• GapMinder's analysis showed Central and Eastern European startup funding rose 25% to EUR 1.83 billion in January-September 2026.
• Funding rounds fell to 320 from 464 a year earlier; Series A rounds dropped more than 25%.
• Five rounds of at least EUR 100 million raised EUR 819 million, accounting for 45% of total capital.
• Excluding those deals, funding totaled EUR 1.01 billion, down about 30%.
• International investors dominated major deals: only one of the 10 largest third-quarter rounds was led by a CEE-focused fund.

Disclaimer: This news brief was created by Public Technologies (PUBT) using generative artificial intelligence. While PUBT strives to provide accurate and timely information, this AI-generated content is for informational purposes only and should not be interpreted as financial, investment, or legal advice. GapMinder Venture Partners BV published the original content used to generate this news brief on October 30, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained therein.