Meet the new European unicorns of 2026

January was such a protracted month that it has already introduced us 5 contemporary European unicorns: from Belgium to Ukraine, a number of tech startups raised funding at valuations above the $1 billion threshold.

However earlier than we take a better have a look at who joined the membership, two caveats.

First: This depend contains startups that could be included elsewhere however have their roots or a big a part of their group in Europe. Till a pan-European corporate structure exists (usually known as “EU Inc”), this break up will stay frequent — and we’ve determined to miss it. Take Lovable, which is included in Delaware however can’t be dissociated from Stockholm’s startup scene.

Second: valuation doesn’t equal industrial success, and it’s too early to inform whether or not all of those firms will obtain the form of traction that Lovable has, with the corporate just lately crossing $300 million in annual recurring revenue. However within the present local weather, the truth that VCs had been prepared to put money into them at unicorn valuations is a powerful sign of the place the urge for food is. 

With these caveats out of the way in which, let’s dive in.

Aikido 

Belgium-based cybersecurity startup Aikido Security reached unicorn standing with its $60 million Series B funding spherical. Valuing the corporate at $1 billion, the spherical was led by DST World, with participation from PSG Fairness, Singular, Notion Capital, and others.

In accordance with a press launch, the funding will assist Aikido improve its platform, which was constructed to unify safety throughout your complete software program lifecycle and is already utilized by greater than 100,000 groups globally. The corporate additionally reported “five-times income development and almost three-times buyer development” over the past yr.

In a blog post, the startup celebrated this milestone and its significance. In accordance with its group, “in an business dominated by Palo Alto and Tel Aviv heavyweights, Aikido reveals that Europe can construct a world-class software program safety firm and win globally.”

Forged AI 

Cloud optimization firm Cast AI is headquartered in Florida, however has Lithuanian roots and a serious workplace in Vilnius — which explains why many now take into account it to have change into Lithuania’s fifth unicorn.

Forged AI’s valuation now exceeds $1 billion following a strategic investment from Pacific Alliance Ventures (PAV), the U.S.-based company enterprise arm of Korean conglomerate Shinsegae Group. In April 2025, Forged AI raised a $108 million Series C that had reportedly already introduced the corporate near unicorn territory.

Alongside its newest funding spherical, the corporate additionally launched OMNI Compute for AI, which goals to assist customers deploy extra AI workloads on fewer GPUs and take away regional capability constraints.

Harmattan AI 

French protection tech firm Harmattan AI was solely based in 2024, however is already price $1.4 billion, in response to its newest funding spherical. The $200 million Collection B was led by Dassault Aviation, maker of the Rafale fighter jets, and in addition ties right into a broader partnership.

Earlier than securing this key companion, Harmattan AI had already signed agreements with the French and British ministries of protection and with Ukrainian drone maker Skyeton, amid rising urge for food for autonomous protection plane.

Osapiens 

German ESG software program agency Osapiens raised a $100 million Series C led by Decarbonization Companions, a joint venture between BlackRock and Temasek, which valued the corporate at over $1.1 billion.

Based in Mannheim in 2018, Osapiens now has greater than 2,400 prospects worldwide, together with giant multinational firms that depend on its platforms and instruments for sustainability reporting and information compliance, but additionally to mitigate provide chain dangers.

Preply

The 14-year-old language studying market Preply is now a unicorn valued at $1.2 billion — a milestone that additionally embodies Ukrainian resilience. The edtech firm was based in the US, however its founders are Ukrainian and supporters of their dwelling nation, the place Preply has a group of 150 workers.

In accordance with its CEO, Kirill Bigai, who believes in AI-enhanced studying, proceeds from the $150 million Collection D spherical will assist the startup rent extra AI expertise throughout its 4 places of work — now situated in Barcelona, London, New York, and Kyiv.