Latest Sifted View news and analysis from startup Europe

Sifted View

Sifted View is a weekly column from our cofounder and editorial director, John Thornhill. Every Monday, John will cut through the noise with his sharp take on the biggest story shaping European tech. No fluff. No spin. Just the insight and analysis that matters.

Can AI really cure all diseases?
Pro
Sifted View
July 6, 2026
Can AI really cure all diseases?
In an era of 'AI dread', Basecamp’s work is a great reminder of the benefits the technology could yet bring about
John Thornhill
One simple and radical idea to transform Britain’s tech sector
Pro
Sifted View
June 29, 2026
One simple and radical idea to transform Britain’s tech sector
A popular, effective policy that would help boost Britain’s innovation economy and cost the Treasury nothing
John Thornhill
Want to build European AI muscles? Scrap non-compete clauses
Pro
Sifted View
June 22, 2026
Want to build European AI muscles? Scrap non-compete clauses
With so many promising AI startups in Europe, governments should do everything they can to enable growth
John Thornhill
European tech has discovered some swagger
Pro
Sifted View
June 15, 2026
European tech has discovered some swagger
A string of mega deals has brought a new sense of mission and ambition to the continent's tech sector
John Thornhill
Europe cannot remain the last herbivore in a carnivorous world
Pro
Sifted View
June 8, 2026
Europe cannot remain the last herbivore in a carnivorous world
The AI revolution may well have created a fresh opportunity for Europe. As ever, the question is whether it can seize it
John Thornhill
The US and Europe: A tale of two AIs
Pro
Sifted View
June 1, 2026
The US and Europe: A tale of two AIs
While US AI labs sell the future, European startups are helping companies build it themselves
John Thornhill
European sovereignty doesn't mean corporate welfare
Pro
Sifted View
May 25, 2026
European sovereignty doesn't mean corporate welfare
Some fear a protectionist mindset could lead to worse products for European businesses and consumers
John Thornhill
The results are in: Europe really must scale up
Pro
Sifted View
May 19, 2026
The results are in: Europe really must scale up
The VC industry’s funding model is coming under increasing strain
John Thornhill
Legal AI? Apparently, it’s over. Hello, 'Agentic Law'
Pro
Sifted View
May 11, 2026
Legal AI? Apparently, it’s over. Hello, 'Agentic Law'
It will be hard for specialist AI companies to be as fast, or cheap, as Anthropic — but that won't stop them trying
John Thornhill
Europe is zagging on AI while Silicon Valley zigs
Pro
Sifted View
May 4, 2026
Europe is zagging on AI while Silicon Valley zigs
Silicon Valley is doubling down on scale and speed while Europe bets on rules, trust and real-world use — and the gap is widening
John Thornhill
The VC industry needs to reinvent itself
Pro
Sifted View
April 27, 2026
The VC industry needs to reinvent itself
Expect mayhem if a handful of AI market leaders fail to deliver blockbuster IPOs
John Thornhill
Three lessons from Silicon Valley for Europe
Pro
Sifted View
April 20, 2026
Three lessons from Silicon Valley for Europe
Billboards scream AI dominance in San Francisco — but the continent's path may lie elsewhere
John Thornhill
Who gets ahead in VC? Mostly the usual suspects
Pro
Sifted View
April 13, 2026
Who gets ahead in VC? Mostly the usual suspects
New insights on the backgrounds of successful investors are a mix of unsurprising, surprising and depressing.
John Thornhill
Making the most of Europe’s second mover advantage
Pro
Sifted View
March 30, 2026
Making the most of Europe’s second mover advantage
Tech sovereignty is a tough game — so maybe the region's startups should be playing differently
John Thornhill
Politicians are flirting with founders but need to commit
Pro
Sifted View
March 23, 2026
Politicians are flirting with founders but need to commit
Lawmakers across Europe still have a lot of convincing to do
John Thornhill
Londonmaxxing has got my cortisol spiking
Pro
Sifted View
March 16, 2026
Londonmaxxing has got my cortisol spiking
Can the ecosystem's new mantra survive the inevitable next wave of pessimism?
Martin Coulter
SPACs are back. This time they can’t be a dumpster fire for European startups
Pro
Sifted View
March 9, 2026
SPACs are back. This time they can’t be a dumpster fire for European startups
The SPAC comeback tour in Europe puts capital and tech sovereignty in the spotlight
Tom Nugent
Opinionated women in tech: where are you?
Sifted View
March 2, 2026
Opinionated women in tech: where are you?
Europe’s tech debate won’t diversify itself
Mimi Billing
OpenClaw proves you were right about Europe
Pro
Sifted View
February 20, 2026
OpenClaw proves you were right about Europe
Peter Steinberger’s move to OpenAI has been interpreted in predictable ways
Martin Coulter
European tech sovereignty creates fintech opportunities
Pro
Sifted View
February 16, 2026
European tech sovereignty creates fintech opportunities
Young startups may offer a clearer path to independence than older industry players
John Thornhill
What the US tech smackdown means for Europe
Pro
Sifted View
February 9, 2026
What the US tech smackdown means for Europe
A dizzying week of AI developments has left many confused
John Thornhill
European VC is facing a Big Bang
Pro
Sifted View
February 2, 2026
European VC is facing a Big Bang
This year may be exhilarating for European VCs — but there are challenges ahead
John Thornhill
Now it’s time for Europe to get really serious about tech
Pro
Sifted View
January 26, 2026
Now it’s time for Europe to get really serious about tech
Technology is now at the core of the region's national security
John Thornhill
European AI has a power problem
Pro
Sifted View
January 19, 2026
European AI has a power problem
High energy prices will make it difficult for the region to compete long-term
John Thornhill

Sifted View

Can AI really cure all diseases?

One simple and radical idea to transform Britain’s tech sector

Want to build European AI muscles? Scrap non-compete clauses

European tech has discovered some swagger

Europe cannot remain the last herbivore in a carnivorous world

The US and Europe: A tale of two AIs

European sovereignty doesn't mean corporate welfare

The results are in: Europe really must scale up

Legal AI? Apparently, it’s over. Hello, 'Agentic Law'

Europe is zagging on AI while Silicon Valley zigs

The VC industry needs to reinvent itself

Three lessons from Silicon Valley for Europe

Who gets ahead in VC? Mostly the usual suspects

Making the most of Europe’s second mover advantage

Politicians are flirting with founders but need to commit

Londonmaxxing has got my cortisol spiking

SPACs are back. This time they can’t be a dumpster fire for European startups

Opinionated women in tech: where are you?

OpenClaw proves you were right about Europe

European tech sovereignty creates fintech opportunities

What the US tech smackdown means for Europe

European VC is facing a Big Bang

Now it’s time for Europe to get really serious about tech

European AI has a power problem