Sifted - The seed investors to avoid 🙅

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Hi Sifted Reader,

In this morning's newsletter, take a trip with us to Silo Coffee, a beloved brunch spot in Berlin where we met community mastermind Daisy Onubogu to talk network building, diversity lip service and Web Summit. Here's what we also have for you:
  • The startup taking the dirty out of livestock
  • Another female founder just started an insurtech — and investors are flocking to get in
  • The good, bad and the ugly of seed investors

\Venture Capital

Brunch with Sifted: startup community mastermind Daisy Onubogu 


If you haven't yet met Daisy Onobogu, an expert community builder, head of network at VC firm Backed and COO at Diversity VC, then you have missed out on a force of nature. 

She joined our Berlin correspondent Miriam for brunch to chat about community, capitalism and the shallowness of company mission statements.

You don't want to miss this one.

\Sifted Talks 

Boomers had wealth managers, millennials have robo-advisers 


While wealth management was once elitist, a new batch of wealthtech startups are changing the game. Join Sifted Talks on Wednesday to find out about the wealthtechs fighting over a young, affluent audience.

Sign up here.

\For Members Sustainability

The cattle-trading app hoping to make a bull market in sustainability


The agriculture sector is dirty business. According to BCG, the food supply chain accounts for 25% of annual greenhouse gas emissions. Livestock plays a huge part in that, with meat accounting for 57% of all food production emissions.

But one startup is on a quest to change that. Meet Breedr, which is digitising the pen and paper-based livestock market and turning it green by making its supply chains more efficient.

Sifted spoke to founder Ian Wheal to find out how it's all done.

If you're not yet a Sifted member, subscribe here for as little as £19 per month.

\Fintech

Meet Jove, the female-led insurtech for the gig economy


Insuring members of the gig economy isn't just political — it's also increasingly hot property. London-based insurtech Jove is the latest startup to enter the fray, allowing drivers, freelancers and consultants to grab insurance by the minute, or for a short project. 

Jove has now secured £600k from big investors, including the partners at Fuel Ventures and Octopus Group. Sifted's Isabel Woodford spoke to investment banker-turned-founder Lizhen Cai on her plans for the early-stage venture.

Find them here.

\Opinion 

Seed investors: the good, the bad and the ugly, from a founder who's been there


Healthtech startup Habitual has had the (sometimes dubious) pleasure of speaking with no fewer than 100 angels and seed-stage VCs across the UK, Europe and the US.

As a result, founder Napala Pratini reckons she knows how to spot a high-quality investor from a bad one.

She shares what to look for — and what to avoid — here.

\Sponsored by Yapily

Open banking has evolved — what's next?


The long-standing open banking hype is still going strong — TrueLayer raised $130m, Visa bought Tink for $2bn and Yapily raised $51m. 

The outlook isn't all rosy though, and open banking services have faced some speed bumps. As new business models are cropping up and investment is booming, where is the sector now and where is it heading?

Get the lowdown here. 

Sifted Suggests

👀 Another SaaS report. Serena Capital’s new SaaS report surveyed 250+ SaaS companies and compares important growth metrics, including annual recurring revenue, retention and customer acquisition cost payback.

Events 

How can startups clean up their supply chain? | Online | Nov 17
While the ecommerce boom has brought about many advantages, it has presented logistical and environmental challenges too. Join us in this Sifted Talks with Fedex's SVP of ground operations in Europe, Trevor Hoyle, and Sifted's innovation editor Maija Palmer to find out what it takes to build a top supply chain with purpose. 

IoT Tech Expo | Amsterdam | Nov 23-24
CTOs, IT directors and innovation C-suites will be attending this 5,000-person event on the industries that will be most disrupted by blockchain, IoT, 5G, cybersecurity and cloud, AI and big data.

Budapest Fashion & Tech Summit | Online | Dec 1
What is the future of the fashion industry from the perspective of sustainability, exchange of knowledge, cultural heritage, ecommerce and changing consumer behaviour? If you want to find out, sign up!

Sifted Opinion

Europe wants to police AI. Here’s how startups can prepare
Dispatches from a London VC: The secret source for deals… dating apps
Six things I wish I had known when I worked in corporate innovation
VCs using scouts means founders get the short end of the stick
We celebrate unicorns, so why is money still taboo at startups?
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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