Europe Welcomes Five New Unicorns in January 2026

### European Startup Momentum Signals Investor Confidence

January 2026 proved to be a significant month for the European tech scene, with five distinct startups achieving the coveted “unicorn” status, a valuation exceeding $1 billion. These newly minted billion-dollar companies span critical sectors, from cybersecurity and cloud optimization to defense technology, ESG software, and education technology. The influx of capital into these diverse areas highlights a persistent investor confidence in European innovation, even as the broader venture capital market navigates a period of increased selectivity.

### Sector Spotlights: New European Unicorns Emerge

Aikido Security, a Belgium-based cybersecurity firm, reached a $1 billion valuation following a $60 million Series B funding round led by DST Global. The company reported a five-fold increase in revenue and a nearly three-fold rise in customers over the past year, leveraging its unified platform that secures the entire software lifecycle for over 100,000 teams globally.

Cast AI, a cloud optimization company with Lithuanian roots, also surpassed the $1 billion valuation mark through a strategic investment from Pacific Alliance Ventures. Headquartered in Florida, the company is recognized as Lithuania’s fifth unicorn and has launched OMNI Compute for AI, designed to streamline AI workload deployment and address GPU capacity constraints.

France’s Harmattan AI, a defense technology startup founded only in 2024, achieved a $1.4 billion valuation after securing $200 million in Series B funding led by Dassault Aviation. This round also solidified a broader partnership aimed at integrating AI into future combat aviation systems, with the company having already secured agreements with the French and British ministries of defense.

Osapiens, a German ESG software firm, reached a valuation exceeding $1.1 billion with its $100 million Series C round, spearheaded by Decarbonization Partners, a joint venture between BlackRock and Temasek. Founded in 2018, Osapiens provides sustainability reporting and data compliance tools to over 2,400 customers worldwide.

Finally, Preply, a language learning marketplace with Ukrainian founders, attained unicorn status with a $1.2 billion valuation following a $150 million Series D round led by WestCap. The company, which employs a significant team in Kyiv, plans to use the funding to expand its AI talent pool across its global offices.

### Market Context and Future Signals

The surge of new European unicorns in early 2026 aligns with broader venture capital trends indicating a recovery and increased activity after a period of caution. While venture funding saw a modest increase in overall deal value in 2025 due to fewer, larger investments, sectors like AI, defense tech, and specialized enterprise software continue to attract significant capital. The European venture capital ecosystem, in particular, showed resilience, with deal values climbing despite a drop in deal count, suggesting a focus on more established companies with proven traction.

These companies are navigating a landscape where AI integration is a key differentiator, driving innovation across all sectors. Harmattan AI’s partnership with Dassault Aviation and Cast AI’s focus on GPU optimization for AI workloads exemplify this trend. Osapiens’ success in the ESG space highlights the growing importance of sustainability reporting tools amid regulatory shifts. Aikido Security’s rapid ascent reflects the ongoing demand for robust cybersecurity solutions in an increasingly complex digital environment. Preply’s growth, rooted in Ukrainian entrepreneurship, showcases the edtech sector’s continued expansion, enhanced by AI-driven learning tools. The successful funding rounds signal a market that rewards technological advancement and clear go-to-market strategies, setting a positive precedent for European startups in the year ahead.