# Investigations

Inside Pleo's culture crisis: Executive exodus, unhappy staff and sale speculation
Pro
Investigations
August 7, 2026
Inside Pleo's culture crisis: Executive exodus, unhappy staff and sale speculation
Ex-employees say the Danish fintech has ‘lost its soul completely’
Damisola Sulaiman
'Chaotic and second-class’: UK's flagship female founder fund faces criticism
Pro
Investigations
March 6, 2026
'Chaotic and second-class’: UK's flagship female founder fund faces criticism
Two years after the launch of the UK’s Invest in Women Taskforce, its flagship fund of funds is yet to deploy any capital
Amy Lewin
Klaus Hommels: the divisive VC at the centre of European defence tech
Pro
Investigations
November 19, 2025
Klaus Hommels: the divisive VC at the centre of European defence tech
Hommels has earned a venerable reputation in European VC and defence — but his web of investments have raised questions about potential conflicts of interest
Anne Sraders, Freya Pratty and Miriam Partington
Nvidia-backed Nscale plagued by infighting, botched acquisition and IP lawsuit
Pro
Investigations
November 5, 2025
Nvidia-backed Nscale plagued by infighting, botched acquisition and IP lawsuit
The data centre startup is central to Labour's long-term AI strategy
Freya Pratty and Martin Coulter
Owkin staff criticise ‘huge managerial issues’ as French unicorn moves to AI agents
Pro
Investigations
August 7, 2025
Owkin staff criticise ‘huge managerial issues’ as French unicorn moves to AI agents
CEO Thomas Clozel admits the company has not ‘been perfect’ at handling HR issues
Daphné Leprince-Ringuet
Founders call for FCA to regulate “wild west” of fundraising advisors
Investigations
July 3, 2025
Founders call for FCA to regulate “wild west” of fundraising advisors
Analysis of fundraising advisors shows very few are regulated by the FCA, even though frameworks exist
Freya Pratty and Miriam Partington
Inside the unravelling of the €1bn NATO Innovation Fund: alleged conflicts of interest, departures and disorganisation at the alliance’s big VC bet
Pro
Investigations
June 24, 2025
Inside the unravelling of the €1bn NATO Innovation Fund: alleged conflicts of interest, departures and disorganisation at the alliance’s big VC bet
The fund, which is backed by 24 NATO countries, was a bold bet to increase innovation in the alliance. So far it’s in disarray.
Anne Sraders and Freya Pratty
Lawsuit puts Checkout.com's ties to adult entertainment industry in spotlight
Investigations
March 7, 2025
Lawsuit puts Checkout.com's ties to adult entertainment industry in spotlight
An ongoing lawsuit threatens to dredge up Checkout.com's relationship to ‘vice’ industries, by linking it to a mysterious Cypriot entity
Tom Matsuda and Freya Pratty
VC firm faces questions over £110m of UK public money acquired without competitive process
Investigations
March 3, 2025
VC firm faces questions over £110m of UK public money acquired without competitive process
Government officials and LPs have questioned the Tory-linked VC’s suitability for the project
Freya Pratty and Kai Nicol-Schwarz
Inside Gloucester Circus: the family office which managed to catfish London’s VC ecosystem
Investigations
December 16, 2024
Inside Gloucester Circus: the family office which managed to catfish London’s VC ecosystem
“Everyone knew of him, but no one really knew him"
Freya Pratty and Miriam Partington
Lawsuit claims VC firm Target Global ‘concealed’ company’s links to Russia
Investigations
October 10, 2023
Lawsuit claims VC firm Target Global ‘concealed’ company’s links to Russia
The firm also confirmed to Sifted that sanctioned oligarch Alexander Abramov was previously an LP
Freya Pratty and Eleanor Warnock
Founder of VC firm DN Capital accused of sexual harassment by former employees — allegations he denies
Investigations
August 14, 2023
Founder of VC firm DN Capital accused of sexual harassment by former employees — allegations he denies
The firm has opened an independent inquiry into the allegations against Nenad Marovac
Tim Smith and Freya Pratty
The quiet offshore fund used by Roman Abramovich to back UK tech
Investigations
June 27, 2023
The quiet offshore fund used by Roman Abramovich to back UK tech
The Russian billionaire used an offshore fund based in the British Virgin Islands to back UK tech.
Freya Pratty
Inside Pollen: The startup that’s just raised $150m but owes 'thousands’ to customers
Investigations
June 1, 2022
Inside Pollen: The startup that’s just raised $150m but owes 'thousands’ to customers
Fresh from cutting 22% of its full-time workforce, the events business is under fire from customers and former employees.
Freya Pratty and Eanna Kelly
Travis Kalanick is building a secretive dark kitchen empire in Europe
Investigations
August 6, 2021
Travis Kalanick is building a secretive dark kitchen empire in Europe
Company filings suggest the controversial Uber founder is growing a dark kitchen business across Europe.
Freya Pratty
Gorillas: The new WeWork?
Investigations
August 2, 2021
Gorillas: The new WeWork?
What does the future hold for on-demand grocery startup Gorillas?
Miriam Partington and Freya Pratty

# Investigations

Inside Pleo's culture crisis: Executive exodus, unhappy staff and sale speculation

'Chaotic and second-class’: UK's flagship female founder fund faces criticism

Klaus Hommels: the divisive VC at the centre of European defence tech

Nvidia-backed Nscale plagued by infighting, botched acquisition and IP lawsuit

Owkin staff criticise ‘huge managerial issues’ as French unicorn moves to AI agents

Founders call for FCA to regulate “wild west” of fundraising advisors

Inside the unravelling of the €1bn NATO Innovation Fund: alleged conflicts of interest, departures and disorganisation at the alliance’s big VC bet

Lawsuit puts Checkout.com's ties to adult entertainment industry in spotlight

VC firm faces questions over £110m of UK public money acquired without competitive process

Inside Gloucester Circus: the family office which managed to catfish London’s VC ecosystem

Lawsuit claims VC firm Target Global ‘concealed’ company’s links to Russia

Founder of VC firm DN Capital accused of sexual harassment by former employees — allegations he denies

The quiet offshore fund used by Roman Abramovich to back UK tech

Inside Pollen: The startup that’s just raised $150m but owes 'thousands’ to customers

Travis Kalanick is building a secretive dark kitchen empire in Europe

Gorillas: The new WeWork?