Lakestar

As longstanding advocates for Europe’s technological sovereignty, today we launch our inaugural report, “Towards a Resilient Europe: Innovations in Defence and Security”. European NATO allies have reduced defence budgets by 30% since the 1990s, leaving the continent increasingly vulnerable. Current industrial output and imports fall short of replenishing critical stock levels, while the US dwarfs Euopean R&D investment in critical defense technologies by 10 times. Beyond security, increased defence investment can also have a multiplier effect on the broader economy. GDP could increase by €70-180 billion as this investment fuels innovation that drives economic growth. Klaus Hommels, Lakestar Founder & Chairman says, “As geopolitical tensions rise, Europe's hesitance to invest adequately in innovation is eroding its influence on the world stage. The rapid pace of technological change demands more than just substantial investments in military hardware—it requires an ecosystem that fosters collaboration, strengthens our collective sovereign crisis response capabilities, and ensures long-term resilience.” https://lnkd.in/eizVrS7z Read the full study here: https://www.resilience.eu/ #Defence #Resilience #Innovation

We’re delighted to see our portfolio company Swan securing the second spot on the Sifted 50: France Leaderboard. ? The Paris-based fintech is making waves with its remarkable revenue growth. This recognition underscores the success of Swan’s mission to help companies integrate banking features such as accounts, cards, and payments. ? Congratulations to Co-founder and CEO Nicolas Benady, as well as the entire Swan team! ? With their commitment to pioneering fintech solutions, we are confident that Swan will continue to set new standards in digital banking, driving innovation and growth. See here for the Sifted 50: https://lnkd.in/eKGXba_T #Fintech #Growth #Sifted50

Congratulations to our new portfolio company poolside on their $500M Series B round! ? The round was led by Bain Capital Ventures, with participation from institutional investors like DST Global, StepStone Group, and notable corporates such as NVIDIA, Citi Ventures, and HSBC Ventures. This new funding will support poolside's mission of building the world’s most capable AI for software development, and software is just the beginning; the bigger mission is to reach true human-level intelligence, which only a small group of companies will be able to do. ? poolside’s first product will deliver an intelligent code assistant to developers powered by its models to accelerate what they can build and ship. As the capabilities of their models increase over time, anyone in the world will be able to build software with poolside, distributing the power of increasingly capable AI to everyone. ?? Under the strong leadership of founders Jason Warner, Eiso Kant, and their talented team, the company has built a vision of the future where advancements in intelligence will ultimately benefit society as a whole. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/e8GDKBw5 We wish them continued success in their journey! #AI #Investment

We are pleased to announce that our portfolio company Dexory, a UK-based leader in AI and robotics, has secured $80 million in Series B funding to continue its growth and drive significant advancements in the logistics industry. This round, led by DTCP with participation from Latitude Ventures, WaVe-X, Bootstrap Europe, and existing investors Lakestar, Atomico, and Capnamic,?marks a significant milestone in Dexory's journey as businesses continue to manage challenges across their supply chains, amidst cost and service pressures. The investment will accelerate the deployment of Dexory’s autonomous robots and AI-powered features across its 'DexoryView' platform, serving customers such as GXO Logistics, Inc., MAERSK, and DB Schenker. A key focus will be on expanding in the US market where Dexory is already operational in seven states, and enhancing development facilities in the UK. We are proud to support Dexory as they transform logistics operations and lead the way in warehouse optimisation technology, congratulations to the whole team on their latest achievement! #AI #Robotics #Investment #Logistics

Lakestar is launching the New Visiting Analyst Program! As we have embarked on an exciting new chapter at Lakestar with the launch of our $600M fund, we are reaffirming our dedication to supporting the next generation of European innovators and operators, just as we have with companies like Revolut, Spotify, sennder, Builder.ai, Neko Health, and Isar Aerospace. Breaking into the world of VC and tech can feel daunting, so we have revamped our Visiting Analyst program to offer a structured pathway into the venture ecosystem. This is more than an internship, it is an opportunity to gain real experience, mentorship, and a strong network that will support you in becoming a future founder, operator, or investor. Program Highlights: - Locations: One Visiting Analyst each in our Berlin and London offices - Cohort: Now recruiting for the H1 2025 cohort, with the program running for 5-6 months - Engagement: Work closely with our investment team, participate in founder calls, due diligence processes, and industry events - Application Period: Applications open for 2 weeks starting October 1st (today) We’re looking for motivated students and aspiring professionals who want to dive into the heart of the European tech ecosystem. If you show grit, dedication, and a passion for learning, we will make sure you have a place to grow. Read the full details in our article attached, and don’t forget to apply! The application link is in the comments. #VentureCapital #Lakestar #VC #Startups

We are pleased to announce that our portfolio company, Alan, has entered into a major partnership with Belfius, Belgium’s second-largest bank-insurer. This strategic collaboration will extend Alan's health insurance and prevention services to millions of Belfius' corporate and institutional clients, significantly transforming the healthcare landscape in Belgium. In conjunction with this partnership, Alan has successfully closed a €173 million Series F funding round led by Belfius, bringing Alan's valuation to an impressive €4 billion. This investment will empower Alan to accelerate its growth, enhance its technological capabilities, and expand its international presence. Lakestar is proud to witness Alan’s evolution as they look to simplify access to healthcare for employees, and we look forward to the team's continued success! #HealthTech #Investment #Innovation

We are proud to announce that our portfolio company, Lightium, has secured a $7 million seed round to revolutionise data centres. We're pleased to have co-led this investment alongside Vsquared Ventures, supporting Lightium’s innovative thin-film lithium niobate (TFLN) photonic chips. These chips promise to significantly boost data transmission speeds and reduce energy consumption, addressing the massive data and energy demands driven by AI advancements. As data centres are predicted to handle 100x more data and consume up to 10% of global electricity by 2030, Lightium's technology offers a sustainable and efficient solution. Their TFLN platform not only enhances data centre performance but also extends its benefits to satellite communication, quantum computing, and more. Congratulations to Amir H. Ghadimi, Frédéric Loizeau, Dirk Englund, and the entire Lightium team on this exciting milestone! We're excited to see the impact of their technology on data centres and beyond. #Photonics #DataCentres #AI #Sustainability

Lakestar is leading a €6 million funding round in Timefold, to free the world's largest enterprises from wasteful planning. Across the globe, businesses and government bodies ranging from airports, rail companies, and emergency services depend on effective planning to ensure smooth operations and keep society functioning. Timefold’s groundbreaking Open Core PlanningAI offers an easy approach to tackle complex, large-scale planning challenges like vehicle routing, job assignments, and employee scheduling - building on the global success of the OptaPlanner project. The company's solution is trusted and already in use by leading enterprises such as Palantir Technologies, Deutsche Bahn, NEC Corporation, ADP, and Advantage Solutions. We love to back teams that tackle the most complex problems. Maarten Vandenbroucke, Geoffrey De Smet and their team combine exceptional technological in-house capabilities with huge ambition - a combination we rarely see. Thank you for taking us on this journey with you! To see the full news, click here: https://lnkd.in/esHC_Xxw #AI #Investment #PlanningAI

Exciting times for the UK’s capital markets! Earlier this month our partner, Stephen Nundy, attended the 2nd Capital Markets Industry Taskforce (CMIT) Conference at the London Stock Exchange, where he participated in a panel discussion on global growth from UK private companies. Senior leaders from across the financial ecosystem gathered to discuss how we can keep UK capital markets globally competitive.?This followed the launch of the new LSEG Main Market and significant listing rule reforms, with Dame Julia Hoggett, DBE and Tulip Siddiq MP opening the market. Separately, we were also at the BVCA Pension Summit last week, focusing on integrating private markets into pension returns - an important step toward unlocking new opportunities for long-term economic growth. Exciting progress ahead for #CapitalMarkets and #Pensions! Read more at: https://lnkd.in/eXwN9aec #MainMarket #IPO #PrivateMarkets #BVCA #BBB #BPC

We are excited to announce that our portfolio company Neko Health has launched its first UK Health Centre in Marylebone, London. Co-founded by Hjalmar Nilsonne and Daniel Ek, Neko Health offers a pioneering ￡299 body scanner that maps millions of health data points in minutes. The Neko Body Scan provides immediate results and a detailed consultation with a doctor, identifying risk factors for conditions such as stroke, heart attack, skin cancer, and metabolic syndromes. This proactive approach aims to shift healthcare from reactive to preventative care. With over 22,000 individuals on the waiting list, the London site follows the successful launch in Stockholm, Sweden. The scan takes approximately 10 minutes and uses advanced technology to deliver comprehensive health insights instantly. We are very proud of the Neko team for achieving this important milestone and to see them redefine preventative healthcare in our societies. For more information and to book your scan, visit Neko Health: https://lnkd.in/gQxaVKFq #PreventativeCare #NekoHealth #Lakestar #HealthTech