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Hi Sifted Reader,

In the news: tattoo tech bursts onto the European startup scene, VCs bet on fintech for farmers and (yet another) secondhand phone marketplace raises a nine-figure round this year.

Amy Lewin also speaks to Lightspeed, as the US VC joins compatriots Sequoia and General Catalyst in setting up shop in Europe, plus...

• The crypto capital of Europe probably isn't where you think
• How Europe is leading the way in autonomous shuttles
• What's keeping chief people officers up at night?

In the last six months, the US-based VC has averaged around two early-stage deals a month in Europe. Not a bad haul, but there's still plenty of work to do if the firm is to compete with its American rivals Sequoia and General Catalyst — which are both building sizeable teams on the ground in the region and investing earlier and earlier.

Amy Lewin spoke to Lightspeed's Paul Murphy about the VC's hiring plans, why the team are metaverse "believers" and how it plans to entice Europe's best founders into the fold. 

Here's what she found out.

Property technology — or "proptech" — is changing the future of physical spaces. From robot builders to smart cities, learn about the innovations giving the sector momentum at our London event (or online) on March 10.

Sign up to the proptech launch event here.

While Switzerland's "crypto valley" Zug plays host to half the country's 1,000 crypto startups, it's now got serious competition from Slovenia, Serbia and Croatia for the title of Europe's crypto capital.

These countries' startups have attracted investment from some of the biggest names in VC — think Andreessen Horowitz and Tiger — as STEM talent, early tech adoption and friendly regulation all play their part.

Here's why the region could lay claim to Europe's crypto crown. 

Autonomous electric shuttles are emerging as the most promising application of robotic transport in the short term, and Europe is leading the way. 

While US companies might have deep pockets, European leaders such as Navya, EasyMile and 2getthere are surging ahead when it comes to deployments and technical advancements. But how far off seeing these vehicles on our roads are we?

Sifted's Chris O'Brien finds out.

Hiring is more competitive than ever and the pandemic turned working life on its head. It's fair to say Europe's chief people officers have a lot on their minds at the moment. 

We caught up with eight European CPOs — from Personio through to Pitch — to find out about the biggest challenges they face right now.

Here's what they said.

As the war for finance talent continues to wage on, our upcoming Sifted Talks discusses the plans and processes CFOs and founders should be putting in place to protect their workforce from being poached.

Join us today!

✒️ Tattoo tech. Paris-based startup Ray Studios has snapped up $3m as it looks to scale its tattoo removal service — and help the many people that've permanently inked the name of an ex onto their bodies. The round featured European VCs Kima Ventures, Nickleby Capital and True Capital, alongside US counterparts.

🚜 Farming gets a fintech makeover. Copenhagen-based Agreena has just raised a $22.5m Series A for a platform where farmers can earn carbon credits. It wants to help them realise the massive potential of their land as a carbon sink. The round was led by Kinnevik, and is the latest in a number of raises by European startups cottoning onto the potential of carbon credits in farming.

📱 The secondhand smartphone boom. Following Paris-based Back Market's massive €510m raise last month, Finland's Swappie has joined the well-funded refurbished phone party with its own €108m Series C. The round was led by Verdane, and comes as a number of startups across Europe look to take advantage of consumers' heightened sustainability focus. 

😇 Angels up, crowdfunders down. Angel investors have pumped more money into unlisted UK startups than crowdfunders for the first time in seven years, new research shows. Éanna Kelly digs into the data. 

👼 Gaia raised $20m to make IVF more accessible. The London-based fertility startup uses predictive technology to offer the world’s first-ever insurance product for in vitro fertilisation, and has announced its Series A, in a round led by Atomico.

💰 Here's how to raise the big bucks, deeptech founders. Partner at Cambridge Innovation Capital, Ian Lane, says there are four keys things deeptech founders need to demonstrate to snap up VC cash. From clever recruitment to authenticity, here's how to navigate the tricky fundraising landscape.

🌹 Coming quickly. And finally, here's what happened when Sifted's in-house comedian Georgina Ustik treated the guy she's been dating for just a few months to a Valentine's Day dinner via speedy grocery apps. 

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