Romanian deeptech startup .lumen, from Ventures Thrive’s second cohort of participants, recently raised a record-breaking €1 million in a single day via Seedblink - an equity and investment platform allowing European tech companies and their stakeholders to access, manage, and trade equity.

The funds were raised during a pitch event on 16th July 2024, where over 600 investors gathered to witness .lumen Founder and CEO Cornel Amariei present his startup’s technology.

“This record round on SeedBlink is a testament to the potential for innovation in Romania,” said Cornel. “Despite being ranked as the least innovative country in the EU, we believe Romania can deliver life-changing innovations to the world.”

The Founder-CEO’s presentation highlighted .lumen’s ‘Glasses for the Blind’, which use Pedestrian Autonomous Driving technology (PAD AI) to mimic the functionalities of a guide dog.

These newly-acquired funds will support .lumen’s strategic roadmap, including a limited-series launch in Q4 2024 and entry into the USA market in Q4 2025.

The company aims to sell 10,000 units by the end of 2026, enhancing the independence and safety of visually impaired individuals worldwide.