Author: EU_Startups Online News

Delft-based Hardt Hyperloop raises multi-million euro round to develop high-speed, zero emissions transportation

An international business consortium led by Dutch clean energy conglomerate Koolen Industries has made a multi-million euro investment in Hardt Hyperloop, the company that created Europe’s first full-scale operational hyperloop test-facility for the high-speed zero emissions transportation system.

Hardt Hyperloop has developed technology that will make the transportation industry more sustainable. By travelling through low-pressure tubes where there is almost no air resistance, it is possible to achieve speeds of more than 1,000 km/h (600 mph). The vehicles levitate magnetically, hence there is no wear and operational costs are minimal. Vehicles travelling in a tube are protected from any outside forces, which means the hyperloop technology is extremely efficient and highly reliable. Compared with high speed rail, the hyperloop requires less land area and its infrastructure is easier-to-build, so it is cheaper to implement and maintain.

This investment round was backed by the renowne..

Stockholm-based electric boat maker X Shore raises €1.5 million through crowdfunding

Stockholm-based electric boat maker X Shore has raised €1.5 million through a crowdfunding campaign on FundedByMe, which closed at midnight last night.

Founded in 2016, X Shore boats are fully electric and silent to combine minimal disruption of marine life with optimised user experience. Customisable through modular elements, the boat’s design offers an endless variety of features. The motor comprises an inverter designed to handle stress; a battery that has outstanding power to weight ratio; and a magnetic gearbox, which ensures silence and zero air friction. X Shore craft have a top speed of 40 knots and can hold up to 12 people.

X Shore has already brought its first range of fully-electric, silent boats to market, and the company’s flagship craft ‘Eelex’ will hit the waves in January 2019.

The capital raised through the crowdfunding campaign will be used for R&D, production, and the continuous development of X Shore’s boats.

X Shore had been funded in full by its founder and CE..

Dutch startup Aiir Innovations raises €500k for its AI-based system to inspect aircraft engines

Amsterdam-based startup Aiir Innovations has developed a smart, AI-based software system that for the inspection of aircraft engines. The company has just announced an investment of €500k from Mainport Innovation Fund II.

Maintaining aircraft engines largely depends on manpower. The mechanic inspects each component, records any damage manually, and provides a recommendation. Aiir Innovations is developing software that mechanics can use in borescope (optical) inspections to detect anomalies, like cracks and dents.

“Think of it as an assistant with an extra pair of digital eyes analysing videos and images at lightning speed,” said co-founder Bart Vredebregt. “And all information is immediately processed into a digital report.

“We can already reduce the full borescope inspection time from 16 hours to about 12 hours. But that’s only the beginning. In four to six years’ time, we expect to be able to perform the inspection in just 20% of the time it currently takes.”

KLM is playing an i..

Berlin-based e-scooter startup TIER Mobility raises €55 million Series B funding round

Berlin-based provider of micro-mobility solutionsTIER Mobility, which specialises in e-scooters, is part of an ongoing transformation of transportation, relieving cities from emissions and congestion.

Founded in October 2018, Tier currently operates in over 40 cities across 12 markets worldwide, and has now raised €55 million in a Series B funding round led by Mubadala Capital and Goodwater Capital.

The company also welcomes AXA Germany and Evli Growth Partners as new investors, in addition to further participation from all existing investors, including White Star Capital, Northzone, Speedinvest, Point9, Indico, Kibo Ventures, Market One Capital and selected business angels like Nico Rosberg.

TIER Mobility will use proceeds to accelerate its European expansion strategy and continue to build the leading micro-mobility platform for citizens, city authorities and public transportation partners.

Since its funding round in February 2019, TIER Mobility has expanded operations to over 40 ..

London-based ParkingPerx raises €364k for parking app to save high streets

Entrepreneur Chris Reed developed the ParkingPerx loyalty app, which rewards consumers who spend on the high street with money off parking. He has now raised €364k to deliver his idea.

The investment comes from the North East Venture Fund (NEVF), which is supported by the European Regional Development Fund and managed by Mercia, and former TV ‘dragon’ Jenny Campbell.

It uses ‘smart beacons’ in car parks, which recognise customers as they approach, removing the need to use ticket machines or enter location codes. The funding will allow ProxiSmart to roll out the system and create six new jobs in the coming year.

ProxiSmart has been named one of the 50 most innovative tech companies in England and Chris was shortlisted for NatWest’s Great British ‘High Street Entrepreneur’ of the Year. Yet, as an early-stage regional business, the company struggled for months to raise funds before Chris appeared on TV’s Dragons’ Den and approached Mercia and the North East Venture Fund.

“I’d struggle..

Paris-based carpooling platform BlaBlaCar makes bid to acquire Eastern European bus ticketing startup Busfor

Paris-based BlaBlaCar, the long-distance carpooling platform that has recently expanded its offer to include buses, has made an offer to acquire Busfor. With offices in Moscow, Kiev, and Poland, Busfor is the leading online bus ticketing platform in Russia and Ukraine.

The acquisition will expand BlaBlaCar’s online inventory of third-party bus operators in a region where BlaBlaCar counts over 25 million members.

The move is part of BlaBlaCar’s global strategy to build a multimodal transport network offering carpooling and buses on a single platform to respond to a greater diversity of passenger needs. Where buses can cover popular roads at low prices and are bookable in advance, carpooling offers a uniquely granular network connecting any destination at a low price, even at the last minute.

Proposing complementary mobility solutions will increase the appeal of the offer for travellers, helping both carpoolers and bus operators to fill up their vehicles.

Last year, BlaBlaCar broaden..

Berlin-based RV-sharing platform PaulCamper raises €7 million for further expansion 

Fancy camping across Europe this summer holiday? Berlin-based PaulCamper is a sharing platform for renting and lending RVs that allows you to do just that.

RVs offer an unprecedented level of freedom for adventurous travellers, who can go where they please – whether it be a city, the beach, or little-known getaways in the countryside.

Founded in 2013, PaulCamper today has a fleet of more than 5,500 RVs in Germany, Austria, and the Netherlands. The renters come from all over the world, and over 500k rental nights are already arranged via the platform.

PaulCamper now has closed a Series A financing round of €7 million. The new capital comes from a syndicate of international marketplace investors, led by Adevinta with participation from FJ Labs and All Iron Ventures as well as existing investors Russmedia International and Mairdumont Ventures.

“PaulCamper operates in a very exciting and fast-growing market: the outdoor travel market. The team and vision of PaulCamper convinced us and ..

Sydney-founded Splend moves to London to bring eco-friendly, affordable cars to ride-share drivers

Being an on-demand driver is a stressful job. Founded in Sydney, Splend aims to making life easier for ride-share drivers, providing them with eco-friendly, affordable cars as well as support and insurance to help them earn more, improve their ratings, and enjoy their jobs more.

The Australian-founded company has relocated its HQ to London and opened a comprehensive support centre for the 90,000 drivers working in the capital for apps like Uber, Bolt, Kapten and ViaVan.

More than just a car supplier, Splend provides resources and a community for drivers. Splend’s new driver hub, a 2,300 square metre facility in Cricklewood, enables members to collect their cars, catch up with their personal account manager, sign up for insurance, receive analytics and advanced driver training, and join community events.

“Ride-sharing can be a tough gig,” said Chris King, CEO and founder. “Splend exists to help drivers succeed by making sure on-demand driving works for them – not the other way around..

Avail Technologies, a recruitment startup for drivers, moves ahead with €385k

Manchester-based Avail Technologies wants to revolutionize the transportation industry by finding a better way to match drivers and shippers. Founded in 2017, the startup has just raised a €385k funding round led by NPIF – Mercia Equity Finance, which is managed by Mercia and part of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund.

Avail removes the need for traditional recruitment agencies for short-term contracts, allowing drivers to earn more and hauliers to reduce costs. The funding will enable the company to further develop its platform and app to create more functionality for users.

Avail’s co-founder Erin Short was previously a logistics specialist with the British Army but was medically discharged after being injured. He went on to complete a business management degree while working part-time as an HGV driver, before joining forces with fellow logistics manager Callum Clark to launch Avail in June last year. The company, which is based in Hull, has already signed up over 1,000 driver..

Berlin-based digital road freight platform Sennder raises €62.4 million to modernize the trucking industry

Berlin-based Sennder is a logistics platform and road freight marketplace, connecting commercial shippers with a range of local delivery services, including e-commerce, express and same day delivery, refrigerated delivery, oversize loads, and more.

Founded in 2015, Sennder has just raised €62.4 million in a Series C round led by Lakestar, with participation from Accel, HV Holtzbrinck Ventures, Project A, Siemens’ Next47, H14, and Scania Growth Capital.

Sennder is seeking to modernize and automate the truck transportation market, which is currently valued at $1.5 trillion globally, though the startup intends to keep its focus on the European market for now.

In an industry that has traditionally relied on pen and paper, Sennder’s platform features a mobile app for drivers to view and accept loads, fleet management tools for trucking companies, and logistics management data and analytics. Users can also view information about their goods in real-time, including the exact location of a ..