The Top Voices

Startups are easy targets for hackers. Let’s fix that. Cybersecurity can feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. In our next Community Talks, Ilia Dubov, Head of Cybersecurity at Quadcode, will share practical, affordable ways to keep your startup secure — even without a big budget or a security team. What we’ll cover: - The biggest cybersecurity risks for startups and how to avoid them - Free and budget-friendly tools that actually work - A simple framework to protect your startup from day one 🗓 Save the date: Wednesday, February 19, 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM GMT · Live on YouTube (link in the comments) · Bring your questions — Ilia will be answering them live. Weak passwords, open cloud configurations, unpatched vulnerabilities — hackers take advantage of small gaps like these. This session will help you spot risks early and build security into your startup’s foundation without overcomplicating processes. Sign up now, link in the comments!

Milan-based cloud optimization startup Akamas, founded by Luca Forni and Stefano Doni, raises $10M to expand into the US and accelerate AI-driven cloud and Kubernetes optimization. The investment was led by United Ventures, one of Italy’s largest VC firms, supporting Akamas’ global growth, product development, and market expansion. Akamas’ application-aware optimization platform helps enterprises balance cost, performance, and reliability across cloud and Kubernetes environments. The funding will enable Akamas to scale its engineering and go-to-market teams, launch new features like Kubernetes Insight, and establish its first US office in Boston. Paolo Gesess Massimiliano Magrini Alessandro Pasin Fabio Pirovano Riccardo Coletta Matteo Moscarelli Mario Mariani Damiano Coletti Fabio Pirovano Paolo Bozzola Mauro Pessina Cristian S. B. Fompowou Stefano Cereda Selene Malosso Luca Cavenaghi Luca Cavazzana Enrico Bruschini Francesca Gatto Giovanni Paolo Gibilisco Matteo Fabiano

Spanish biotech startup VOTUM WORLD.World, founded by Alejandro M. Martí Lópezí and Borja P. Vera Ruiz, raises €432K through Startupxplore as part of its €550K funding round to scale healthcare technology solutions and expand its market presence. This investment will accelerate Votum.World’s research and development, support team expansion, and drive commercial growth while reinforcing its participation in the European BIORCAN project, which focuses on biotech innovations for wellness. By partnering with Startupxplore, Votum.World gains direct access to strategic investors in technology and healthcare, streamlining the funding process and strengthening its position in the biotech sector. The company aims to enhance its cannabinoid-based research and bring innovative biotech solutions to a wider audience. Patricia Huerta Barberá Pablo Muriedas Castillo José Luis de Cachavera Gonzalo Sánchez Pérez Antonio Gabarrón Carrillo Roberto Lifante Fernández Ruben Garcia Villaescusa

What’s the best way to pick a product as a solo founder? Alex Ign, founder of code.market, shares his indiehackers manifesto — a value system for those who choose to create products independently. Check out the insights in our cards and read the full piece on The Top Voices: link in the comments.

Green tech startup Planted, founded by Wilhelm Hammes, Cindy 🌱 Schüller, Heinrich Rauh, and Jan 🌳 Borchert, raises €5M to expand its AI-powered ESG compliance platform. This Seed round is backed by TVF | TechVision Fonds, WENVEST Capital, neoteq ventures, aws Gründungsfonds, and Smart Infrastructure Ventures ('SIVentures'), as well as business angles Nina Kani, Felix Schürholz (CO-Founder & MD SoSafe), Frank Piotraschke (CRO SoSafe), Arno Nonnen and Julius Göllner (ARRtist). Planted’s platform automates sustainability reporting, supports CO₂ reduction by over 50%, and helps companies integrate local environmental projects. The funding will accelerate Planted’s growth and AI-driven automation, allowing businesses to streamline CSRD compliance and focus on impactful sustainability initiatives. Jan Jeske Falk Trietsch Dirk Frohnert, CFA Bjoern Bauermeister, CFA Jonas Quilitz Christophe Aumaître Karin Kreutzer B.J. Park Dr. Tom Orben Dr. Lars Gussen Dr. Ansgar Schleicher Jan Jeske Inken Bruns Louis Leko Philippa Walter Niklas Buschner 🔮 Jan 🌳 Borchert Lukas Punzet Dominik Kukovec

Investors are always looking for the next big thing. Yuriy Romanyukha, Managing Partner at ICLUB Global, shares his take on where the smartest money will go in 2025. In his view, robotics, AI-driven healthcare, and AI applications in software are the key areas to watch. Why these sectors? Read on The Top Voices — link in comments.

Danish legaltech startup Pandektes, founded by Casper B. Laursen and Søren B., raises €2.9M to expand its AI-powered legal research platform across Europe. The seed round was backed by People Ventures and Interface Capital, supporting Pandektes' mission to simplify legal research with AI-driven cross-jurisdictional case law analysis. The platform has already been widely adopted by leading law firms, in-house legal teams, and public authorities in Denmark. The funding will be used to enhance AI precision, expand the platform’s reach across multiple EU jurisdictions, and further develop its legal knowledge-sharing capabilities. Magnus Stagsted Jerrit Jungmann Claus Zibrandtsen David Höhl Christian Reber Niklas Jansen Rune Mai Phillip Chambers Nicolaj Højer Nielsen Ron Cohen Michael Freundt Karlsen Gustav Frederik Thybo Yannick Brigger Rune Mai Ryan Fagan Silvia Brahe M. Rasmus Raagaard Larsen

Why do some startups falter at their peak? Esra Talu, Founder and CEO of GoGlobal, explores the harsh realities startups face when trying to scale internationally, even when they’re armed with funding and rapid growth. In this insightful piece, Esra delves into the stories of Getir and Kitopi — two startups that soared to success only to hit major roadblocks. They faced a combination of rapid expansion, market shifts, and the complexities of aligning with investors, leading to their struggles. Read the article on The Top Voices: link in comments.

US-based AI sales platform Warmly, founded by Alan Zhao (Click-Through King) 👑, maximus greenwald, and Carina Boo, raises $6M in Series A+ to accelerate growth. This funding round was led by RTP Global, with participation from existing investors Felicis and NFX. Warmly’s platform uses AI to help SMB B2B companies identify and engage their warmest leads, boosting sales pipelines and revenue. The investment will help Warmly expand its sales and marketing teams, particularly in Europe, and enhance its platform with new data quality features and more AI integration. With over $3M ARR and 300 customers, Warmly is set to scale its operations and bring its innovative lead generation solution to more companies globally. Orson Stadler Gareth Jefferies Galina Chifina Aydin Senkut James Currier Matthew Volm Blake Wisz Melissa Gaglione💫 📈 David Fastuca Faizan Saeed Binil Thomas Dror Ventura Joe Hendren Nicole Baylis Desanka Murdzeva Oliver Jankoski Maclaine Scher Samantha Perkins Keegan Otter (Software Cowboy 🤠)

In case you missed it – Y Combinator is accepting applications for the Spring 2025 batch, and they’ve updated their Requests for Startups (RFS)! The deadline to apply is February 11, 2025. What's new this year? YC is not just looking for better AI models – they’re now seeking innovative applications of these models across industries. Here’s what YC is excited about this cycle: ▪️ A Secure AI App Store ▪️ Datacenters ▪️ Compliance and Audit Automation ▪️ DocuSign 2.0 ▪️ Browser & Computer Automation ▪️ AI Personal Staff for Everyone ▪️ Devtools for AI Agents ▪️ The Future of Software Engineering ▪️ AI Commercial Open Source Software (AICOSS) ▪️ AI Coding Agents for Hardware-Optimized Code ▪️ B2A: Software Where the Customers Will All Be Agents ▪️ Vertical AI Agents ▪️ Startup Founders with Systems Programming Expertise ▪️ Inference AI Infrastructure in the World of Test-Time Compute These areas are exciting, but YC funds startups from all sectors, so don’t hesitate to apply even if your startup doesn’t fit these categories perfectly. Read more on The Top Voices (link in the comments).