Valencia Digital Summit 2020

The UK’s fintech landscape is witnessing a new wave of institutional backing as specialised accelerators emerge to bridge the gap between early-stage innovation and scalable growth. Against this backdrop, Antidote has secured €2.95M (£2.5M) in funding to launch its accelerator programme focused on fintech and Bitcoin-adjacent technologies. The funding signals renewed confidence in the UK’s position as a global fintech hub, despite ongoing regulatory uncertainties around digital assets. Led by Fulgur Ventures, the round reflects the growing appetite among European investors for infrastructure plays that can nurture the next generation of financial technology companies. The timing aligns with increasing institutional adoption of Bitcoin and digital assets across traditional finance, creating demand for specialised support structures. Fintech accelerator funding attracts specialist investors Fulgur Ventures’ decision to lead this round underscores the firm’s thesis around Bitcoin infrastructure and the tools needed to support mainstream adoption. The Venice-based venture capital firm, known for backing Lightning Network infrastructure companies and Bitcoin-native startups, sees Antidote as a strategic platform to identify and develop promising UK fintech talent. “The UK remains one of Europe’s most vibrant fintech ecosystems, but there’s a clear gap in specialised support for Bitcoin and crypto-adjacent innovations,” notes a Fulgur partner familiar with the investment. “Antidote’s approach combines traditional accelerator methodology with deep domain expertise in digital assets.” The investor’s portfolio strategy focuses on companies building critical infrastructure for Bitcoin adoption, from payment rails to custody solutions. Antidote fits this thesis by positioning itself as a talent pipeline for the next wave of Bitcoin-enabled financial services. Bridging traditional fintech with digital asset innovation Antidote’s programme targets the intersection between established fintech verticals and emerging digital asset opportunities. This positioning reflects broader market dynamics where traditional financial services increasingly integrate blockchain-based solutions, creating demand for hybrid expertise. The accelerator plans to support 8-12 startups per cohort, providing €50,000 in initial funding alongside mentorship from industry veterans. The programme specifically targets companies working on payment infrastructure, trading platforms, custody solutions, and compliance technology for digital assets. “We’re seeing exceptional talent in the UK who understand both traditional financial services and the technical nuances of Bitcoin,” explains Antidote’s founding team. “Our role is to provide the runway and expertise needed to turn these insights into scalable businesses.” The funding will support programme operations, mentor network development, and follow-on investment capacity for portfolio companies. Antidote also plans to establish partnerships with major UK financial institutions seeking exposure to digital asset innovation without direct investment risk. This launch reflects the maturation of Europe’s digital asset ecosystem, where specialised support infrastructure is emerging to complement general-purpose accelerators. With regulatory clarity improving across EU markets, accelerators like Antidote are positioning to capture the next wave of fintech innovation at the intersection of traditional finance and digital assets.

Germany’s tax advisory sector faces a looming crisis. With 57% of the country’s tax advisors aged over 50, the profession confronts both a demographic cliff and mounting pressure to digitalise decades-old processes. Into this gap steps AnyTax, which has secured €1 million in pre-seed funding from IBB Ventures to modernise Germany’s tax infrastructure through intelligent automation. The Berlin-based startup’s timing couldn’t be more strategic. As Germany’s Mittelstand grapples with increasingly complex tax regulations whilst traditional advisors edge towards retirement, AnyTax’s platform promises to bridge the growing expertise gap through technology that augments rather than replaces human judgment. German tax modernisation attracts strategic investment IBB Ventures’ investment reflects a broader recognition that Germany’s tax advisory market—worth billions annually—requires urgent technological intervention. The Berlin-based VC, backed by the city’s investment bank, has consistently backed companies addressing structural inefficiencies in German business processes. “The German tax system’s complexity creates both challenges and opportunities,” notes an IBB Ventures spokesperson. “AnyTax’s approach of augmenting advisor capabilities rather than replacing them aligns perfectly with how German professional services are evolving.” The funding round positions AnyTax within a growing cohort of European RegTech companies that specifically address continental European regulatory environments, rather than adapting Anglo-Saxon solutions. This localised approach proves increasingly valuable as EU member states maintain distinct professional service requirements. Addressing Germany’s tax advisor shortage through technology AnyTax’s platform targets the critical bottleneck facing German businesses: accessing quality tax advice amid advisor shortages. The company’s technology enables existing advisors to handle larger caseloads whilst maintaining compliance standards, effectively multiplying capacity within the existing professional framework. The startup’s solution addresses uniquely German challenges, including the complex interplay between federal and state tax obligations that confounds even sophisticated international businesses operating in Europe’s largest economy. By automating routine compliance tasks, AnyTax frees advisors to focus on strategic tax planning—precisely where human expertise adds most value. Founder insights suggest the €1 million will primarily fund platform development and partnerships with established German tax advisory firms, recognising that success requires deep integration with existing professional networks rather than attempting to bypass them entirely. AnyTax’s funding reflects broader momentum in European professional services technology, where regulatory complexity creates sustainable competitive moats for startups that truly understand local market dynamics. As Germany’s tax landscape grows increasingly sophisticated, platforms like AnyTax become essential infrastructure rather than mere efficiency tools.

European street sports culture is experiencing a digital renaissance, with urban communities increasingly seeking authentic platforms to connect, compete, and celebrate their craft. Into this vibrant landscape steps CityLegends, an Eindhoven-based startup that has secured €1.7 million in funding to expand its street sports and culture platform globally. The funding round, led by GFR Fund, positions the company to tap into the growing intersection of sports technology and cultural expression across European urban centres. Street sports platform funding attracts European venture interest GFR Fund’s investment in CityLegends reflects a broader European venture thesis around authentic community-driven platforms. The Dutch fund, known for backing culturally-rooted technology companies, sees significant potential in CityLegends’ approach to digitising street sports culture. “Street sports represent one of the most authentic forms of urban expression, and CityLegends has built a platform that truly understands this community,” noted a GFR Fund partner. The investment aligns with the fund’s strategy of supporting startups that bridge traditional culture with modern technology, particularly those originating from Europe’s diverse urban ecosystems. The funding round’s European focus is particularly strategic, given the continent’s rich street sports heritage spanning from London’s football freestyle scene to Barcelona’s skateboarding culture. Unlike Silicon Valley’s tendency to homogenise community platforms, European investors increasingly recognise the value of culturally-specific approaches to social technology. Expanding beyond Eindhoven’s innovation ecosystem CityLegends leverages Eindhoven’s position as a European design and technology hub, where creative industries intersect with technical innovation. The platform connects street sports athletes, from footballers to dancers, providing tools for skill development, community building, and cultural expression. With this funding, CityLegends plans to expand across major European cities, tapping into local street sports communities that have historically lacked dedicated digital infrastructure. The company’s approach addresses a key challenge in European market expansion: respecting local cultural nuances whilst scaling technology. “We’re not trying to export one city’s street culture to another,” explained CityLegends’ founding team. “Instead, we’re providing tools that help each community celebrate and develop its own unique identity.” This philosophy resonates particularly well in Europe, where cultural diversity remains a defining characteristic even as digital platforms create broader connections. The funding will support product development focused on European regulatory requirements, including GDPR compliance and the Digital Services Act framework. CityLegends also plans to establish partnerships with European sports organisations and cultural institutions, leveraging the continent’s strong tradition of public-private collaboration in sports development. This investment signals growing European venture confidence in community-first platforms that prioritise cultural authenticity over rapid scaling. For CityLegends, it represents validation of their belief that the future of sports technology lies not in replacing human connection, but in enhancing the communities that already exist on every European street corner.