Latest Startups & Entrepreneurship News

đź“…December 23, 2025 at 1:00 PM
Major startup funding rounds dominate December 22-23, 2025 news, with Erebor Bank's $350M Series D leading AI, climate tech, biotech, and fintech investments amid year-end portfolio milestones.
1

Erebor Bank Secures $350M Series D Funding

Erebor Bank raised $350 million in a Series D round led by Lux Capital, with Founders Fund, 8VC, and Haun Ventures participating. The funds will hire talent, deepen its tech platform, accelerate global expansion, and launch deposit and loan products for fintech and crypto firms.Source 1 This marks its total funding at $350 million as of December 22, 2025.Source 1

2

ZeroAvia Raises $150M in Series D for Climate Tech

ZeroAvia secured $150 million in Series D funding from Barclays Climate Ventures, Breakthrough Energy Ventures, and others including Horizons Ventures and Scottish National Investment Bank. The round supports its hydrogen-electric aviation propulsion technology.Source 1 Total raised stands at $150 million on December 22, 2025.Source 1

3

SanegeneBio Closes $110M Series B Round

SanegeneBio raised $110 million in Series B funding with participation from Sino Biopharm, Legend Capital, Vivo Capital, and Eli Lilly as a strategic investor. The biotech firm focuses on gene therapy innovations.Source 1 This brings its total funding to $110 million announced December 22, 2025.Source 1

4

Ciphero Launches with $2.5M Pre-Seed for AI Security

Silicon Valley startup Ciphero, founded by Mozilla and Fakespot veterans, raised $2.5 million in pre-seed funding co-led by Sovereign’s Capital and Chingona Ventures. It builds an AI verification layer to prevent data leaks and compliance issues in enterprise AI.Source 1 The round closed on December 22, 2025.Source 1

5

Those Vegan Cowboys Raises €6.25M for Cow-Free Casein

Belgian startup Those Vegan Cowboys secured €6.25 million (US$6.9 million) in its first external funding to advance cow-free casein toward market entry. CEO Hille van der Kaa highlighted the challenge of development to market transition.Source 2 The round was announced December 22, 2025, closing the year strongly for protein innovation.Source 2

6

Homebound Raises $400M for Tech-Enabled Homebuilding

Santa Clara-based Homebound raised $400 million, including $300 million in real estate capital and $100 million for operations, aiming to become 'the Amazon of homes.' The financing supports lot purchases and growth in proptech.Source 6 This megadeal occurred this month amid a slight rebound in real estate tech funding.Source 6

7

Income Marketplace Surpasses €200M Invested Milestone

SeedBlink portfolio company Income marketplace announced exceeding €200 million invested on its platform, supporting over 10,300 investors and fintech lenders across Europe. CEO Lavrenti Tsudakov noted strong investor trust.Source 3 The milestone reflects 1.5 years of momentum as of December 22, 2025.Source 3

8

Hyperhuman Named AthleTech Startup to Watch 2025-26

Hyperhuman, a SeedBlink portfolio company, was recognized by AthleTech News as a Startup to Watch for 2025-26 for its fitness content operating system. The platform enables real-time adaptation and personalization for health brands.Source 3 This highlights December progress in portfolio updates.Source 3

9

.lumen Secures New Investment from EIT Urban Mobility

Deep-tech firm .lumen received investment from EIT Urban Mobility to scale AI for independent navigation by visually impaired people. It follows EU recognition and other backing, emphasizing social impact.Source 3 The update came amid December portfolio highlights on December 22, 2025.Source 3

10

Veridion Launches HackaGrowth Online Hackathon

Veridion, with partners Blindspot, Vola.ro, and Play Vertical, launched HackaGrowth, a 5-day challenge from December 18-23 to grow a newsletter to 500 subscribers. It focuses on distribution and growth skills with prizes and hiring opportunities.Source 3 This underscores practical growth initiatives in December 2025.Source 3

11

Airwallex Raises $300M at $6.2B Valuation in Fintech

Fintech standout Airwallex raised $300 million at a $6.2 billion valuation, reflecting demand for B2B cross-border payments amid a tough year for consumer fintech. It highlights investor interest in infrastructure with strong economics.Source 4 This was among 2025's best startup investments.Source 4