October 2025 update
1. EU to Propose Uniform Rules for Startups in 2026
Date: October 3, 2025 – Turin, Italy
News:
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced at Tech Week Turin that the EU will propose a new “28th regime” in 2026 – a single regulatory framework designed to make scaling startups across Europe easier.
The initiative aims to replace the current patchwork of 27 national systems with one harmonized model for cross-border operations.
Von der Leyen stated:
“Too often, it is easier to expand to another continent than across Europe.”
The proposal will be part of the EU’s broader innovation and digital-economy agenda, including the creation of a multi-billion-euro “ScaleUp Europe Fund” and an “AI-First” strategy to accelerate artificial-intelligence adoption.
2. AI Startups Captured Over 50% of Global Venture Funding in 2025
Date: October 22, 2025 – Global
News:
According to CB Insights, artificial-intelligence startups secured 51% of all venture capital funding worldwide during the first nine months of 2025 — a record share indicating investors’ growing focus on AI.
The United States dominated the sector, receiving 85% of AI funding and accounting for 53% of deal volume.
Total funding reached $310 billion USD by the end of Q3 2025, although deal numbers dropped to their lowest since 2016, reflecting a more selective investment climate.
Sub-sectors such as humanoid robotics and agentic AI saw the fastest growth in deal activity.
3. Expand North Star 2025 Brings 2,000+ Startups and 1,200 Investors to Dubai
Date: October 12–15, 2025 – Dubai, UAE
News:
The Expand North Star 2025 summit, held at Dubai Harbour, gathered over 2,000 startups and 1,200 international investors, representing more than $1.1 trillion USD in assets under management.
Key sectors included AI (22%), climate tech (13%), health tech (11%), and fintech (11%).
The event introduced new thematic areas such as ScaleX (scale-up acceleration), North Star Green Impact (environmental innovation), and DeepTech MEA Summit (advanced technology).
Roughly 500 startups from the UAE participated, while Asian companies made up 41% of the total attendance.
4. UiPath Opens Riyadh Office to Advance Saudi Arabia’s Digital Transformation Goals
Date: October 22, 2025 – Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
News:
UiPath, a global leader in robotic process automation and agentic AI solutions, inaugurated a new office in Riyadh’s King Abdullah Financial District to support Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 digital transformation agenda.
The Riyadh hub will act as a center for automation and AI adoption across government agencies and large enterprises.
The company also announced a training partnership with the Saudi Digital Academy, aimed at equipping young professionals with AI and automation skills.
5. AI Lab Lila Sciences Reaches $1.3 Billion Valuation with New Nvidia Backing
Date: October 14, 2025 – Cambridge, USA
News:
AI research startup Lila Sciences raised an additional $115 million USD in an extension of its Series A round, lifting its valuation to $1.3 billion. The round included participation from Nvidia’s venture arm, bringing the company’s total capital raised to nearly $550 million.
Founded in 2023 by Flagship Pioneering, Lila Sciences aims to build a “scientific superintelligence” platform that combines AI models with automated laboratories known as “AI Science Factories.”
The new funding will enable the company to expand its 235,000-square-foot facility in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and grow its network of automated labs worldwide.
CEO Geoffrey von Maltzahn said the platform has already powered “thousands of scientific discoveries.” The company plans to apply its AI platform to industries including energy, semiconductors, and drug discovery.