Meet the brand new European unicorns of 2026

January was such an extended month that it has already introduced us 5 recent European unicorns: from Belgium to Ukraine, a number of tech startups raised funding at valuations above the $1 billion threshold.

However earlier than we take a more in-depth have a look at who joined the membership, two caveats.

First: This rely consists of startups which may be integrated elsewhere however have their roots or a big a part of their staff in Europe. Till a pan-European company construction exists (typically referred to as “EU Inc”), this break up will stay widespread — and we’ve determined to miss it. Take Lovable, which is integrated in Delaware however can’t be dissociated from Stockholm’s startup scene.

Second: valuation doesn’t equal business success, and it’s too early to inform whether or not all of those firms will obtain the type of traction that Lovable has, with the corporate not too long ago crossing $300 million in annual recurring income. However within the present local weather, the truth that VCs had been prepared to spend money on them at unicorn valuations is a powerful sign of the place the urge for food is. 

With these caveats out of the way in which, let’s dive in.

Aikido 

Belgium-based cybersecurity startup Aikido Safety reached unicorn standing with its $60 million Sequence B funding spherical. Valuing the corporate at $1 billion, the spherical was led by DST International, with participation from PSG Fairness, Singular, Notion Capital, and others.

Based on a press launch, the funding will assist Aikido improve its platform, which was constructed to unify safety throughout the complete software program lifecycle and is already utilized by greater than 100,000 groups globally. The corporate additionally reported “five-times income development and almost three-times buyer development” over the past yr.

In a weblog put up, the startup celebrated this milestone and its significance. Based on its staff, “in an trade dominated by Palo Alto and Tel Aviv heavyweights, Aikido reveals that Europe can construct a world-class software program safety firm and win globally.”

Forged AI 

Cloud optimization firm Forged AI is headquartered in Florida, however has Lithuanian roots and a significant workplace in Vilnius — which explains why many now take into account it to have turn into Lithuania’s fifth unicorn.

Forged AI’s valuation now exceeds $1 billion following a strategic funding from Pacific Alliance Ventures (PAV), the U.S.-based company enterprise arm of Korean conglomerate Shinsegae Group. In April 2025, Forged AI raised a $108 million Sequence C that had reportedly already introduced the corporate near unicorn territory.

Alongside its newest funding spherical, the corporate additionally launched OMNI Compute for AI, which goals to assist customers deploy extra AI workloads on fewer GPUs and take away regional capability constraints.

Harmattan AI 

French protection tech firm Harmattan AI was solely based in 2024, however is already price $1.4 billion, based on its newest funding spherical. The $200 million Sequence B was led by Dassault Aviation, maker of the Rafale fighter jets, and likewise ties right into a broader partnership.

Earlier than securing this key associate, Harmattan AI had already signed agreements with the French and British ministries of protection and with Ukrainian drone maker Skyeton, amid rising urge for food for autonomous protection plane.

Osapiens 

German ESG software program agency Osapiens raised a $100 million Sequence C led by Decarbonization Companions, a three way partnership between BlackRock and Temasek, which valued the corporate at over $1.1 billion.

Based in Mannheim in 2018, Osapiens now has greater than 2,400 clients worldwide, together with massive multinational firms that depend on its platforms and instruments for sustainability reporting and knowledge compliance, but additionally to mitigate provide chain dangers.

Preply

The 14-year-old language studying market Preply is now a unicorn valued at $1.2 billion — a milestone that additionally embodies Ukrainian resilience. The edtech firm was based in the USA, however its founders are Ukrainian and supporters of their house nation, the place Preply has a staff of 150 staff.

Based on its CEO, Kirill Bigai, who believes in AI-enhanced studying, proceeds from the $150 million Sequence D spherical will assist the startup rent extra AI expertise throughout its 4 workplaces — now positioned in Barcelona, London, New York, and Kyiv.