French artificial intelligence startup Mistral AI is reportedly nearing a major funding milestone, with Bloomberg reporting that it is finalizing a €2 billion investment round that would value the company at $14 billion post-money. If confirmed, this would make Mistral one of Europe’s most valuable tech startups and solidify its status as a leading rival to OpenAI. Founded just two years ago by former researchers from DeepMind and Meta, Mistral has gained attention for its focus on open-source language models and Le Chat, its AI-powered chatbot designed specifically for European users and data privacy standards. The company has positioned itself as a champion of transparency and regional AI sovereignty in Europe. While Mistral has not officially confirmed the report, the funding round would mark its first significant capital injection since June 2024, when it was valued at €5.8 billion. The company has previously raised over €1 billion from top-tier investors, including Andreessen Horowitz and General Catalyst, underscoring strong global confidence in its vision. The investment comes amid a surge in momentum for European AI startups. According to Dealroom, European AI companies saw 55% more funding in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the same period the previous year. In the first half of 2025 alone, 12 European startups achieved unicorn status—valued at over $1 billion—highlighting a growing ecosystem of innovation and investor interest. Another standout in this wave is Sweden-based Lovable, an AI-powered coding platform that reached a $1.8 billion valuation just eight months after its launch in July. These developments signal a shift in the global AI landscape, with Europe emerging as a serious contender in the race for next-generation artificial intelligence.