Have money, will travel: a16z’s hunt for the next European unicorn

image via TechCrunch

February 16, 2026, 6:53 PM

• •a16z led a $2.3 million pre-seed round in Dentio, a Swedish AI startup.
• •Dentio uses AI to streamline dental admin work.
• •The founders identified the need for AI solutions through Li's mother, a dentist.
• •Dentio is an alum of SSE Labs, a startup incubator in Stockholm.
• •The company emphasizes "Made in Sweden" branding and data privacy.
• •a16z is actively seeking deals outside the U.S. and has partnered with local talent.
• •Vasquez focuses on identifying AI companies born globally and scaling rapidly.

Andreessen Horowitz partner Gabriel Vasquez's frequent trips to Stockholm exemplify U.S. VCs' increasing focus on global deal flow, as seen in a16z's investment in Dentio, a Swedish AI startup. Dentio, an alum of SSE Labs, aims to revolutionize dental administration using AI, addressing a market need identified by its founders. The company's "Made in Sweden" branding and focus on data privacy align with European market expectations, and signals potential for VCs. Vasquez emphasizes that this is part of a broader trend of identifying promising AI companies globally, and the team's heads-down approach to building and relies on referrals which led to this investment.

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