Exclusive: Revel8 Raises €7M to Turn Employees into AI-Powered Human Firewalls Against Cyberattacks
In a major push to strengthen the human layer of cybersecurity, Dutch startup Revel8 has secured €7 million in seed funding to scale its AI-driven platform that transforms employees into proactive defenders against cyber threats.
The funding round was led by prominent European venture firm Peak Capital, with participation from Curiosity VC and several angel investors with deep roots in cybersecurity and enterprise software. This capital injection will support Revel8’s rapid expansion across Europe and North America, as well as further development of its adaptive learning platform.
Founded in 2023, Revel8 tackles one of cybersecurity’s most persistent vulnerabilities: human error. Rather than relying solely on traditional training modules, Revel8 leverages AI to deliver real-time, personalized coaching to employees—effectively turning them into “human firewalls.” The platform uses behavioral analytics and simulated threat environments to continuously assess and improve user resilience against phishing, social engineering, and insider threats.
“Companies invest heavily in firewalls and endpoint security, but forget the biggest risk is often sitting at a desk,” said co-founder and CEO Thomas van den Berg. “We’re closing the gap by empowering employees with smart tools that actually evolve with the threat landscape.”
With the cybersecurity skills gap widening and social engineering attacks growing more sophisticated, investors see strong potential in Revel8’s approach. The company claims that pilot customers have reported up to a 60% drop in successful phishing attempts within months of onboarding.
Revel8 plans to double its headcount by mid-2026 and integrate with major enterprise platforms such as Microsoft 365 and Slack. As cyber threats become more personalized, so too must the defenses—and Revel8 is betting that the next frontier of cybersecurity starts not at the server, but with the individual.
Cohere Raises $100M, Reaches $7B Valuation, and Expands AMD Partnership
Toronto-based enterprise AI company Cohere has raised an additional $100 million in funding, bringing its total valuation to $7 billion. The new capital comes just weeks after its previous $500 million round, signaling continued investor confidence in Cohere’s enterprise-first approach to artificial intelligence.
This latest funding round, described as an extension of the company’s August raise, includes participation from new and existing investors. The fresh funds will support Cohere’s ongoing global expansion, development of new AI capabilities, and scaling of its enterprise offerings.
Alongside the funding, Cohere has announced a deeper strategic partnership with AMD. Cohere’s Command family of AI models—spanning text, translation, and vision capabilities—will now be optimized to run on AMD’s Instinct GPUs. AMD, already an investor in Cohere, will also begin using the company’s models internally, effectively becoming a customer as well.
Despite the strengthened AMD alliance, Cohere reaffirmed its commitment to remaining platform-agnostic, continuing to support GPU providers such as Nvidia. This flexibility is a key part of Cohere’s strategy to serve enterprise and government clients who demand more control over data, infrastructure, and deployment.
Since its founding in 2019, Cohere has focused on building customizable, secure AI solutions tailored to regulated industries and large-scale enterprises. The company emphasizes AI sovereignty and data privacy—critical concerns for many of its clients.
With estimated annualized revenue nearing $100 million and a growing roster of global customers, Cohere is positioning itself as a leader in enterprise AI. The enhanced AMD partnership not only strengthens its hardware integration capabilities but also differentiates it from competitors tied to a single infrastructure ecosystem. As demand for secure, flexible AI grows, Cohere appears well-placed to capture a significant share of the market.
Why Founders and Investors Can’t Miss Techarena 2026 in Stockholm — 60% Off Launch Tickets Now Available
Techarena 2026, taking place in Stockholm on February 11–12, is quickly emerging as one of Europe’s most important tech events for founders and investors. With a powerful theme of “New Era, Next Mindset,” this year’s edition promises more than just panels and networking—it offers direct access to the future of innovation, investment, and entrepreneurship.
For startup founders, Techarena presents an unmatched opportunity to connect with hundreds of active investors, pitch in front of global audiences, and learn from leaders shaping the tech landscape. The event features startup competitions, hands-on workshops, and curated matchmaking designed to open doors and accelerate growth.
For investors, it’s a rich hunting ground for deal flow. Startups from across Europe and beyond will showcase cutting-edge ideas in AI, cleantech, fintech, medtech, and more. A dedicated Investor Day, VIP networking lounges, and direct access to company data make it easy to identify and engage with high-potential ventures.
Stockholm’s thriving startup ecosystem adds even more value. As a hotspot for unicorns and innovation, the city provides a fitting backdrop for global collaboration and new market entry. International delegations, corporates, and policymakers will also be present, creating a unique mix of perspectives and opportunities.
Right now, tickets are available at 60% off as part of the official launch offer—making this the perfect time to secure your spot. Whether you’re raising, investing, or scaling, Techarena 2026 is the place to be.
Founders, investors, and innovation leaders: don’t miss your chance to be part of one of the most impactful tech gatherings of the year.
Expert Talk: How Crisis Forges Europe’s First Truly Unified Venture Ecosystem
Amid economic headwinds and geopolitical uncertainty, Europe’s fragmented venture capital landscape is undergoing a quiet transformation — one that experts believe could lead to the continent’s first truly unified venture ecosystem.
At a recent panel of leading investors, founders, and policy experts, the consensus was clear: crisis is accelerating collaboration across borders, driving new alignment in regulation, capital flow, and strategic tech priorities.
“In times of uncertainty, old inefficiencies become impossible to ignore,” said one venture capital partner. “We’re finally seeing national silos break down in favor of a more integrated European approach to innovation.”
Key drivers include increased cross-border co-investments, EU-level funding initiatives, and a new generation of startups that are “born European,” targeting multiple markets from day one. Harmonization efforts around taxation, stock options, and digital infrastructure are also gaining traction, lowering the operational friction for scaling across countries.
The shift is not just market-driven. European policymakers, spurred by concerns over tech sovereignty and global competitiveness, are pushing coordinated investment into critical sectors such as AI, green tech, and cybersecurity.
Yet, challenges remain. Regulatory divergence, cultural fragmentation, and limited access to late-stage capital still hinder full unification. Despite this, momentum is building.
“This is not just a temporary adaptation,” said one panelist. “It’s the start of a structural change. Europe is learning to act like a single market — not just in trade, but in tech innovation and venture growth.”
With the right policy moves and continued investor collaboration, experts believe Europe could emerge from this crisis with a more resilient, scalable, and competitive venture ecosystem — not just across 27 member states, but as one strategic bloc ready to shape the future of global tech.
Startup in Spotlight: Light Scoops $30M to Disrupt Legacy Finance Systems with AI-Native Platform
Copenhagen-based startup Light has raised $30 million in a Series A round to accelerate its mission of replacing outdated finance systems with a fully AI-native platform. The funding round was led by top-tier venture firms and comes after a year of rapid growth, with the company reporting a 30× increase in usage and customer adoption.
Light is reimagining how finance teams operate by building a platform designed from the ground up around artificial intelligence. Unlike traditional enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems, which are often slow, manual, and fragmented, Light’s product automates core finance functions like accounting, payments, expense management, and real-time reporting. The platform claims to process hundreds of millions of records in under a second, offering instant balance sheets and up to 84% time savings on core finance tasks.
What sets Light apart is its appeal to fast-growing, global companies. Many of these businesses struggle with legacy finance systems that can’t scale efficiently across entities, currencies, or compliance environments. Light offers a unified, agile solution that adapts to complex needs without requiring heavy customizations or manual workarounds.
With the new funding, Light plans to triple its engineering team, expand globally with a new office in New York, and accelerate development of new tools to further automate financial operations. The company also aims to support enterprise customers with more advanced analytics and cross-border finance features.
While the challenge of displacing established ERP providers remains significant, Light’s momentum signals strong demand for modern, AI-powered financial infrastructure. If it succeeds, Light could become the default platform for finance teams navigating the complexities of today’s global, high-speed business environment.
