Matt C Smith: From Venture Capital to Entrepreneurship

Europe’s driving licence sector is undergoing a quiet digital revolution, with traditional bureaucratic processes giving way to streamlined digital platforms. Leading this transformation is Guidoio, which has just closed a €3.5M seed round led by 360 Capital to scale its digital platform across European markets. The Vienna-based startup has built a comprehensive digital ecosystem that modernises how Europeans obtain their driving licences, addressing the fragmented and often antiquated systems across EU member states. This funding arrives as European governments increasingly prioritise digital transformation initiatives, creating tailwinds for platforms that can navigate complex regulatory requirements whilst delivering user-friendly experiences. Driving tech seed funding attracts European venture interest 360 Capital’s investment in Guidoio signals growing investor appetite for European companies tackling traditional government services through digital innovation. The Vienna-based VC, known for backing early-stage tech companies across Central and Eastern Europe, sees significant opportunity in Guidoio’s approach to a market worth billions across the continent. “We’re backing a team that understands both the technical complexity and regulatory nuances of digitising government services,” noted a 360 Capital partner. “Guidoio’s platform doesn’t just digitise existing processes—it reimagines how Europeans interact with driving licence authorities.” The funding round comes at a strategic moment as EU member states face pressure to modernise citizen services under the European Digital Decade initiative, which aims to digitalise 100% of key public services by 2030. Guidoio’s compliance-first approach positions it well to capture market share as governments seek proven digital solutions. Platform scales across fragmented European markets Guidoio has developed a modular platform that adapts to different national requirements whilst maintaining consistent user experience—a crucial capability in Europe’s fragmented regulatory landscape. The company currently operates in three European markets and plans to use the seed funding to expand across additional EU member states. “Every European country has unique requirements for driving licence processes, but citizens everywhere expect digital-first experiences,” explained Guidoio’s CEO. “Our platform bridges this gap by handling regulatory complexity in the background whilst delivering intuitive interfaces that reduce processing times from weeks to days.” The startup reports processing over 100,000 applications through its platform, with user satisfaction rates exceeding 90%. These metrics become increasingly valuable as European governments face budget pressures and seek cost-effective ways to improve citizen services whilst maintaining compliance with data protection regulations like GDPR. This seed round positions Guidoio amongst a growing cohort of European govtech startups attracting significant investment, suggesting that digitalising traditional government services represents a substantial opportunity for venture-backed companies willing to navigate regulatory complexity.

European manufacturing is experiencing a precision revolution, driven by companies pushing the boundaries of what’s possible at the microscopic level. The latest player making waves is Hummink, which has raised €15 million to bring its micronic precision printing technology to advanced manufacturing sectors across Europe and beyond. The funding round was co-led by KBC Focus Fund, Cap Horn, and Bpifrance, marking a significant vote of confidence in Hummink’s approach to ultra-precise manufacturing. This investment positions the company at the forefront of Europe’s push toward next-generation manufacturing capabilities that could reshape industries from electronics to biotechnology. Strategic investors back micronic printing innovation The investor consortium reflects the strategic importance of Hummink’s technology. KBC Focus Fund, known for backing deep-tech companies with manufacturing applications, brings expertise in scaling hardware innovations across European markets. Cap Horn’s participation signals private equity confidence in the company’s commercial trajectory, while Bpifrance’s involvement underscores French government support for advanced manufacturing technologies. “Hummink’s micronic precision printing represents a fundamental shift in how we approach manufacturing at the smallest scales,” said a representative from the lead investor group. “Their technology addresses critical bottlenecks in sectors where precision isn’t just important—it’s everything.” The funding comes at a time when European manufacturers are increasingly seeking alternatives to traditional production methods, driven by sustainability concerns and the need for greater precision in emerging technologies like quantum computing and advanced sensors. Micronic precision meets manufacturing demands Hummink’s technology enables printing at the micronic level—thousands of times smaller than traditional manufacturing processes allow. This capability opens possibilities in sectors where Europe has strategic advantages, including automotive sensors, medical devices, and renewable energy components. The company plans to use the €15 million to scale its production capabilities and expand into new European markets, with particular focus on Germany’s automotive sector and the Netherlands’ high-tech manufacturing cluster. This European-first approach positions Hummink to capture value from the EU’s €43 billion advanced manufacturing market. “We’re not just improving existing processes—we’re enabling entirely new categories of products that weren’t possible before,” explains Hummink’s leadership team. “Our micronic printing technology allows manufacturers to achieve precision levels that bridge the gap between traditional manufacturing and nanotechnology.” The timing aligns with the European Union’s push for manufacturing sovereignty, particularly in high-precision components that have traditionally been dominated by Asian suppliers. Hummink’s technology could help European manufacturers reduce dependencies while achieving superior precision standards. This funding round signals growing investor confidence in European deep-tech companies that combine breakthrough innovation with clear commercial applications. As manufacturing continues its digital transformation, Hummink’s micronic precision printing technology positions Europe at the cutting edge of next-generation production capabilities.

The European health-tech sector continues its robust growth trajectory, with personalised healthcare solutions attracting significant investor attention across the continent. This trend reflects growing consumer awareness of preventive healthcare and the increasing sophistication of at-home diagnostic technologies. Holo, a startup developing personalised lab testing and daily health tracking solutions, has secured €1 million in pre-seed funding to accelerate its mission of making precision health accessible to European consumers. The funding round was led by Calm/Storm Ventures and Mission VC, two investors with complementary expertise in health technology and consumer applications. This combination provides Holo with both deep sector knowledge and go-to-market experience crucial for navigating Europe’s complex healthcare regulations and fragmented markets. Pre-seed funding positions personalised health tracking for growth Calm/Storm Ventures’ participation signals confidence in Holo’s approach to democratising health insights through accessible testing solutions. The investor’s portfolio focus on consumer health technologies aligns perfectly with the growing European demand for proactive health management tools. Mission VC’s involvement brings additional expertise in scaling technology platforms across European markets, particularly valuable given the varying regulatory landscapes across EU member states. The €1 million pre-seed represents a substantial early-stage commitment for European health-tech, reflecting investor appetite for solutions that bridge the gap between clinical diagnostics and consumer wellness. Both lead investors recognise the significant opportunity in personalised health tracking, where traditional healthcare systems are increasingly supplemented by direct-consumer solutions. “We’re seeing unprecedented demand for health insights that people can act upon immediately,” noted a representative from the investment consortium. “Holo’s approach to combining laboratory-grade testing with daily tracking creates a compelling value proposition for European consumers seeking greater control over their health outcomes.” European health-tech market expansion accelerates Holo’s platform addresses a critical gap in the European healthcare landscape, where traditional systems often focus on treatment rather than prevention. By enabling users to access personalised lab testing and continuous health monitoring, the company positions itself at the intersection of two growing trends: the quantified self movement and precision medicine accessibility. The startup plans to utilise the funding to expand its testing capabilities and enhance its daily tracking algorithms. This development focus acknowledges the unique challenges of operating across European markets, where data privacy regulations like GDPR require sophisticated technical architecture and consumer trust remains paramount. Within the competitive landscape, Holo differentiates itself through its integrated approach to both laboratory testing and continuous monitoring. While competitors often focus on either diagnostic testing or wellness tracking, Holo’s combined platform offers users a more comprehensive view of their health status and trends. The funding positions Holo to capture market share in Europe’s expanding health-tech sector, where regulatory clarity around digital health solutions continues to improve. This represents a significant opportunity for European startups to compete effectively against US-based platforms while maintaining compliance with stringent EU data protection standards. European health-tech funding has consistently outpaced other regions in the preventive healthcare segment, indicating strong ecosystem support for solutions like Holo’s integrated platform.