From Bulgarian space-tech success to AI-driven travel and DefenseTech breakthroughs, Central and Eastern Europe’s startup ecosystem is scaling new heights — proving that innovation in the CEE region is stronger than ever.

The Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) tech ecosystem continues to show momentum this week, with major funding rounds, acquisitions, and strategic partnerships spotlighting the region’s fast-growing innovation potential. From space technology and DefenseTech to AI and software automation, the week’s developments underscore how CEE-founded startups are competing — and winning — on a global stage.

EnduroSat Secures $104M to Power the Next Generation of Satellites

Leading the week’s highlights, Bulgarian-founded EnduroSat, a pioneer in software-defined satellites and space data solutions, has closed a $104 million (€90M) funding round — its third major investment this year.

The round brings in heavyweight investors including Riot Ventures, Google Ventures (GV), Lux Capital, the European Innovation Council Fund, and Shrug Capital. The funds will be used to expand production capacity and accelerate delivery timelines for next-gen satellite constellations.

EnduroSat’s mission is simple but bold: to democratize access to space data and empower organizations worldwide with modular, scalable satellite infrastructure. With this funding, the company strengthens its position as one of Europe’s most ambitious space-tech players.

CEE Innovation on the Rise: Key Deals of the Week

  • SalesPatriot, a DefenseTech startup with roots in Warsaw and San Francisco, secured €4.3 million in Seed funding. The round, led by CRV, included notable investors such as Pear VC, Y Combinator, SV Angel, and tech legends Paul Graham and Mark Pincus.
  • Desktop Commander, based in Latvia, raised €1.1 million in pre-seed funding led by 42CAP. The company is developing open-source automation tools to help non-technical users code and build digital workflows more easily.
  • Romania’s BraveX Aero, a maker of long-range fixed-wing drones, announced a strategic partnership with Uniq Things UG, a German company specializing in autonomous drone coordination and swarm software.
  • In a major move for the travel tech sector, the UK-based Abingdon Software Group acquired Romanian firm dcs plus, a global leader in travel software. With Abingdon’s backing, dcs plus plans to integrate AI into its platform to help travel agencies cut costs, personalize offers, and make faster, data-driven decisions.
  • Warsaw Equity Group successfully exited its investment in Oxla, a Polish developer of distributed query engine technology, following its acquisition by U.S. data unicorn Redpanda. Oxla’s technology will now underpin Redpanda’s new Agentic Data Plane (ADP) — designed to support AI-driven enterprise data operations.
  • Estonia’s LynxPower, a cleantech startup, raised €550,000 to further develop its AI-powered energy monitoring platform, backed by investors including Giga AS and industry leaders Taavi Madiberk and Marko Virkebault.

Across the Atlantic: AI and Big Tech Shifts

The CEE influence is expanding far beyond Europe’s borders. Fireworks AI, an American startup co-founded by Ukrainians Dmytro Dzhulgakov and Dmytro Ivchenko, raised a massive $250 million (€216M) Series C round, valuing the company at $4 billion. The firm helps developers harness high-performance AI chips and models, strengthening its position in the fast-evolving AI infrastructure race.

Meanwhile, OpenAI completed its long-anticipated reorganization into a for-profit structure controlled by a non-profit foundation. The move gives Microsoft a 27% stake — valued at roughly $135 billion — while enabling OpenAI to raise new capital from other investors. According to Bloomberg, Microsoft will also receive 20% of OpenAI’s revenue until 2032, with CEO Sam Altman holding no personal stake in the new entity.

CEE’s Growing Global Impact

From space tech to AI innovation and DefenseTech, Central and Eastern Europe’s startup scene continues to punch above its weight. Backed by world-class investors and global partnerships, the region’s founders are no longer following global trends — they’re setting them.

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