More than a dozen European startups have achieved unicorn status in the first half of 2025, signaling a strong resurgence in venture funding across the continent. Despite a cooling from the peak of the 2021 funding boom, 12 companies have secured rounds that valued them at over $1 billion, highlighting investor confidence in high-growth sectors like AI, biotech, quantum computing, defense tech, and clean energy. Among the standout newcomers is IQM, a Finnish quantum computing firm. In September, it raised over $300 million in a Series B, bringing its total funding to $600 million and making it a unicorn. The company claims to be the world’s top seller of quantum computers, with its 54-qubit systems already deployed in research labs and enterprises globally. It is preparing to launch its first 150-qubit systems. Framer, the no-code website builder, reached a $2 billion valuation after a $100 million Series D led by Meritech and Atomico. Co-founders Koen Bok and Jorn van Dijk, who previously sold a design studio to Facebook, are now doubling down on enterprise tools and AI integration to compete with Figma, Wix, and Squarespace. In July, Swedish AI-powered coding startup Lovable became a unicorn just eight months after launch, raising $200 million in a Series A led by Accel at a $1.8 billion valuation. Although registered in Delaware, its core team and operations are based in Stockholm. British renewable energy company Fuse Energy, founded by former Revolut executives, also crossed the unicorn threshold in July, with a reported valuation above $1 billion. June brought several milestones. Film streaming platform Mubi raised $100 million from Sequoia Capital, hitting a $1 billion valuation. French startup Zama, which specializes in homomorphic encryption for secure data processing, reached unicorn status with a $57 million Series B. German space company Isar Aerospace became a unicorn after securing a €150 million convertible bond from Eldridge Industries, fueling its rocket development plans. In May, Portugal’s Tekever, a dual-use drone company, confirmed a valuation exceeding £1 billion. Backed by major investors including the NATO Innovation Fund and Baillie Gifford, it plans to invest £400 million in a five-year U.K. development initiative. German startup Quantum Systems also reached unicorn status with a €160 million Series C, led by Balderton Capital and joined by Airbus, Hensoldt, and Peter Thiel. The company is advancing autonomous drone systems powered by AI. Parloa, a German conversational AI platform for customer service, raised $120 million in Series C, bringing its valuation to $1 billion. March saw London-based Isomorphic Labs, a spinout from DeepMind, raise $600 million from Thrive Capital, GV, and Alphabet, marking its first external funding and firmly placing it in unicorn territory. Earlier in the year, Dublin’s Tines became a unicorn in February with a $125 million Series C, valued at $1.125 billion. The AI workflow automation platform now handles over a billion automated actions weekly across security, engineering, and product teams. January was especially active. London’s Verdiva Bio, a biotech startup developing oral GLP-1 drugs, raised $410 million in its first funding round, making it an instant unicorn. Neko Health, co-founded by Spotify’s Daniel Ek, raised $260 million in a Series B at a $1.8 billion valuation. The preventative health company, which offers full-body scans for early disease detection, plans to expand into the U.S. and scale its R&D and global footprint. These developments suggest that Europe’s startup ecosystem is not only recovering but thriving in key innovation areas, driven by strong technical talent, strategic investment, and growing global demand for advanced technologies.