'Reverse acquihires are incredibly dangerous': Tech lawyer Mike Turner

'Reverse acquihires are incredibly dangerous': Tech lawyer Mike Turner

Author: Sifted September 11, 2025 Duration: 26:20
Mike Turner, partner at law firm Latham and Watkins, has a bird’s eye view of Europe’s startup ecosystem: which sectors are on the up and which are on the down; which VCs play nice and which don’t; and why more and more founders are getting edged out of their companies. On this week’s episode of the podcast, Mike sits down with host Amy to discuss why climate tech's monetisation model remains unknown, the growth in strategic buyers’ M&A activity and how European governments will react to ...

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.
Author: Language: en-gb Episodes: 100

Startup Europe — The Sifted Podcast
Podcast Episodes
How AI is transforming startups — for better or worse [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:59
If you work at a tech startup, AI is a boon and a bane, empowering tiny teams to build at scale while wiping out entry-level jobs and flooding LinkedIn with “AI slop.” In this week's episode of the Sifted podcast, Amy is…
Meet Europe’s ‘other’ defence tech unicorn: Tekever [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 14:15
You might be forgiven for thinking Europe had just two big drone makers — Germany’s Helsing and Quantum Systems — given how many headlines both attract. But there’s a third defence tech unicorn on the continent: Lisbon-b…
The secret behind Revolut's product blitz [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:49
Revolut is Europe’s most valuable private tech company — and is set to become even more so soon, with a fundraise in the works which would see it valued at a reported $65m. The digital bank manages to churn out new featu…
Is Mistral worth $6bn? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:37
Once upon a time, Mistral was Europe’s buzziest tech company — raising a huge €105m seed round in 2023 to build GenAI models and compete with the likes of OpenAI. But as the sector's matured, and we’ve seen application-f…
Helsing: Challenges ahead for the defence tech unicorn [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 13:29
Defence tech unicorn Helsing — which raised a whopping €600m in June at a €12bn valuation — has swiftly become one of Europe's most intriguing and closely-watched startups. Defence is top of the agenda for many policymak…
Tackling financial fraud with AI: Qonto CEO Alexandre Prot [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:10
French fintech Qonto is a rare beast in startup land: it's actually profitable. Founded in 2016, the company provides banking and other financial services to 500,000 small businesses customers across eight European marke…