Leah Hodgson

In a tighter funding market, serial founders are pulling further ahead of first-timers in deal size and valuation.

Proxima Fusion co-founder and CEO Francesco Sciortino Image courtesy of Proxima Fusion

Marco Bottigelli/Getty Images Workplace pensions provider Nest is planning to allocate up to £1 billion (about $1.3 billion) to VC by 2030 as UK efforts to funnel pension assets into private markets ramp up.

NurPhoto/Getty Images VC funding for European biotech startups is on track for a record year, though the gap with the US remains stark.

The sector's share of deal value climbs to more than 60% as mega-rounds drive funding levels.

Image courtesy of Helsing Germany's strengths in deep tech and defense have put it in a position to be the fastest-growing ecosystem among Europe's mature VC markets this year.

The deal comes less than a year after failed talks to sell the retailer to JD.com. Peter Dazeley/Getty Images

Luza Studios/Getty Images AI chip startup Olix has more than tripled its valuation in less than six months with a $312 million Series B, closing Europe's largest semiconductor VC round.

A sunset view of the Milan skyline Karl Hendon/Getty Images Southern Europe's wealth of family-owned small to medium-sized businesses is supporting PE activity as mega-deals largely disappear from the region.

AI took over 70% of deal value in H1, with just 18 deals accounting for almost 60% of the total.