Startup news, 26 October 2026

3 briefs

• Volare opens €15M insect protein plant, defies sector’s scale-up curse

  The factory aims to process food-industry byproducts into protein and oil using black soldier flies, positioning itself as a supplier for animal feed and pet food markets.

  Reported by tech.eu

• General Catalyst-backed Strawberry launches AI agent as "European alternative

  General Catalyst-backed Strawberry has released its first full product, an AI agent platform positioned as a European alternative to US-developed agents.

  Reported by sifted.eu

• Singapore mega-rounds propel Asia fintech funding rebound

  The increase was largely attributed to a small number of large deals, with Singapore playing a central role in the region’s growth.

  Reported by fintechnews.sg