InDrive, a ride-hailing app, has secured $150 million in financing from General Catalyst to support its market expansion and product development plans. The company, which recently launched financial services for drivers, aims to expand into new markets and strengthen its presence in existing ones. InDrive, originally founded in Russia and now headquartered in the US, saw a 54% increase in net revenue in 2023. The new funding will aid inDrive's growth and innovation while maintaining financial stability. General Catalyst's investment underscores inDrive's mission to promote equitable access to mobility services.

Necture, an Austrian start-up specializing in car fleet and charging infrastructure management, has raised its Series A funding to over $7 million. The round was led by Smart Energy Innovationsfonds and Verbund X Ventures, with existing investors Speedinvest and smartworks innovation GmbH. Necture's platform aids car sharing and rental fleets in managing operations and transitioning to electric vehicles. CEO Christian Adelsberger highlighted the challenges and opportunities in expanding to business fleets, emphasizing the need for better connectivity and collaboration with car makers. The funding will support Necture's expansion into corporate fleets and its market presence in Europe and the Americas.

Aviant, a Norwegian drone delivery start-up, is expanding its services to Lillehammer, aiming to reach both residents and tourists with deliveries of food, groceries, and medicines. The company, which began during the Covid-19 pandemic, claims its drones can operate in harsh winter conditions and have significantly lower emissions than cars. Aviant's CEO, Lars Erik Fagernæs, emphasizes the viability and environmental benefits of drone delivery. The company plans to expand beyond Norway, competing with other European drone delivery firms like Manna and Wing.

Stuart, a last-mile delivery company based in London, is aiming for a quicker path to profitability following its acquisition by private equity firm Mutares from Geopost. CEO Cornelia Raportaru highlighted the company's financial runway and strategic focus on profitability rather than expanding its European market footprint. Stuart, which operates in 100 European cities and generated over $420 million in 2022, has not made significant job cuts unlike its competitors. The company is innovating in delivery services and customer support, and has partnered with UrbanPiper and Deliverect to enhance restaurant delivery operations. The delivery market in Europe is dominated by food, with grocery delivery being more mature in the UK and retail goods delivery lagging behind the US.

Starship Technologies, an Estonian start-up specializing in autonomous robot delivery, has raised $90 million in a new funding round led by Plural and Iconical. The company, founded in 2014, aims to expand its operations in the US, UK, and Europe. Starship's robots, which have completed over six million deliveries, are designed to be more energy-efficient than traditional delivery methods. CEO Ahti Heinla highlighted the company's decade-long development process and plans for further investment in AI and wireless charging infrastructure. The new funding brings Starship's total funding to $230 million, with other backers including Nordic Ninja, TDK Ventures, and Goodyear.

British last mile delivery start-up Fin, founded by former Google executive Rich Pleeth, has acquired rival Urb-It to enhance its operations in London. Fin, which raised $5 million last year, uses AI and machine learning to optimize delivery routes and aims to replace delivery vans with cargo e-bikes to reduce urban congestion and emissions. The acquisition provides Fin with access to Urb-It's partners, including Zara, Shein, and AliExpress, facilitating quicker integration and increased parcel volumes. While currently focused on London, Fin plans to expand internationally in the future.

Delfos, an AI energy software start-up based in Barcelona, has secured €6.3 million ($6.9 million) in seed funding to expand in Europe. The company's AI and big data-driven virtual engineer aims to enhance the renewable energy sector's efficiency and reliability. The funding round, led by Contrarian Ventures and Headline with DOMO.VC and EDP Ventures participating, will support European expansion and recruitment. Delfos' software monitors over 10GW of renewable energy, promising to reduce component replacement costs by 30% and increase energy generation by 3-5%. CEO Guilherme Studart emphasizes the technology's role in making renewable assets more profitable and appealing to investors, while Rokas Peciulaitis of Contrarian Ventures highlights the platform's importance for the resilience of renewable assets.

Cabify, a Spanish ride-hailing company, secured €15 million ($16.4 million) in venture debt from BBVA Spark to support its sustainability initiatives. The funding will aid Cabify's transition to an all-electric vehicle fleet by 2030, enhancing its operations in Spain and Latin America. BBVA Spark, a division of BBVA, aligns with the bank's vision of promoting sustainable urban mobility. Cabify's recent financial performance includes $688 million in gross revenue for 2022. The company faces challenges, including strike actions by drivers over pay and benefits, led by the Spanish union SLT.

Two of Europe’s largest e-scooter companies, Tier and Dott, are merging, led by Mubadala Capital and Sofina with additional investments from M&G and Prosus Ventures. The merger, expected to close in two months, will create a combined entity with revenues of €250 million and will be headquartered in Berlin. The new company will be led by Dott’s Henri Moissinac as CEO, with other key leadership roles filled by executives from both companies. The merger aims to capture the next phase of growth in the e-scooter industry, which has faced financial viability challenges. The combined company will serve over 20 cities in Europe and continue to provide e-bikes in Paris. The merger follows recent industry consolidations, including Bird’s bankruptcy and Superpedestrian’s shutdown of its U.S. business.

Ride-hailing company inDrive is exploring financial services products to support drivers in developing markets, aiming to provide financial stability through small-term loans and other financial services. The company, which recently expanded into the U.S. market with a launch in Miami, differentiates itself with a bidding model for ride fares. President and deputy CEO Mark Loughran, who joined inDrive in July 2023, emphasizes the company's commitment to supporting drivers and ensuring stable earnings. InDrive is also investing $100 million in businesses in emerging markets to bolster its presence and support smaller enterprises.