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ICYMI, last week startup event Slush came under fire after awarding top prize in a pitch competition to Immigram, a UK startup founded by Russian citizens. The decision sparked outrage — and was then revoked — while the founders were abused on social media.

Curious as to how Europe's startup scene felt about the situation, Sifted asked readers for their thoughts — and soon discovered that while responses are definitely mixed, a lot of people in the ecosystem feel taking the award away from Immigram was uncalled for. 

From the Sifted newsroom:

• Is Europe facing a values crisis? The Slush controversy suggests so
• The real reason why Getir could acquire Gorillas

• The loneliness of founder life

The real reason Getir wants to buy Gorillas? Turkish speedy grocery giant Getir looks ready to acquire its German rival Gorillas.

But the deal has got people curious: why is Getir, which is already operational in all of Gorillas' main markets and then some, so keen to buy up its heavily loss-making competitor? Well, experts reckon the decision is based on a lot more than just market share and customer numbers. 

Miriam Partington and Tim Smith find out what Getir's really buying.

Runway and burn rate are always important metrics. But in difficult times, it’s even more critical to be on top of these measurements. 

😱 Has the Slush scandal made Europe forget its values? In the aftermath of the controversy around Slush's pitching award going to Russian-founded Immigram, founder Sven Jungmann asks if issuing a blanket rejection of all Russian citizens is in keeping with the core morals of Europe’s tech ecosystem.

🦄 9 Balkan soonicorns to watch. Southeast Europe's tech scene isn't all about outsourcing and affordable engineering talent: it's got a bunch of startups on track to hit a billion-dollar valuation soon too. From tax automation to autonomous mobile robots companies, here are some future unicorns to keep track of.

💔 The loneliness of founder life. Despite the excitement (and occasional chaos) of founding a startup, the experience can become isolating as the responsibilities pile on — even if you have a strong personal support system and a growing team. Steve Coulson, cofounder of Kitt, shares how he's learned to cope with the pressure.

🔋 Could green energy kick the lithium habit? The lithium-ion battery is key for startups working on green energy transition — but supply chains could soon struggle with growing demand, while the ethics around mining the raw materials remain murky. So what alternatives are in the works, and are any promising enough to topple lithium's reign? 

Trying to navigate the cost of living crisis? Fintechs can help. In this unstable economy, how can startups and consumers focus on future-proofing their finances? Join our virtual event on December 7 and hear from Anthemis Group, Enfuce and Plaid on how fintechs can help consumers stay afloat during this turbulent time. Register for free today.

The biggest lessons from fundraising in a downturn. Amid a slowdown of mature ecosystems and constraints of liquidity, how hard has fundraising in a downturn really been? How are LPs’ investment patterns going to change next year? Our experts will explore how some VCs have continued to raise significant cash. Join us virtually on December 14.

💰 The experts on the future of investing in the Nordics. (Sponsored by Norselab.)

⚡️ What clean energy startups need to scale. (Sponsored by Euronext.) 

💟 Will sextech survive a tech crackdown and cost of living crisis? (Sponsored by Literal Humans.) 

It's more important than ever to be thinking about sustainability — and the startup world is no different. If you're looking to learn about promising climate innovations, keep up to date with the latest deals or find out which companies are more green-washing than green-friendly, our dedicated climatetech newsletter could be what your inbox is missing. 

Sign up to:

• Discover startups trying to make a difference, through everything from fuel alternatives to plant-based food innovations.

• Interrogate claims to be environment-friendly and find out which climate tech startups might not be as sustainable as they make out.
• Get clued up on climate tech through recommendations on interesting things to read, listen to and watch. 

Sadia Nowshin

Editorial Assistant

Get in touch with her at

sadia@sifted.eu

She tweets from 

@sadianowshin_

Amy Lewin

Editor

Get in touch with her at

amy@sifted.eu

She tweets from

@amyrlewin

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