As Paris buzzed with innovation at the ChangeNOW summit, the French tech and impact ecosystem kept up a dynamic pace with major moves across sectors. From fresh fundraising rounds by Auum, Qevlar AI, mirSense, Poppins, Celest Science, and CleanMob, to strategic shifts with Didomi’s private equity deal and Onestaff’s acquisition by Proman. Meanwhile, Heetch seized an opportunity in mobility by relaunching Zeway’s electric scooters, Spendesk partnered with Dust, and Sorare’s CEO outlined new ambitions amid regulatory shifts. On the investment front, Bpifrance bet on Septeo’s AI future, while Manutan renewed its commitment to young entrepreneurs through the Moov’with program. Finally, Ynsect secured a critical investment lifeline, signaling ongoing transitions in France’s agri-tech landscape.

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Startup funding news 💸

Rounds €5M to €15M:

• Auum, a startup specializing in ultra-efficient glass washing technology, has raised €15 million in a Series B round to accelerate its European expansion and double its revenue by 2025. The funding will boost hiring, R&D, and production capabilities as Auum aims to deploy 10,000 machines and reach one million users by 2027.

• Qevlar AI has raised $14 million, led by EQT Ventures and Forgepoint Capital International, to accelerate the adoption of its autonomous security operations platform powered by agentic AI. The funding will support rapid scaling, enhance R&D, and expand international market presence, as Qevlar AI revolutionizes cybersecurity operations by dramatically improving the efficiency and accuracy of threat investigations.

• Deeptech startup mirSense has raised €7 million in Series A funding to scale up production of its quantum cascade lasers and gas sensor technologies for defense, industrial, and environmental applications. The investment will support new infrastructure in Orsay, Grenoble, and Montpellier, reinforcing Europe’s independence in critical laser components and advancing precision environmental monitoring tools.

Rounds €1M to €5M:

• Poppins has raised €5 million to expand its digital therapy platform for children with dyslexia, aiming to reduce long waiting times for care by providing home-based support that complements speech therapy. The funding, led by Racine² and backed by major investors like Bpifrance and Eurazeo, will help integrate Poppins’ clinically validated solution into broader healthcare pathways across France.

• Celest Science has raised €2 million in seed funding, led by Astorya.vc and Plug and Play, to advance its climate risk modeling platform for the insurance, energy, and public sectors. Using machine learning and climate science, Celest aims to offer more accurate, actionable forecasts and help institutions manage the growing financial risks linked to extreme climate events.

• CleanMob, a startup specializing in virtual automotive telematics, has raised €1.3 million to accelerate the development of its software-based fleet management solution. Founded in 2021, CleanMob offers an alternative to traditional OBD devices by using AI-driven virtual sensors, enabling companies like Engie Home Services and Asten Santé to monitor energy use, CO₂ emissions, and driving behaviors without hardware installation.

M&A transactions 🎊

Didomi, a leader in privacy tech, has raised €72 million and acquired Addingwell to strengthen its position in server-side data tagging and compliance solutions. Specializing in consent and preference management platforms for businesses, Didomi helps organizations collect, manage, and optimize user consent in line with global data privacy regulations; the deal also marks the entry of private equity firm Marlin Equity Partners to support the company's international expansion.

Ringover, a SaaS provider specializing in cloud telephony and conversational AI, has acquired Target First, a startup known for its generative AI-powered chatbots. This strategic move enhances Ringover’s omnichannel offering, allowing businesses to deliver seamless customer support across voice, messaging, and video, with a strong focus on reliability and extended service availability.

Onestaff, a startup connecting freelancers with companies in sectors like retail, healthcare, and hospitality, has been acquired by Proman, the fourth-largest European player in temporary employment services. With over 10,000 clients and 60,000 freelancers, Onestaff, profitable since 2021, enhances Proman’s HR solutions portfolio to better meet the evolving needs of candidates and businesses.

French VTC Heetch has acquired 2,500 electric scooters from Zeway, a startup recently placed in liquidation, to sell them at discounted prices while maintaining Zeway’s battery swap network under a new service called Sweetch. Although Heetch expands its mobility offerings, the move is seen as a strategic but cautious bet amid broader challenges facing the electric mobility sector.

Investor & accelerator news 🚀

Manutan has launched the fifth edition of its Moov’with entrepreneurial program, offering one year of personalized mentoring to three selected B2B startups. In partnership with Moovjee, the initiative aims to support startups by providing access to Manutan’s business expertise, helping them tackle challenges in sales, brand development, and company structuring without requiring financial investmen

Startup news 💡

The ChangeNOW summit, hosted from April 24 to 26 at Paris’s Grand Palais, showcased more than 1,000 solutions addressing global environmental and social challenges across sectors such as energy, agriculture, mobility, and circular economy. With 380 startups featured, this eighth edition strengthened ChangeNOW’s position as a leading driver of innovation for the planet, while also serving as the launchpad for the new Impact 40/120 index, spotlighting the next generation of impact-driven companies.

Spendesk, the French expense management unicorn, has partnered with Dust, one of France’s most promising generative AI startup, to let employees create personalized AI agents while ensuring data security through a European provider. Dust, known for building secure, company-specific AI assistants, is emerging as a key player in enterprise AI, and this collaboration reflects Spendesk’s broader strategy of integrating AI into its operations and services for over 5,000 clients across Europe.

Ynsect, the insect farming startup, secured a last-minute €10 million investment in April from existing backers, including Bpifrance, to buy time amid financial pressures. At the same time, former CEO Antoine Hubert, now leading a new venture called Keprea, has expressed interest in partially taking over Ynsect’s historic site in Dole, with discussions ongoing at the commercial court.

Big company & policy news 💡

Bpifrance has invested several tens of millions of euros in Septeo a French software publisher specializing in legal and HR solutions, valuing the company between €3 and €4 billion. This move aims to safeguard sensitive citizen data and support Septeo’s ambitions in AI development and potential IPO plans, as it continues to expand through acquisitions and partnerships with players like Mistral AI.

Interesting reads 💡

While the ChangeNOW summit showcased innovative solutions for the planet, Les Echos reflected on the growing challenges facing greentech startups, particularly the sharp decline in funding and rising political uncertainties in Europe. Despite a resilient ecosystem, concerns persist that shifting investment priorities could slow the scale-up of climate innovations across the continent.

Maddyness explored the ambitions of Sorare’s CEO, Nicolas Julia, who broke his media silence to discuss the company’s next chapter: preparing for an IPO, navigating tighter regulations, and expanding globally. After years of hypergrowth and challenges in the Web3 market, Julia emphasized Sorare’s deep portfolio of sports partnerships and called for a balanced regulatory framework to foster innovation without stifling new markets.

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