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Hi Sifted Reader,

Read on for the latest dispatch from our (fictional) VC columnist Rosie Wood. She's been at Slush this week: a blur of lasers, men named Johan and Lars, branded Patagonia jackets and a bit too long in a sauna.

You can also listen to the latest episode of The Sifted Podcast today! This week we learn what newly minted millennial millionaires want from their digital banks — and the apps catering to them. Check it out on Spotify, Apple or wherever you get your podcasts.

That's in today's newsletter, plus...

The startups cashing in on the ebike boom
13 startups Gen Z founders are watching
The hottest seed rounds from November

\Venture Capital

Dispatches from a new VC: a founder meeting marathon in a Slush sauna

This week, Mild Conviction travelled to the biggest startup event of the season: Slush. The team wanted to get closer to founders in the most authentic Finnish way, so of course they hired a sauna for meetings.

Read on to learn how our intrepid columnist Rosie coped.

\A message from our sponsor EIT Community

Startups and scaleups: Here's how you can help build a better Europe

Bringing the European Green Deal into cities, the New European Bauhaus initiative supports startups and scaleups that are helping Europe become more sustainable and inclusive. They’re offering support worth €50k for the 20 best companies.

Learn more and apply here.

\For Members Mobility

The ebike boom: How startups are cashing in

In the world of green urban transport, nothing is hotter right now than the ebike.

The vehicles accounted for just 4.2% of European bike sales in 2012, but today make up 17% of the market and are selling faster than electric cars.

Sarah Drumm looks at which startups are leading the way.

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

\For Members Venture Capital

13 startups to watch in Europe, according to Gen Z founders

Gen Z are an entrepreneurial bunch. Europe’s lineup of young startup founders is growing, and they’re building a range of tech startups in areas including fintech, edtech and robotics.

But when they think of other startups, which ones are they interested by?

These are the startups Europe's young entrepreneurs are watching.

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\Venture Capital

The list: November’s hottest European seed investments

A new wave of speedy grocery companies, a space exploration startup and the largest seed round for a wearable health device this year.

The number of seed rounds secured in Europe in November was slightly lower than previous months, but a number of exciting startups still secured an early injection of cash.

We picked out the most interesting.

\In partnership with Banking Circle

What fintechs need to know about ‘Request to Pay’

Your phone buzzes and you get a notification. It asks whether you’d like to pay for your coffee, so you hit accept and pick up a latte from the cafe counter.

Some predict this messaging service — known as “Request to Pay” — is the future of payments between people and businesses.

We chat to Anders la Cour from Banking Circle about what's next.

News That Matters

🍏 JOKR, a New York-based delivery startup that is making a big push into Europe, has raised a $260m Series B round, bringing its valuation to $1.2bn nine months after launching.

🇫🇷 Lyanne, a French startup trying to help people win more insurance claims, has raised a €1.2m seed round from investors including Firstminute Capital.

💰 Pitchdrive, an Antwerp-based investment firm, is launching a new €20m fund in collaboration with SmartFin. They want to offer early stage funding in a "speedy, digital and accessible way".

🌱 Seedrs was acquired by US-based Republic yesterday. It comes after a merger with UK rival Crowdcube was blocked by the UK's Competition and Markets Authority in March.

🤑 Metaview, a London-based startup working on an "interview intelligence platform" has raised $6m. The platform aims to use data to optimise the interview process during hiring. Metaview is backed by Moving Capital, the Uber alumni fund, and Palumni, the Palantir alumni fund.

💸 French fintech Unlimitd has raised a €5m round to launch its RBF (revenue-based financing) platform.

Sifted Suggests

🐕 A Duolingo for dogs? Pet ownership is on the rise, and so is pet training. Meet the startups shaking up the pet training industry with apps and ideas borrowed from successful edtech apps.

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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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Sifted - Gen Z founders' startups to watch ✨

\Venture Capital

Dispatches from a new VC: a founder meeting marathon in a Slush sauna

\A message from our sponsor EIT Community

Startups and scaleups: Here's how you can help build a better Europe

\For Members Mobility

The ebike boom: How startups are cashing in

\For Members Venture Capital

13 startups to watch in Europe, according to Gen Z founders

\Venture Capital

The list: November’s hottest European seed investments

\In partnership with Banking Circle

What fintechs need to know about ‘Request to Pay’

News That Matters

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