The year has barely started, yet Europe has already welcomed a new wave of unicorns. From cybersecurity and cloud infrastructure to defence, ESG software and AI-driven education, several startups crossed the $1B valuation mark within weeks, signalling where investor conviction is concentrating in 2026.
It’s worth keeping two things in mind. Some of these companies are incorporated outside Europe but remain deeply rooted in European ecosystems through their founders, teams, or operations. And while unicorn status doesn’t guarantee long-term success, reaching these valuations in a cautious funding environment remains a strong indicator of market belief.
Here are the European tech companies that entered billion-dollar valuation territory at the start of 2026.
Aikido Security
Belgian cybersecurity startup Aikido Security reached a $1B valuation after closing a $60M Series B round led by DST Global, with participation from PSG Equity, Singular, Notion Capital, and others.
The company is building a unified security platform that spans the entire software lifecycle. Aikido reports more than 100,000 teams using its product worldwide, alongside five-times revenue growth and nearly three-times customer growth over the past year.
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Cast AI
Cast AI crossed the $1B valuation threshold following a strategic investment from Pacific Alliance Ventures, the corporate venture arm of South Korea’s Shinsegae Group. Although headquartered in the US, the company has strong Lithuanian roots and a major presence in Vilnius.
Earlier, Cast AI raised a $108M Series C that already placed it close to unicorn status. Its latest product launch, OMNI Compute for AI, focuses on running AI workloads more efficiently by reducing GPU requirements and easing regional capacity constraints.
Harmattan AI
Founded in 2024, French defence tech startup Harmattan AI reached a $1.4B valuation after securing a $200M Series B led by Dassault Aviation.
The company is developing autonomous defence aircraft technologies and has already signed agreements with the French and British ministries of defence, as well as Ukrainian drone manufacturer Skyeton, highlighting growing demand for advanced autonomous systems in Europe.
Osapiens
Germany-based ESG software company Osapiens joined the unicorn club after raising a $100M Series C led by Decarbonization Partners, the BlackRock–Temasek joint venture. The round valued the company at more than $1.1B.
Founded in Mannheim in 2018, Osapiens now serves over 2,400 customers globally, providing tools for sustainability reporting, regulatory compliance, and supply-chain risk management.
Preply
Language learning platform Preply achieved a $1.2B valuation following a $150M Series D round. While incorporated in the US, the company was founded by Ukrainian entrepreneurs and maintains a significant team presence in Ukraine.
The funding will support further investment in AI-powered learning and team expansion across Preply’s offices in Barcelona, London, New York, and Kyiv.
A strong start for European tech in 2026
These new billion-dollar tech companies reflect a broad shift in European tech momentum, spanning security, infrastructure, defence, sustainability, and education. Their emergence early in the year suggests that, despite a selective funding climate, investors are still willing to back companies they believe can define global categories from Europe.
