Amy O'Brien

Amy O'Brien is a reporter at Sifted. She covers fintech and writes our weekly fintech newsletter . Follow her on X and LinkedIn

German fintech unicorn Trade Republic is granted a full EU banking licence
News
December 6, 2023
German fintech unicorn Trade Republic is granted a full EU banking licence
The licence will allow the fintech to hold customer deposits, making it less reliant on revenue from payment for order flow
Amy O'Brien
Revolut overtakes N26 and Klarna in spawning alumni founders
Analysis
December 6, 2023
Revolut overtakes N26 and Klarna in spawning alumni founders
A growing number of employees that cut their teeth at Europe’s first generation of fintech unicorns are seizing the downturn as a time to spin out on their own
Amy O'Brien
‘2023 was a tough year’: DeepL’s CEO on keeping up with AI’s pace of change
News
December 4, 2023
‘2023 was a tough year’: DeepL’s CEO on keeping up with AI’s pace of change
The CEO of the recently-minted AI translation unicorn says it’s had its work cut out keeping up with the current pace of change in the sector
Amy O'Brien
Robinhood makes second foray into Europe with UK launch
News
November 30, 2023
Robinhood makes second foray into Europe with UK launch
The stock trading app aborted its first attempt to launch in the UK back in 2020
Amy O'Brien
A new wave of founders are turning from fintech to climate tech
Analysis
November 28, 2023
A new wave of founders are turning from fintech to climate tech
Safi joins a growing group of climate techs that have experienced fintech operators at the helm
Amy O'Brien
Luko placed in receivership as investors grow wary of insurtech
News
November 24, 2023
Luko placed in receivership as investors grow wary of insurtech
Incumbent insurer Admiral pulled out of a €14m deal to acquire Luko after fresh audits of its business
Amy O'Brien
Inside Generali’s move into tech investing
News
November 22, 2023
Inside Generali’s move into tech investing
Italian insurer Generali has invested in Speedinvest, Dawn Capital and Mundi Ventures, and has its eye on more direct investing in future
Amy O'Brien
Luko nears new rescue deal after Admiral drops acquisition
News
November 15, 2023
Luko nears new rescue deal after Admiral drops acquisition
The Accel-backed insurtech is on the cusp of finding a new buyer after Admiral pulled out of its planned acquisition a fortnight ago
Amy O'Brien
Serial entrepreneurs are returning home to Italy to found their next companies. That’s a good thing for local tech
Analysis
November 9, 2023
Serial entrepreneurs are returning home to Italy to found their next companies. That’s a good thing for local tech
Serial founders are bringing their brains — and deep pockets — back to their home country
Amy O'Brien
Revolut’s interim CFO revealed, as search for Group CFO continues
News
November 7, 2023
Revolut’s interim CFO revealed, as search for Group CFO continues
Victor Stinga is signing off the group’s next set of accounts, which are due to be filed by the end of the year
Amy O'Brien
Regulators are cracking down on banking software startups. That's bad news for Europe's fintechs
Analysis
November 7, 2023
Regulators are cracking down on banking software startups. That's bad news for Europe's fintechs
It’s not lack of funding that’s keeping fintech CEOs awake at night, it’s their software providers
Amy O'Brien
Klarna reports first quarterly profit in four years
News
November 6, 2023
Klarna reports first quarterly profit in four years
It comes as the fintech sets up a UK holding company in preparation for an IPO
Amy O'Brien
Why the world’s largest asset manager wants to work with European fintechs like Monzo
Interview
November 6, 2023
Why the world’s largest asset manager wants to work with European fintechs like Monzo
The world’s largest asset manager wants to tap into the continent’s fast-growing market of first-time investors
Amy O'Brien
Revolut hires ex-Molo CEO Francesca Carlesi as new UK banking chief
News
November 2, 2023
Revolut hires ex-Molo CEO Francesca Carlesi as new UK banking chief
Carlesi will take the helm this December at the entity that’s still awaiting a banking licence
Amy O'Brien
Benetton scion moves into tech investing with new €30m fund
October 31, 2023
Benetton scion moves into tech investing with new €30m fund
Alessandro Benetton is the pre-eminent LP behind a new early-stage VC firm, 2100 Ventures
Amy O'Brien
Is this the only European fintech that’s cracked the US?
Analysis
October 26, 2023
Is this the only European fintech that’s cracked the US?
European consumer fintechs’ attempts to conquer the US have ended badly. Is Cleo AI the first UK fintech to buck this trend?
Amy O'Brien
VCTs are proving resilient in the downturn, data shows
Analysis
October 24, 2023
VCTs are proving resilient in the downturn, data shows
VCT fundraising is down 4% in 2023, in contrast to venture’s 50% dip
Amy O'Brien
Payments fintech Modulr agrees with regulator to stop onboarding new customers
News
October 16, 2023
Payments fintech Modulr agrees with regulator to stop onboarding new customers
The PayPal Ventures-backed embedded payments provider says it’s working with the UK financial regulator on its “systems and processes”
Amy O'Brien
Milan’s BonusX raises €3.2m to take on Italy’s benefits bureaucracy
News
October 11, 2023
Milan’s BonusX raises €3.2m to take on Italy’s benefits bureaucracy
Growing up in Naples, BonusX’s cofounders saw how the complexity of making benefits and tax claims in Italy was making people poorer
Amy O'Brien
Freaked out by the Paris bed bug infestation? There’s now a startup for that
Interview
October 10, 2023
Freaked out by the Paris bed bug infestation? There’s now a startup for that
Cambridge-HQ’d Spotta might not be able to get rid of the bed bugs currently taking Paris by storm, but it says it can help the city stop them from coming back
Amy O'Brien
Italy used to be a startup desert. Now there are signs of life
Analysis
October 9, 2023
Italy used to be a startup desert. Now there are signs of life
More successful Italians are returning home to build and family offices are backing more tech companies
Amy O'Brien
Monzo hires new US CEO for second shot at the market — and rules out crypto
News
October 4, 2023
Monzo hires new US CEO for second shot at the market — and rules out crypto
Cracking the US market has proved mission impossible for European fintechs so far — but the neobank is bullish on its second attempt
Sadia Nowshin and Amy O'Brien
M&A advisors: Who to bring in when you’re looking to sell
Analysis
October 3, 2023
M&A advisors: Who to bring in when you’re looking to sell
M&A professionals predict that European startup consolidation will gain speed in the fourth quarter. But startups looking to sell can’t do it on their own
Amy O'Brien
Agnelli’s John Elkann: Why one of Italy’s wealthiest families is betting big on Italian tech
Interview
October 2, 2023
Agnelli’s John Elkann: Why one of Italy’s wealthiest families is betting big on Italian tech
The Exor CEO on why the company has begun investing in Italy’s nascent tech scene
Amy O'Brien

Amy O'Brien

German fintech unicorn Trade Republic is granted a full EU banking licence

Revolut overtakes N26 and Klarna in spawning alumni founders

‘2023 was a tough year’: DeepL’s CEO on keeping up with AI’s pace of change

Robinhood makes second foray into Europe with UK launch

A new wave of founders are turning from fintech to climate tech

Luko placed in receivership as investors grow wary of insurtech

Inside Generali’s move into tech investing

Luko nears new rescue deal after Admiral drops acquisition

Serial entrepreneurs are returning home to Italy to found their next companies. That’s a good thing for local tech

Revolut’s interim CFO revealed, as search for Group CFO continues

Regulators are cracking down on banking software startups. That's bad news for Europe's fintechs

Klarna reports first quarterly profit in four years

Why the world’s largest asset manager wants to work with European fintechs like Monzo

Revolut hires ex-Molo CEO Francesca Carlesi as new UK banking chief

Benetton scion moves into tech investing with new €30m fund

Is this the only European fintech that’s cracked the US?

VCTs are proving resilient in the downturn, data shows

Payments fintech Modulr agrees with regulator to stop onboarding new customers

Milan’s BonusX raises €3.2m to take on Italy’s benefits bureaucracy

Freaked out by the Paris bed bug infestation? There’s now a startup for that

Italy used to be a startup desert. Now there are signs of life

Monzo hires new US CEO for second shot at the market — and rules out crypto

M&A advisors: Who to bring in when you’re looking to sell

Agnelli’s John Elkann: Why one of Italy’s wealthiest families is betting big on Italian tech