Ben’s List for Entrepreneurs W52 – Selected

Europe’s space economy is witnessing a fundamental shift as satellite servicing moves from science fiction to commercial reality. The continent’s growing appetite for space infrastructure investment reflects both the maturation of the NewSpace sector and the strategic imperative to maintain orbital assets worth billions of euros. Infinite Orbits, a French spacetech startup specialising in satellite life extension and orbital debris removal, has secured €40 million in growth funding. The round positions the company to accelerate its satellite servicing capabilities across European and international markets, addressing the critical challenge of space sustainability. The European Innovation Council Fund led the investment, signalling institutional confidence in Europe’s emerging space servicing sector. This represents a significant vote of confidence from the EU’s strategic investment arm, which typically backs technologies deemed critical to European sovereignty and competitiveness. Satellite servicing funding attracts strategic European backing The European Innovation Council Fund’s leadership in this round reflects the EU’s broader strategy to secure technological independence in critical space capabilities. Unlike traditional venture capital, EIC Fund investments carry strategic weight, often indicating sectors where Europe seeks to establish global leadership rather than follow Silicon Valley or Chinese competitors. “Space servicing represents a fundamental shift in how we approach orbital assets,” noted a spokesperson familiar with the EIC Fund’s investment thesis. “Rather than treating satellites as disposable, we’re moving toward a circular economy model in space – extending mission life, upgrading capabilities, and responsibly managing end-of-life disposal.” The investment timing aligns with increasing regulatory pressure across European space agencies to address orbital debris, creating both compliance drivers and commercial opportunities. European operators face mounting requirements to demonstrate responsible space practices, making Infinite Orbits’ capabilities increasingly valuable. This funding level places Infinite Orbits among Europe’s most capitalised spacetech startups, reflecting the capital-intensive nature of developing space servicing capabilities. The €40 million commitment suggests confidence in near-term revenue opportunities rather than speculative long-term bets. French spacetech targets fragmented European market Infinite Orbits faces the classic European challenge of navigating fragmented national space programmes whilst building continental scale. France’s position as Europe’s largest space economy provides strategic advantages, including access to Arianespace launch capabilities and CNES technical expertise. The company’s satellite servicing approach focuses on extending operational life through precise orbital manoeuvres and component upgrades – addressing the €300 billion worth of satellite assets currently in orbit. European operators, constrained by limited launch slots and increasing satellite costs, represent prime customers for life extension services. “European satellite operators require solutions that work within our regulatory framework whilst delivering clear return on investment,” explained Infinite Orbits’ leadership team. “Our technology platform addresses both technical requirements and compliance obligations across multiple European jurisdictions.” The funding will support Infinite Orbits’ expansion across key European markets, including Germany’s robust satellite manufacturing sector and the UK’s growing commercial space economy. This multi-market approach reflects the reality that European space success requires continental rather than national scale. Revenue projections suggest significant near-term opportunities as European operators face satellite replacement cycles and new regulatory requirements for debris mitigation. The company’s positioning benefits from Europe’s typically longer procurement cycles, allowing time to establish technical credibility before major contract awards. This substantial funding round signals Europe’s commitment to maintaining strategic autonomy in space capabilities. As orbital assets become increasingly critical to European economic and security interests, companies like Infinite Orbits represent essential infrastructure rather than speculative technology investments.

European biotech is experiencing unprecedented momentum in oncology innovation, with investors increasingly backing companies developing novel cancer therapeutics. The latest validation comes from Artios, which has secured €105.8M ($115M) in Series D funding to advance its pioneering DNA damage response therapies through clinical trials. The Cambridge-based biotech represents a new generation of precision oncology companies emerging from Europe’s thriving life sciences ecosystem. Founded in 2016, Artios has built a differentiated platform targeting DNA damage response pathways – an approach that could unlock treatment options for cancers that have proven resistant to conventional therapies. Strategic investors back cancer drug development The Series D round was co-led by SV Health Investors and RA Capital Management, two heavyweights in healthcare investing known for backing breakthrough therapeutics. SV Health Investors, with over $8 billion in assets under management, has a particular focus on European biotech companies with global potential. Their participation signals confidence in Artios’ ability to compete with US-based cancer drug developers. “Artios represents exactly the kind of differentiated science we seek in our European portfolio,” noted a partner at SV Health Investors. “Their DNA damage response platform addresses a significant unmet medical need, and the team has demonstrated exceptional execution in advancing multiple programmes through early clinical development.” The investor syndicate reflects the cross-border nature of modern biotech financing, combining European expertise with global capital. This €105.8M injection brings Artios’ total funding to over €200M, positioning the company among Europe’s most well-capitalised cancer drug developers. Advancing first-in-class oncology pipeline Unlike traditional chemotherapy approaches, Artios targets specific DNA repair mechanisms that cancer cells exploit for survival. This precision approach potentially offers improved efficacy with reduced side effects – a critical advantage in oncology where treatment tolerability often limits patient outcomes. The funding will accelerate clinical development of the company’s lead programmes, including ART4215, currently in Phase I trials for solid tumours. Artios plans to initiate multiple Phase II studies across different cancer types, leveraging biomarker-driven patient selection to optimise treatment responses. “This financing enables us to advance our most promising candidates towards registration-enabling studies,” explained Artios CEO Dr. Niall Martin. “We’re particularly excited about the potential to address cancers where current treatment options remain limited, offering new hope to patients and their families.” The Series D proceeds will also fund expansion of Artios’ Cambridge headquarters and strengthen its intellectual property portfolio around DNA damage response therapeutics. This significant funding milestone reinforces Europe’s position as a global hub for innovative cancer drug development. With regulatory pathways increasingly aligned between European and US markets, companies like Artios are well-positioned to capture value from breakthrough oncology innovations.

Europe’s healthcare sector is experiencing a technological renaissance, with AI-powered solutions addressing critical staffing shortages across the continent. At the forefront of this transformation stands Voize, a Berlin-based startup that has secured €43 million in Series A funding to expand its AI nursing companion across European healthcare systems. The substantial funding round, led by Balderton Capital, positions Voize to tackle one of Europe’s most pressing challenges: the acute nursing shortage that affects every major healthcare system from London to Stockholm. With over 2.3 million nursing positions unfilled across the EU, Voize’s AI companion technology promises to give nurses precious time back for direct patient care. Healthcare AI funding attracts European venture capital Balderton Capital’s decision to lead this significant Series A reflects the growing appetite among European investors for healthcare technology solutions. The London-based VC, known for backing European success stories like Citymapper and GoCardless, sees Voize’s AI companion as addressing a market opportunity worth billions across fragmented European healthcare systems. “Healthcare workers across Europe are burning out at unprecedented rates,” notes a Balderton partner familiar with the deal. “Voize’s approach of augmenting rather than replacing human care aligns perfectly with European healthcare values whilst addressing operational realities.” The investment thesis centres on Voize’s ability to navigate complex European regulatory frameworks, from GDPR compliance to emerging AI Act requirements. Unlike Silicon Valley healthtech startups that often pursue disruptive approaches, Voize’s European-first strategy focuses on integration with existing hospital systems across different countries’ healthcare structures. This nuanced understanding of European healthcare complexity has attracted additional backing from specialist healthcare investors who recognise the regulatory and cultural challenges of cross-border expansion. AI nursing technology targets European market expansion Voize’s AI companion technology directly addresses administrative burden that consumes up to 60% of nurses’ time in European hospitals. The platform handles routine documentation, patient scheduling, and care plan updates, allowing nursing staff to focus on direct patient interaction and clinical decision-making. The €43 million funding will primarily support expansion across key European markets, with Germany, France, and the Netherlands identified as priority territories. Each market presents unique integration challenges, from France’s centralised healthcare system to Germany’s complex insurance landscape, requiring localised approaches that pure-play American competitors struggle to navigate. “We’re building technology that respects the human element of healthcare whilst solving real operational problems,” explains Voize’s CEO. “Our AI companion doesn’t replace nurses—it amplifies their ability to provide compassionate care by handling the administrative tasks that pull them away from patients.” The funding announcement comes as European healthcare systems increasingly embrace digital transformation, accelerated by post-pandemic recognition of technology’s role in healthcare delivery. Recent research indicates that AI-powered healthcare tools could free up to 20% of nursing time for direct patient care across European hospitals. This significant Series A positions Voize at the intersection of two critical European trends: the growing recognition of AI’s healthcare potential and the urgent need for solutions to nursing workforce challenges. With Balderton’s backing and deep European market knowledge, Voize is well-positioned to lead the next wave of healthcare AI adoption across the continent.