Treatment for migraine and rare diseases: May in 5 investments
Every month, we list the investments that caught our attention the most.
Published on June 2, 2025
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Team IO+ selects and features the most important news stories on innovation and technology, carefully curated by our editors.
1. €53 million for groundbreaking implant-based migraine therapy
Salvia BioElectronics from Eindhoven has raised €53 million. The company is developing a neurotherapy for people with chronic migraine. The personalized MySalvia Therapy consists of a wafer-thin implant designed to treat specific nerves that play a role in migraine. The user can easily activate the therapy themselves. With a single press of a button on the accompanying external device, the patient can administer targeted stimulation exactly when and where it is needed.
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2. Optics11 raises €17 million to protect European networks
Optics11, an Amsterdam-based deep tech scaleup, has announced a significant €17 million funding round. This funding will accelerate the rollout of Optics11's advanced fiber optic detection solutions, which are crucial for extending the lifespan of Europe's aging energy network and improving underwater safety.
European infrastructure faces major challenges. Currently, 40% of the 90,000 high-voltage transformers in Europe are said to have exceeded their service life, increasing the urgency for innovative energy solutions.
3. Jeff Bezos invests in Dutch AI innovator Toloka
Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos' investment fund, Bezos Expeditions, has invested $72 million in Amsterdam-based AI company Toloka. This move provides the company with the financial backbone to improve its AI capabilities.
Toloka builds data solutions that integrate human expertise into AI development. The company emphasizes a hybrid model, where the technological power of AI is complemented and enhanced by the nuanced insights that only human experts can provide. This approach ensures that AI developments remain safe, reliable, and human-centric—a philosophy that resonates with the new investors.
4. Azafaros raises €132 million for treatment of rare disease
Azafaros, a clinical-stage biotech company, has completed a €132 million financing round to further develop its innovative therapies for rare lysosomal storage disorders.
The company focuses on lysosomal storage diseases (LSDs), a group of more than 50 rare genetic disorders characterized by enzyme deficiencies that lead to the accumulation of toxic substances in body cells and organs. These accumulations occur because the body is unable to break down certain substances, such as lipids and carbohydrates, causing severe cellular damage that affects various parts of the body. Treatments for LSDs, such as those being developed by Azafaros, focus on symptom management and can significantly improve the quality of life of those affected. Although not curative, such therapies are crucial for slowing the progression of these debilitating disorders.
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5. FononTech raises €8.5 million and delivers first machine
FononTech, the company behind Impulse Printing, a new technology for small and smart electronics, has raised €8.5 million. The Impulse Printing technique is the fastest and cheapest way to connect components in 3D, which is important for smart devices with AI. The money will be used to finish the first product and find customers. Later this year, FononTech plans to raise more money to grow quickly and start manufacturing in-house.
