The Recursive

📅 Two days left: Engaged Investments Conference 2025, an international conference organized by DEPO Ventures and J&T Ventures will take place in Prague’s National House Vinohrady. 👉 The first day of the conference will focus on investors and expert discussions around deep tech, defense technologies, artificial intelligence, and other trends reshaping the global venture capital market and the CEE region. 👉 On the second day, 50 of the most promising startups from the CEE region, ranging from angel stage to Series A, will pitch to investors. The day is also open to all founders looking to build new connections. Engaged Investments is part of Czech Startup Week, which will bring a series of tech-focused events to Prague in the penultimate week of October. Learn more: https://hubs.la/Q03PjXgH0

How do we unlock Europe's $300 BILLION startup potential? 🚀 European startups are generating massive value, but the late-stage scaleup funding gap is real. Pension funds currently allocate a minimal ∼0.12% to VC, compared to ∼3% for top US funds. What’s the single most critical lever to shift the needle across the continent? VOTE IN THE POLL! 👇 And let us know your thoughts in the comments. #VentureCapital #EU #PensionFunds #LPs #Scaleups

What if your first co-founder wasn’t human at all? Budapest-based Winno is testing exactly that. Their online program My Roboteam orchestrated by Timofey Golovin helps solo founders (with or without coding skills) turn ideas into working prototypes using AI as a junior partner. Founders like Bernadett Molnár and Linda Du did just that — turning early struggles into startups that now use AI in everyday work. More about their experience in the article 👉 https://lnkd.in/daNm2xUA

In the spotlight: Resistant AI - Fraud Detection, Polish Innovation Labs sp. z o.o., Delta Green, Backbase, Cisco, Dexory

“Relocation was the entry point. The next phase is proving whether Cyprus can turn HQs into builders.” 🇨🇾 How is Cyprus changing the narrative, from relocation to builder hub? Most recent report by Arseniy Dabbakh and Innotechnics shows the island is now building the foundations of a true startup ecosystem: 🔆 40 startup deals worth $139M in 2024 🔆 Fastest growth in startups across the EU (71% YoY) 🔆 Focus sectors: fintech, gaming, deeptech, maritime tech Alongside the report, we discussed Cyprus transition with Tanya Romanyukha (TechIsland®) and Panis Pieri to highlight where the ecosystem stands — and what’s next. Check the article here ↘️ https://lnkd.in/dC9a9YpS

Fibank’s (First Investment Bank) Chief Digital Officer Vladimir Ikonomov talks about the bank’s digital‑only expansion into Greece 🇬🇷 and the innovative services it’s bringing to customers. 💡 Learn how a traditional bank is positioning itself alongside fintech apps and what the future of banking looks like: https://lnkd.in/gxAFgxAt #TheRecursivePodcast

The global financial landscape is undergoing a radical shift, and the CEE region is leading the charge. 💸 The CEE startup ecosystem is valued at over €243 billion as of Q1 2025, according to Dealroom, with fintech consistently ranking among the top three most-funded sectors. 👉 Here are the 10 most relevant fintech trends set to define the market in 2025, with a spotlight on the innovative CEE companies driving them forward: https://lnkd.in/dd5ntUJD

First Investment Bank (Fibank), Bulgaria’s largest domestically owned bank, is entering a new chapter in its 32-year journey – one that extends beyond its home market. With a track record of financial stability, rising investor confidence, and an innovative digital platform, Fibank is now setting its sights on regional growth, beginning with a direct market entry in Greece. #TheRecursivePodcast explores this new journey with Vladimir Ikonomov in the next episode, dropping tomorrow. 🎥 Subscribe here: https://lnkd.in/dNApFgZp

For investors across Central and Eastern Europe, defense is becoming a long-term strategy. 🛡️ The region’s venture funds are moving early to back technologies that could define Europe’s next decade of security. Discover the CEE-based funds, investing in European defense: https://lnkd.in/dKpM7mqx In the spotlight: Angel One Fund, BSV Ventures, D3 Venture Capital Firm, Double Tap Investments Ltd, Expeditions, Green Flag Ventures, MITS Capital, Nezlamni Fund, Presto Ventures (Presto Tech Horizons), OTB Ventures, SMRK VC

Three Romanian founders moved to the UK with a vision to build smarter warehouses. Today, their company Dexory has raised $165M to bring real-time visibility and AI-driven efficiency to logistics worldwide. 🌍 Andrei Danescu, Oana Andreea Jinga, and Adrian Negoita 👏 👏