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Happy Wednesday Sifted readers,

Today we're getting you all caught up on:

Tech transfer gone wrong
The LPs investing in UK VC
A new treatment for medication-resistant epilepsy
Who's winning Europe's BNPL race

\Deeptech

The Hyperloop that never was

Before Musk's Hyperloop, there was Pipenet.

Invented by Italian professor Franco Cotana, the magnet-powered funnel was designed to transport goods at thousands of kilometres an hour, faster than any train, car or plane.

But now the prototype sits, unused, by a declining steel mill in Italy.

Why? Ben Munster finds out what happens when universities let down their entrepreneurs.

\A message from our sponsor Pleo

Save more by paying bills better

66% of admins say invoice payments make up more than half of their spend. Smarten and simplify your business finances with Pleo.

Find out more here.

\For Members Venture Capital

US LPs are coming for UK VC funds

Post-Brexit vote, the proportion of European LPs in UK VC funds has dropped, according to a new report from Collective Equity — while the proportion of US LPs has grown.

And that's not the only interesting finding. The vast majority of LPs in UK VC funds have invested in just one fund manager — and they're mostly men.

So what's to be done? Amy Lewin finds out.

Not yet a Sifted member? Become a monthly member and get £10 off your first month with the code NEWSLETTER10. Sign up here.

\Healthtech

Neuroelectrics raises $17.5m to transform epilepsy treatment

Barcelona-based biotech Neuroelectrics might just have found a way to reduce seizures in epileptic patients who don't respond to medication — via a headcap.

It's now starting a Phase 3 clinical trial and — if the trial is successful — the treatment could be rolled out by doctors across the US.

Beyond epilepsy, Neuroelectrics' headcap also shows promise for treating conditions like depression, Alzheimer's and ADHD.

Tim Smith has the details.

\Fintech

Who's winning the BNPL race?

Spoiler: it's Klarna, which recorded 8m mobile downloads in Europe alone last year. Its closest rival Clearpay managed just 1m.

Ahead of its rumoured public listing, that's good news for the Swedish fintech.

But just how far behind are its competitors?

Isabel Woodford finds out.

\In partnership with Google for Startups

Meet the edtech startup spicing up STEM for students

In the latest instalment of Sifted's Local Heroes series, we spoke to Developing Experts — a Norfolk-based digital education platform for kids that's boomed over the past year.

Founder and CEO Sarah Mintey revealed how the UK can solve its STEM skills gap, as well as why Norfolk's founder-angel community was key in its growth.

Read more.

News that Matters

🚘 Buckle up, because Arrival and Uber are teaming up. Arrival, the UK electric vehicle unicorn, is making a car for Uber drivers. It's all part of Uber's promise to become fully electric in London by 2025 — and it's Arrival's first car (so far, it's made vans and buses).

Sifted Suggests

💳 The payments revolution. From our wallets to the banks, the way payments are processed is being flipped on its head. Read what’s happening, why it matters and the startups that are leading the way in Sifted's brand new Intelligence report.

💰How to implement transparent salaries. Laetitia Van Hoecke chats to Sifted about how to create a salary grid, how to benchmark salaries and what to do when people aren't happy with how much they're making.

🌻 Europe's fastest-growing fintech is not who you think. Sifted's Kit Gillet profiled its founder — and its plans — here.

The top startups and scaleups to watch

In sustainability [Member]

In European fintech

In Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden

In Spain

In the Netherlands

In the UK

Michael Stothard
Editor

Get in touch with him at michael@sifted.eu
Or find him tweeting @MStothard

Isabella Pojuner
Editorial Intern

Get in touch with her at isabella@sifted.eu
She's into climate tech and crypto.

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Sifted - Transforming epilepsy treatment 🧠

\Deeptech

The Hyperloop that never was

\A message from our sponsor Pleo

Save more by paying bills better

\For Members Venture Capital

US LPs are coming for UK VC funds

\Healthtech

Neuroelectrics raises $17.5m to transform epilepsy treatment

\Fintech

Who's winning the BNPL race?

\In partnership with Google for Startups

Meet the edtech startup spicing up STEM for students

News that Matters

Sifted Suggests

The top startups and scaleups to watch

Older messages

European vs US VCs 🥊

McDonald's: Watch out 🍔

If Ek buys Arsenal... ⚽

Gen Z bets big on crypto 😎

Top mobility startups to watch 🛴

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