# Startups

Photonics mapped: 74 European startups using light to power the AI era
Pro
Market map
November 3, 2026
Photonics mapped: 74 European startups using light to power the AI era
From optical chips to laser weapons, these are the companies turning photons into Europe’s next deeptech export
Ruggero Di Spigna
What I told a room full of Europe's fastest-growing companies
Paid for and produced by
November 2, 2026
What I told a room full of Europe's fastest-growing companies
Zoom's Andreas Klauser on what he told founders, investors and startups at Sifted Summit 2026 about AI, revenue, and why growth breaks down after the conversation ends
Paid for and produced by: Zoom
Missile startup Hypersonica raises €100m from Lightspeed, General Catalyst as missile defence takes off
News
November 2, 2026
Missile startup Hypersonica raises €100m from Lightspeed, General Catalyst as missile defence takes off
The Series B raise reportedly values the startup at around €700m.
Anne Sraders
AI has changed how we work. So why does the office look exactly the same?
Opinion
November 2, 2026
AI has changed how we work. So why does the office look exactly the same?
We’ve barely begun to imagine how to physically house the tech
Éanna Kelly
South Korea is betting on startups to secure its future on the global stage
Sponsored by
October 30, 2026
South Korea is betting on startups to secure its future on the global stage
South Korea is better known globally for its big corporates, but now its tech ecosystem is under pressure to perform just as well
Sponsored by: 123 Factory
Are Europe's fastest-growing startups hiring wrong?
Paid for and produced by
October 29, 2026
Are Europe's fastest-growing startups hiring wrong?
A new category of AI-native hiring tools is emerging, designed specifically for founders and hiring teams moving quickly
Paid for and produced by: Atlast
How to outcompete the ‘warp speed’ AI labs on hiring
How to
October 29, 2026
How to outcompete the ‘warp speed’ AI labs on hiring
Spoiler: it’s very hard. But flexible equity, secondaries and real task ownership can help in the recruitment race
Éanna Kelly
The executive talent market is divided in two
Paid for and produced by
October 28, 2026
The executive talent market is divided in two
As the AI era divides the executive talent pool, businesses should avoid looking for the perfect candidate and prioritise business outcomes and decisive hiring processes
Paid for and produced by: True
How to expand into new markets
How to
October 28, 2026
How to expand into new markets
AI might have made expansion faster and cheaper but it’s not exactly easier
Anisah Osman Britton
Who has the best LinkedIn photo in European tech?
Analysis
October 28, 2026
Who has the best LinkedIn photo in European tech?
We investigated the profile pics of Europe's founders and investors. The results are unlikely to move markets
Éanna Kelly
The climate tech startups still growing despite the funding slowdown
Pro
Analysis
October 28, 2026
The climate tech startups still growing despite the funding slowdown
Pivots, rebrands, new pitches: founders are reinventing themselves as AI takes the spotlight
Éanna Kelly
Are VCs as ‘dangerous’ as Nik Storonsky thinks they are?
Pro
Analysis
October 27, 2026
Are VCs as ‘dangerous’ as Nik Storonsky thinks they are?
Revolut CEO says founders should keep VCs off their boards. But others argue the right investors can be invaluable
Martin Coulter and Anne Sraders
Beyond the EV hype: Why the used-car industry is Europe’s untapped asset
Sponsored by
October 27, 2026
Beyond the EV hype: Why the used-car industry is Europe’s untapped asset
While the European tech world obsesses over the transition to EVs and ride-hailing, Spotawheel is turning the continent’s fleet of unfinanced used cars into a subscription business
Sponsored by: Endeavor Greece
Evertrace acquires Veck to strengthen early founder detection
Paid for and produced by
October 26, 2026
Evertrace acquires Veck to strengthen early founder detection
The acquisition brings Veck’s startup discovery capabilities and customers to Evertrace, which now works with more than 300 venture capital funds worldwide
Paid for and produced by: Evertrace
AI takes the easy decisions; leaders must get comfortable with the hard ones
Paid for and produced by
October 26, 2026
AI takes the easy decisions; leaders must get comfortable with the hard ones
When agents handle the routine calls, what remains for humans is harder, riskier and more exposed
Paid for and produced by: London Business School
Oslo tech struggles to break out of Stockholm's shadow
Pro
Analysis
October 23, 2026
Oslo tech struggles to break out of Stockholm's shadow
Despite the tough market, VCs see promise for Norwegian deeptech
Anne Sraders
14 Italian early stage startups to watch, according to VCs
Pro
Investor survey
October 23, 2026
14 Italian early stage startups to watch, according to VCs
Sifted asked investors from 2100, Vento, United Ventures, Italians Founders for their top picks
Ruggero Di Spigna
Ireland’s AI scene has buzz. Now it needs breakouts
Pro
Analysis
October 22, 2026
Ireland’s AI scene has buzz. Now it needs breakouts
Familiar names dominated the recent AI summit in Dublin, but a scrappier crowd is betting on tech that’s ‘easy to explain to your mam’
Éanna Kelly
More startup ‘mafias’ are coming in Norway, predicts VC
Pro
Interview
October 22, 2026
More startup ‘mafias’ are coming in Norway, predicts VC
Though Oslo's tech scene trails its neighbour Stockholm, some local VCs see promise in physical AI
Anne Sraders
‘I’m 30. I’ve got one more shot’: Reson8’s founder wants to build a European AI giant
Pro
Interview
October 16, 2026
‘I’m 30. I’ve got one more shot’: Reson8’s founder wants to build a European AI giant
After selling his healthcare company to Tandem Health, Thomas Kluiters is betting on voice AI — and says Europe’s founders need to think bigger
Éanna Kelly
Europe’s AI fintech market mapped: 94 startups automating the business of money
Pro
Market map
October 16, 2026
Europe’s AI fintech market mapped: 94 startups automating the business of money
From AI accountants to agents that pay other agents, Sifted maps the startups rebuilding the back office of finance
Ruggero Di Spigna
‘Customers are happier if we provide the full suite’: Why startups are embracing all-in-one finance platforms
Sponsored by
October 15, 2026
‘Customers are happier if we provide the full suite’: Why startups are embracing all-in-one finance platforms
As accounting teams face a talent crunch and a rise in automation, demand for fully integrated financial platforms has never been higher
Sponsored by: Visma
Tandem Health tops Sifted’s ranking of 100 standout AI startups in Europe
News
October 15, 2026
Tandem Health tops Sifted’s ranking of 100 standout AI startups in Europe
The top AI challengers are a healthcare platform, an enterprise agent builder and an industrial automation firm
Éanna Kelly
How I became a community manager at Lovable
Interview
October 14, 2026
How I became a community manager at Lovable
Sending a CV and cover letter isn’t enough. You also need to do ‘unhinged shit’ to stand out, says Sophie Rogers
Éanna Kelly

# Startups

Photonics mapped: 74 European startups using light to power the AI era

What I told a room full of Europe's fastest-growing companies

Missile startup Hypersonica raises €100m from Lightspeed, General Catalyst as missile defence takes off

AI has changed how we work. So why does the office look exactly the same?

South Korea is betting on startups to secure its future on the global stage

Are Europe's fastest-growing startups hiring wrong?

How to outcompete the ‘warp speed’ AI labs on hiring

The executive talent market is divided in two

How to expand into new markets

Who has the best LinkedIn photo in European tech?

The climate tech startups still growing despite the funding slowdown

Are VCs as ‘dangerous’ as Nik Storonsky thinks they are?

Beyond the EV hype: Why the used-car industry is Europe’s untapped asset

Evertrace acquires Veck to strengthen early founder detection

AI takes the easy decisions; leaders must get comfortable with the hard ones

Oslo tech struggles to break out of Stockholm's shadow

14 Italian early stage startups to watch, according to VCs

Ireland’s AI scene has buzz. Now it needs breakouts

More startup ‘mafias’ are coming in Norway, predicts VC

‘I’m 30. I’ve got one more shot’: Reson8’s founder wants to build a European AI giant

Europe’s AI fintech market mapped: 94 startups automating the business of money

‘Customers are happier if we provide the full suite’: Why startups are embracing all-in-one finance platforms

Tandem Health tops Sifted’s ranking of 100 standout AI startups in Europe

How I became a community manager at Lovable