Meet the new European unicorns of 2026

January has already proven to be a pivotal month for the European startup landscape, introducing five new unicorns. These vibrant tech companies, spanning from Belgium to Ukraine, have successfully secured funding that values them at over $1 billion. However, there are a couple of important points to consider before we delve deeper. First, the unicorn count includes startups that may be registered outside Europe yet have significant ties or teams based in the region. For instance, Lovable, while incorporated in Delaware, is closely tied to the Stockholm startup ecosystem. Until a unified corporate structure for the EU is established, this practice will likely continue. Second, it's essential to remember that a company's valuation does not guarantee its commercial success, and it remains uncertain whether these new unicorns will achieve the same level of success as Lovable, which recently hit $300 million in annual recurring revenue. Nevertheless, the willingness of venture capitalists to invest at these valuations signals a positive trend in investor appetite. Now, let’s explore the noteworthy players in this new wave. Aikido Security, a cybersecurity firm based in Belgium, achieved unicorn status after raising $60 million in a Series B funding round, bringing its valuation to $1 billion. This round was led by DST Global, with contributions from PSG Equity, Singular, Notion Capital, among others. The funding will bolster Aikido's platform, which aims to streamline security across the software lifecycle and is already utilized by over 100,000 teams worldwide. The past year has seen the company experience impressive growth, with revenue increasing fivefold and customer numbers nearly tripling. Next is Cast AI, a cloud optimization company with roots in Lithuania, now recognized as its fifth unicorn thanks to a substantial investment from Pacific Alliance Ventures. Its valuation surpasses $1 billion, following a $108 million Series C round that had previously placed it near unicorn status. The latest funding will support the launch of OMNI Compute for AI, designed to optimize AI workloads on fewer GPUs and alleviate regional capacity challenges. Harmattan AI, a French defense technology startup founded just in 2024, has already achieved a valuation of $1.4 billion after raising $200 million in Series B funding, led by Dassault Aviation. This partnership is part of broader agreements with various defense ministries and Ukrainian drone manufacturers, reflecting a growing interest in autonomous defense technology. German firm Osapiens, specializing in ESG software, raised $100 million in a Series C round led by Decarbonization Partners, valuing the company at over $1.1 billion. Established in 2018, Osapiens serves more than 2,400 clients globally, helping corporations with sustainability reporting and supply chain risk management. Lastly, Preply, a language learning platform founded in the U.S. but with Ukrainian roots, has reached a valuation of $1.2 billion, highlighting the resilience of its founders amid ongoing challenges in Ukraine. The company plans to use the $150 million raised in its Series D round to expand its AI capabilities across its offices in Barcelona, London, New York, and Kyiv.