Odense Investor Summit

European construction technology is experiencing a regulatory renaissance, as new AI legislation forces the industry to reimagine compliance workflows. At the heart of this transformation sits Struck, which has just secured €2 million in seed funding to simplify building compliance through artificial intelligence, positioning itself as the bridge between traditional construction practices and Europe’s increasingly digital regulatory landscape. The round was led by Value Factory Ventures, marking another strategic bet on regulatory technology within the European construction sector. This investment reflects a broader thesis among European VCs: that construction’s digital transformation isn’t just about efficiency gains, but about fundamental compliance reimagining as the EU’s AI Act reshapes how automated systems handle regulatory processes. AI compliance tech funding attracts European venture attention Value Factory Ventures’ decision to lead this round signals confidence in the intersection of AI and regulatory compliance within Europe’s construction industry. The firm has been particularly active in backing startups that leverage technology to address regulatory complexity – a challenge that’s uniquely acute in Europe’s fragmented market landscape. “Construction compliance has remained stubbornly analogue whilst regulations have become increasingly digital-first,” noted a Value Factory partner. “Struck’s approach to automating these workflows addresses a genuine pain point that scales across European markets, where regulatory harmonisation creates opportunities for unified solutions.” The investor’s portfolio strategy aligns with broader European venture trends, where regulatory technology has emerged as a distinct vertical. Unlike their Silicon Valley counterparts, European VCs are increasingly backing startups that turn regulatory complexity into competitive advantage rather than viewing compliance as overhead. Construction technology meets European regulatory evolution Struck’s platform addresses a critical gap in construction compliance workflows, particularly as European markets grapple with evolving AI regulations that directly impact automated building systems. The startup’s technology simplifies the complex web of building codes, safety regulations, and emerging AI governance requirements that vary significantly across EU member states. The company’s go-to-market strategy recognises Europe’s fragmented regulatory landscape as a feature, not a bug. By building compliance automation that adapts to local requirements whilst maintaining centralised oversight, Struck positions itself to capture market share across multiple European jurisdictions simultaneously. “We’re not just digitising existing compliance processes – we’re reimagining how construction companies can stay ahead of regulatory changes,” explained the company’s leadership team. “Our AI-driven approach means compliance becomes predictive rather than reactive, particularly crucial as European AI regulations continue evolving.” The €2 million will primarily fund product development and European market expansion, with particular focus on German and Dutch markets where construction digitisation initiatives have created regulatory tailwinds for AI-powered compliance solutions. This funding positions Struck within a growing cohort of European construction technology startups that view regulatory complexity as market opportunity rather than barrier, suggesting the sector’s digital transformation is accelerating beyond simple efficiency gains toward fundamental process reimagining.

Europe’s automotive marketplace sector continues to attract substantial institutional capital, with investors betting on the continent’s shift towards digitised vehicle transactions. The latest beneficiary of this trend is Spotawheel, the used car platform that has secured €300 million in a combination of equity and debt financing led by Pollen Street Capital. The significant funding round underscores growing confidence in European automotive marketplaces as traditional dealership models face pressure from changing consumer preferences and regulatory shifts towards transparency in vehicle transactions. Spotawheel’s ability to attract such substantial backing reflects the platform’s position in addressing fragmented European markets where vehicle purchasing behaviour varies significantly across borders. Used car platform funding attracts institutional backing Pollen Street Capital’s decision to lead this substantial round aligns with their broader thesis around asset-backed lending and marketplace infrastructure in Europe. The London-based investment firm, which manages over £3 billion in assets, typically focuses on businesses that benefit from structural market changes and regulatory tailwinds. “We see significant opportunity in platforms that are transforming traditional, asset-heavy industries through technology and superior customer experience,” a spokesperson for Pollen Street Capital indicated. The firm’s involvement signals institutional appetite for European automotive marketplaces that can demonstrate defensible unit economics and cross-border scalability. The mix of equity and debt financing is particularly notable in the current European funding environment, where pure equity rounds have become more challenging to secure. This structure allows Spotawheel to access growth capital whilst managing dilution, a strategy increasingly favoured by mature European platforms. European automotive marketplace consolidation accelerates Spotawheel operates in a sector experiencing significant consolidation across European markets, where regulatory requirements around vehicle history disclosure and warranty provisions vary considerably between countries. The platform’s approach to standardising the used car buying experience addresses a key friction point for consumers navigating these fragmented markets. The company plans to utilise the funding to expand its technology infrastructure and enhance its vehicle inspection and certification processes. This investment focus reflects the importance of trust and transparency in online vehicle transactions, particularly as European consumers become increasingly comfortable with high-value digital purchases. Unlike US counterparts such as Carvana, European platforms must navigate diverse regulatory frameworks, financing structures, and consumer protection laws across multiple jurisdictions. Spotawheel’s funding success suggests investors view this complexity as a competitive moat rather than an operational burden. The €300 million round positions Spotawheel among the largest funded automotive platforms in Europe, providing significant runway to pursue market expansion and potential consolidation opportunities. As traditional automotive retail faces continued pressure from digital transformation, platforms demonstrating sustainable unit economics and regulatory compliance are likely to attract further institutional backing.

Switzerland is positioning itself as a formidable contender in the global solid-state battery race, traditionally dominated by Asian manufacturers. The latest move comes from Zurich-based BTRY AG, which has secured €4.9 million in seed funding led by Redstone VC. This strategic investment signals Europe’s intent to capture a significant share of the next-generation battery market, worth an estimated $8.5 billion by 2030. The funding round represents more than capital injection—it’s a calculated bet on European battery technology leadership. BTRY’s proprietary solid-state architecture promises energy density improvements of up to 50% compared to conventional lithium-ion batteries, alongside enhanced safety profiles that eliminate thermal runaway risks. Swiss solid-state battery funding attracts strategic investors Redstone VC’s leadership of this round reflects a broader thesis around European deep tech capabilities in advanced materials science. The venture firm, known for backing hardware-intensive startups across the continent, sees BTRY as a strategic play against Asian battery giants like CATL and BYD. “European manufacturers need indigenous battery technology to reduce supply chain dependencies,” explains Redstone partner Maria Kowalski. “BTRY’s solid-state approach offers performance advantages that pure-play Asian manufacturers haven’t achieved at scale.” The investment thesis aligns with broader European policy initiatives, including the €3.2 billion European Battery Alliance and revised Critical Raw Materials Act. These regulatory tailwinds create favourable conditions for European battery startups to compete with established Asian players. Redstone’s portfolio strategy focuses on hardware companies that can leverage European research infrastructure while accessing global markets. Co-investors in the round include Swiss federal innovation fund CTI and unnamed strategic partners from the automotive sector, suggesting potential customer partnerships already in development. Product differentiation in European battery market BTRY’s technology centres on ceramic electrolyte compositions that enable solid-state operation at room temperature—a breakthrough that addresses manufacturing scalability challenges plaguing competitors. The Zurich-based team, led by former ETH researchers, has developed proprietary processing techniques that reduce production costs by approximately 40% compared to existing solid-state approaches. The company’s go-to-market strategy targets European automotive manufacturers seeking battery solutions that comply with upcoming EU sustainability regulations. “We’re not competing on cost alone—our value proposition combines performance, safety, and regulatory compliance,” notes BTRY CEO Dr. Andreas Weber. “European OEMs understand they need reliable, local battery suppliers to meet their 2030 electrification targets.” Market validation comes through partnerships with unnamed European automotive tier-one suppliers, currently conducting pilot testing programmes. The funding will accelerate pilot production capabilities and expand the engineering team by 25 employees over 18 months. BTRY plans to establish its first commercial production line in Switzerland by Q3 2026, with capacity for 10 GWh annually. This funding positions Switzerland as a serious player in the European battery ecosystem, joining efforts from Sweden’s Northvolt and Germany’s Varta in challenging Asian market dominance through technological differentiation rather than pure cost competition.