The latest startup news and analysis from Europe

18 Polish startups to watch, according to investors
Venture capitalList
February 23, 2026
18 Polish startups to watch, according to investors
Investors from Smok Capital, OTB Ventures, Cofounder VC and others share their picks
By Maya Dharampal-Hornby
Pro
OpenClaw proves you were right about Europe
AI agentsSifted View
February 20, 2026
OpenClaw proves you were right about Europe
Peter Steinberg’s move to OpenAI has been interpreted in predictable ways
By Martin Coulter
Pro
Can European VC portfolios weather a SaaSpocalypse?
Venture capitalAnalysis
February 20, 2026
Can European VC portfolios weather a SaaSpocalypse?
If older SaaS companies fail to compete with AI-native startups, it could leave VCs sitting on portfolios that aren’t growing at the pace LPs like to see
By Freya Pratty and Anne Sraders
Pro
Long timelines, heavy capex and zero margin for error: What makes a spacetech startup?
SpacetechSponsored by
February 20, 2026
Long timelines, heavy capex and zero margin for error: What makes a spacetech startup?
Building for space means navigating deeptech complexity, government support and funding timelines not designed for decade-long work
Sponsored by HSBC Innovation Banking

Nik Storonsky’s QuantumLight targets $500m for second fund
Venture capitalExclusive
January 23, 2026
Nik Storonsky’s QuantumLight targets $500m for second fund
QuantumLight prides itself on making AI-driven investment decisions
By Freya Pratty and Tom Matsuda
Pro
Operator-led VC firm Plural targeting up to €1bn for new fund
Venture capitalExclusive
January 20, 2026
Operator-led VC firm Plural targeting up to €1bn for new fund
Four years after launch, Plural would be managing one of Europe’s largest funds
By Freya Pratty, Anne Sraders and Amy Lewin
Pro
British Business Bank takes £25m stake in Octopus Energy-spinoff Kraken
EnergyNews
January 20, 2026
British Business Bank takes £25m stake in Octopus Energy-spinoff Kraken
The bank has also pledged £50m apiece to two UK deep tech funds
By Freya Pratty
Solo GP Andreas Klinger raises €15m for European robotics, automation and AI
Venture capitalInterview
January 19, 2026
Solo GP Andreas Klinger raises €15m for European robotics, automation and AI
The fund will write first cheques of $200k-500k into 30-40 companies, with around one-third reserved for follow-on investments
By Tom Nugent
Pro

The 102 European startups that doubled their headcount (and then some) in 2025
Artificial intelligenceAnalysis
January 19, 2026
The 102 European startups that doubled their headcount (and then some) in 2025
The 102 startups that grew by more than 100% in 2025
By Hessa Alabbas and Jonathan Sinclair
Pro
Peec AI brought the SF mindset to Berlin. Can it fend off its rivals?
Artificial intelligenceProfile
January 16, 2026
Peec AI brought the SF mindset to Berlin. Can it fend off its rivals?
The German startup touts its ARR, speedy hiring and fast growth. Can its AI search platform ward off the competition?
By Anne Sraders and Miriam Partington
Pro
Inside Helsinki’s bet to win the race for international tech talent
Startup lifeSponsored by
January 13, 2026
Inside Helsinki’s bet to win the race for international tech talent
Startups in the Finnish capital raised €579m in funding in 2025 — here’s how they’re luring in international talent
Sponsored by Helsinki Partners
Angel investors most likely to behave inappropriately towards founders, new survey finds
Venture capitalData
January 14, 2026
Angel investors most likely to behave inappropriately towards founders, new survey finds
"Silence is being used as a pragmatic survival strategy"
By Freya Pratty

Revolut scraps US bank acquisition in push for standalone licence, reports say
FintechNews
January 23, 2026
Revolut scraps US bank acquisition in push for standalone licence, reports say
Fintech reportedly betting on Trump administration’s ‘light-touch’ regulation
By Tom Matsuda
Crypto unicorn Ledger preps $4bn IPO in the US, reports say
CryptoNews
January 23, 2026
Crypto unicorn Ledger preps $4bn IPO in the US, reports say
The scaleup has reportedly tapped bankers at Goldman Sachs, Jefferies and Barclays to work on the deal
By Daphné Leprince-Ringuet
Fintech unicorn Pennylane raises €175m round at €3.6bn valuation
B2B fintechNews
January 20, 2026
Fintech unicorn Pennylane raises €175m round at €3.6bn valuation
The Series E round comes less than a year after the startup raised a €75m Series D
By Daphné Leprince-Ringuet
Revolut in talks to buy Turkish neobank FUPS
FintechNews
January 7, 2026
Revolut in talks to buy Turkish neobank FUPS
Sifted reported in September that the UK fintech had hired several executives to spearhead its plans in Turkey
By Tom Matsuda

Turning summer sun to winter power: Energy resilience startup builds first factory for the Danish market
EnergyAnalysis
January 12, 2026
Turning summer sun to winter power: Energy resilience startup builds first factory for the Danish market
The solid hydrogen solution has so far attracted thousands of Danish signups
By Mimi Billing
Pro
Ex-Northvolt CEO speaks out: ‘It was like pouring diesel on a fire’
DeeptechInterview
November 25, 2025
Ex-Northvolt CEO speaks out: ‘It was like pouring diesel on a fire’
Peter Carlsson sits down with Sifted one year after resigning as Northvolt CEO
By Mimi Billing
Pro
Bolt partners with China’s Pony AI to bring self-driving taxis to Europe
Artificial intelligenceNews
November 25, 2025
Bolt partners with China’s Pony AI to bring self-driving taxis to Europe
The mobility unicorn aims to have fully autonomous taxi rides in the EU in 2027
By Mimi Billing
‘A trillion-dollar industry’: Startups are tackling Europe’s critical materials problem
MineralsAnalysis
November 24, 2025
‘A trillion-dollar industry’: Startups are tackling Europe’s critical materials problem
From mining reserves at home to using AI to create substitute materials, European startups are trying to reduce Europe’s dependence on imported critical materials
By Daphné Leprince-Ringuet
Pro

The inventor behind humanoid startup 1X is back building robots for the factory floor
RoboticsInterview
January 23, 2026
The inventor behind humanoid startup 1X is back building robots for the factory floor
Physical Robotics wants its robots on customer sites by Q3 this year and plans to produce 100k robots by the end of 2031
By Tom Nugent
Pro
Nvidia in talks to back Yann LeCun’s new AI startup in bumper funding round
Artificial intelligenceExclusive
January 22, 2026
Nvidia in talks to back Yann LeCun’s new AI startup in bumper funding round
The startup's round was quickly oversubscribed, sources tell Sifted, with the final close expected to be higher than €500m
By Daphné Leprince-Ringuet and Anne Sraders
Pro
Nu Quantum CEO: ‘This will be a multi-billion dollar business’
QuantumThe big interview
January 21, 2026
Nu Quantum CEO: ‘This will be a multi-billion dollar business’
Cambridge-based startup pioneered quantum networking — and is determined to ‘dominate’ the sector
By Daphné Leprince-Ringuet
Pro
Exclusive: Ananda Impact Ventures closes €73m for new deeptech fund
DeeptechExclusive
January 19, 2026
Exclusive: Ananda Impact Ventures closes €73m for new deeptech fund
The firm targets a final close at €108m, which it expects to reach this year
By Daphné Leprince-Ringuet
Pro

Building femtech with customer buy-in: Inside Daya's contrarian playbook
FemtechAnalysis
November 27, 2025
Building femtech with customer buy-in: Inside Daya's contrarian playbook
Founded two years ago, this venture studio aims to build femtech startups that solve real issues in women’s health
By Mimi Billing
Pro
The ex-Macron advisor taking on healthtech: ‘I was frustrated by everything we weren’t achieving’
Digital healthThe big interview
November 26, 2025
The ex-Macron advisor taking on healthtech: ‘I was frustrated by everything we weren’t achieving’
Ismaël Emelien worked with French president Emmanuel Macron for years before launching his own startup
By Daphné Leprince-Ringuet
Pro
Men’s health startup Manual secures $120m facility from General Catalyst
HealthtechNews
November 13, 2025
Men’s health startup Manual secures $120m facility from General Catalyst
CEO tells Sifted the cash injection has been used to market the startup’s services
By Maya Dharampal-Hornby and Martin Coulter
Pro
How to get a job at Tandem Health: ‘If you’re just looking for a job, I wouldn’t come here’
HealthtechHow to
November 11, 2025
How to get a job at Tandem Health: ‘If you’re just looking for a job, I wouldn’t come here’
Sweden’s buzzy startup’s team has ballooned from fourteen to ninety over the last year
By Maya Dharampal-Hornby
Pro

On startup Europe,for startup Europe

Top stories

Top stories

18 Polish startups to watch, according to investors

OpenClaw proves you were right about Europe

Can European VC portfolios weather a SaaSpocalypse?

Long timelines, heavy capex and zero margin for error: What makes a spacetech startup?

Nik Storonsky’s QuantumLight targets $500m for second fund

Operator-led VC firm Plural targeting up to €1bn for new fund

British Business Bank takes £25m stake in Octopus Energy-spinoff Kraken

Solo GP Andreas Klinger raises €15m for European robotics, automation and AI

The 102 European startups that doubled their headcount (and then some) in 2025

Peec AI brought the SF mindset to Berlin. Can it fend off its rivals?

Inside Helsinki’s bet to win the race for international tech talent

Angel investors most likely to behave inappropriately towards founders, new survey finds

Revolut scraps US bank acquisition in push for standalone licence, reports say

Crypto unicorn Ledger preps $4bn IPO in the US, reports say

Fintech unicorn Pennylane raises €175m round at €3.6bn valuation

Revolut in talks to buy Turkish neobank FUPS

Turning summer sun to winter power: Energy resilience startup builds first factory for the Danish market

Ex-Northvolt CEO speaks out: ‘It was like pouring diesel on a fire’

Bolt partners with China’s Pony AI to bring self-driving taxis to Europe

‘A trillion-dollar industry’: Startups are tackling Europe’s critical materials problem

The inventor behind humanoid startup 1X is back building robots for the factory floor

Nvidia in talks to back Yann LeCun’s new AI startup in bumper funding round

Nu Quantum CEO: ‘This will be a multi-billion dollar business’

Exclusive: Ananda Impact Ventures closes €73m for new deeptech fund

Building femtech with customer buy-in: Inside Daya's contrarian playbook

The ex-Macron advisor taking on healthtech: ‘I was frustrated by everything we weren’t achieving’

Men’s health startup Manual secures $120m facility from General Catalyst

How to get a job at Tandem Health: ‘If you’re just looking for a job, I wouldn’t come here’

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Cleo CEO Barney Hussey-Yeo wants to build a £100bn company — and save Western democracy

UK government-backed photonics chip startup targets $100m+ Series B

Frontline Ventures backs ‘OpenClaw for founders’ in $4.3m raise

Insiders report ‘very anti-US vibe’ at Europe’s top defence conference

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