## EU Aims to Simplify Startup Ecosystem

The European Union is taking significant steps to **attract tech startups** by **simplifying labor and tax laws** and establishing a **special fund** to support their growth. This initiative is part of the EU's effort to **compete with the U.S.** in terms of **financing and innovation**.

![People at a 6G technology exhibit.](https://images.wsj.net/im-92645171?width=700&height=467)
*The Mobile World Congress 2025 in Barcelona. The EU hopes to lower the administrative burden for startups. Photo: bruna casas/Reuters*

### Key Challenges Addressed

The European Commission has identified **regulatory fragmentation** across the EU’s 27 countries and **inadequate financing** as major hurdles for startup growth. To tackle these issues, the EU plans to:
- **Reduce administrative burdens** to make it easier for startups to launch.
- **Launch a new fund** aimed at supporting startups in setting up operations within the EU.

This strategic move is expected to **enhance the EU's appeal** as a hub for tech innovation and entrepreneurship.

Officials want to simplify labor and tax laws so startups can launch rapidly in Europe

EU's Bold Move to Attract Tech Startups: Cutting Red Tape and Boosting Funds

**Octave**, a San Francisco-based marketing tech startup, has successfully raised **$5.5 million** in a seed funding round to expand its **AI-powered go-to-market platform**. This platform is designed to help companies build ideal customer profiles and strategize their marketing campaigns more effectively.

### The Vision Behind Octave
Founded by **Zach Vidibor** and **Julian Tempelsman**, Octave was born out of frustration with existing inbound marketing and sales tools like **HubSpot** and **Salesforce**. Vidibor, with 15 years of experience in sales teams at LinkedIn, DocuSign, and Dropbox, emphasizes the platform's goal to be a **"battery-included experience"**, eliminating the energy-draining aspects of traditional tools.

### Leveraging AI for Marketing
Octave harnesses the power of AI technologies such as **GPT, Claude, Gemini, and DeepSeek** to drive its platform. Vidibor describes Octave as building a car around these AI engines, designed to drive on a very specific track tailored for marketing and sales efficiency.

### Funding and Growth Plans
The seed round was led by **Bonfire Ventures**, with participation from **Unusual Ventures, Bee Partners, inVest Ventures**, and several angel investors. This follows a **$2.9 million pre-seed round** in 2022 led by Craft Ventures and Tidepool Labs. With this new funding, Octave plans to ramp up hiring, focusing on **engineers, product designers, and a head of growth** to enhance its platform.

### Subscription Model
Launched publicly in **February 2024**, Octave operates on a **subscription-based freemium model**. It offers a forever-free tier, with paid plans starting at **$150 a month**, scaling based on usage.

### The Future of Hiring at Octave
Vidibor highlights the role of **AI and coding tools** in shaping the company's hiring strategy, aiming for team members with domain expertise who can leverage these tools to innovate within the problem space Octave addresses.

Marketing tech startup Octave has raised $5.5 million to expand the growth of its AI-powered go-to-market platform.

How Octave's AI-Powered Marketing Platform Secured a $5.5M Seed Round

## The Boldest and Most Visionary Startups of VivaTech 2025

The **Innovation of the Year Award** at VivaTech 2025 is set to spotlight the most groundbreaking startups reshaping industries. With criteria focusing on **Innovation & Creativity, Market Disruption, and Scalability**, 30 startups have been shortlisted from hundreds of applicants. These pioneers are not just solving problems—they're building the future.

### The Ultimate Prize

The top five finalists will pitch live on June 11, with the winner announced at the **VivaTech Global Awards Ceremony** on June 12. The grand prize includes a pitch slot at the ceremony, a **free Startup Corner at VivaTech 2026**, and a spot in the **TechCrunch Startup Battlefield 200**.

### Breakthrough Innovations

This year's shortlist is nothing short of revolutionary, featuring:
- **Self-driving guide dogs** integrated into glasses
- **Photonic chips** poised to redefine computing
- **Mining waste conversion** into carbon sinks
- **Microrobot swarms** for space exploration
- **AI that reads minds** to control devices
- **Bioelectronic implants** combating brain cancer

These startups are pushing the envelope in **sustainability, human-machine interfaces, advanced diagnostics, and accessible healthcare**.

### The Top 30 Startups

Here’s the complete list of the **VivaTech 2025 Innovation of the Year Award** top 30 startups:

1. **Chipiron**: France, health
2. **Virtuosis AI**: Switzerland, information technologies
3. **Enerdrape SA**: Switzerland, energy
4. **snap DISCOVERY**: Germany, deep tech, BCI
5. **NunoX Technologies**: Taiwan, software development/cloud services
6. **Phigi**: France, industry
7. **Noxon**: Germany, health
8. **.lumen**: Romania, mobility/transportation
9. **HUA TEC International**: Taiwan, health
10. **Video Analytics for Safety**: Singapore, information technologies
11. **Geolinks Services**: France, energy
12. **Moonlite Labs**: Canada, media/entertainment/culture
13. **Stellaria**: France, energy
14. **Mendo**: France, software development/cloud services
15. **NeuralTeks**: France, health
16. **Vita325**: Ukraine, health
17. **Blue Skies Minerals GmbH**: Canada, industry
18. **Anivance AI**: Taiwan, health
19. **La Touche Musicale**: France, media/entertainment/culture
20. **InSimili**: Italy, health
21. **Nellow**: France, information technologies
22. **Oncoelectronics**: France, health
23. **Zeeh Africa**: Nigeria, banking/finance/insurance/legal
24. **LumiSync**: France, telecom/connectivity
25. **Onkos Molecular Diagnostics**: Spain, health
26. **Wisp Solutions**: France, mobility/transportation
27. **Werover**: United Kingdom, energy
28. **BeyondMath**: United Kingdom, information technologies
29. **Kumulus**: France, industry
30. **FireTracking**: New Caledonia, software development/cloud services

Don’t miss the chance to witness these innovators in action at VivaTech 2025!

The Innovation of the Year Award celebrates the boldest and most visionary startups exhibiting at VivaTech 2025. Open to all exhibiting companies, the

VivaTech 2025 Unveils Top 30 Game-Changing Startups Competing for Innovation of the Year

**Even if AI models write flawless code, vibe-coded software can still have major security flaws because of how it’s implemented.** The models generating code can’t yet see the big picture and scrutinize how it will ultimately be used. They might be able to provide guidance on that topic, but inexperienced users might not even know the right questions to ask.

Lovable, for instance, uses AI models to create websites instantly. But for websites to do much of anything, they need to be connected to databases that store things like user accounts and payment information.

Lovable doesn’t build those databases itself. It offers users an easy way to connect to a database service run by a startup called Supabase.

On March 20, Replit employee Matt Palmer noticed a vulnerability in a Lovable-created website called Linkable, which would automatically turn anyone’s LinkedIn page into a personal website. According to the report, Palmer was able to see the email addresses of the 500 or so users who had engaged with the app.

The reason, he discovered, was that the Supabase database was not configured correctly. Palmer tweeted on X at Lovable co-founder and CEO Anton Osika, notifying him of the problem. Palmer said Lovable told him there was no issue.

The following day, Palmer and his colleague, Kody Low, did the deeper analysis that turned up 170 vulnerable Lovable sites.

On April 14, another software engineer [posted](https://x.com/danialasaria/status/1911862269996118272) on X that he had “hacked” multiple websites on the Lovable recommendation page. In 47 minutes, he said he had turned up personal debt amounts, home addresses, API keys, and “spicy prompts.” He posted a screenshot of a prompt one user had entered into a Lovable-created app that read: “Beautiful girl with big …”

Lovable responded to the scrutiny by announcing it had implemented a new feature that it said “scans your app for security issues before you publish.”

But according to the vulnerability report, the security scan only does one thing: It determines whether Supabase access controls are enabled. It doesn’t surmise whether they are configured properly — something even seasoned software developers can get wrong.

Alex Stamos, chief information security officer at cybersecurity firm SentinelOne, said the best practice for web apps is to avoid letting users access the database at all. Instead, the application determines what information users should be able to access and then fetches that data.

In that sense, it’s sort of like delivering a person’s mail to their house, rather than letting them wander into the post office while trying to keep them from grabbing someone else’s mail.

But that method can be complex. When Stamos was chief security officer at Facebook, he said, the biggest drain on compute resources was access control, determining which data users could see and then serving them the relevant content.

Allowing users to connect directly to a database is risky, he said. “You can do it correctly. The odds of doing it correctly are extremely low.”

In an X thread in April, Lovable told its users that when they build a website with their service, it’s “pretty much guaranteed to be secure.” The company also acknowledged that using Supabase can expose data if it’s not configured properly.

For sensitive data, Lovable suggested a “human security review,” putting some responsibility on its vibe-coding customers to handle the task.

It finished the thread by saying “Lovable will help you keep your app secure, even if you don’t know anything about security. We’re making vibe coding secure.”

When Replit CEO Amjad Masad called out Lovable on X, Mosika [fired back](https://x.com/antonosika/status/1923277711524442498). “1. Be Replit founder 2. Have a decade-long head start 3. Watch small EU competitor, Lovable, surpass you in usage and making vibe coding secure 4. Copy it 4 weeks later 5. Bash Lovable for not being secure,” he wrote.

Palmer decided to submit an official vulnerability to report to the National Vulnerabilities Database, which gave Lovable 45 days from the time it was notified by Palmer before the report was made public.

“Vibe coding has done wonders to democratize software development,” Masad said in a statement. “We can’t expect novice developers to audit low-level security configs. If a tool makes it easy to deploy an app, it should also make it hard to accidentally expose sensitive data.”

Lovable is accused of failing to fix security flaws that exposed information about users, a growing vulnerability as vibe coding’s popularity surges.

Vibe Coding's Dark Side: How Lovable's Security Flaws Expose User Data

**Northrop Grumman**, a leading U.S. defense contractor, has made a significant $50 million investment in **Firefly Aerospace**, a promising space startup. This collaboration aims to accelerate the production of their jointly developed rocket, named **"Eclipse"**. The announcement marks a pivotal moment in the space industry, showcasing the growing synergy between established defense giants and agile tech startups.

### The Eclipse Rocket: A New Era in Space Launch

The **Eclipse** medium launch vehicle is a fusion of Northrop Grumman's **Antares** and Firefly's **Alpha** rocket technologies. Scheduled for its maiden voyage from **Wallops Island, Virginia**, as early as 2026, Eclipse is designed to cater to a wide range of missions. These include **space station resupply**, **commercial spacecraft deployments**, **national security missions**, and **scientific payload deliveries** for both domestic and international markets.

### A Surge in Space Startup Investments

This investment comes at a time when the space sector is experiencing unprecedented growth, fueled by initiatives like **U.S. President Donald Trump's efficiency drive**. Such policies are fostering more collaborations between large defense contractors and innovative smaller firms, aiming to streamline advancements in space technology.

### Firefly Aerospace: Rising Star in the Space Race

Firefly Aerospace has quickly risen to prominence, notably becoming the **second private company** to achieve a **moon landing** on its first attempt with the **uncrewed Blue Ghost spacecraft**. Based in Texas, Firefly specializes in **small- and medium-lift launch vehicles** for commercial orbital launches. The company's valuation soared to **over $2 billion** in November, following a successful $175 million late-stage funding round.

![Illustration shows Northrop Grumman logo](https://www.reuters.com/resizer/v2/3CLIHJYSSVOTVMFK4KCHMKXPHA.jpg?auth=a8e3e0fc86e5be3cb2815cd0c86b337e97f004874ffbbc04102b1b5a11d41f28&width=3000&quality=80)

U.S. defense contractor Northrop Grumman has invested $50 million into space startup Firefly Aerospace to aid the production of their jointly developed rocket, the companies said on Thursday.

Northrop Grumman's $50M Boost to Firefly Aerospace: A Giant Leap for Space Innovation

**Northrop Grumman** has made a significant investment of **$50 million** into **Firefly Aerospace**, a move that underscores the growing interest in **space startups**. This partnership aims to accelerate the production of their jointly developed rocket, **Eclipse**, which is set to make its debut launch from **Wallops Island, Virginia**, as early as **2026**.

### The Eclipse Rocket: A Game Changer
Built upon **Northrop Grumman's Antares** and **Firefly's Alpha** rocket technologies, Eclipse is designed to cater to a wide range of missions. These include:
- **Space station resupply**
- **Commercial spacecraft** deployments
- **Critical national security missions**
- **Scientific payloads** for both domestic and international markets

### The Rising Tide of Space Startups
This investment comes at a time when the **space industry** is experiencing a surge in interest, partly fueled by **U.S. President Donald Trump's efficiency drive**. This initiative encourages collaborations between **large defense contractors** and **smaller tech firms**, paving the way for innovative projects like Eclipse.

### Firefly Aerospace's Ascent
Firefly Aerospace has quickly risen to prominence in the **space race**, notably becoming the **second private firm** to achieve a **moon landing** on its first attempt with the **uncrewed Blue Ghost spacecraft**. With a valuation exceeding **$2 billion** as of November, Firefly specializes in **small- and medium-lift launch vehicles** for commercial orbital launches.

The medium launch vehicle, dubbed "Eclipse", is built upon  Northrop Grumman's Antares and Firefly's Alpha rocket, and is set to first launch from Wallops Island, Virginia, as early as 2026.  Eclipse is designed to support space station resupply, commercial spacecraft, critical national security missions and scientific payloads for domestic and international markets.  Northrop's investment comes as interest in space startups heats up under U.S. President Donald Trump's efficiency drive, encouraging more joint projects between big defense contractors and smaller tech firms.

Northrop Grumman's $50M Bet on Firefly Aerospace: A New Era in Space Exploration

## Birmingham's 2150 Center Fosters Entrepreneurship Among College Students

The **2150 Center for Innovation, Commercialization & Growth**, based in Birmingham, is making waves by connecting college entrepreneurs with essential resources and investors. This initiative, launched by **Miles College**, aims to nurture business growth and innovation on a national scale.

### A National Mentorship Initiative

Recently, the 2150 Center announced its **Public Policy iLab** at the National Press Club in Washington D.C. This program brings together students from **Miles College, Florida A&M University, Johnson C. Smith University, and Jackson State University** to collaborate on innovative solutions and business ventures.

"This iLab model convenes and curates the best and brightest minds to problem solve and build businesses," said **Erskine 'Chuck' Faush**, CEO of the 2150 Center.

### Scalable and Personalized Mentorship

The center is partnering with **MentorPro**, a mobile-first technology platform, to provide students and early entrepreneurs with **real-time, interest-aligned mentorship**. This collaboration aims to make mentorship more accessible and tailored to individual needs across campuses.

"With these amazing institutions and through partnership with MentorPro, we’re creating a framework where students can engage directly with leaders, build relationships, and help design the systems they want to champion," said **Tonya Perry**, Provost of Miles College.

### Future iLabs and Sector Focus

The 2150 Center plans to expand its iLab initiatives to focus on **manufacturing, artificial intelligence, health, and energy sectors**, further driving innovation and entrepreneurship among college students.

The 2150 Center at Miles College pairs college entrepreneurs with resources and investors to foster business growth. 


Birmingham's 2150 Center: Uniting College Entrepreneurs with Investors for National Impact

**ClickHouse Inc.**, a database technology startup, has nearly tripled its valuation to **$6.35 billion** in a new funding round, highlighting the growing investor enthusiasm for companies powering the AI revolution. **Khosla Ventures** led the **$350 million** financing, with participation from new and existing investors including **Bond Capital**, **Institutional Venture Partners**, and **Battery Ventures**.

### Rapid Growth and AI Adoption

ClickHouse's data platform is designed for fast and cost-effective query responses, making it ideal for companies looking to **run and build AI tools**. The startup is nearing an **annualized revenue run rate of $100 million**, a testament to its rapid growth since launching its cloud product in 2022.

### Competing in a Crowded Market

Based in Silicon Valley with offices in the Netherlands, ClickHouse was spun out from **Yandex NV** four years ago. It now competes with giants like **Snowflake Inc.** and **Databricks Inc.** in the data analysis and organization software market. The startup counts **AI company Anthropic**, **Tesla Inc.**, and the **Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center** among its customers.

### Funding and Future Plans

The funding will fuel **international expansion**, **customer acquisition**, and further **startup purchases**, following the acquisitions of **HyperDX** and **PeerDB**. Additionally, ClickHouse secured a **$100 million credit facility** led by **Stifel Nicolaus** and **Goldman Sachs Group Inc.**

The would-be Snowflake competitor has raised $350 million from investors.

EU's Bold Move to Attract Tech Startups: Cutting Red Tape and Boosting Funds

Summary:

EU Aims to Simplify Startup Ecosystem

Key Challenges Addressed

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Other Latest News

How Octave's AI-Powered Marketing Platform Secured a $5.5M Seed Round

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Vibe Coding's Dark Side: How Lovable's Security Flaws Expose User Data

Northrop Grumman's $50M Boost to Firefly Aerospace: A Giant Leap for Space Innovation

Northrop Grumman's $50M Bet on Firefly Aerospace: A New Era in Space Exploration

Birmingham's 2150 Center: Uniting College Entrepreneurs with Investors for National Impact

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Other Latest News

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Vibe Coding's Dark Side: How Lovable's Security Flaws Expose User Data

Northrop Grumman's $50M Boost to Firefly Aerospace: A Giant Leap for Space Innovation

Northrop Grumman's $50M Bet on Firefly Aerospace: A New Era in Space Exploration

Birmingham's 2150 Center: Uniting College Entrepreneurs with Investors for National Impact

ClickHouse Soars to $6.35B Valuation: The AI-Powered Database Startup Challenging Snowflake