Greek startups have attracted $435 million in funding so far in 2026, more than double the amount raised during the whole of 2025, when investment fell below $200 million, according to data compiled by Marathon Venture Capital.
The recovery has been driven primarily by a small number of large growth-stage transactions, including a $250 million funding round secured by artificial intelligence chipmaker Axelera AI.
The Greek startup ecosystem has recorded 38 financing rounds involving 27 investment funds since the beginning of the year, alongside 10 exits. Marathon’s database includes technology companies with operations or headquarters in Greece and at least one Greek co-founder, extending its coverage to internationally based businesses with Greek entrepreneurial connections.
Five growth-stage deals account for almost 80% of funding
Of the 38 funding rounds recorded in 2026, 25 were seed-stage transactions, attracting approximately $38 million, while eight Series A rounds raised a combined $50 million. By comparison, just five growth-stage transactions accounted for more than $347 million, representing almost 80% of the total capital invested.
Axelera AI, the Netherlands-based semiconductor company developing energy-efficient processors for artificial intelligence applications, secured more than $250 million in February, in a financing led by Innovation Industries and supported by investors including BlackRock and Samsung Catalyst Fund.
The transaction alone represents approximately 57% of the funding recorded across the Greek-linked startup ecosystem this year, while bringing Axelera’s cumulative financing, including equity, grants and venture debt, to more than $450 million since its founding in 2021.
Seed funding remains active, with 25 transactions
Among the larger seed transactions, Proxy Foods raised $6 million and PiqEnergy secured $5 million, while Mystudentflat.com attracted $600,000, Dataphoria raised $400,000 and Anacalipsis Therapeutics completed a $300,000 round.
Series A investment has been more limited in number but larger in aggregate value, with eight transactions raising approximately $50 million. Recent examples include Satori Analytics, which secured $5.9 million, and Perceptual Robotics, which raised $5.4 million.
The figures show a substantial difference between the number of companies securing financing and the allocation of investment capital, with growth-stage businesses accounting for most of the funds despite representing fewer than 15% of recorded rounds.
Ten exits, including EntersoftOne’s €1 billion valuation
One of the largest transactions was the acquisition of a majority stake in Greek business software provider EntersoftOne by British investment firm Hg, in a deal announced in September that valued the company at approximately €1 billion.
According to Greek media reports, Hg is acquiring around 70% of EntersoftOne, while existing shareholders Olympia Group and Imker Group will retain significant minority interests. The transaction represents Hg’s first investment in a Greek-headquartered business.
Another transaction involved Metlen’s acquisition of Joule, a Greek energy software company specialising in monitoring and optimising renewable energy and energy storage portfolios.
