Startup Europe — The Sifted Podcast
Get to know the brightest and boldest names in European tech with Sifted’s weekly podcast, hosted by Amy Lewin. She interviews the founders, operators and investors building Europe’s most exciting startups and, in conversation with Sifted’s expert journalists, pulls back the curtain on the most intriguing companies they’ve been reporting on.
Latest episodes
Aug 31, 2023 • 24min
Klarna is back in black after a tough 2022
This week we discuss:02:55 US AI startup Poolside raises $126m seed round and relocates to France05:50 Klarna cuts losses and sees “huge opportunity” in generative AI08:10 N26 CPO Gilles BianRosa steps down, becomes supervisory board member08:42 Babylon finds buyer for its UK business (and GP at Hand service)10:02 Dutch VC PhotonVentures bets all on photonic chips with new €100m fund16:23 Hackers are watching your startup. Not many are prepared for the attack
Aug 24, 2023 • 30min
Getir is laying off 2,500 employees to try and survive
This podcast discusses weight-loss drugs in Europe, struggles of Getir, NorthVolt's funding raise, Scottish startup ENOUGH fundraise, NatureMetrics' biodiversity focus, and the impact of the global run on AI hardware on startups.
Aug 17, 2023 • 15min
Founder of a top European VC firm accused of sexual harassment
Allegations of sexual harassment and workplace misconduct at a top European VC firm. DN Capital's founder accused of bullying and creating a culture of misogyny. DN Capital denies allegations and launches an independent investigation. Discussion on the broader implications of mistreatment of women in the male-dominated venture capital industry. Challenges faced by individuals in speaking out against misconduct at VC firms. Reflections on the impact and reaction to the allegations, emphasizing the need for change within the industry.
Aug 10, 2023 • 27min
Which buyer can save Babylon from bankruptcy?
This week we discuss:01:10 How much RingCentral paid for those Hopin assets Was Hopin really such a failure?03:41 Dutch startup Meatable raises $35m to scale cultivated pork products07:58 Build-a-bot workshop: deepset.ai raises $30m for personalised AI models10:58 Who's going to buy Babylon?19:20 The machines have eyes: How GenAI is giving warehouse robots vision
Aug 3, 2023 • 29min
Hopin: how a $7bn startup fell down in a heap
This week we discuss:01:07 Johnny Boufarhat steps down as CEO of Hopin04:55 Prima Materia makes third startup investment — into longevity08:31 European VCs see exodus of women investors11:58 The ‘crazy’ £20bn subsea cable to bring Moroccan solar power to the UK22:38 Can French startups overcome their elitist image?
Jul 27, 2023 • 19min
Why did VCs' favourite e-bike go bankrupt?
This week we discuss:Getir calls on staff to go door-to-door with goodie bags as cashflow problems persist (1:36)Eurazeo's growth team quits to start new fund (5:31)VanMoof: What happened to VCs' favourite bike? (8:42)Are Oura rings and executive coaches the answer to founder burnout? (12:46)
Jul 20, 2023 • 60min
Interview: Passion Capital's Eileen Burbidge on crisis talks at Monzo and building a reproductive healthcare company
We're back with another longer form interview and this week we're joined by Eileen Burbidge, cofounder of London-based, early-stage VC firm Passion Capital and director at reproductive healthcare company Fertifa. She came into the studio to reflect on the differences between Silicon Valley and London, her time at Monzo and how she wants to fix reproductive healthcare in Europe.
Jul 13, 2023 • 33min
Inside Paris's booming AI scene
This week we discuss:02:00 UK government unveils plan to direct £75bn from pension funds to startups05:30 5 key questions that the Mansion House Compact doesn’t answer07:34 The startup creating AI jobs for humans: Prolific raises £25m 10:39 Causaly raises $60m Series B to give scientists instant access to 'all of biology' 13:15 Aphea.Bio raises €70m Series C 24:00 Paris is burning (VC investor cash on AI startups) — Link coming soon
Jul 6, 2023 • 28min
Spotify founder’s new startup finally comes out of stealth with €60m investment
Our competition to win a ticket for the Sifted Summit has now closed, thanks for entering if you took part! We're still keen to learn more about who listens to the podcast, please take this five-question survey if you have a minute to spare: https://ftx.typeform.com/to/L2ai27FuThis week we discuss:02:14 Spotify founder Daniel Ek’s Neko Health raises €60m Series A amid European expansion plans 06:38 'An inkjet printer for the periodic table' — VSParticle raises €14.5m09:14 Arrival loses key finance lifelines as troubles mount13:47 Britishvolt cofounder pins new hope on Italian gigafactory20:11 I am a successful founder — and it’s the worst job I’ve ever had
Jun 29, 2023 • 28min
Millions in shareholder value wiped out as Babylon delists
Our competition to win a ticket for the Sifted Summit has now closed, thanks for entering if you took part! We're still keen to learn more about who listens to the podcast, please take this five-question survey if you have a minute to spare: https://ftx.typeform.com/to/L2ai27FuThis week we discuss:01:51 Data roaming outside the EU still sucks — but the AUTO1 founder’s new startup wants to fix it06:31 The German spacetech planning to fire stem cell 'organoids' into orbit10:31 Babylon shareholders wiped out as healthtech agrees to delist12:55 Startup boards are still a boys' club — 45% have no female representation17:58 'The G-spot of Europe': how Vilnius is trying to attract international tech talent
