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Hi Sifted Reader,

Our fintech reporter Isabel has some juicy intel from Monzo this morning about potential IPO plans (👀) while elsewhere we...

Take a look at 100+ UK startups to watch
Ask whether we need a European WeChat?
Find out how to hire your first developer

\UK

100+ UK startups to watch

The UK startup ecosystem has broken funding records this year so far, already hoovering up €17.2bn (up from the €14bn raised in all of 2020).

But which of the UK's selection of startups are worth watching right now?

Read the list here.

\Reports

The European startups reshaping the €24.3bn restaurant industry

Flipdish’s latest report reveals what we can expect next for restaurants in the virtual realm and which players will come out on top.

Read it here.

\For Members Fintech

“I think we’ll see a Monzo IPO”, say digital bank's top execs

Monzo has kept a relatively low profile since its founder Tom Blomfield stepped down in January this year. So what does the future look like for the digital bank? Well, for one, an IPO, its top execs tell Sifted.

The three leaders — COO Sujata Bhatia, general counsel Stephanie Pagni and US CEO Carol Nelson — also told Sifted about its product plans, the slow road to profitability and how it's finally ramping up lending.

Isabel Woodford has all the details.

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

\Opinion

No, we do need a European WeChat

Last month, Ivan Zhiznevskiy and Eugene Dugaev, the CEO and CTO of fintech 3s.money, argued that fintech founders should stop trying to build a European WeChat as it "completely misses the point of fintech".

Luke Massie, CEO of fintech VibePay, disagrees and thinks that building a super app in Europe is key to the region’s fintechs staying competitive with other companies in the US and Asia.

Read his two cents here.

\Startup Life

How to hire your first developer

Christian Rebernik, ex-CTO of digital bank N26, knows a thing or two about hiring developers — especially the first few at any startup.

Attitude is more important than skills or seniority early on, he says, and clear communicators are also winners.

Here's what you should look for in your early dev hires.

This Q&A first appeared in our weekly Startup Life newsletter. For more insights like this, sign up here.

Six reasons why VCs say 'no'

Getting financial backing from VCs is no easy feat. So we called in the experts for a recent Sifted Talks to find out how you can improve your chances of landing a deal.

We spoke to Zoë Chambers, principal at Octopus Ventures, Camilla Mazzolini, principal at First Minute Capital and Dave Rosenberg, head of marketing at Oracle NetSuite.

Read their words of wisdom here.

Sifted Suggests

💡 Sophia Bendz’s investor advice. How do you become an effective angel? How do you differentiate yourself as a VC? How do you spot the exceptional early-stage founders first? The Spotify marketing lead turned investor shares her top tips.

✊ Leadership learnings. Nearly a quarter of startups fail due to the initial team falling short. Serial entrepreneur and startup founder Ben Prouty gives his insights on getting leadership right.

🇬🇧Top UK universities for life sciences spinouts. Beauhurst ranks the top universities for life science spinouts, based on spinout count and number of exits — from Sheffield to Strathclyde.

🦄 Unicorns schunicorns. If we want to measure European tech success properly, we should stop emphasising unicorn count, says Christian Owens, CEO of London-based SaaS scaleup Paddle. Here’s why.

🅰️ D2C and marketplaces: landing a Series A. What enabled companies in the D2C and marketplaces sectors to woo VCs? Initialized crunched through the data to find out.

Events [digital only]

Hello Amsterdam | Online | 22-23 July
Looking to transition from your studies or current career to work for a startup? This event from Hello Mentor features over 20 startups and scaleups and numerous activities to get connected with players in European tech.

How to know when to exit | Online | 4 August
When it comes to startups looking to exit, timing is everything. For our next Sifted Talks, we’ve gathered a panel of experts to discuss how best to prepare.

The FTWeekend Festival returns – and you’re invited | Join us at Kenwood House Gardens, London & Online | 4 September
Join impressive speakers — including award-winning author Ian McEwan and AstraZeneca lead scientist Sarah Gilbert — at in-person at Kenwood House Gardens, or online.

Sifted Members

Food delivery giants fight back with on-demand grocery delivery

Europe’s 17 healthtech startups to watch, according to top healthtech founders

2 years on, Europe’s digital banks are still invisible in the US

Which of these 13 European tech SPACs are valued higher than Tesla?

Europe’s top VCs — according to founder-led review site Landscape

Amy Lewin
Deputy Editor

Get in touch with her at amy@sifted.eu
Or tweeting @amyrlewin

Connor Bilboe
Editorial Assistant

Get in touch with him at connor@sifted.eu
He likes sustainability stories.

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Sifted - Monzo's IPO masterplan ✨

\UK

100+ UK startups to watch

\Reports

The European startups reshaping the €24.3bn restaurant industry

\For Members Fintech

“I think we’ll see a Monzo IPO”, say digital bank's top execs

\Opinion

No, we do need a European WeChat

\Startup Life

How to hire your first developer

Six reasons why VCs say 'no'

Sifted Suggests

Events [digital only]

Sifted Members

Older messages

Tech's power couples 🔥

Ask these 10 questions before joining a startup❓

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