Thirteen European deeptech startups secured €127 million from Tier 1 venture capital firms in the first half of 2026, marking a shift in investor appetite toward complex, capital-intensive technologies.

Historically, Europe's VC firms treated deeptech as a separate asset class requiring frustrating amounts of patient capital. But major funds including Atomico, Balderton, General Catalyst and Northzone now actively back early-stage companies tackling problems once considered too complicated.

The funding spans quantum computing, AI-powered climate solutions, advanced materials, and next-generation semiconductors. Notable deals include AI2 Labs' €1.6 million seed round and Amphiform's €52 million Series A.

Notable funding rounds

AI2 Labs raised €1.6 million to develop AI systems that understand physical environments. The Munich-based startup's technology mimics human spatial reasoning.

Amphiform secured €2.3 million from Balderton Capital Partners to build bio-inspired computational systems for autonomous robots. The company applies biological principles to create more efficient AI processing.

Quantumlogic closed a €52 million Series A led by Accel and Balderton. The startup uses AI to accelerate discovery of new materials for renewable energy applications.

BioAspire raised €50 million from AtomicVC and Qubits to commercialize artificial photosynthesis technology. The company converts CO₂ into valuable chemicals using engineered biological systems.

Climate-focused startups dominated the list. Carbonfree Technologies secured €6 million to develop direct air capture systems that remove atmospheric CO₂ at industrial scale.

Quantum computing also attracted significant investment. Qubits raised €1.4 million for quantum processors designed for machine learning applications.

The deals reflect growing confidence in European deeptech capabilities. Investors cite improved technical talent, stronger university partnerships, and clearer paths to commercialization as key factors driving renewed interest.

Several startups plan to expand internationally by 2027, with North American markets as primary targets for scaling operations.