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The new-media site for Europe’s innovators and entrepreneurs

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Daisy Onubogu startup events Backed VC

Analysis | Other | 16 Dec

2020 Vision: predictions from 28 big-hitters in Europe’s startup scene

What will 2020 bring for European startups? We hear from startup experts such as Jan Hammer at Index Ventures, Taavet Hinrikus at Transferwise and Roxanne Varza at Station F.

Andrew Eland

News | Artificial Intelligence | 16 Dec

DeepMind exec Andrew Eland leaves to launch startup

The startup, called Diagonal Works, aims to find new ways to improve towns and cities with software.

Opinion | Venture Capital | 13 Dec

We don’t need another WeWork

It's time for more alternatives to venture capital cash, argues Omidyar Network's Sarah Drinkwater — and for more startups focused on making positive contributions to the world.

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P2P crowdfunding example

How To | Funding | 13 Dec

The Sifted take on startup crowdfunding

Crowdfunding has become a go-to form of fundraising for companies — big and small. Here's what you need to know before you embark on your crowdfunding journey.

Photo of Christine Spiten, part of the second cohort of Atomico angels.

News | Venture Capital | 13 Dec

Atomico launches second angel programme

The European venture capital fund has given 15 new angels across Europe $100,000 each to invest in early-stage startups — and is honing in on female founders and sustainability.

Jean de la Rochebrochard Kima Ventures

Interview | Wellbeing | 13 Dec

All work and no play makes you a dull founder

French investor Jean de la Rochebrochard says creating a company isn’t about working infinite hours. His book ‘Human Machine’ reflects a maturing startup ecosystem’s introspection about work-life balance.

News | Public | 12 Dec

Labour activists using Tinder election bots to sway vote

The UK's general election is seeing dating-tech enter the fray, with left-wing activists running a Tinder bot to boost the Corbyn vote. But does it really work?

Gary Turner

Interview | Venture Capital | 12 Dec

The Scot who helped turn Peter Thiel-backed startup Xero into a €7bn business

Gary Turner, a 51-year-old college drop out, has helped accounting software provider Xero to grow into a €7bn business.

Diversity

Photo of Katy Campbell, founder of Berlin-based company builder Formation.

Formation: the Berlin-based company builder with a difference

It's free, run by volunteers, for underrepresented founders and named after a Beyoncé song. What's not to love about company builder Formation?

Photo of Marta Sjögren (centre left) and Sophia Bendz (centre right) speaking at the Inklusiiv launch event.

What’s Europe done this month for diversity in tech?

A €21m Dutch fund to invest solely in female founders, female venture capital partners call for more female venture capital partners and a pan-European VC internship programme begins.

How (not) to talk about diversity in tech

You're a company committed to diversity? Great! But are you making these common mistakes?

Bookclub

Andrea Reynolds CEO Swoop

“Technologies and practices change – people never do” – Bookclub with Swoop’s Andrea Reynolds

Books on timeless business wisdom from legendary investor Warren Buffett, autobiographies and learning about business from Formula 1.

Sten Saar CEO Zego

“The Little Prince made me cry” — Bookclub with Sten Saar, cofounder of Zego

Zego CEO Sten Saar on what makes him cry, why he doesn't give books as gifts and how insurance will change everyone's life.

Damian Bradfield WeTransfer

“Throwing rocks at the Google bus” — Bookclub with WeTransfer’s Damian Bradfield

Damian Bradfield, co-founder and chief creative officer of WeTransfer shares his top book recommendations about social isolation, the trust deficit in tech and philanthropy.

Italian shop

Analysis | Fintech | 12 Dec

The startups killing Italy’s cash economy

Italy is still a predominantly cash economy, which presents a challenge to Europe's fintech startups such as Qonto and N26 trying to conquer the market. What's their plan?

Opinion | Venture Capital | 12 Dec

The rise of platform: Europe’s venture capitalists are stepping up support for their portfolio companies

With venture capital entering Europe at a record pace, the question is how can venture capitalists differentiate themselves to make sure they’re not missing out on the best investment opportunities.

News | Corporate Innovation | 11 Dec

Corporate innovation weekly: seaweed, electric shocks and the “crazy rules” theory of success

This is what Europe's biggest companies — from Volvo and Unilever to Roche and NatWest —  have been doing with startups and new technologies this week.

News | Manufacturing | 11 Dec

Sulapac raises €15m, begins mass rollout of biodegradable straws

A mojito-proof compostable straw will finally be rolled out to consumers and Sulapac has raised €15m to expand its plastic alternative to other categories, too.

Euro dollar VCs

Opinion | Venture Capital | 11 Dec

US venture capitalists: here are 10 tips if you want to make it in Europe

US venture capitalists are flooding into Europe to invest in startups. Here is a 10-point guide for them to winning in the old continent.

A photo of a Voi scooter.

Analysis | Micromobility | 11 Dec

Electric scooters: not so “green” after all

Electric scooter operators all claim to be environmentally-friendly alternatives to the car — but how green are these businesses? We compare Europe's operators.

Photo of Matt Penneycard and Check Warner, founders of VC firm Ada Ventures.

News | Venture Capital | 11 Dec

Much anticipated UK venture capital fund Ada Ventures finally launches with $34m for overlooked founders

But can it prove that its unconventional sourcing and selection strategy can generate big financial returns for its investors?

Mobility

A photo of a Voi scooter.

Electric scooters: not so “green” after all

Electric scooter operators all claim to be environmentally-friendly alternatives to the car — but how green are these businesses? We compare Europe's operators.

The week in mobility: how “green” are Tier’s scooters?

Our roundup of Europe's top mobility news this week: Uber loses its London licence, e-moped rental service Coup quits Europe and we look at how "green" Tier's e-scooters are.

SEAT's Luca de Meo

“Better to partner than start from scratch” — Luca de Meo on SEAT’s micromobility ambitions

SEAT is bringing out new scooters, mopeds and even a weird-looking quadricycle, but believes cars still have a role to play, too.

Venture Capital

Andrew Eland

DeepMind exec Andrew Eland leaves to launch startup

The startup, called Diagonal Works, aims to find new ways to improve towns and cities with software.

Photo of Christine Spiten, part of the second cohort of Atomico angels.

Atomico launches second angel programme

The European venture capital fund has given 15 new angels across Europe $100,000 each to invest in early-stage startups — and is honing in on female founders and sustainability.

We don’t need another WeWork

It's time for more alternatives to venture capital cash, argues Omidyar Network's Sarah Drinkwater — and for more startups focused on making positive contributions to the world.

Sponsored

News | Other | 10 Dec

60 seconds to make an impact: Japanese startup BionicM wins big in Hong Kong

The annual elevator pitch competition, known as EPiC, was hosted by the Hong Kong Science & Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP) on November 8.

Jean-Eric Paquet

Interview | Investment | 10 Dec

Launching Europe’s “unicorn factory”

Jean-Eric Paquet has a €10bn war chest to turn the European Innovation Council into "the biggest deeptech equity fund in Europe.”

Otto Bock CEO Hans Georg Näder

Analysis | Corporate Innovation | 10 Dec

“Forget the money, startups” says chief executive of German unicorn Otto Bock

The chief executive of Europe's 100-year-old unicorn tells founders to stop focusing on profit.

Thorbjorg Helga is founder at Iceland therapy startup Kara Connect.Thorbjorg Helga is founder at Iceland therapy startup Kara Connect.

Interview | Healthtech | 10 Dec

With €2.7m Iceland’s star therapy startup is springing into Europe

“Leaving Iceland is something I should have done earlier,” says Kara Connect founder and chief executive Thorbjorg Helga. 

Tin can listening

Interview | Corporate Innovation | 10 Dec

Startups: speak up. Corporates: listen

Five ways corporates and startups can improve a partnership

Photo of Miron Mironiuk

News | Data | 10 Dec

Polish-Chinese startup quietly tracking 1.1bn mobile phones raises $12m

Cosmose, a little-known startup based between Shanghai and Warsaw, boasts luxury brands such as LVMH, Richemont, Kering, Estée Lauder and L'Oréal as clients.

Zopa Logo

Analysis | Fintech | 9 Dec

European fintech weekly: After a last-minute fundraise, what lies ahead for Zopa and its lending peers

The story of one of the UK's oldest fintechs to date - and what could be next

Photo of President Macron announcing the French Tech strategy with new director Kat Borlongan in 2018.

Interview | Government | 9 Dec

Inside La French Tech

Government organisation French Tech Mission is leading the way in Europe with its support package for startups. But why does it bother — and is it working? Amy Lewin meets director Kat Borlongan to find out.

Mustafa Suleyman

News | Artificial Intelligence | 6 Dec

DeepMind cofounder Mustafa Suleyman comes out of hiding

Mustafa Suleyman announced on Twitter that he will be joining Google in January after spending 10 years at DeepMind.

News | Venture Capital | 6 Dec

Octopus Ventures loses “trailblazing” associate

Juliette Souliman joined the major European venture firm last year. She is now leaving to start her own fintech fund.

Interview | Agriculture | 6 Dec

Plantix cofounder wants investors to open their eyes to agtech

With 1m users per month in India, Simone Strey runs the world’s largest agtech app. Yet, the cofounder and chief executive of Plantix says the work to help the world’s small-scale farmers is “never, ever done”.

Photo of Katy Campbell, founder of Berlin-based company builder Formation.

Interview | Startup Life | 6 Dec

Formation: the Berlin-based company builder with a difference

It's free, run by volunteers, for underrepresented founders and named after a Beyoncé song. What's not to love about company builder Formation?

Photo of Marta Sjögren (centre left) and Sophia Bendz (centre right) speaking at the Inklusiiv launch event.

News | Startup Life | 6 Dec

What’s Europe done this month for diversity in tech?

A €21m Dutch fund to invest solely in female founders, female venture capital partners call for more female venture capital partners and a pan-European VC internship programme begins.

Opinion | Venture Capital | 5 Dec

Polish startups ensnared by toxic government money

State money is pouring into Polish startups, but entrepreneurs have ended up with toxic investors in their cap tables and financing tied to onerous conditions.

Small robot company tech team and the Tom robot

News | Agriculture | 5 Dec

Goodbye herbicide, hello weed-zapping farmbot

The UK’s Small Robot Company and RootWave partner to develop a non-chemical weed control

Picture of Skoove in action

Analysis | Education | 5 Dec

Top European edtech startups to watch

As Duolingo hits unicorn status, we track down some of Europe's brightest edtech startups, from VR surgery simulations to cyber-security games.

alex basu from Industrifonden

Opinion | Venture Capital | 4 Dec

Technology is stagnating and the venture capital industry is to blame

There is more and more money in tech, but when was the last time you experienced the launch of a product that felt truly revolutionary? We think the venture capital industry is to blame.

Interview | Fintech | 4 Dec

Why these “three old French men” launched a fintech to help millennials save

A former Bank of America exec has cofounded a savings app for the next generation. The business model looks promising, but will millennials take interest?

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Register for the Sifted community

Come along for the ride

It isn’t easy building businesses, working in startups, finding the next generation of star companies, converting clients or running pilots… But it’s less hard when you’re in touch with other people on the same journey.

That’s what our community is for. Join today.

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entrepreneurship

The latest entrepreneurship stories and opinion pieces.

Alice Bentinck EF

“Building teams is actually about quickly breaking up with potential cofounders” – Bookclub with EF’s Alice Bentinck

Building teams, trading off between speed and efficiency and coming of age with Entrepreneur First cofounder Alice Bentinck

technology

The latest technology news and opinion pieces.

Britain’s $1bn robot surgeon startup is taking on “unloved” medtech

The man behind the machine: CMR Surgical's Martin Frost is rolling out robot surgeons into hundreds of hospitals.

startups

The latest startup news and opinion pieces.

What Citymapper did next

It was going to be the transport operating system of cities around the world — and then it wasn’t. As Citymapper ends its ride-hailing service, we ask: what’s next?

venture capital

The latest venture technology news articles and opinion pieces.

IQM Quantum Computing

Europe’s VCs finally leap into quantum

Finland's IQM raises €11.45m in one of the rare VC investments into quantum in Europe.

innovation

The latest innovation news articles and opinion pieces.

Image of a pair of hands helping a drone fly

Drones haven’t yet transformed our skies. Here are four reasons why.

One of the biggest hindrances is lack of a strong business case.

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By entering your email you agree to Sifted’s Terms of Use | Past Newsletters

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Members of the Sifted community get deeper insights and introductions.

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