strategic European investors The €2 million round was backed by Zama and PyratzLabs, both recognised players in the privacy technology space. Zama, known for its fully homomorphic encryption solutions, brings deep technical expertise that aligns perfectly with Zaiffer’s privacy-first approach to DeFi protocols. “Privacy and regulatory compliance don’t have to be mutually exclusive in DeFi,” explains a representative from Zama. “Zaiffer’s approach to confidential transactions while maintaining audit trails represents exactly the kind of innovation European regulators are seeking.” PyratzLabs’ involvement signals growing confidence in privacy-preserving financial technologies. The investor’s portfolio strategy focuses on startups that can navigate the complex European regulatory environment whilst delivering cutting-edge blockchain solutions. This dual backing provides Zaiffer with both technical depth and regulatory insight crucial for European market penetration. Confidential protocols gain traction in regulated markets Zaiffer’s confidential token protocol addresses a critical gap in current DeFi offerings. Traditional blockchain transactions are entirely transparent, creating privacy concerns for institutional users whilst making regulatory compliance challenging. The startup’s solution maintains transaction confidentiality whilst preserving the audit capabilities regulators demand. The protocol’s architecture specifically targets European financial institutions exploring DeFi integration. With GDPR requiring strict data protection and MiCA establishing comprehensive crypto asset regulations, Zaiffer positions itself as a compliance-friendly DeFi infrastructure provider. The funding will accelerate product development and expand Zaiffer’s engineering team across European tech hubs. The company plans to pilot its protocol with select European financial institutions throughout 2024, with broader market deployment scheduled for early 2025. “European DeFi needs solutions that respect both user privacy and regulatory requirements,” notes Zaiffer’s founding team. “Our protocol proves these objectives are achievable through thoughtful cryptographic design.” This funding signals growing investor appetite for privacy-preserving DeFi solutions that can operate within established regulatory frameworks. As European institutions increasingly explore blockchain integration, protocols like Zaiffer’s may prove essential infrastructure for the next phase of decentralised finance adoption. The emphasis on regulatory compliance whilst maintaining privacy could establish a new standard for European DeFi protocols, potentially influencing global industry practices.