The Recursive’s weekly roundup aims to cover key tech developments across Central and Eastern Europe, as well as the growing impact of CEE-born founders on the global stage. Take a look at the latest news in funding, startup milestones, and emerging trends tied to the region’s innovation potential.
CEE news & deals
Drone-software developer Swarmer Inc. (NASDAQ: SWMR) made a powerful entrance to public markets on Tuesday, March 17, becoming the first Ukrainian defense technology company to complete an initial public offering on Nasdaq. The strong performance places Swarmer among the most notable tech IPO debuts in recent months. At the time of its listing, the company reached an estimated valuation of approximately $500 million.
Edra, a New York-based automation platform, emerged from stealth this week announcing total funding of more than €26 million ($30 million). Sequoia Capital led a €20.73 ($23.8) million Series A; an earlier €5.66 million ($6.5 million) seed round was co-led by 8VC and A*, the fund of serial entrepreneur Kevin Hartz. HubSpot Ventures joined the round alongside Sequoia, adding a strategic dimension given that HubSpot itself operates as an Edra customer.
Ukrainian Buntar Aerospace raised $10.4 million (€8.85 million) to scale its UAV and AI-powered Copilot system, enhancing real-time intelligence and decision-making in high-risk environments. The funding will be spent on expanding ISR platforms, advancing Copilot software, and strengthening integration with Axon technologies.
Tower.dev, founded by former Snowflake engineers, raised $6.4 million (€5.44 million) to help data teams turn AI-generated code into reliable production systems through a unified platform for data pipelines and analytics. The round was funded by Speedinvest (seed round lead), DIG Ventures (pre-seed lead), Flyer One Ventures, Roosh Ventures, Celero Ventures, Angel Invest, and angel investors.
Czech restaurant-tech startup Choice has raised $7.1 million (€6.04 million) to expand across Southern Europe and accelerate the development of AI-powered tools. The round was backed by Alea Capital Partners and Smartlink Partners, with participation from Reflex Capital, J&T Ventures, Presto Ventures, and Purple Ventures.
European social media startup eYou has raised €300,000 in pre-seed funding. Built in Bucharest, the platform aims to offer an alternative to X and Facebook, featuring integrated AI fact-checking and transparent algorithms. Its public launch is scheduled for May 2026. eYou was founded by French serial entrepreneurs Jasseem Allybokus (CEO) and Grégoire Vigroux (CCO), who have lived in Romania for more than ten years. The investment comes from Croatian venture capital firm Fil Rouge Capital.
European updates
This week, the European Commission presented its proposal for EU Inc., a unified framework of corporate rules, forming the foundation and initial step toward the EU’s 28th regime. It is a long awaited initiative, aiming to cut through regulatory fragmentation and make Europe more competitive for startups and high-growth companies.
Polish Montis VC has announced the €50 million first close of its first venture capital fund, targeting early-stage startups building technologies at the intersection of energy, industry and artificial intelligence across Europe. The firm plans to invest in 20 to 25 startups at pre-seed and seed stage.
