Startup Europe — The Sifted Podcast

Startup Europe — The Sifted Podcast

Author: Sifted Language: English Episodes: 50
Each week on Startup Europe-The Sifted Podcast, host Amy Lewin sits down with the people actually shaping the continent's technology landscape. This isn't about abstract theories or distant analysis; it's built from direct conversations with the founders rolling up their sleeves, the operators scaling teams, and the investors backing the next big ideas. Alongside Sifted's own journalists, Amy delves into the specifics of building a business, examining the strategies, setbacks, and successes that define the journey. The discussions go beyond the headlines to explore the real mechanics and human stories behind the companies causing a stir. Tuning into this podcast offers a genuine, behind-the-scenes look at innovation as it happens, grounded in the reporting and network that Sifted brings. It’s for anyone curious about the practical realities of European tech, from seasoned investors to aspiring entrepreneurs wanting to hear how it’s really done. You’ll find a focus on tangible lessons and candid insights, making each episode a detailed snapshot of a dynamic and fast-moving ecosystem.
Episodes
Does Europe have a voice in AI safety? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:40
Last week, the resignation of Anthropic researcher Jacob Coxon catapulted the discussion over AI safety into the mainstream. A thread he posted on X quickly garnered millions of views. “The consensus is that the next yea…
Is Mistral's monster fundraise a win for European sovereignty? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:55
There's been talk all summer about who would fund Mistral's next round. This week it was confirmed: €3bn at a €21bn valuation, co-led by Samsung, the EU's Scaleup Europe Fund and US growth firm PSG Equity. A year ago Mis…
Why Legora isn't building its own model [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:47
Legora has had a busy year. The Swedish legal AI firm raised $550m in March, led by Accel, and has made five acquisitions since January. The company is often pitted against its US rival Harvey. But while the two are comp…
Are the Nordics really on fire? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:48
There’s a lot of talk at the moment about the momentum in the Nordic tech scene. Companies like legal AI firm Legora and vibe coding startup Lovable continue to bring in megarounds. But is the momentum spread across the…
Domyn CEO Uljan Sharka: ‘We're a few quarters away from $1bn ARR’ [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:57
This week on the podcast, host John Thornhill is joined by Uljan Sharka, the founder and CEO of Italian AI unicorn Domyn. Uljan migrated from his home country Albania to Italy back in 2008 — without knowing a word of Ita…
European fintech has a culture problem [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:49
Sifted's fintech reporter Damisola Sulaiman makes her first Sifted podcast appearance to discuss her recent reporting on the culture at Danish fintech Pleo. Interviews with seven former employees revealed a company trans…
VCs are taking on operator roles. Why? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:55
VCs taking on interim roles at their portfolio companies is something that’s happened for a long time — as is VCs making the permanent switch to the operator side. But a new trend seems to be gaining steam in Europe: VCs…
Inside Mistral’s monster fundraise and Palantir-like repositioning [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:42
Mistral’s latest fundraise has got the ecosystem chattering. The French AI darling is reportedly raising a €3bn Series D round at a valuation of around €20bn. Last week, Sifted broke the news that the EU’s €5bn Scaleup F…
Yann LeCun launched a new VC fund — then quit. What happened? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:09
Last Friday, Europe’s tech ecosystem was abuzz with the news AI godfather Yann LeCun was launching an AI VC firm. Then, hours later, he quit. This week on the podcast, reporter Maya Dharampal-Hornby joins host Freya Prat…
Liz Kendall: ‘I’d love to stay as UK tech secretary’ [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:52
Liz Kendall was appointed as the UK's Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology just under a year ago. But will she keep her role under the country's new prime minister? There is one area her views diverg…