In a standout start to what feels like an extended 2026, Europe has welcomed five new unicorns—startups that have achieved valuations exceeding $1 billion. These companies span diverse sectors and geographies, from cybersecurity and cloud optimization to defense tech and sustainability software, reflecting the continent’s growing strength in high-growth innovation. First is Aikido, a Belgium-based cybersecurity firm that reached unicorn status with a $60 million Series B led by DST Global, joined by PSG Equity, Singular, and Notion Capital. Valued at $1 billion, Aikido’s platform is designed to unify security across the entire software development lifecycle and is already used by over 100,000 teams worldwide. The company reported five times revenue growth and nearly tripled its customer base in the past year. Its success is seen as proof that Europe can build world-class software security companies capable of competing with giants based in Palo Alto and Tel Aviv. Cast AI, a cloud optimization platform headquartered in Florida but deeply rooted in Lithuania, has also joined the unicorn club. The company’s $108 million Series C in April 2025 had already brought it close to unicorn status, and a follow-up investment from Pacific Alliance Ventures—the U.S. corporate venture arm of South Korea’s Shinsegae Group—pushed its valuation over $1 billion. Cast AI now counts Vilnius as a key hub, making it Lithuania’s fifth unicorn. The company also launched OMNI Compute for AI, a new tool aimed at optimizing AI workloads across fewer GPUs and overcoming regional infrastructure limitations. Harmattan AI, a French defense technology startup founded in 2024, has become the most valuable newcomer with a $1.4 billion valuation. Its $200 million Series B was led by Dassault Aviation, the maker of the Rafale fighter jet, and marks a major strategic partnership. The company has already secured contracts with the French and British defense ministries and Ukrainian drone manufacturer Skyeton, positioning itself at the forefront of autonomous defense systems amid rising global demand. Osapiens, a German firm specializing in ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) software, raised $100 million in a Series C led by Decarbonization Partners—a joint venture between BlackRock and Temasek—valuing the company at over $1.1 billion. Founded in Mannheim in 2018, Osapiens now serves more than 2,400 global clients, including major multinationals using its tools for sustainability reporting, compliance, and supply chain risk mitigation. Finally, Preply, a 14-year-old language learning marketplace, has achieved unicorn status at $1.2 billion. Though founded in the U.S., Preply’s roots are Ukrainian, and it maintains a team of 150 employees in Kyiv. Its CEO, Kirill Bigai, emphasizes AI-driven learning, and the $150 million Series D will support hiring more AI talent across its offices in Barcelona, London, New York, and Kyiv. Preply’s journey stands as a symbol of Ukrainian resilience and the global reach of European-founded tech. While valuations don’t guarantee long-term success, these milestones signal strong investor confidence in Europe’s tech ecosystem. With deep talent, strategic partnerships, and growing international demand, these new unicorns are shaping the future of innovation across the continent.