The Recursive’s weekly roundup aims to cover key tech developments across Central and Eastern Europe, as well as the growing impact of CEE-born founders on the global stage. Take a look at the latest news in funding, startup milestones, and emerging trends tied to the region’s innovation potential.
CEE news & deals
Bulgarian-founded Codery has announced the acquisition of Elfshock, a specialist in robotic process automation (RPA) and AI-driven solutions for the financial services sector. Effective immediately, Elfshock will operate under the new brand Codery Automations, marking a step in Codery’s expansion across Southeast Europe.
Polish Replenit, an AI-powered decision engine for retail that converts customer signals into real-time, personalized actions, has secured $2.5 (€2.12) million in pre-seed funding. The round was co-led by Movens Capital and Vastpoint, with additional backing from Logo Ventures, DigitalOcean Ventures, Finberg, Caucasus Ventures, and angel investor Mati Staniszewski, CEO and co-founder of ElevenLabs.
Polish Graftcode, a developer platform that eliminates the need for integration-layer code between software systems and enables applications in any programming language to connect with a single command, has raised €2.1 million. The round was led by Hard2beat, with additional support from DigitalOcean Ventures, Heartfelt Capital, and private investors, including employees. This brings Graftcode’s total funding to €6.5 million. The funding coincides with the launch of the platform’s beta version.
Outcraft AI, a Vilnius-based agentic AI platform building autonomous revenue agents that execute real-time customer engagement across voice, SMS, email and WhatsApp, has raised €2 million in pre-seed funding from Practica Capital. Outcraft AI’s agents decide the optimal next sales action in real time.
Ukrainian Obriy AI, a platform for creating tools that enhance complex business processes using AI agents, has announced it has raised $500,000 from N1 Investment Company, a firm focused on supporting early-stage technology startups. Alongside the investment, the two sides have also entered into a long-term strategic partnership.
Ukraine & Netherlands Launch Drone Deal
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky and Prime Minister of the Netherlands have signed a joint statement launching the Drone Deal initiative. The agreement enables joint production of unmanned aerial vehicles in both Ukraine and the Netherlands, involving companies from both countries.
The initiative also includes cooperation on drones, missiles, electronic warfare, and other defence technologies, alongside investment in infrastructure, research, and innovation, and the sharing of Ukraine’s battlefield experience. A related licensing agreement has also been completed.
Across the Atlantic
Sequoia Capital has raised about $7 billion for a new fund to deepen its investments in AI, nearly doubling its $3.4 billion fund from 2022. The capital will support its late-stage “expansion” strategy across the U.S. and Europe, reflecting how AI is reshaping how quickly companies can scale.
The move underscores Sequoia’s strong focus on AI, with backing for major players like OpenAI and Anthropic, both reportedly considering IPOs in 2026—potentially delivering significant returns for the firm.