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Happy Friday! Here's our line up today:

Meet Accel's scouts in Europe
The companies offering paid period leave
Revealed: the top fintech portfolios
Gender pay gap at top UK startups

\Venture Capital

Inside Accel's scout programme in Europe

Since summer last year, top VC firm Accel has been inviting founders and executives from some of Europe's most successful startups to join its 'Starters' programme — and given 21 of them $200k to invest in any startup that takes their fancy.

So who are the scouts, and what are they looking for?

Amy Lewin finds out.

\In partnership with Mitek

How your fintech can win over Gen Z

Our next Sifted Talks features a curated panel of experts discussing what it will take to win the hearts (and wallets) of the world’s youngest customers.

Join the discussion next week.

\Startup Life

Why all companies should offer paid period leave

Paid period leave from work: ridiculous idea — or very good one?

If you think the latter, Roos Jansen, head of people at fintech Bitwala, has some tips for how to encourage your leadership team to introduce the policy.

Find out more.

\For Members Fintech

The top fintech VC portfolios, revealed

VCs have pumped billions into European fintechs. But how do investors’ portfolios shape up against one another?

Using the latest data from Dealroom, we analysed the European fintech portfolios of 31 top VCs.

Here's how they compare.

Want to read more in-depth articles like this and attend exclusive member events? Sign up to Sifted Membership to get full access.

\For Members Diversity

In data: the gender pay gap at some of the UK's biggest startups

The gender pay gaps at some of the UK's biggest startups are wider than the national average, government collected data shows.

But which companies have the biggest gaps — and what are they doing to sort that out?

See how Gousto, Starling, Monzo, Wise, Improbable and more compare here.

\In partnership with Pleo

Four mistakes growing startups make when setting up their company spending

Finances can quickly turn into a headache at the end of the month. So how can fast growing startups manage their company spending without it leading to chaos?

Jeppe Rindom, CEO and cofounder of Pleo, a software solution that automates company spending, gives his top tips on how to set up a good company spending plan from the outset.

Read them here.

News that Matters

🌳 UK-based startup Sylvera, which runs a carbon offset ratings platform, has raised $7.8m in a seed round led by Index Ventures.

👚 Vinted, a Lithuanian second-hand fashion unicorn has raised €250m at pre-money valuation of €3.5bn. The Series F round will be used to expand into new markets.

🦷 Direct-to-consumer orthodontic startup Impress has raised $50m. The company, based in Barcelona, wants to digitise dentistry.

✈️ Holidu, a German travel tech company, has raised $45m in a Series D funding round. The company became profitable last year, despite the pandemic.

🍲 Delivery Hero has announced plans to re-enter its home market in Germany next month. Its homecoming coincides with a boom in rapid delivery companies in the country.

🚴‍♂️ Speedy grocery startup Gorillas, based in Germany, has lost its second cofounder in three months.

🦌 Early stage VC firm Antler has closed its first Nordic fund. It's secured €30m to invest into Sweden, Norway and Denmark. The firm's particularly interested in green and sustainable startups.

Sifted Suggests

🌴 Can fintechs get green pensions to take off? A new crop of startups are certainly trying — but there are plenty of hurdles in their way. Sarah Drumm reports.

😊 There's big value in building a brand that people trust. But how do startups begin to build trust, and what happens if they lose their customers’ confidence? Check out this run through of our Sifted Talk on the topic.

Sifted Newsletters

Fintech: for your weekly dose of European fintech stories.

Startup Life: behind the scenes at Europe's startups.

Sustain: our greenest newsletter covering startups and sustainability.

Future Proof: the latest on corporate innovation around Europe.

Amy Lewin
Deputy Editor

Get in touch with her at amy@sifted.eu
She loves a bit of reader feedback.

Freya Pratty
News Reporter

Send her your news at freya@sifted.eu
Or find her (occasionally) tweeting @FPratty

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Sifted - Paid period leave? 🩸

\Venture Capital

Inside Accel's scout programme in Europe

\In partnership with Mitek

How your fintech can win over Gen Z

\Startup Life

Why all companies should offer paid period leave

\For Members Fintech

The top fintech VC portfolios, revealed

\For Members Diversity

In data: the gender pay gap at some of the UK's biggest startups

\In partnership with Pleo

Four mistakes growing startups make when setting up their company spending

News that Matters

Sifted Suggests

Sifted Newsletters

Older messages

Universities: sort out your spinouts 🎓

Europe now has 70 startup unicorns 🦄

Transforming epilepsy treatment 🧠

European vs US VCs 🥊

McDonald's: Watch out 🍔

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