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Hi Sifted reader,

Selecting the right investor has never been a straightforward task, but it's become especially important in a year where valuations are heading downwards. But fear not, Speechmatics CEO Katy Wigdahl is here to share her wisdom on valuations and investors.

Find that in today's issue, plus…

• Europe’s "unicorn universities"
• Coding in a warzone
• The rise of European biotechs

— Sophie, writer & Tom, digital editor

Last year, 78 unicorns emerged from Europe alone — but what do their founders have in common? Looking at unicorn founders’ resumes, it’s clear that some universities top the list — with one university producing over 500 founders and 18 unicorns. 

Using the latest Dealroom data, Sifted looked into which universities had the most unicorn founders amongst their alumni. 

Here’s where you should be looking for the next unicorn founders.

Open-source drug discovery. Personalised medicine. Sustainable fuels. These might sound futuristic, but a new generation of biotech companies are already working on the technology to make them possible. 

These developments have caught the attention of VCs, who’ve poured $17.5bn into European biotech startups since 2020 and given the sector two whole new names: “Bio 2.0” and “techbio”.

Should you be paying more attention to techbio too?

Getting the biggest valuations and proclaiming yourself a soonicorn sounds snazzy. But the process of finding the right investor is much more nuanced than that, writes Katy Wigdahl, CEO of Speechmatics. 

There are a myriad factors founders need to consider when picking the right investors: time pressures, support, deliverability and shared goals and more. That’s why being pragmatic is key to finding the right investor who can work with you for years to come.

Here’s all you need to know about picking the right investor.

Tech talent is distributed across the world, and it’s about time tech companies took advantage of this. Amidst a global shortage of skilled developers, hiring from abroad gives companies a competitive edge.

For coders like Akeem, who works in Afghanistan, remote work has also offered them the chance to shine — and a lifeline amid Taliban rule.

Here's why you should consider hiring from further afield. 

If cybercrime was a country, it would be the world’s third-largest economy. So what’s the solution? Our latest video, in partnership with TrueLayer, explores whether open banking could be the key to solving the world’s fraud problem.

Find the answers here.

Sifted Summit 2022 | London | October 5-6

What do Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill, Northvolt’s Emma Nehrenheim and HealX’s Tim Guilliams have in common? They’re all speaking at this year’s Sifted Summit!

Will you be there too?

Sifted Talks | Online | August 17 

Remote work is going nowhere — so how do you get it right? Find out how to build a truly global office on August 17.

RSVP.

There's more to Greece than ancient ruins and sandy beaches: it's also home to a tech scene that's ready to bubble to the surface after years of formation. Our latest report brings you all you need to know: 

🇬🇷 7 ways to take the Greek startup scene to the next level

🖥️ Meet the Greek tech giants that have flown under the radar

🧪 How Greece can boost its climate tech scene

Elsewhere on Sifted:

🎙️ In this week’s podcast, our editors Amy Lewin and Eleanor Warnock discuss Klarna’s fall from grace, Hopin’s latest round of layoffs and drama at Glovo.

💳 Payment fraud is more common than you think it is, but fear not as experts believe that a solution is in sight. (In partnership with Truelayer.)

Sophie Zhang

Editorial Assistant

Get in touch with them at sophiezhang@sifted.eu

Tom Nugent

Digital Editor 

Get in touch with him at tomnugent@sifted.eu
Or tweeting at @TJNugent92

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