Meet the new European unicorns of 2026

January felt unusually long — and productive. In just the first month of the year, five European-linked tech startups crossed the coveted $1 billion valuation mark, officially earning unicorn status. From Belgium to Ukraine, fresh funding rounds are offering an early glimpse into where investor confidence is gathering in 2026.

Before diving into the list, two important caveats are worth noting.

First, this roundup includes startups that may be incorporated outside Europe but have deep operational, cultural, or talent roots on the continent. Until an actual pan-European corporate structure exists—often referred to as “EU Inc.” —this situation is likely to persist. One example is Lovable, which is incorporated in Delaware but remains tightly connected to Stockholm’s startup ecosystem.

Second, valuation should not be confused with commercial success. It is still too early to know whether other companies will achieve the scale and traction seen by Lovable, which recently surpassed $300 million in annual recurring revenue. That said, in today’s cautious funding environment, venture capitalists backing startups at unicorn valuations is a strong signal of where momentum and belief currently lie.

With that context in mind, here are the new European unicorns of 2026 so far.

It's official - @Lovable has surpassed $300m ARR just two months after surpassing $200m ARR.

Great to see @antonosika chat about it in person with @johncoogan and @jordihays on @tbpn.

He also gave some amazing examples of people building real businesses and generating millions… pic.twitter.com/rkpOon6jFd — Seb Johnson (@SebJohnsonUK) January 30, 2026

Aikido

Belgium-based cybersecurity startup Aikido Security reached unicorn status following a $60 million Series B funding round that valued the company at $1 billion. The round was led by DST Global, with participation from PSG Equity, Singular, Notion Capital, and other investors.

According to the company, the new capital will be used to develop further its platform, which aims to unify security across the entire software development lifecycle. Aikido says its tools are already used by more than 100,000 teams worldwide. Over the past year, the company reported fivefold revenue growth and nearly triple the number of customers.

In a blog post marking the milestone, the team highlighted the broader significance of its achievement. “In an industry dominated by Palo Alto and Tel Aviv heavyweights, Aikido shows that Europe can build a world-class software security company and win globally,” the company wrote.

Cast AI

Cloud optimisation company Cast AI is headquartered in Florida, but its origins trace back to Lithuania, where it maintains a major office in Vilnius. That connection has led many to recognise Cast AI as Lithuania’s fifth unicorn.

The company’s valuation now exceeds $1 billion following a strategic investment from Pacific Alliance Ventures, the U.S.-based corporate venture arm of South Korea’s Shinsegae Group. Earlier, in April 2025, Cast AI raised a $108 million Series C round, bringing it close to unicorn status.

Alongside its latest funding, Cast AI launched OMNI Compute for AI, a product designed to help customers deploy more AI workloads using fewer GPUs while easing regional capacity constraints.

Harmattan AI

French defence technology startup Harmattan AI was founded in 2024, yet it has already reached a $1.4 billion valuation. The company secured this status through a $200 million Series B round led by Dassault Aviation, the manufacturer of Rafale fighter jets. The investment is also tied to a broader strategic partnership.

Before bringing Dassault on board, Harmattan AI had signed agreements with the French and British ministries of defence, as well as with Ukrainian drone manufacturer Skyeton. The deals reflect growing interest in autonomous defence aircraft amid shifting geopolitical priorities.

Osapiens

German ESG software company Osapiens became a unicorn after raising a $100 million Series C round led by Decarbonization Partners, a joint venture between BlackRock and Temasek. The funding valued the company at more than $1.1 billion.

Founded in Mannheim in 2018, Osapiens now serves over 2,400 customers globally. Its clients include large multinational corporations that rely on its software for sustainability reporting, regulatory compliance, and supply chain risk management.

Preply

Language learning marketplace Preply has joined the unicorn ranks with a $1.2 billion valuation, a milestone that also reflects Ukraine’s continued presence in the global tech ecosystem. While the company was founded in the United States, its founders are Ukrainian, and Preply maintains a team of around 150 employees in Ukraine.

The company raised a $150 million Series D round, which CEO Kirill Bigai said will be used to expand hiring, particularly in AI talent. Preply now operates offices in Barcelona, London, New York, and Kyiv, and continues to invest in AI-enhanced learning tools as part of its long-term strategy.

Together, these five companies offer an early snapshot of Europe’s evolving startup landscape in 2026 — and a reminder that, despite a more selective funding climate, billion-dollar bets are still being placed on innovation across the continent.