Sizable Energy raises €7.4M for ocean energy storage

The European sports technology sector continues its robust growth trajectory, with French startups leading the charge in democratising elite athletic performance. Against this backdrop, Paris-based Kotcha has secured €3.5 million in funding to transform how everyday runners access professional-grade coaching. The round positions France as a key player in the rapidly expanding sports tech market, where digital platforms are reshaping traditional coaching models across Europe. Sports tech funding attracts European investors The funding round was led by Racine2, a Paris-based venture capital firm known for backing consumer technology companies across Europe. Racine2’s investment thesis centres on platforms that leverage technology to democratise access to premium services, making Kotcha a natural fit for their portfolio strategy. The firm has previously backed European startups that challenge traditional service delivery models through digital innovation. “Kotcha represents the perfect intersection of sports expertise and accessible technology,” explains a partner at Racine2. “Their approach to making elite running coaching available to amateur athletes addresses a significant gap in the European fitness market.” The investment reflects growing investor confidence in European sports technology companies that can scale across multiple markets whilst maintaining local relevance. Platform targets fragmented European fitness market Kotcha’s platform connects recreational runners with certified coaches through a digital interface that personalises training programmes based on individual goals and performance data. The startup differentiates itself from generic fitness apps by emphasising human expertise combined with data-driven insights, a approach particularly resonant with European consumers who value personalised service. The funding will primarily support international expansion across European markets, where Kotcha sees significant opportunity in countries with strong running cultures like Germany, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom. “We’re not just building another fitness app – we’re creating a bridge between elite sports knowledge and everyday athletes,” states the company’s founder. The platform already serves thousands of runners across France and plans to launch in three additional European markets by 2025. This funding round signals investors’ growing appetite for European sports technology ventures that combine traditional expertise with modern accessibility. For the broader ecosystem, Kotcha’s success demonstrates how French startups can compete effectively in the global sports tech arena whilst maintaining their European identity.

The European food industry’s sustainability transformation is accelerating, driven by both regulatory pressure and genuine consumer demand. Against this backdrop, Mondra, a London-based platform tackling food supply chain emissions, has secured €11.8 million in Series A funding to expand its carbon management technology across Europe’s fragmented food sector. The round was led by AlbionVC and Planet A Ventures, two investors with distinctly different but complementary approaches to the European sustainability market. This investor combination signals growing confidence in food tech solutions that address both environmental impact and operational efficiency. Food emissions Series A attracts European sustainability specialists AlbionVC’s participation represents a strategic bet on B2B climate solutions within their established enterprise software thesis. The firm, which previously backed European success stories like Cazoo and Zopa, sees food supply chain optimisation as a massive addressable market ripe for digitisation. “Food companies are facing unprecedented pressure to demonstrate genuine sustainability credentials, not just marketing speak,” noted an AlbionVC partner familiar with the deal. Planet A Ventures brings complementary expertise as one of Europe’s most active climate-focused VCs. Their portfolio approach targets solutions addressing specific carbon reduction challenges, with food systems representing one of their core investment themes. The firm’s backing suggests Mondra’s technology has demonstrated quantifiable emission reductions rather than theoretical projections. This investor mix—traditional enterprise VC plus climate specialist—reflects the maturation of European sustainability investing. Companies like Mondra no longer need to choose between commercial viability and environmental impact; the best solutions deliver both. European food sector embraces digital carbon management Mondra’s platform addresses a distinctly European challenge: managing sustainability compliance across multiple jurisdictions whilst maintaining operational efficiency. Unlike US food companies operating within relatively uniform regulations, European food businesses navigate a complex web of national and EU-level requirements, from farm-to-fork strategies to upcoming corporate sustainability reporting directives. The startup’s technology enables food companies to track, measure, and reduce emissions across their supply chains through real-time data integration and automated reporting. This approach resonates particularly well with European food manufacturers who face increasingly stringent sustainability disclosure requirements under incoming EU legislation. “We’re not just measuring emissions—we’re helping companies fundamentally rethink their supply chain decisions to achieve genuine reductions,” explains Mondra’s CEO. “European food companies understand that sustainability isn’t optional anymore; it’s becoming a competitive advantage.” The funding will primarily support product development and European market expansion, with plans to establish operations in key food manufacturing hubs including Germany, France, and the Netherlands. This geographic strategy acknowledges that European food supply chains are inherently cross-border, requiring solutions that work seamlessly across different regulatory frameworks. Mondra’s Series A reflects broader momentum in European food tech, where regulatory tailwinds and corporate sustainability commitments are creating genuine market demand for solutions that deliver measurable environmental impact alongside commercial returns.

Italian startup Sizable Energy secures €7.4M led by Playground Global to commercialize offshore pumped hydro system storing gigawatt-scale power underwater.