The Recursive’s new 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, product milestones, and emerging trends tied to the region’s potential:
Polish-founded tech company Callstack, a key player in React Native development, has secured a strategic funding investment from U.S.-based Viking Global Investors, valuing its equity at over €115 million. The deal marks a major milestone for Poland’s tech ecosystem, supporting Callstack’s global expansion and product innovation. Co-founder and CTO Mike Grabowski remains a key shareholder, while Anna Lankauf and the Karwatka brothers have exited.
Lightyear, an investment app based in Estonia and the UK, has raised €20 million in a Series B funding round led by NordicNinja, with support from Superangel, SpecialistVC, and a number of existing investors and business angels. The company was established in 2020 by Estonian founders Martin Sokk and Mihkel Aamer. The platform provides commission-free access to global stocks, ETFs, and money market funds. This latest funding round backs the introduction of Lightyear AI, a new suite of tools designed to deliver real-time market insights and analysis, aimed at empowering retail investors.
Bulgarian Blue Longevity Clinic, founded by serial healthcare entrepreneur Ilian Grigorov, has raised €2 million in a round led by Eleven Ventures with participation from Sofia Angels Ventures and family offices to launch next-generation longevity and preventive health centers in Greece, Turkey, and Bulgaria this September, combining advanced diagnostics, behavioral interventions, and AI-driven personalization tools.
Blue Longevity Clinic aims to democratize longevity medicine to the emerging upper-middle class in the region, which also happens to have one of the largest out-of-pocket health spending ratios in Europe.
“The transition from reactive sick care to proactive health care is no longer a trend, it’s a global shift,” said Valeri Petrov, Partner at Eleven Ventures. “We’ve been closely tracking this category and believe the SEE region has the potential to become a key hub for medical and longevity tourism.”
Estonian biotech company ÄIO has secured €1 million through the Estonian government-backed Applied Research Programme (RUP) to advance its development of sustainable, fermentation-based alternatives to traditional oils used in cosmetics and the chemical industry.
Poland is finalizing a deal to acquire a stake in Finnish satellite company Iceye, known for tracking Russian troop movements before the Ukraine invasion, with the investment coming via the state-owned Development Bank and complementing an over €200 million satellite contract signed in May; the investment amount remains undisclosed but will add to Iceye’s €500 million in previous funding, according to CEO Rafal Modrzewski.
