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Hi Sifted Reader,

Remember the good old Clubhouse craze earlier this year? Well, the next big social audio star could be among us with Quest, a Y Combinator-backed platform which brings elements of Clubhouse and LinkedIn together for career advice and networking. Read below to meet Quest, and:

Who are Europe's top post-Covid ecommerce startups?
Why it's not too late for Europe to lead the post-quantum cryptography race
Creating a product roadmap: pro tips

\Startup Life

Meet Quest, the YC-backed 'Clubhouse meets LinkedIn'

The app — which provides bitesized clips of audio discussions — is aiming to create a more intimate and personal networking experience while offering career advice.

Speakers range from author Nir Eyal to employees at tech companies who answer practical questions to guide aspiring entrepreneurs in their startup journey.

With a user base of around 1k and famed accelerator Y Combinator convinced by its mission, Quest has certainly got the tech community excited.

Tom Matsuda finds out more about its plans.

\A message from our sponsor Nium

How embedded finance is revolutionising the payments space

Join Nium’s CRO Frederick Crosby and a panel of fintech experts to find out how embedded finance is helping startups streamline online transactions, unlock new revenue and scale globally.

Join the discussion here.

\Venture Capital

15 ecommerce startups to watch, according to top investors

The pandemic has been kind to the ecommerce sector. European ecommerce growth soared form 2-5x compared to pre-Covid levels.

On top of that, ecommerce revenues leaped by 30% to a record $465bn in 2021 — and that number’s expected to reach almost $570bn by the end of 2025.

Amid this noise, which ecommerce startups will come out on top?

Five top ecommerce-focused investors weigh in.

\Opinion

It’s not too late for Europe to lead the post-quantum cryptography race

Mastering post-quantum cryptography — algorithms designed to secure quantum computers from attacks — is key if we want to make current tools for confidential secure data and communications obsolete.

Europe has a chance to become a global leader in ‘cracking the code’ and taking a leadership role in post-quantum cryptography, thinks André Loesekrug-Pietri, chairman of the Joint European Disruptive Initiative.

Here’s why.

\Startup Life

How to create your product roadmap

Adriana Landaverde, product advisor and former chief product officer at green investment app Clim8 Invest, has created plenty of product roadmaps in her time.

Here are her top learnings for other product leads.

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

\Survey

How's your impact startup doing?

Calling founders and VCs, Sifted, in partnership with the BMW Foundation, wants to hear how impact startups — by which we mean companies committed to making a positive social and environmental impact alongside financial returns — are faring in Europe.

Take our five-minute survey here. Thanks!

Sifted Suggests

🤪 The wacky world of founder alumni. There’s a reason why some tech companies, like PayPal, have heaps of employees going on to found their own ventures, and why some don’t. SafeGraph CEO Auren Hoffman explains why in this piece. Meanwhile, check out our ‘founder alumni’ profiles on Glovo, N26, Deliveroo and more.

😎 The new style of work. First it was the four-day work week, now it’s all about the five-hour work day. Welcome to the Jungle speaks to companies which trialled the five-hour work day to find out if it boosts productivity.

🤑 Escooter startups, pay up. What kind of fees do Europe’s escooter startups have to pay local authorities in different cities to run their services? It can be as little as €25 to €180. See which cities are the priciest here (in Swedish).

Events

How to avoid a bad customer journey | Online | September 1
So you’ve driven consumers to your website, but bad CX could mean low conversion and wasted money. Find out what not to do in our next Sifted Talks.

Experience the FTWeekend come to life | Join us in person or online | September 4
Join leading authors, scientists, politicians, FT writers and editors and more at Kenwood House — or watch from the comfort of your own home.

The end of traditional finance? | Online | September 8
Find out from fintech experts how embedded finance is changing the payments game in this upcoming Sifted Talks.

How embedded finance could diversify your revenue stream | Online | September 22
Sign up to join us in this discussion on what ways embedded finance can help increase customer lifetime value and which sectors have the most to gain from embracing the embedded finance opportunity.

Sifted Members

How green are Europe’s escooter startups?

10 Turkish startups to watch, according to VCs

Will QR codes become mainstream in Europe?

14 mobility startups to watch in 2021, according to top founders

Western armies turn to startups in the 'data war' with China

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 - Product roadmap pro tips 💡

\Startup Life

Meet Quest, the YC-backed 'Clubhouse meets LinkedIn'

\A message from our sponsor Nium

How embedded finance is revolutionising the payments space

\Venture Capital

15 ecommerce startups to watch, according to top investors

\Opinion

It’s not too late for Europe to lead the post-quantum cryptography race

\Startup Life

How to create your product roadmap

\Survey

How's your impact startup doing?

Sifted Suggests

Events

Sifted Members

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15 Finnish startups to watch 🇫🇮

Berlin's hottest startups 🇩🇪

Europe's fintech M&A boom: in data 💥

Scooter startups are wheeling into Ireland 🛴

Europe's top mobility startups 👀

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