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Hi Sifted Reader,

Ever wondered what a quantum computer actually looks like? If you have, we bet you didn't imagine it would be housed next to a gym just off of north London’s dusty Caledonian Road. Maija Palmer took a trip to Quantum Motion's new office— with her camera — to see how the magic happens. See those photos below, plus:

• How to run a great one-to-one
• Italian startups to watch, according to VCs
• The founder diligence cheat sheet

Today, quantum computing startup Quantum Motion officially opens its lab in London. From the outside, it looks like any old office, but what’s inside is the most substantial low-temperature facility of any UK quantum company to date.

With 25 full-time staff — from quantum theorists to integrated circuit engineers — the startup wants to make a quantum computer is the size of a normal 19-inch computer server rack.

Sifted visited the lab to get an inside look at quantum technology in action.

Take the tour with us here.

Retaining finance talent isn’t easy as competitors continue to fight for the pick of the crop. On February 16, join Typeform, Partechan and Spendesk as we explore how to nurture young professionals and create fulfilling finance roles.

Sign up to our next Sifted Talks here.

Sathya Smith, founder of Piper and former venture partner at LocalGlobe, knows a thing or two about being a good manager.

From the questions you should always ask to the questions you shouldn't be asking at all, she gave Sifted some golden tips on how managers and staff can make the most of their weekly catchups.

Here's how to up your one-to-one game. 

While Italy's startup ecosystem might not be among the biggest in Europe, it's not to be underestimated.

Italy saw more VC funding in 2021 than ever, and just last week the Italian ministry for economic development announced a €2.5bn package to support the country's tech ecosystem.

As things bubble up, which Italian startups are local VCs keeping a close eye on?

Amy O'Brien finds out.

If you’re a founder pitching to a VC, chances are that they're going to do due diligence not just on your company, but on you and your founding team too.  

But what exactly does that involve? Executive coach Julius Bachmann compares founder diligence across firms — from Northzone to Entrepreneur First.

Get all the intel here. 

With over €500m in investment last year — including six exits and its first unicorn — Greece's startup ecosystem is heating up more than ever.

Will 2022 continue the upward trend? How far has the ecosystem come and where is it heading next? 

Right this way to find out.

Here are just some of the exciting roles up for grabs below. See all our openings here.

🎩 Head of events. Are you a pro events operator? We're looking for an experienced soul to develop and implement events strategies to help shape the future of in-person experiences at Sifted.

📝 Editorial talent pool. We're accepting open applications for sparky, creative and inquisitive reporters keen to join our editorial team. Get more information here.

🤖 Deeptech reporter. Love digging into deeptech innovations like quantum, AI and scientific breakthroughs? We'd love to hear from you!

🇫🇷 French tech reporter. Attention, France! Do you know the French startup ecosystem well and have a way with words? Check out this opening here.

📊 Data analyst. We're on the hunt for someone to take a lead on Sifted’s financial reporting, using data to help the business understand risks and opportunities clearly.

✨ B2B subscriptions manager. Are you a sales guru who loves building strong relationships with clients? We’re on the hunt for a target-driven individual to help us expand our membership activities with new and existing clients.

Get to know more about Europe's youngest leaders, entrepreneurs and investors.

💰 These Gen Z investors have raised their second fund in a year. Madrid-based Enzo Ventures last week announced it's raised a €20m seed fund, which it'll pump into Europe's youngest entrepreneurs. Tim Smith chatted to Enzo's partners.

🏆 The top Gen Z investors in 2021 shaking up VC in Europe. Gen Zers have got a reputation for authenticity, inclusivity and political engagement. There are some notable individuals rocking the boat in the VC world too. [Member]

👀 13 startups to watch, according to Gen Z founders. 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 in? [Member]

🤔 The Gen Z VC debate. Will Gen Z make VC more entrepreneurial? Or will it cancel venture capital? Catch up on the discussion.

🧠 What companies need to understand about Gen Z founders. They are different — entrepreneurial, impatient, serious about diversity. These are six key things to know. 

What can other industries learn from SaaS's success? | Online | February 9

Software-as-a-service (SaaS) startup valuations are skyrocketing — what can you learn from their success? This Wednesday's Sifted Talks will discuss the strategies and tools startups need to scale with speed.

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