Deeptech 

Europeans rivalling Elon: the hyperloop race

Welcome to the next part of Sifted's series on the European tech companies challenging Elon Musk's empire.

This time we're diving into the European companies racing to build the first hyperloop — ultra-fast trains running through vacuum tubes.

The idea, while popularised by Musk, dates back over a century — and originated on European soil. But do today's European startups have what it takes to dominate this field in the next decade?

Find out here.

👀 Eyeing up capital markets? 👀

Is your tech company likely to raise €10m in 2-3 years?

Join TechShare, Euronext’s free pre-IPO programme for tech companies and gain heaps of expert knowledge on financial markets.

Apply now. [Sponsored post]

 Startup Life 

Which European startups will IPO next?

All eyes were on the London Stock Exchange earlier this month, when The Hut Group scored the second-biggest UK IPO ever. Meanwhile, recently news broke that Deliveroo is eyeing a public listing for 2021.

And it's not just Deliveroo; startups like GitLab, Klarna, Unifiedpost, Allegro and Huuge Games are all actively on the IPO trail too.

Here's our list of the late-stage startups which could be next to take the public plunge.

 Media 

Meet Yubo, Europe's Snapchat for teens

Launched in 2015, Yubo, the Paris-based social app for Gen-Z isn't the influencer-watching, follower-gaining bonanza that we've become accustomed to.

Its founder and creator Sacha Lazimi has a different vision: “The point isn’t to gain followers or even to make new friends — it’s just to share a moment in real-time with similar people,” he says.

So far, teenagers seem to be enjoying it as its user base edges towards 40m — and investors are also impressed. So what's so interesting about it?

Marie Mawad finds out.

🚨 Fixing the pandemic fallout 🚨

Covid-19 has led to surges in UK unemployment, and indications of a second lockdown means that those vulnerable will be left hardest hit.

Nesta is calling for innovative solutions to improve access to jobs and money for those affected with its £2.8m Rapid Recovery Challenge, backed by the likes of JP Morgan and more.

Learn more about the initiative here. [Sponsored post]

 Opinion 

VCs, don't overlook eastern Europe

While private equity investment in the CEE region reached €2.95bn in 2019, it still only represents 3.1% of the European total. 

That's partly because some (but not all) western VCs don't pay the region's startups much attention.

More fool them.

💃 Join the Sifted team! 🕺

Sifted is on the hunt for a head of content to make what we produce for clients top-notch.

We're also looking for an experienced marketeer to lead the next stage of our growth at Sifted.

Sound fun? Apply here.

Sifted Suggests 

🎉 Sifted’s deputy editor Amy Lewin celebrated her two year Sifted-versary last week, and she’s shared her personal highlights since then! Heaps of awesome stories to dive into here.

🇬🇧 Five dazzling accelerators in the UK. Beauhurst has profiled some of the top UK-based accelerators which companies like Monzo and Deliveroo have taken part in. Sifted recently dug into the best accelerators for female founders across Europe; here's what we found.

🔮 The future of finance in a post-pandemic world. How have consumer payment habits changed? How are businesses adapting as the economy recovers? What advice do UK fintech C-suites have for those seeking financial advice during these times? All this, and more, covered here.

🧐 How are industrial startups faring in Europe? A whopping 350+ startups have been added to this living list by Point Nine Capital associate Robin Dechant, with a bunch of breakdowns from geographies, categories, investments and more.

Events

🇸🇪 Sting Day from Stockholm | Online | 22 Oct
Talks, trends and matchmaking for investors and tech startups, with panel discussions moderated by Sifted's Mimi Billing and Amy Lewin. [Sponsored post]

🇦🇹 Shaping AI For Good | Online | 5 Oct
There’s a lot of work that needs doing before AI can reach its potential in serving humans and solving big societal problems. This event explores the challenges and opportunities arising from AI, and how the tech can be best steered in the future.

🧘‍♀️ Sextech, Sexual Health and Wellbeing, What’s Next? | Online | 15 Oct
Join Women of Wearables and its expert panel to discuss all things sexual wellness. If you want to hear about the key market trends in the sector, and top tips on running a sexual wellness company like a pro, sign up to this.

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