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We need to normalise founders failing 😥

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Hi Sifted Reader,

Today’s the day — The Sifted Podcast is here! Check out our first episode, where we look at what happens when a tiny Irish town gets taken over by a futuristic drone delivery trial — and what a five-year-old thinks of the business model. Listen to it on Spotify here and Apple Podcasts here. 

Also today...
  • The Italian startup that bought a hydro plant for its AI
  • The best under-the-radar German startups
  • Why we need to normalise founders failing

\Deeptech

Looking for a green energy source? Buy an abandoned hydro plant


Founder Marco Trombetti was on the look out for a clean source of energy for his AI translation startup, Translated. Strolling along a river in northern Italy, he found the unlikely answer: a century-old hydro plant.

It's different approach to how most startups try to up their green credentials — usually focused on ESG and carbon credits — but Trombetti says it's a more serious one. 

Ben Munster went to meet him.

\A message from our sponsor Sailthru 

How to boost email engagement — in Q4 and beyond

Dive into 19 of last year’s top-performing holiday ecommerce emails from brands like MATCHESFASHION to learn why they worked and how to improve your marketing. Sailthru’s holiday emails guide has everything you need to know.

Get the guide here.

\For Members Investing 

The best under the radar German startups, according to investors


Out of the 90 unicorns created in Europe this year, 17 of them came out of Germany. But while Germany has its startup champions with buckets of cash and ever-increasing valuations, there are also thousands of early-stage startups working away under the radar. 

We asked investors to name the best.

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

\Opinion

Why isn't it okay for startup founders to admit when they're failing?


£100,000 worth of personal debt, stress-triggered hair loss and alarming weight changes. This is the ugly side of entrepreneurship that founders don’t talk about.

It's inevitable that some founders fail, says the cofounder of Raising Partners Helena Murphy, but there's no need to stay silent about it.

Read her take on why we need to normalise failure.

\Podcast

Hot curry delivered by drone — delicious or dangerous? Listen to The Sifted Podcast

Have you listened to our first episode of The Sifted Podcast yet? Subscribe now to hear from Sifted reporters about their favourite startup stories — and interview the founders who built them and the people who are impacted by them. 

Listen to the first episode here. 

\Sponsored by Business Sweden

What’s next for German mobility? 7 startups to follow


As the home of the modern car, Germany has one of the most competitive transport sectors in the world.

Now its startups are innovating for the future of mobility — whether that’s flying taxis, electric scooters or long-distance bus travel.

We sifted through the biggest players.

News That Matters

💰VC firm Keen Venture Partners has closed its second fund, at a first close €120m. It's already invested in carbon accounting startup Plan A and says it will go "all in on European tech".

💸UVC Partners, an early stage VC firm based in Berlin, has closed its third fund at €255m. The founders of FlixBus and Celonis have invested. 

🚴Rohlik, the Czech speedy grocery company, is expanding into Romania. It'll use a different brand name there: Sezamo.

🖥️ Anydesk, a Stuttgart-based company that builds remote desktop software, has raised a $70m round led by General Atlantic. It gives the company a $660m valuation.

🍎GetFaster, a German startup which says it unites speedy grocery and soft discounters, has raised a $1m from angel investor club Angelsdeck. 

🚗Green car company SonoMotors has gone public on the Nasdaq. If all 10 million shares sell for $15, it'll raise $150m.

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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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