A new wave of European startups has crossed the coveted $1 billion valuation mark, underscoring renewed investor confidence in the region’s tech ecosystem despite a still-cautious global funding environment. The latest additions span cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, cloud infrastructure, sustainability software and online education, highlighting both the breadth of Europe’s startup landscape and the sectors still attracting large checks from global investors.
Among the newly crowned unicorns is Aikido Security, a Belgium-based cybersecurity startup focused on developer-first security tooling. The company reached a $1 billion valuation following a recent funding round that reflected growing demand for application security solutions as software supply-chain risks continue to rise. Investors are increasingly backing platforms that integrate security directly into the development process, rather than treating it as an afterthought.
Harmattan AI also joined the unicorn club after closing a major round that pushed its valuation well beyond the $1 billion threshold. Operating in the fast-growing artificial intelligence space, the company’s raise reflects sustained investor appetite for AI startups that demonstrate clear commercial applications rather than purely experimental models.
Cloud optimisation startup Cast AI was likewise included in the list of Europe’s newest unicorns. While the company’s most recent major fundraising round predates 2026, its valuation reportedly crossed the $1 billion mark following subsequent strategic investment activity. Cast AI’s rise mirrors a broader trend: enterprises looking to reduce cloud costs and improve efficiency as IT budgets come under pressure.
In the sustainability and compliance space, Germany-based Osapiens reached unicorn status after its latest funding round valued the company at more than $1 billion. The startup provides software designed to help large organizations manage supply-chain transparency and environmental compliance, an area gaining urgency as European regulations tighten and corporate sustainability reporting becomes mandatory.
Online language-learning platform Preply also made the list, achieving a unicorn valuation following its most recent financing. The company’s growth reflects continued global demand for remote learning tools and digital education platforms, even as pandemic-era tailwinds have faded.
These new unicorns suggest that European startups capable of demonstrating strong revenue growth, clear market demand and defensible technology can still attract significant capital. In a market no longer driven by easy money, reaching a $1 billion valuation is once again becoming a signal not just of hype, but of resilience and scale.
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