Tiny VC Partner Philipp Moehring on when to Take Money Off the Table
European seed financing is inflating, with recent rounds like Yann LeCun’s AMI Labs securing $1 billion at a $3 billion valuation and David Silver’s Ineffable Intelligence raising $1 billion at $4 billion. Tiny VC, a micro‑fund founded by Philipp Moehring and Andy Chung, has built a 450‑startup portfolio that includes Wayve, Synthesia, Lawhive and N8n. The firm raised a third £53 million (~$66 million) fund in 2023 and distinguishes itself by shunning board seats, lead roles, and media hype. In a recent Sifted podcast, Moehring discusses the evolving VC landscape and the timing of cashing out investments.
Over 100 Startups Left Waiting for Cash After EU-Funded Body Collapses
The European Institute of Innovation and Technology’s Manufacturing arm (EITM) filed for liquidation, leaving more than 200 startups and SMEs awaiting promised grants of €50 k–€500 k (about $55 k–$545 k) each. The body’s €163 m (≈$178 m) funding line was frozen after the European Anti‑Fraud...
How Many Government AI Initiatives Is Too Many?
The UK government has launched the Sovereign AI fund within the Department for Science, joining a growing list of public bodies that already invest in AI startups, including Innovate UK, the British Business Bank, the National Wealth Fund and ARIA....
Matt Clifford Steps Back From Entrepreneurs First After 15 Years
Matt Clifford, co‑founder of UK accelerator Entrepreneurs First (EF), is stepping back from day‑to‑day duties after 15 years, transitioning to a part‑time advisory role focused on AI and UK tech sovereignty. EF, which he helped launch in 2011, recently raised...
UK Pension Providers Back £200m Fund Aimed at Supercharging Homegrown Startups
The British Growth Partnership has raised a £200 million (~$250 million) fund, backed by pension providers Aegon UK, Cushon and M&G, to channel more domestic capital into UK venture‑capital funds. The British Business Bank serves as the partnership’s GP and also invested,...
Chip Maker Fractile in Talks to Raise $200m at Unicorn Valuation, Reports Say
London‑based AI chip maker Fractile is courting $200 million in new capital at a $1 billion unicorn valuation. The round is being led by Accel and early backer Oxford Science Enterprises, with interest from other investors. Fractile, founded in 2022, develops AI...
Making the Most of Europe’s Second Mover Advantage
Mistral, a French AI startup, is leveraging Europe’s second‑mover advantage to build high‑performance frontier AI models at lower cost than U.S. rivals. By focusing on efficient training pipelines and strategic talent acquisition, the company aims to deliver competitive capabilities without...
OpenAI's Laura Modiano on Hackathons, Lovable and How Startups Can Partner with the Tech Giant
OpenAI has appointed Laura Modiano to head its European startup team, where she actively scouts talent at hackathons, events, and investor gatherings. Modiano shares how she automates outreach, the traits she values in promising AI startups, and her criteria when...
It Isn’t Just London Calling. Here Are the UK’s Most Investable Regions
The United Kingdom now boasts Europe’s only $1 trillion‑plus tech economy, ranking third globally behind the United States and China. Government initiatives such as the Modern Industrial Strategy and the AI Opportunities Action Plan have spurred an 80% jump in AI...
Balderton, AVP in ‘Covert Plot’ to Oust Cognism Founder, Court Hears
A London court heard allegations that Balderton Capital, AVP and other investors orchestrated a covert scheme to remove Cognism’s founder and former CEO. The investors are accused of leveraging board influence and share‑holder votes to force the ouster. Cognism, a...
EIF Launches €15bn Fund of Funds to Back 100 Growth-Stage VCs
The European Investment Fund announced a €15 bn (≈$16.2 bn) fund‑of‑funds, the second European Tech Champions Initiative, to back about 100 growth‑stage venture capital funds across the EU. The program will target mid‑size funds raising €300‑600 m (≈$324‑$648 m) and mega funds of €1 bn...
‘If You Don't Fill Your Roles, You're Simply Missing Out’: The Data Behind Europe’s Talent Gap
European startups are confronting a deepening talent gap, especially in AI, machine learning and data expertise, as three‑quarters of information‑sector employers report unfilled roles. The shortage, once offset by a surplus in 2020, now threatens product launches, market entry and...
Oxford Spinout Raises From Amadeus Capital and OSE to Solve Long-Term Memory Problem in Robotics
Stateful Robotics, an embodied‑AI spinout from the University of Oxford, announced a $4.8 million pre‑seed financing round. The round was led by Amadeus Capital Partners and Oxford Science Enterprises, with angel investor Stan Boland also participating. The capital will be used...
Did Robotics Spinout Rivr Sell to Amazon Too Early?
Amazon announced the acquisition of Rivr, a European four‑legged robot maker, marking the second major robotics deal in the region this year. The purchase, reportedly valued at roughly $200 million, aims to bolster Amazon’s autonomous delivery capabilities. Rivr’s technology, focused on...
Inside WONE’s AI Performance Coach: Optimising for Human Potential, Not Efficiency
AI is accelerating workplace speed while inflating cognitive load, prompting a hidden resilience gap. WONE introduced Ori, an AI performance coach that uses its proprietary Index to detect stress signals before burnout emerges. By embedding real‑time interventions into daily workflows,...
'Revenuemaxxing': The Fastest-Growing Startups in the UK and Ireland
Sifted unveiled its third UK and Ireland Leaderboard, ranking the 100 fastest‑growing startups by revenue growth, alongside a new research report co‑produced with law firm Marriott Harrison. The release coincides with a surge of activity in London, which is outpacing rival...
Index Backs YC Alum Parallel in $20m Series A to Bring AI Agents to Hospitals
Parallel, a Y Combinator alumnus, announced a $20 million Series A round led by Index Ventures. The capital will be used to develop AI‑driven software agents that automate routine administrative tasks in hospitals, such as scheduling, billing, and records management. Parallel aims...
Innovate UK: “We Want to Make It Simpler and Easier for Companies to Work with Us”
Innovate UK, led by Tom Adeyoola, is revamping its approach from pure grant‑making to full‑scale business support. With a £4.4 bn budget to 2030, the agency will adopt an account‑manager model to proactively guide high‑potential firms and streamline applications. It also...
After Months of Wrangling, the EU Unveils 28th Regime Plan: ‘This Is Just the Beginning’
European Union leaders announced the first formal proposal for a new "28th regime" aimed at simplifying cross‑border operations for startups. The framework seeks to harmonise licensing, tax and regulatory requirements across member states, reducing administrative friction. Initial measures include a...
Wellbeing Marketplace Healf Tops Sifted’s Third UK and Ireland Leaderboard
London‑based Healf, a curated high‑end wellbeing marketplace, topped Sifted’s 2026 UK & Ireland leaderboard with a staggering 1,403% two‑year revenue CAGR. The ranking, which measures the fastest‑growing private firms by revenue growth, placed Fuse Energy and Apron in second and...
Hélène Huby, CEO of The Exploration Company: ‘Only the Crazy People Change the World’
Hélène Huby, founder and CEO of The Exploration Company, leads a five‑year‑old spacetech startup that builds reusable, refillable cargo vehicles for low‑Earth‑orbit missions. The firm has already demonstrated semi‑successful cargo deliveries to and from space at a fraction of traditional...
The Anatomy of Venture Capital
The piece reframes venture capital as a body composed of distinct investor archetypes—Brains, Hands, Amygdala, Assholes, and Hearts—each fulfilling a specific function. It argues that these roles, from data‑driven analysts to intuition‑driven believers, are all necessary for the ecosystem to...
Owkin Spinout Waiv Raises $33m to Scale AI-Powered Medical Testing
Waiv, a Paris‑based spinout of Owkin, secured $33 million in a round led by OTB Ventures and Alpha Intelligence Capital. The AI‑driven startup focuses on precise cancer testing, building on Owkin’s established machine‑learning platform. Funding will expand its clinical test portfolio,...
UVC Partners Raises €77m First Close of New Growth Fund in ‘Move Into Multi-Stage Investing’
Munich‑based UVC Partners closed its new growth fund at €77 million, aiming for €150 million by summer, marking a shift toward multi‑stage investing. The fund will write initial checks of up to €15 million and double‑down on existing deep‑tech holdings such as nuclear...
Entrepreneurs First Crowned a Unicorn Following $200m Fundraise
Entrepreneurs First raised $200 million, pushing its valuation to $1.3 billion and achieving unicorn status. The capital influx, backed by Reid Hoffman, Stripe founders, Eric Schmidt and Greylock, will fund the management company and expand its builder‑accelerator model. EF’s portfolio has surged...
Denmark’s Wealth Tax Plan Would Be a Disaster for Startups
Denmark is proposing a wealth tax on illiquid shares, forcing owners of private‑company stock to pay annually on paper valuations. The measure would compel startup founders to liquidate or borrow against equity, diverting capital from growth to tax compliance. Norway’s...
SPACs Are Back. This Time They Can’t Be a Dumpster Fire for European Startups
Special purpose acquisition companies are making a comeback in Europe, highlighted by recent announcements from Finnish quantum computing firm IQM and French quantum startup Pasqal to go public via SPACs. The moves signal renewed investor appetite for rapid, capital‑intensive exits...
SaaSpocalypse: What’s Next for Europe’s SaaS Scaleups and Investors?
A new Claude AI tool for the legal sector triggered a sell‑off in major SaaS stocks, reviving fears that AI‑native startups could displace traditional software giants. The Sifted podcast examines whether Europe’s VC‑backed SaaS scale‑ups can survive this “SaaSpocalypse” and...
AI Upskilling Platform Ivee Raises $1m Seed Round Backed by Steven Bartlett
Ivee, an AI‑focused upskilling platform, announced a $1 million seed round. The round was led by entrepreneur and podcaster Steven Bartlett, with participation from Social Impact Enterprises. Ivee plans to use the capital to broaden its curriculum and help jobseekers master...
Dash0 Targets $1bn Valuation with Balderton-Led Funding Round, Reports Say
Dash0, an AI‑native cloud‑monitoring platform founded in 2023, is in talks with Balderton Capital to lead a new funding round that would value the company at $1 billion, elevating it to unicorn status. The New‑York‑based startup, which retains a strong operational...
‘We Are at Risk’: Mistral CEO Warns Against US Dominance in AI
Mistral CEO Arthur Mensch warned at the AI Impact Summit that a handful of U.S. tech giants are monopolising AI development and infrastructure, creating a risk of excessive leverage. He contrasted Mistral’s €12 bn valuation with OpenAI’s $850 bn-plus market cap, underscoring...
‘We Have some Work to Do’: Nasdaq Stockholm’s President on Losing Klarna to New York
Nasdaq Stockholm’s president warned that the exchange must act after Klarna chose a New York listing, a move that underscores growing competition from U.S. markets. Last year Nasdaq Stockholm and its Nordic peers captured 60% of Europe’s equity capital‑market activity,...
AI-Powered Worksite Safety Startup Fyld Raises £32m Series B
London‑based AI startup Fyld has closed a £32 million Series B round, led by Energy Impact Partners with participation from Partech’s Growth Impact Fund. The funding will fuel the expansion of its real‑time safety and compliance platform for frontline workers into the...
Mistral Seals First Acquisition Deal with Cloud Startup Koyeb
Mistral AI announced its first acquisition, buying French serverless cloud startup Koyeb. The move aims to accelerate Mistral's AI compute offering and build a sovereign AI cloud platform. Mistral, founded in 2023, has raised nearly €2.8 bn and is valued at...
Pigment CEO Eléonore Crespo: 'I'd Rather Learn About AI than Watch a Movie'
Pigment, the Paris‑based business‑planning platform founded in 2019, has become a unicorn valued at over $1 bn after a $145 m Series D round led by ICONIQ Growth and Sandberg Bernthal Venture Partners. The company’s AI agents, launched last year, can perform CFO‑level scenario analysis and...
Atomico and Project A Back Industrial Supply Startup Andercore in $40m Series B
Andercore, an AI‑powered trading platform for industrial supplies, announced a $40 million Series B round. The round was led by venture firms Atomico and Project A. The capital will accelerate product development and expand the platform’s reach across global manufacturers. Andercore aims to...
British Business Bank Takes £25m Stake in Octopus Energy-Spinoff Kraken
The British Business Bank (BBB) has committed £25 million to Kraken, the software arm spun out of Octopus Energy, marking BBB’s largest direct stake in a private firm and valuing Kraken at $8.56 billion. The investment is part of a broader $1 billion...
US Legaltech Unicorn Harvey Is Pushing Hard Into Europe. Can It Win?
Harvey, the US legal‑tech unicorn backed by Andreessen Horowitz, EQT and Evantic, is accelerating its European push with new offices in Paris, Spain and Germany and a growing London team. The company now reports $190 m in annual recurring revenue and...
Lightspeed-Backed Plan A Acquired for €55m
Berlin‑based carbon accounting startup Plan A was acquired by NASDAQ‑listed Diginex for €55 million, comprising €3 million in cash and €52 million in Diginex shares. Founded in 2017, Plan A helps firms quantify environmental impact and has raised $40 million from investors such as...
Multiverse Cut Dozens of Jobs as Losses Widened
London‑based edtech firm Multiverse announced 55 redundancy payments for the year to March 2025, reflecting its first headcount reduction since founding. The company posted a pre‑tax loss of £63.3 million, up £2.6 million year‑on‑year, even as revenue climbed more than a third to...
Europe’s Founders and VCs Share Their New Year Resolutions for 2026
European founders and venture capitalists outlined their 2026 New Year resolutions, emphasizing mental space, delegation, and personal well‑being as they scale fast‑moving startups. Leaders at Tem, Flown, Harmonic Security and TestGorilla pledged to create breathing room and step back from...
From Experiment to Infrastructure: What’s Next for AI?
AI agents dominated 2025 with a record 433 deals, outpacing med‑tech and spreading across cybersecurity, supply‑chain, sales and customer service. Executives at Box and Omnea say firms are shifting from wild experimentation to intentional, outcome‑driven AI strategies, while Bloom & Wild treats...
‘A Missed Opportunity’: What Does the Autumn Budget Mean for UK Startups?
The Autumn Budget introduced modest tweaks to the UK startup tax regime, notably expanding the EMI share‑scheme and doubling investment limits under the Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS). While the EIS increase was praised as a positive surprise, the reduction of...
