Fintech 

A fresh take on employee exits 

For many startup employees, cashing out on stock options isn't easy — it's riddled with obstacles like stingy policies and the rarity of startup buyouts.

But German fintech Taxfix took the unusual route of letting employees sell over €3.8m in shares during its Index-led €65m Series C in April.

So what triggered this decision? And what inspiration can other founders draw from Taxfix?

Isabel Woodford gets the rundown from chief executive Mathis Buechi.

⚡ Calling all energy tech startups ⚡

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Learn more here. [Sponsored post]

 Opinion 

Newsflash — top talent won't become cheaper

The pandemic makes it likely that we'll see more companies go under in the future, putting their senior management teams out of a job.

But does that mean that it will soon be cheaper to hire senior management? Emma Brown, cofounder of Upscale Partners, thinks not.

Find out why here.

 Fintech 

Monzo's annual results: all you need to know

Monzo's 2019 annual results were not pretty. The digital bank reported £115m in losses and warned there was “significant doubt” about its ability to continue as a going concern.

But despite the headline numbers, it was not all gloomy...

Check out the good and the bad news.

Sifted Suggests 

😄 Starling’s 2020 CEO letter: “We’re on track to break even.” The challenger bank's chief executive Anne Boden lays out its 2020 performance — and it’s not looking too shabby. Read about its accounts, employees, products and financial performance here.

🎮 The e-sports evolution. Fnatic, a global e-sports entertainment brand, has released a deep dive report into the effect on the sector of Covid-19, and it’s looking glitz and glam across the board.

👀 All aboard the hype train: How to maximise FOMO while raising VC. Finn Murphy, principal at Frontline Ventures, “dives into the dark arts of raising successfully in the current environment.” A great read. 

🇦🇲 Armenia’s women in tech landscape. The country, locked between Asia and Europe, has a fast growing female presence in tech — and it's proud.

🤠 Enter the ‘passion economy’. Could creator-centric platforms be the next big shift in the labour workforce as a result of the economic downturn? 

In case you missed it

💪 Pioneers of the new world: Your winners.

😣 Being the only black person in the room. A must read from our secret columnist.

💰 Fintech’s existential question: Will consumers pay?

Events

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