Hello Sifted reader,

We're midway through the holiday break, which means by now half the Sifted team are probably sat somewhere wearing the cerise pyjamas and tech-themed festive socks they definitely wanted.

Today we're look at the international investors who dipped their toes into European waters in 2022. From Sequoia to Y Combinator, can you guess which was the most active?

Also from the Sifted newsroom:

🤝 Which international VCs were most active in Europe in 2022? International funds poured $22.6bn into European startups in 2022 — and though that's less than the $36.2bn invested in 2021, it's still a marked increase from the $14.9bn which came their way in 2020.

But which investor has the heartiest appetite for European startups? From US VC heavyweights to Chinese tech giants, here are the most active international investors in European tech.

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💭 The best people advice of 2022. To say it's been a tough year for European tech is, well, a stonking understatement. But along the way, Sifted's Startup Life newsletter has spoken to the continent's startup whizzes for advice on everything from managing layoffs to supporting your employees' mental health during tough times. Here's the best of the bunch.

💥 The startups that went bust this year. From energy company Bulb to events business Pollen, we take a look at the businesses that didn't make it through 2022 — and ask: what went wrong?

🇩🇪 German tech's year in review. It's been a somewhat topsy-turvy year for German tech. Though VC funding took a nosedive — dropping from a record $20.4bn in 2021 to $11.4bn (as of December 14) — six new unicorns were birthed and a flurry of funds raised fresh cash to deploy.

💳 The data behind European fintech in 2022. After 2021's all-conquering year there was only one way for fintech to go when the downturn came. Investment into the sector has dropped 24% from last year, and many of 2021's fastest-growing startups have laid off staff. That said, there were still some bright spots that offered hope heading into 2023.

❤️ Community surveys in review. Sifted's readers have been radically honest and opened our eyes to key problems in startup Europe this year. Among them are experiences with arrogant and ghosting VCs and startup managers who... don't really know what they're doing. Here's what we found out about European tech in 2022, straight from the horse's mouth.

💰 Workplace culture is defining the new bottom line. On the road to startup success one key metric is often overlooked: culture. Sofia Nunes, cofounder at fintech Mambu, outlines how to get it right to boost your bottom line.

2022's revelations and the repercussions for the year ahead

From collapsing IPOs to a surge of layoffs, 2022 was a reality check for European startups. Our new report, exclusively for Pro members, reflects on months of turbulence and calls out the startups and VCs that bucked the trends. Plus, 12 predictions for what lies ahead.

Let’s review

This report is exclusively for Sifted Pro members. Not a member? Get in touch with the team today with code 2022REVIEW for an exclusive discount!

🤔 What do startup accelerators actually do? When Sifted asked readers why they took part in an accelerator, more than 60% said it was to find funding — but what can you actually expect once you're there? And what are they actually looking for from startups?

💸 How do startup valuations actually work? While the value of publicly traded companies fluctuates from day to day with their share price, privately held startup price tags are less fluid. They’re negotiated by investors at each fundraising round, which may not happen every year, or even every few years — so how the hell do they work?

📋 Seed funding 101. So you started out with a great idea for a startup, began building and convinced investors to part with their cash at the pre-seed stage. Now what? From what VCs look for to how much you should raise, here's how to prepare for your seed round.

How to up your leadership game

Running or working at an early-stage startup isn't always easy. And when it feels like you're driving the train while building the tracks, who do you turn to for support?

Every Wednesday morning Sifted's Startup Life newsletter brings you a dose of sage wisdom from across European tech, dropping everything you need to manage and grow a successful business straight into your inbox.

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