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As Gen Z begins to enter the world of venture capital, investors could find themselves on the sharp end of "cancel culture" unless they make good on ESG and inclusivity promises, says one European VC. More on that below, plus...

Why Gen Z will make VC more entrepreneurial
The top edtech startups you might have missed
Why football fans have turned on crypto

\Opinion

Will Gen Z cancel venture capital?

The next generation of investors values authenticity, transparency and radical inclusivity, says VC Majdoline Wahbi — and that could spell trouble for large institutional investors.

Gen Z's support of "cancel culture" might mean that VCs who don't tackle sustainability and diversity issues will find themselves in the firing line in the not too distant future.

Here's what investors need to consider as a new generation enters the industry.

\A message from our sponsor EIT Community

Where Bauhaus and startups collide

From art to science and tech, EIT Community’s New European Bauhaus is an initiative that supports startups designing the future of living. If your startup is a changemaker, apply now for business growth support worth €50k.

See if you qualify and apply here.

\Opinion

Gen Z will make VC more entrepreneurial

Venture capital is expanding fast — too fast for it to keep relying on the traditional approach, says Sifted columnist Nicolas Colin in response to Majdoline's opinion piece.

Gen Z will be the key to coping with that expansion as they bring new ideas and approaches to the table.

Here's why tech entrepreneurship is on the rise and where Gen Z fits in.

\Slush

Keen to catch our journalists at Slush?

Senior reporter Mimi Billing will be joined by panellists from the European Commission, aerospace startup Lilium, VC Inventure and biotech CarboCulture to hash out how the European startup economy can get to the next level.

Deputy editor Amy Lewin will find out how VCs can tackle the climate crisis — and why they need to — in this side panel.

Commissioning editor Eleanor Warnock will lead this side event looking at how investors can apply gender-smart investment strategies to improve financial performance.

\For Members Education

Edtech startups to watch, according to top investors

Pandemic-driven digitalisation has made remote learning a mainstay of education, and VCs have been only too keen to bet big on the most innovative startups.

Investment in the sector has hit record levels in 2021, reaching €1.5bn — double the number from last year. But amid more big money rounds than ever before, which early-stage edtech startups might have slipped under your radar?

We asked five VCs to name their pick of up-and-coming edtechs.

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

\Cryptocurrency

Fans turn against crypto’s takeover of football

Crypto has made a swift entry into the world of football, but it has plenty of critics, who say that team partnerships with unregulated companies leave fans vulnerable to scams.

A lot of the criticism revolves around a company called Socios, which issues fan tokens that rise and fall in value and allow holders to vote on minor club decisions. It's partnered with a number of major teams across Europe and the US.

Do football fans need to get with the times, or should clubs be more diligent?

\Sifted Talks

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The subscription economy has grown by 435% over the past nine years. But with so many to choose from, what separates the good from the bad? Hear from founders from Chargebee, Freda and Oddbox during our next Sifted Talks.

Join us today, for free.

News That Matters

👊 Meet the startup tackling racism. London-based Flair has just raised a $1.8m seed round led by Hoxton Ventures to fund its analytics platform, which helps organisations measure and overcome racial bias. The startup already works with clients like the Premier League and parts of the NHS, and will use the cash to expand to the US.

🕹️ Andreessen Horowitz backs metaverse games studio. Finnish-Icelandic startup Mainframe has bagged $20m as it aims to release the world's first massively multiplayer online game that you can access from any device. It continues a rich Finnish tradition of producing gaming success stories, like Supercell and Rovio.

💸 Alternative lending hits the Nordics. Sweden’s ArK Kapital and Spanish-US Capchase have launched in Scandinavia. It's part of a wider trend of startup founders looking for ways to raise money beyond traditional VC, which is driving demand for alternative financing.

💰 Partech closes $750m growth fund. It's the second growth fund the Paris-based VC has launched, following its first in 2015, and will be used to invest in 12-15 companies.

Amy Lewin
Deputy Editor

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

Kai Nicol-Schwarz
Editorial Lead (Membership)

Get in touch with him at k ai @sifted.eu
Or @NicolSchwarzK

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Sifted - Will VC get cancelled? ❌

\Opinion

Will Gen Z cancel venture capital?

\A message from our sponsor EIT Community

Where Bauhaus and startups collide

\Opinion

Gen Z will make VC more entrepreneurial

\Slush

Keen to catch our journalists at Slush?

\For Members Education

Edtech startups to watch, according to top investors

\Cryptocurrency

Fans turn against crypto’s takeover of football

\Sifted Talks

Ever considered a subscription model?

News That Matters

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