Sifted - An enormous fintech flop  😱

Sifted is the FT-backed media site telling the untold stories of European tech. Subscribe here.

 Dating 

 

Video dates are here to stay


The dating app industry was built to bring couples face-to-face.

But it has been adapting ferociously well to lockdown life, with US giant Tinder reporting its busiest ever day (3bn swipes) and other rivals seeing a similar rise of usage.

Now Europe’s dating app startups say that virtual features will last beyond the pandemic as video dates become the new norm and love moves more and more online.

“The current normalisation of video communication is in one way irreversible,” says Philip Jonzon Jarl, the founder of Swedish dating app Relate.

Sifted's Kitty Knowles has more

✌️How top founders manage spend ✌️

 

If you want to thrive – not just survive – it’s never been more critical to spend smart.

Find out how 250 of Europe’s top founders keep their startups on track.

 Download the Spending Playbook. [Sponsored post]

 Fintech 

 

European fintech: where are the women?


Globally, around 20% of executives at financial startups are women.

That may not be a particularly inspirational ratio, but it's a lot better than the figures in most European countries.

In the UK, women in fintech executive roles make up just 17%, in France it's 12% and in Germany it could be as low as 4%, according to data dug up by Sifted.

What does the data tell us - and what can be done?

👩‍🚀 Calling all startup pioneers 👩‍🚀

 

It's out with the old and in with the new. The European startup ecosystem is experiencing immense change and will perhaps continue to do so for many years.

But which people and companies do you think will lead us forward, driving innovation and fostering positive change for society going forward?

Nominate someone here.

 Fintech 

 

The short story of failed digital bank Bó


Bó, the digital bank set up by the UK high street lender RBS/NatWest to challenge the likes of Monzo, had a rocky beginning.

Then things got worse. And worse again. Then it was finally shut down late last week — just six months after launch.

Should RBS have bought Monzo instead? Can big corporates do digital banking?

What went wrong?

 Greentech 

 

European greentech startups: unite!


Coronavirus threatens to derail the sustainability movement.

But now a new alliance of greentech startups, advisors and partner organisations hope to keep it on track.

Lubomila Jordanova, founder of Berlin-based sustainability startup Plan A, explains.

What's the Greentech Alliance?

💡 5 tips to help banks innovate during a crisis 💡

 

Should banks still be innovating during a crisis? Yes, says Nikolai Hack of Nucoro; the secret is thinking small but strategic.

5 tips to innovate in a crisis. [Sponsored]

Sifted Suggests 


⏬ US startups are firing employees during the coronavirus crisis, and being pretty open about it. But European startups are avoiding the topic. Do they have their head buried in the sand? asks Roxanne Varza at Station F.

👍 68 bits of unsolicited advice from Kevin Kelly, "senior maverick" at Wired. Here is a pertinent one: "When crisis and disaster strike, don’t waste them. No problems, no progress."

💰 Why venture capital can't bail out startups during the coronavirus crisis, from Axios. In short, VCs have their own problems and their own investors to answer to.

🔑 How startups should think about capital efficiency, from David Sacks. How do you measure it? And what can founders do about it?

Events (digital only!)
 

🌐 EIT Digital Challenge 2020 | International growth support worth €350,000 for deep tech scaleups
Are you ready to scale up? EIT Digital is helping tech startups grow. Find out more and apply. [Sponsored post] 

🇬🇧 Lockdown Unlocked | 5 May
A full morning of panels and discussions — including a debate between Brent Hoberman and Robin Klein about the role VCs and the state play in supporting startups during a crisis. Don't miss that showdown. 

🇬🇧 Government support for startups | 6 May
The UK minister for digital and culture, Caroline Dinenage, will talk about the government’s £1.25bn package to help startups access cash during the coronavirus crisis.

🇬🇧 How have diversity efforts been impacted by the crisis? | 6 May
Capital Enterprise brings together a panel including Izzy Obeng from Foundervine and Check Warner from Ada Ventures to discuss the diversity agenda during Covid-19.

🇬🇧 BritainThinks and Doteveryone | 12 May
Launch of People, Power and Technology: The 2020 Digital Attitudes Report.

🇮🇪 What The Hack | 30 May 
The #HackBack hackathon will help support SMEs and startups during the Covid-19 crisis recovery.

Sifted resources

Michael Stothard
Editor


Get in touch with him at michael@sifted.eu.
He loves to know what we could be doing better.
Follow the whole Sifted team for news and views: 
@MStothard@amyrlewin@maijapalmer@MimiBilling@kittygknowles@johnthornhillft, @i_woodford, @Marie_a_Paris@KitGillet@timmpsmith, @connorbilboe
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Older messages

How not to fall out with your cofounder 💘

Friday, May 1, 2020

Doctolib's hiring spree | The fashion industry's makeover | Free founder resources Sifted is the FT-backed media site telling the untold stories of European tech. Subscribe here. Interview

Digi banks' growth slows 🐢

Monday, April 27, 2020

How to increase your runway | D&I in a time of crisis | More digital events Sifted is the FT-backed media site telling the untold stories of European tech. Subscribe here. Fintech Digi banks'

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