Tom Cironis

AI agents are increasingly moving from tools that people summon to collaborators that actively participate in how companies work. Ando wants to build the communication layer for that shift.

Prague-based internet infrastructure company CDN77 has agreed to sell a minority stake to global investment firm CVC, valuing the company at around $1.9 billion. For founder and CEO Zdeněk Cendra, the deal marks the first time external capital has entered the business; while leaving control and the company’s long-term direction firmly in his hands.

Small and medium-sized enterprises represent the majority of the European economy, but they face greater obstacles in securing operational financing than large corporations because their risk profile is difficult to evaluate quickly and objectively. Czech data and AI fintech Flowpay has built embedded finance infrastructure to provide these companies with financing for optimal growth.

OpenAI is doubling down on startups, and this time, it is investing its own money.

QuantumLight, the venture capital firm co-founded by Revolut CEO Nik Storonsky, has raised €432 million ($500 million) for its second fund — doubling the size of its debut vehicle and giving the firm considerably more capital to test its data-driven approach to venture investing.

US venture capital giant Accel has raised $3.5bn across four new funds, doubling down on early-stage investing across its key markets; with $800m earmarked for startups in Europe and Israel and another $550m for India.