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We hope you had a great start to the New Year Reader!

In our first newsletter of 2022 Sifted has, in our usual fashion, predicted what we think will happen to European startups this year. Read below for that and:

• What do deeptech VCs want to see this year?
• French tech predictions 2022
• Why customer service matters more than growth

This time last year, Sifted compiled at least some pretty accurate predictions for European startups in 2021.

Sifted’s John Thornhill predicted that climate tech would become the hottest investment topic — and lo and behold, a record-breaking $10bn went into Europe’s "planet positive" startups this year.

So what are we predicting for 2022?

Here are our bets about VC funding, unicorns, talent, Klarna and investor metaverse FOMO.

Read them here. 

Buy now (always) pay later?

BNPL apps might be the credit card of the Gen Z generation — but how can startups leverage it into their marketing mix? Listen to the experts discuss the big opportunity in our next Sifted Talks.

Sign up here.

Could 2022 be the year France gets its first tech decacorn?

Sifted picked the brains of eight French entrepreneurs, investors and ecosystem leaders to hear their two cents on what will happen this year.

A boom in deeptech, femtech and edtech are among the themes they see. 

From quantum discoveries to the first AI-discovered drug candidates going into clinical trials, 2021 was a landmark year for deeptech in Europe. But is 2022 going to be even more magnificent? 

The investors Sifted spoke to certainly think so.

Here's why — and what's in store. 

This may not surprise you: it's estimated that 90% of investment in AI initiatives is wasted.

And if you're worrying that you might be heading down the same track, it could be because you're just not using your data science team in the right way.

So how can you make the most out of your data science team?

There are some 38 gigafactories — giant factories making batteries for electric vehicles — in production in Europe. But a more climate-friendly version will be landing soon: enter the lithium-ion-phosphate (LFP) gigafactory from Serbian energy company ElevenEs.

Why are these batteries so much more sustainable?

Cast your eye back on our top 10 read stories of 2021.

We published a lot of stories we were proud of this year. But these are the ones, dear readers, that you read and shared the most voraciously. They are pretty awesome: check them out. 

1. Revolut has turned over 70 employees into millionaires
2. 15 metaverse startups to watch according to investors and founders
3. A beginner’s guide to the metaverse
4. Gorillas: the new WeWork?
5. Early investors in Deliveroo eye 60,000% return on their money
6. Europe’s top 10 ‘unicorn universities
7. Europe’s top 30 young venture capitalists
8. Early investors in UiPath on track to make a 220,000% return
9. Salt breakthrough could halve the cost of storing solar energy
10. Breakthrough: Quantum computers will soon fit in your phone

Can startups clean up the supply chain? | Online | January 18

From docks to warehouses, the supply chain is falling apart. Our next Sifted Talks on January 18 will explore how startups can navigate the current logistics crisis — and build a cleaner supply chain for the future.

How to stay relevant as an ecommerce business | Online | January 26

In the competitive world of ecommerce, how can brands use their marketing to stay at the top of the game? Register now for Sifted Talks to find out.

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