Hello!
Here is what happened today in European tech:
Deals
- Israeli fintech company Payoneer is reportedly in advanced negotiations to merge with a SPAC company, apparently an American one, at a valuation of $2.5 billion to $3 billion.
- Belgian fintech company Unifiedpost has acquired 21 Grams, AKTI and BanqUP, quickly acting on its ‘buy-and-build’ acquisition strategy that was laid out after its September IPO.
- The Israeli online content-recommendation company Taboola is conducting negotiations to merge with ION group’s SPAC listed on NYSE. ION SPAC is a public shell company that raised $259 million to find and merge with a private firm.
- Hopium, the French manufacturer of premium hydrogen-powered cars, has listed on Euronext Access Paris. The company was founded in 2019 by the French racing driver Olivier Lombard; its IPO today put its market capitalisation at €11.7 million.
- BlazePod, the Israel-based creator of the ‘Flash Reflex (FRX)’ training program, has raised an additional $8.5 million in its second round of funding, which was led by AP Partners. The company combines small and portable lighting pods with an app to assist in a variety of sports and exercise activities to help with physical and cognitive fitness.
- London-based edtech gaming studio Kuato has raised £4.5 million in a round led by Horizons Ventures, a fund based in Hong Kong. The investment will likely go to supporting the launch of its first virtual reality title, Panic Room, and developing the patented technology that makes the game the first of its kind.
- Belgian wealthtech company InvestSuite has secured another €3 million in funding after raising €2 million earlier this year. As part of this round, existing backer PMV invested an additional €800,000, alongside AB Accelerator, 365.fintech and others.
- We also tracked a large number of (other) European tech funding rounds and M&A transactions, all of which we are putting in a handy list for you on Friday afternoon in our weekly roundup newsletter (note: the full list is for paying customers only). Also check out our European tech news section for ongoing coverage.
Worth Knowing
- London-based online money transfer service TransferWise has asked investment banks to pitch in the new year for roles on an impending IPO.
- Instant messaging app Telegram is “approaching” 500 million users and plans to generate revenue starting next year to keep the business afloat, its founder Pavel Durov said on Wednesday.
- Over in Spain, the ICO has selected 15 funds in which it will invest €329 million euros (to ultimately channel more than €1.2 billion into tech startups). The selected funds include Nauta Capital, Kibo Ventures, 4Founders Capital and Axon Partners Group.
- Hardt Hyperloop and the European promise of innovative transportation.
- Estonia has launched a platform called Unicorn Factory, matching investors with potential future unicorns from the Baltic country.
- The UK's Advertising Standard Authority has banned an Instagram influencer campaign for buy now pay later giant Klarna that encouraged people to use credit to 'boost their mood'.
- Atom CEO interview on banking during a pandemic and the UK property 'bubble'.
- Christmas crunchtime for grocers as EU online shopping surges (Politico)
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