French artificial intelligence startup Verso has raised $6 million in a seed funding round led by Angular Ventures, with participation from 100in, Kima Ventures, Olympe Capital, Sharpstone Capital and several business angels. The company is also backed by startup studio Hexa.

Co-founded by Lydia Bellahouel and Camille Epitalon, Verso develops an AI-powered consumer intelligence platform designed to help businesses access and apply customer insights throughout their decision-making processes. Its technology automates consumer research, from study design and participant recruitment to interviews, analysis and knowledge management.

The funding will support Verso’s expansion beyond France, including into the United States, alongside further development of its platform. The company also plans to integrate additional consumer data sources, introduce access for AI agents and expand its engineering and go-to-market teams.

Verso currently serves more than 30 companies, including Ferrero, Orange and Michelin, as businesses increasingly seek faster and more accessible consumer research to support product development, marketing and strategic decisions.

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Verso Secures $6M Seed Funding Led by Angular Ventures

The $6 million investment will support Verso’s next phase of growth as it expands its consumer intelligence technology and enters international markets.

Angular Ventures led the seed round, joined by 100in, Kima Ventures, Olympe Capital, Sharpstone Capital and a group of angel investors. Verso also receives backing from Hexa, a startup studio focused on developing technology companies.

The company intends to use the capital to strengthen its platform’s data integration capabilities, develop interfaces that allow AI agents to access consumer intelligence and recruit additional employees across technical and commercial functions.

International expansion is another priority, with Verso targeting markets outside France, particularly the United States. The startup aims to make its research platform available to more businesses seeking to incorporate consumer insights into everyday operations.

Verso Uses AI to Automate Consumer Research and Analysis

Traditional consumer research often requires businesses to commission studies, recruit participants, conduct interviews and manually analyze findings. These processes can involve significant costs and lengthy timelines, while the resulting insights may remain within dedicated research departments rather than being shared across an organization.

Verso addresses these challenges by managing the research process through a single AI-powered platform. Its technology supports study design, participant recruitment, AI-moderated video interviews and automated analysis, allowing companies to collect and interpret consumer feedback more efficiently.

The platform’s AI interviews adapt in real time based on participants’ responses, enabling businesses to explore consumer opinions and experiences in greater depth. Findings from thousands of hours of conversations are then synthesized and organized into a searchable knowledge base.

Instead of producing isolated research reports, Verso maintains consumer personas that are continuously enriched as new studies are conducted. This allows teams to compare different consumer segments, monitor changes in attitudes and revisit previous findings when new business questions arise.

According to the company, its platform delivers consumer insights approximately ten times faster and at one-quarter of the cost of traditional research agencies, while enabling businesses to engage with around 15 times more consumers. These performance figures are company-reported.

Making Consumer Intelligence Accessible Across Business Teams

Verso was established to address the gap between consumer research and business decision-making. Although large organizations invest heavily in understanding customer behavior, research findings are not always available to the teams responsible for product development, marketing and commercial strategy.

Lydia Bellahouel, Co-Founder of Verso, said her experience at Boston Consulting Group (BCG) highlighted the financial consequences of businesses making decisions without timely access to consumer insights.

She explained that the company’s objective is to create a centralized consumer knowledge layer that allows business teams to access relevant information when making decisions, rather than relying on separate research projects or static reports.

By organizing research findings into a continuously updated knowledge base, Verso aims to make consumer intelligence accessible across different departments. Teams can query existing information, examine consumer preferences and compare audience segments without commissioning an entirely new study for every question.

The platform is already used by more than 30 companies, including Ferrero, Orange and Michelin, demonstrating its adoption among established businesses across different industries.

Expanding Data Integrations and AI Agent Capabilities

While qualitative video interviews currently form the foundation of Verso’s platform, the company is developing additional capabilities to incorporate a broader range of consumer information.

Planned integrations include quantitative research data, social listening and other sources that can provide a more comprehensive understanding of consumer behavior. By combining these datasets, Verso intends to create a unified intelligence platform that supports both detailed qualitative analysis and broader market insights.

The startup is also developing interfaces that will allow AI agents to access its consumer knowledge base and perform initial analysis within existing business workflows. This would enable organizations to incorporate consumer intelligence into AI-assisted processes without requiring employees to access a separate research platform for every task.

These developments form part of Verso’s broader strategy to move beyond individual research studies and establish a continuously updated source of consumer knowledge that can support business decisions across multiple functions.

Verso Targets US Expansion and Further Platform Development

With its new seed funding, Verso plans to accelerate international expansion while strengthening the technology behind its consumer intelligence platform.

The company will focus on developing new data integrations, improving access for AI agents and expanding its workforce across engineering and go-to-market operations. Its planned entry into the US market represents a significant step in extending its services beyond its existing French customer base.

As businesses increasingly adopt AI-powered tools for research and decision-making, Verso aims to position its platform as a central source of consumer intelligence that can be accessed by both employees and automated systems.

By combining AI-moderated research, continuously updated consumer personas and broader data integration capabilities, the startup seeks to help organizations incorporate customer insights more consistently into product, marketing and strategic decisions.

Computis, an Italy-based FinTech startup developing an accounting automation platform for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), has raised €2 million in a Pre-Seed funding round led by Techshop Capital, with participation from Heartfelt, Zanichelli Venture, Vento, Alecla7, Alpha Ventures, Moonstone and P3Ventures.

Founded in 2026, Computis aims to transform accounting from a primarily compliance-focused process into a financial management tool that helps business owners understand their financial position and make operational decisions. The startup combines automated accounting software with an internal operations team and a network of independent partner accountants to provide SMEs with more continuous access to financial information.

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Computis Secures €2M Pre-Seed Funding Led by Techshop Capital

The €2 million investment will support Computis as it develops its technology-driven accounting services for smaller businesses. The startup is addressing the challenges SMEs face when managing financial records, monitoring cash flow and obtaining timely information about their business performance.

Many small businesses continue to rely on manual accounting processes and periodic financial reports, which can delay access to information needed for operational decisions. Computis aims to reduce these delays by automating routine accounting activities and organizing financial data into a more accessible format.

The company is developing a service model that combines software automation with professional accounting support, allowing business owners to access financial information without managing every administrative process themselves. This approach is intended to reduce administrative workloads while improving the availability of financial data for day-to-day business management.

Automating Accounting Processes for SMEs

Computis has developed a platform designed to automate several time-consuming accounting activities. Its technology supports document collection, recovery of invoices from foreign suppliers, bank reconciliation and invoicing, with these functions intended to reduce manual data entry and improve the organization of financial records.

By automating repetitive processes, Computis aims to help SMEs maintain more up-to-date accounting information and reduce the administrative workload associated with financial management. The platform also integrates an internal operations team and independent partner accountants who support businesses with accounting-related activities.

This hybrid approach combines digital tools with professional expertise rather than relying exclusively on software. Computis is positioning the service as a way for smaller businesses to access financial management capabilities that have traditionally been more common among larger organizations with dedicated finance teams.

Providing Real-Time Financial Visibility

A central objective of Computis is to help entrepreneurs understand their financial position throughout the reporting period rather than waiting for monthly, quarterly or annual accounting updates. The company aims to make financial information available closer to the time business decisions are made, reducing the gap between accounting activities and operational management.

This approach is intended to support activities such as monitoring financial performance, assessing operating costs and understanding the financial implications of business decisions. By organizing accounting information more continuously, Computis aims to provide business owners with a clearer view of their financial position.

CEO and Co-Founder Enrico Nicosia said the company’s objective is not to reinvent accounting but to use technology to eliminate unnecessary manual processes and make financial data more useful. He explained that many entrepreneurs only gain a clear understanding of their company’s financial position after receiving accounting reports at the end of a reporting period.

Computis aims to address this information gap by combining automated data processing with ongoing accounting support. The company intends to make financial information more accessible to business owners, allowing them to use accounting data as part of their regular decision-making processes.

Founded by Former Jet HR Team Members

Computis was founded in 2026 by Enrico Nicosia, Chief Executive Officer; Riccardo Donatelli, Chief Revenue Officer; and Leonardo Drici, Chief Product and Technology Officer. The three founders previously worked together at Jet HR, bringing experience in technology, business operations and product development.

Their professional backgrounds also include companies such as Spendesk, Amazon, Deliveroo and Eurostar. The founding team is applying this experience to develop an accounting service tailored to the operational requirements of small and medium-sized businesses.

The company’s strategy focuses on simplifying financial administration while improving access to information that supports business management. Through its combination of software and accounting expertise, Computis aims to help entrepreneurs spend less time managing routine financial processes and gain greater visibility into their business performance.

Zanichelli Venture Expands Beyond EdTech Investments

The funding round also includes participation from Zanichelli Venture, the corporate venture capital arm of Bologna-based publishing group Zanichelli. The investment reflects Zanichelli Venture’s expansion into technology businesses operating beyond its traditional education technology focus.

The investor has recently backed Gyver, a platform serving electricians and technical professionals, and Gamindo, which develops gamification solutions for corporate training. Its participation in Computis extends this investment activity into financial technology and business operations software.

The investment aligns with a broader interest in digital platforms that improve professional workflows, automate administrative processes and support decision-making. Through Computis, Zanichelli Venture is backing a company focused on applying technology to financial administration and management within smaller businesses.

Targeting Digital Transformation in SME Financial Management

Computis enters the market as small and medium-sized businesses increasingly seek digital tools to simplify financial administration and improve operational efficiency. While accounting software has become more widely available, many businesses still face challenges integrating financial records, automating workflows and obtaining timely insights from their accounting data.

Computis aims to address these needs through a combination of automation, financial information management and professional accounting support. Its model is designed to reduce repetitive administrative tasks while helping business owners access financial information throughout the reporting period.

With €2 million in Pre-Seed financing, the startup will continue developing its platform and business model for the SME market. Its longer-term objective is to make accounting information more accessible and useful for entrepreneurs, enabling smaller businesses to incorporate financial data into everyday operational decisions.

LAUNCHub Ventures, a Bulgaria-based venture capital firm, has announced the €65 million first close of its third fund, targeting a final fund size exceeding €75 million to support early-stage technology startups across Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) and Southeastern Europe (SEE).

The Sofia-headquartered firm plans to invest in approximately 25 startups over a five-year investment period, focusing on Pre-Seed and Seed-stage companies across the region and its international founder diaspora.

The fund is backed by institutional investors, including the European Investment Fund (EIF) and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), alongside regional entrepreneurs, family offices and founders of previously backed startups. LAUNCHub Ventures has already begun deploying capital from the new fund, leading investment rounds in three technology startups.

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LAUNCHub Ventures Secures €65M First Close for Fund III

The third fund will provide initial investments ranging from €300,000 to €3 million, with LAUNCHub Ventures able to lead or co-lead financing rounds of up to €7 million. The firm will also reserve capital for follow-on investments, allowing it to support selected portfolio companies as they progress toward Series A funding.

The investment strategy focuses on technology companies emerging from Central and Eastern Europe, Southeastern Europe and the region’s founder diaspora. Target markets include Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia, Greece, Hungary, Slovenia, Serbia and the wider Western Balkans, reflecting the firm’s regional investment mandate.

By investing at the earliest stages of company development, LAUNCHub Ventures aims to provide founders with access to capital and support as they build and scale their businesses. The firm expects to complete its final fundraising close at more than €75 million, which would provide additional capital for initial and follow-on investments.

Fund III Begins Investing in AI and Digital Platforms

LAUNCHub Ventures has already led three investment rounds through its third fund, backing startups operating in artificial intelligence and software. The initial investments include Nanogram, an AI-powered social gaming platform; Lenz, an AI content verification company; and 1Club, a software provider serving the sports and activities sector.

These investments reflect the firm’s interest in technology businesses developing products for digital markets. The fund’s broader mandate allows it to invest across technology sectors while maintaining a geographic focus on Central and Southeastern Europe.

LAUNCHub Ventures will continue identifying early-stage companies with opportunities to expand beyond their domestic markets, using its investment experience and regional network to support founders as they develop products and pursue commercial growth.

LAUNCHub Portfolio Companies Raise Over €700M

Founded in 2012, LAUNCHub Ventures has invested in nearly 100 companies through its first two funds and manages more than €100 million in assets. According to the firm, its portfolio companies have collectively secured more than €700 million in follow-on financing from other investors.

Approximately 75% of its portfolio companies have raised at least one subsequent funding round, while around 40% have progressed to Series A. These figures reflect the financing progress of companies backed by LAUNCHub Ventures as they move beyond their initial investment stages.

The firm’s portfolio includes companies such as Ampeco, FintechOS, Colossyan, Giraffe360, Veridion, Ferryhopper and Lace. These businesses operate across different technology segments, including financial technology, enterprise software, artificial intelligence and digital platforms.

LAUNCHub Ventures has also recorded 18 exits, including the acquisition of cybersecurity startup SPLX by Zscaler in 2025. Other exits include sports streaming platform FITE, acquired by Triller, and workplace management software company OfficeRnD, acquired by Blue Star.

The firm is drawing on this investment history as it raises capital for its third fund and expands its early-stage investment activities. Its previous investments and exits also provide experience in supporting portfolio companies through fundraising, growth and acquisition processes.

EIF and EBRD Back LAUNCHub’s Third Fund

The new fund has attracted commitments from institutional investors, international financial organizations, regional entrepreneurs and family offices. Its investor base includes the European Investment Fund and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, alongside investors with experience in the region’s technology ecosystem.

More than 10 founders of LAUNCHub-backed companies that have completed exits have also committed capital as limited partners. Their participation brings former portfolio founders into the fund’s investor base, providing an additional connection between the firm’s previous investments and its future startup portfolio.

The International Finance Corporation (IFC), which invested in LAUNCHub Ventures’ second fund, is also considering participation in the third fund’s second close. However, its participation has not yet been confirmed, and the firm continues working toward its targeted final fund size.

LAUNCHub Ventures Expands Leadership Team

Alongside the new fund, LAUNCHub Ventures has announced changes to its investment and management team. Raya Yunakova and Petar Tsachev have been promoted to General Partners, joining Todor Breshkov, Stanislav Sirakov, Rumen Iliev and Irina Dimitrova, who have been involved with the firm since its establishment in 2012.

Lyuben Belov and Stephane Gantchev will continue supporting the firm as venture partners and advisors. LAUNCHub Ventures has also added Vedran B. as Associate Partner and Nikoleta Popkostadinova as Head of Marketing, expanding its investment and operational capabilities.

The expanded team will support the firm’s investment activities, portfolio management and fundraising efforts as it deploys its third fund. These appointments come as LAUNCHub Ventures prepares to increase its investment activity across Central and Southeastern European technology markets.

Supporting Early-Stage Startups Across Central and Southeastern Europe

With €65 million secured at first close, LAUNCHub Ventures will continue investing in early-stage technology companies across its target markets. The fund’s strategy combines initial Pre-Seed and Seed investments with follow-on financing opportunities for portfolio companies reaching later stages of development.

Its planned 25 investments over five years will focus on startups seeking to develop scalable technology products and expand internationally. The firm’s existing portfolio, institutional investor relationships and network of former founders will support its investment activities and provide connections across the regional startup ecosystem.

As LAUNCHub Ventures works toward a final close exceeding €75 million, the third fund will provide additional early-stage financing capacity for technology entrepreneurs across Central and Southeastern Europe, while allowing the firm to continue supporting selected portfolio companies through subsequent funding rounds.