Bird vs Sprout Social

European Tech Weekly Recap: Over €2B Invested Across 65+ Deals

This weekly recap summarizes European tech funding and M&A activity for the week of September 21-27, 2026. More than 65 funding deals raised over €2 billion, with robotics, AI, and healthtech leading the sectors. Portugal, the Netherlands, and the UK were the top countries by funding amount. Notable deals include TEKEVER's $580M Series D, Bird's $450M debt raise, and Verda's $189M AI cloud funding. In M&A, feld.energy is acquiring AckerKapital, EYSA acquires Joinup, Mistral AI acquires Pimento, and Luno acquires GXTN. The recap also highlights various smaller funding rounds across Europe.

• Over 65 tech funding deals raised more than €2 billion in Europe during the week of September 21-27, 2026.
• Top industries: robotics (€508.3M), AI (€406.6M), and healthtech (€305.8M).
• Leading countries: Portugal (€510.9M), Netherlands (€435.9M), UK (€273.9M).

Bird secures $450M and opens its infrastructure to AI agents

Bird announced securing $450M in financing and opening its infrastructure to AI agents, as featured on the company's blog.

Bird Raises $450M Debt, Cuts Headcount to 120

Bird, the business communications platform formerly known as MessageBird, has raised $450 million in debt financing led by JP Morgan, Capital One, and Citi. The funding includes a $400 million term loan and a $50 million revolving credit facility, with seven banks participating. The proceeds will provide liquidity to existing shareholders, including current and former employees. The company has drastically reduced its headcount from over 1,000 at its peak to 120, driven by automation and a strategic pivot toward AI. Bird is focusing on its AI Agentic Harness platform, which enables AI agents to communicate via SMS, calls, and email. The company reported $165 million in profits last year.

• Bird raised $450 million in debt financing led by JP Morgan, Capital One, and Citi.
• The financing comprises a $400 million term loan and a $50 million revolving credit facility.
• Bird's headcount has been reduced from over 1,000 at its peak to 120 employees.

B2B brands boost creator video to counter AI slop and enhance AI search

B2B brands are increasingly using creator video to differentiate themselves from AI-generated marketing content and to build credibility with buyers who rely on AI recommendations. According to creator marketing platform Billo, B2B creator video usage surged 55% year-over-year and nearly quadrupled since 2023. IAB research indicates that credible creator reviews boost consumer confidence in AI recommendations for 65% of consumers. Expertise and track record matter more than audience size; consumers prioritize proven track records (46%), consistency (40%), and demonstrated expertise (36%) over follower count (21%). Creator content is most valuable during the research phase, helping buyers discover, compare, and evaluate products. B2B marketers are advised to focus on trials, signups, and pipeline rather than just views and clicks, as B2B buying cycles are longer and involve multiple stakeholders.

• B2B creator video usage increased by 55% year-over-year and nearly quadrupled since 2023, per Billo.
• IAB found that credible creator reviews increase consumer confidence in AI recommendations for 65% of consumers.
• Consumers rate a proven track record (46%) and consistency (40%) as top trust factors for creators, compared to audience size (21%).

Creator Economy Trends for Q4 2026

As the creator economy approaches a projected half-trillion dollars by 2027, the article outlines the key trends and shifts creators and brands should expect entering Q4 2026. Notable developments include creators increasingly taking on Hollywood roles, with Disney hosting its first creator event. The trend of creators joining corporate C-suites is becoming more substantive, as seen with Blenders and Jordan Howlett. Employee creator programs are growing, with Sprout Social reporting 40% of consumers discovering products via employee content. YouTube's upcoming monetization threshold increase in February 2027 is prompting creators to diversify revenue streams. The article provides an 'In and Out' list covering topics like regulation, AI's role, creator marketplaces, contract transparency, and the rise of creator agencies versus traditional ones.

• Creator economy expected to reach half a trillion dollars by 2027.
• Disney hosting its first two-day creator event in mid-September 2026.
• 40% of consumers discover new products monthly via employee content, per Sprout Social report.

Marketers Misuse Influencer Marketing: Awareness vs. Sales

New research from Sprout Social and the Journal of Business Research reveals a critical disconnect: consumers increasingly buy based on influencer recommendations, but most marketers still treat influencer campaigns as an awareness channel. Two-thirds of consumers made an influencer-driven purchase in the past year, yet only 24% of marketers cite direct sales as a primary goal. Algorithmic feeds are reducing the importance of follower counts, and lower-funnel strategies that give creators creative freedom prove more effective for driving sales. Marketers are increasing budgets without aligning metrics to desired outcomes, risking inefficient spending.

• Two-thirds of consumers made at least one purchase based on an influencer recommendation in the past year.
• Half of marketers say brand awareness is a primary reason for using influencer marketing, vs. 24% citing direct sales.
• More than 75% of marketers increased their influencer marketing budgets year-over-year.