Startups Journo Requests

Women Founders & CEOs & Ecosystem Leaders - EU-Startups Podcast Guests

🚨 We’re looking to feature more brilliant women founders, CEOs, investors, and ecosystem leaders on the EU-Startups Podcast 🔊 Tag any exciting female guests for a chance to come on the Pod! 👀 https://t.co/J8ep33F2pk

eu-startups.com

Current Undergraduate & Graduate Students - Role of University 2026

SOURCE CALLOUT: What’s the Role of the University in 2026? I'm working on a feature article for University Affairs exploring a question that I couldn't help think about when I was back in the classroom as a "student" and Massey fellow last year. Looking around my lecture halls, it was so clear to see that this is not the university experience I remembered. The answer to this question used to be pretty straightforward: universities created informed, educated citizens; prepared us for professional careers; were a hub for research and scholarship, stood tall as cultural and intellectual centres. But the consensus on that is changing more and more everyday. Whether you love it or hate it, AI has fundamentally changed the game. So have alternative credentials and boot camps that offer faster, cheaper, easier routes into the workforce. I've heard students question whether a four-year degree is even worth it anymore. Still, others argue that universities are more important than ever—no other place is designed for critical thinking, research skills and the ability to navigate complexity in these tumultuous times... right? I'm interested in getting at the tensions within this debate through speaking to: - Current undergraduate & graduate students - Recent grads [especially those who've entered a difficult/rapidly-changing labour market!] - Students who chose *not* to attend university - People who left university before completing a degree - People pursuing apprenticeships, trades, entrepreneurship, creator careers, startups, or other non-traditional pathways - Faculty members across disciplines - University administrators and other academic leaders - Former university presidents and provosts - Employers/hiring managers - Researchers studying higher education, labour markets, credentials, or AI - Professionals who believe their degree was essential and irreplaceable - Professionals who believe they could've achieved similar outcomes through other means Here's a little bit of what I want to explore: - What, if anything, can universities uniquely provide today? - Is the value of a university education economic, intellectual, social, civic, or something else? - How has AI changed your thinking about higher education? - Is the traditional four-year degree still the right model? - What do students *actually* want from university today? - What do employers expect from graduates? - Are universities preparing students for the realities of modern work? - If universities disappeared tomorrow, what would we lose as a society? I'd love to hear from you if you have thoughts, experiences and perspectives on this maesltrom. DM or email me [address in comments] Please include a short note about who you are, your connection to higher ed & why this question matters to you. I'd also appreciate any leads, suggestions and help amplifying this call out. Photo from my first day of class as a Massey fellow, where one of my courses was taught at Convocation Hall!

universityaffairs.ca

Voluntary Carbon Market Experts - Forestry & Agriculture Viability

📢I’m looking to speak with people who understand voluntary carbon markets in forestry and agriculture. On one hand, we continue to see new funds being raised for nature-based solutions across forests and agricultural systems. Tech companies are still signing offtake agreements for high-quality carbon credits. And yet, every week, we see carbon-related startups and project developers shutting down or scaling back. So what’s happening? Is demand weaker than it looks? I get that turning carbon projects into scalable, profitable businesses remains difficult - with high costs, long timelines, complex verification, uncertain pricing, and trust issues making it hard for many companies to survive. Is it a supply-demand imbalance? Is it a normal phase of rationalisation in a young market? Or is it a lack of adequate funding to reach profitability? What's your view? I want to speak with people who have experience in this field. Please reach out if you’re open to sharing your view, thank you! #NaturalCapital #RealAssets #ClimateFinance #Carbon #Forestry #Farmland

Founders & CEOs of $10B Startups - Fastest Time to $10B Sales

What’s the fastest startup time to $10b in sales from zero ? Working on a story

Podcast Creators - Doors Opened - Speaking Startup & VC Access

Personally content creation, my podcast has opened up so many doors for me - To speak in communities - To chat with some of the best in startups and Venture Capital For one of the next issues of my newsletter I would love to speak with creators, etc- who have gotten

SPVs all the way down: startups like Legora are warning of controversial secondaries If you utter the acronym “SPV” around a group of investors, you’re likely to get some smirks, winces or raised eyebrows mixed in. That’s because SPVs, or special purpose vehicles, have become one of the more controversial (and popular) facets of the venture industry in the last couple of years. [...] do you think SPVs are always bad? When can they be useful? Which companies are you seeing the most SPVs for right now? [url=mailto:[email redacted]]Shoot me an email[/url].

Defence Founders, Operators & Engineers - Scaling Under Fire Podcast

I'm looking for GUESTS.... Been sitting on this idea for a while! The defence industry has some incredible stories that never get told. Founders building companies from nothing. Engineers solving problems most people will never see. Operators turning real-world experience into products that matter. Yet a lot of those stories stay behind closed doors. That's why I've launched Scaling Under Fire. A podcast focused on the people building the future of defence. We'll be talking defence tech, startups, capital, growth, hiring, product development and everything that comes with scaling in one of the toughest industries in the world. I'm now looking for guests. If you're a defence founder, operator, engineer, investor or someone with a story worth sharing, I'd love to speak with you. Drop me a message or tag someone who should be on.

Experts Across Fields - 7AM Conversations On Politics, Health, Finance

The last post really helped https://lnkd.in/gP-t6VMg discover some incredible experts from across mental health, law, gynecology, finance, and more 💛 As our streak of hosting conversations at 7 AM continues, we're once again looking for experts. Some topics we'd love to explore: • How does one actually get into politics? • How government budgets affect your life • Understanding property disputes in India • How wills and inheritance work • Why we procrastinate • Preventive health after 25 • How venture capital works • How to evaluate a business opportunity • Building wealth from a middle-class income • Lessons from failed startups • Understanding caste in modern India • The economics of marriage • How dating has changed in the last decade • Understanding population trends If you know someone who can lead a conversation on any of these topics - or something equally fascinating, I'd love an introduction. 💛

Revolut's high performance culture is one of those things everyone in fintech has an opinion on. This week I went deep on the mechanics of that system: what it actually takes to be a Revolut "A-player" — the status given to the fintech giant’s highest performing employees. [...] But here's what I keep turning over. Revolut has productised this whole framework into something called Revolut People, which offers a performance management platform modelled after the fintech's playbook. Other startups are now running on it, including Revolut alumni-founded Fuse Energy. The open question: can a performance system be exported? Or is the A-player machine something that only works inside Revolut? Curious what you think. [url=mailto:[email redacted]]Drop me a line.[/url]

AI-First Startups - Building Before Validating & Wrong Metrics

#journorequest Looking for #startups that can identify with these AI issues; building AI before validating the problem, treating AI as the product, removing humans from the loop too early, measuring capability instead of customer, etc. email: [email redacted]

Europeans have long bemoaned the fact the continent struggles to produce companies with genuine global scale. Now one of its most unusual success stories is heading for the public markets — but not in Europe. Italian app acquirer Bending Spoons, valued at $11bn less than a year ago, [url=https://email.sifted.eu/e3t/Ctc/LZ+113/d2mfCN04/VVrqP_7KzXnDW1XPNPc1-VnsHW6rg8CD5Q3l5vN6J4pYT3qgz0W7Y8-PT6lZ3nPW6lzBzk2rysztVhWtKL9fr4fkN67TNMV3nX15W4-nL078lSYD1W8Tvzd9560pVTW6vMsRB4ZDBFcW3yYGhR81tWwGW4rVVPf82jlW5W8XZq4n6ltM2xVr_H2K7GRNthW15BQM63B6y0KW471zHc5n9Gs2W8H90r93S42T4VQDGZR4P1JSnW2RP58y71B07xW13pMJ86fSH_FW7L_tDn99Tn1fW10-Ljz87znyBV34Wm58tBlMVW7bp8L77ZlfrXW9j4M-s4KPwlbW1x1-Lh7hCmzzW4nkg5r4z4z05W8MMYkQ5fjZ0BW3Sxcqj8CSpNNW5Z-H892rHbPCf8Tvzrz04]has filed to IPO on the Nasdaq.[/url] The company has built a formidable business buying software assets such as WeTransfer, Eventbrite and AOL, slashing costs, accelerating growth and repeating the playbook at scale. [...] But Bending Spoons is far from alone. A growing number of Europe's biggest startups are looking across the Atlantic when it comes time to go public, raising fresh questions about the continent's ability to keep its most valuable companies at home. So what would need to change for a company like Bending Spoons to choose London, Amsterdam or Milan over Nasdaq? [url=mailto:[email redacted]]As always, I'm keen to hear your thoughts.[/url]

“Is Europe cooked?” Yesterday, mega US AI model maker Anthropic announced an astounding $65bn funding round — and [url=https://email.sifted.eu/e3t/Ctc/LZ+113/d2mfCN04/VVLhb86XJ4Z_W3c0pnX76NTscW7Wb0M15PFg44M1--jg5bRH4W69t95C6lZ3p4W2PDGHn8qPD9NW8JMsSN6gLhtpW4zJbBC3w_1TnW3prSby3hJcg9W32yrc83-v0lQW67BNpF3-83nbW5RnZss6hpkVfW2FGSL-2S2MHJW4xz8hr5xS7cWW3m6F-45Xn_Z1N4cnG60ybNxDW7kR49C46QvQyW9fjvvv2q0Th8W55DGPL7Vk1bkW5FwnLT8yk5M0MqhJnTWwbGwN8Wzb0b9jjs3V73tMP2dB9H9W44fCYH5tCJQbW1FhTTG2JBkQgN5r2FRnBhnYXW7s_qnx9gQs57W5kHfQ_2KgFx7W3RwwvC6QRF78W3GXk571CV33cN6J2YGfrcqrxW6nWWbF1zf1CQW6QyY5t92GYcFW2jXtyy7LxHcnN7fmzj_zHMkJW3qnN1498ptBXN8zC_7GPWsbQN2nsvrVbfwvNW93mtS35LjGyLW7dh7PW3dBn8KTVY9m7L6hmFf7Qk9Sq04]some were quick to point out[/url] that amount isn’t far off what European startups raised altogether last year. It definitely puts the funding gap in perspective, and I’m curious if you have any thoughts on how Europe might hope to catch up to that kind of financial firepower…(send me a note if you do.)

Founders With 9-5 - Building Startups While Working Full-Time

Are you a founder with a 9–5? I’m a reporter with Morning Brew working on a story about founders who are building companies while still working full-time jobs or “bridge jobs.” I’m interested in how founders structure their days, when they work on their businesses, what tradeoffs and sacrifices come with balancing both, and how having a steady paycheck impacts growth, funding, or risk-taking. If this sounds like you — or someone you know — I’d love to connect. Feel free to DM me.

morningbrew.com

Parents Working In Startups - AI Tools Managing Kids & Schedules

SOURCING FOR A Sifted STORY: Parents working in startups: how are you keeping up with these brash young AI whizzes? I'm writing tomorrow about how some parents I know are using AI tools to help keep on top of things... are they helping? My colleague tells me a scheduling error by ChatGpt meant she missed her kid's recital. I'm using a scheduling app too, which crucially reminded me to pick out a particular outfit for my daughter on a themed day at the creche (now the app seems to be malfunctioning a bit —it keeps reminding me to update my payment for the GAA+ streamer). I want to hear some more tales! Please tell me there's a crazy founder out there using multi-agent-led-toddler-orchestration. DM me on [email redacted].

sifted.eu

Startup Founders & Investors - Why Startups Fail Early

Why do most startups fail within their first 3 years? I’m currently working on a story exploring the realities behind startup failures — from funding issues and poor market fit to leadership challenges, scaling pressure, and changing consumer behaviour. While data and reports provide numbers, I believe the real insights come from founders, business owners, investors, and working professionals who have experienced the journey firsthand. If you’re an entrepreneur, startup founder, investor, or business professional, I’d genuinely love to hear your perspective: • What do you think is the biggest reason startups fail early? • What mistakes are most commonly overlooked? • Is funding still the biggest challenge, or are there deeper operational and emotional factors involved? • What advice would you give to someone building a startup today? Your insights and experiences will help me write a more meaningful and grounded story. Looking forward to reading your thoughts in the comments or DMs. #Startups #Entrepreneurship #Business #Founders #StartupCulture #Innovation #Leadership #SmallBusiness #StartupFailure #BusinessGrowth

Builders in Emerging Startup Cities - What They're Building

AI just handed anyone on the planet the ability to ship software. The question of what to ship? Still as hard as ever. Startup Genome tracks 40 startup hubs globally. There are ~1,000 cities with 500k+ people that aren't on that list — and the vibe coding wave is reaching all of them. I wanted to know what's actually happening there. So I went and asked. 2,385 builders across 81 countries and 500 cities responded. From #Kampala to #Tashkent to #Jakarta to #Dhaka. Places that don't make the global rankings but have people quietly building, often entirely on their own. They're not (JUST) building toy projects. 34% are working on productivity and creator tools. 14% on education. 13% on health and wellness. 12% on fintech. Real problems, real markets — in places where those problems are still largely unsolved. Here's what stood out: - 53% are already using Cursor or Lovable to ship. But their #1 problem is still figuring out what to build. - 49% say their biggest blocker is getting real clarity on their idea. Not code. Not capital. Clarity. - 46% want a human expert who actually knows their market — not a generic accelerator, not another AI tool. Someone who's been there. - Only 15% of builders who already have a live product found support that actually helped them. The tools democratised shipping. The question of what to ship is still as hard as ever. I'm mapping this — still early, still talking to builders — and a report is coming. But I wanted to share the first look while the conversations are still live. If you're building outside the major hubs — as a founder, an ecosystem builder, or someone thinking about how to serve these markets — I'd love to hear from you. Comment "in" below, or drop your city and what you're building. I'll share the full report with you directly when it's ready. #vibecoding #emergingmarkets #startups #founders #buildinpublic #AI #solofounder #Indonesia #Philippines #Uganda #Bangladesh #Uzbekistan #Ethiopia #Colombia

Founders Who Raised via Reg CF & Reg A+ - Dark Side of Crowdfunding

I raised over $6 million from retail investors through equity crowdfunding. I was investigated by the SEC, reported to the FBI, and had a watchdog site ask where my money went. I was cleared of all wrongdoing. Every time. But nobody warned me any of this was possible before I took the money. Maybe because I was among the first to ever do it and we were all learning as we went. I'm writing a blog series called The Dark Side of Crowdfunding, publishing on Substack, and I'm gathering stories from founders who have raised via Reg CF, Reg A+, or any equity crowdfunding platform. The good. The bad. The ugly. And the playbook we all wish we had. If you have raised money from the crowd, I want to hear from you. What worked, what surprised you, what you would tell your past self, and what the platforms never disclosed before you signed up. All responses can be anonymous. Takes about 10-15 minutes. Take the survey here: https://lnkd.in/gBE6MbVQ And if you know a founder who has crowdfunded, please tag them or share this post. Every story matters. #EquityCrowdfunding #RegCF #Founders #BlackFounders #Startups #Fundraising #TheDarkSideOfCrowdfunding

In the next few weeks (and after multiple delays), the EU is expected to unveil its Tech Sovereignty Package, a new set of rules officials say will ensure Europe doesn’t become a “technology colony”. As is often the case with EU legislation, startups aren’t exactly pumped about it. [...] If you’re a startup likely to be affected by the Tech Sovereignty Package, I want to hear from you. What do you expect from the new rules and are they going in the right direction? Ping me [url=mailto:[email redacted]]here.[/url]

Founder-Led Startups & Consumer Brands - Scaling Positioning Gap

I’m looking to speak with 10 founder-led startups or modern consumer brands over the next couple of weeks. Not pitching anything, more so doing a bit of research around a pattern I keep seeing lately as companies start scaling GTM and hopefully will be able to write a short report about it. A lot of strong businesses are hitting a point where: - the product has evolved - the company is growing - the market opportunity is there …but the positioning, messaging, or founder narrative still feels stuck in an earlier version of the business or nowhere at all. And once companies start pushing harder into sales, paid, partnerships, founder content, PR etc… that gap becomes really obvious, really fast. So I’m opening up a few free 30-minute founder strategy sessions to dig deeper into: - where positioning starts breaking - what founders are struggling to communicate - where market perception and business reality stop aligning If you’re currently building in: - SaaS / AI - consumer brands - wellness/longevity - creator-led brands - modern startups …and feel like your company has outgrown the way it’s currently being perceived, I’d genuinely love to chat. No hard pitch, I'm mostly curious to learn more about what founders are navigating right now and see if I can offer an outside perspective while I’m at it. If you're interested, my calendar link is in the comments :) #startups #founders #branding #gtm #growthstrategy

ESG Professionals in India - Data & Supply-Chain Infrastructure

What I’m Learning from Studying ESG Startups in India I’m currently studying India’s ESG and sustainability market from a founder-research perspective. Not as an expert with all the answers, but as someone trying to understand where the real infrastructure gaps are. One thing is becoming clearer: ESG in India is moving from branding and annual reports toward compliance, data, operations and supply-chain systems. BRSR has changed the conversation for listed companies. But the deeper challenge is not only reporting. It is whether companies can collect ESG data from internal teams, suppliers, vendors, plants, logistics partners and business units in a clean, verifiable and repeatable way. That is where I see a major gap. Large enterprises may have access to consultants, enterprise tools and sustainability teams. But India’s mid-market layer - suppliers, exporters, industrial SMEs, manufacturers, logistics firms, textile units, packaging companies, chemical businesses and regional operators often do not have the same ESG infrastructure. Many are not ignoring ESG. They are simply not equipped for it yet. They may struggle with: • Baseline emissions data • Supplier-level documentation • ESG policy templates • Audit-ready evidence trails • Clear internal ownership • Recurring data-collection workflows • Tools that convert compliance language into daily business action This is what I am trying to understand better. I’m currently studying: • BRSR reporting and BRSR Core • Carbon accounting • Supply-chain traceability • Climate SaaS and ESG workflow tools • Consulting and assurance • Green fintech • Circular economy models My working thesis is simple: The opportunity may not be only in helping companies write ESG reports. It may be in helping them build the operating infrastructure behind those reports. That means better data collection, supplier onboarding, documentation, carbon visibility, workflows and evidence trails. I may be wrong. This is still a working thesis. But I believe India’s ESG market becomes more interesting when we stop looking at it only as a reporting requirement and start looking at it as an infrastructure problem. I’d be grateful to speak with people working in: • ESG reporting • BRSR • Carbon accounting • Sustainability consulting • Supply-chain compliance • Procurement and vendor management • Climate SaaS • Green finance • Industrial MSMEs and export-led businesses I’m not looking for polished answers. I’m looking to understand the messy reality: Where does ESG data get stuck? What do suppliers struggle with? Where are consultants still doing manual work? Where can software actually help? Where is the opportunity being underestimated? If you work in this space, I’d value a conversation. I’m studying the market seriously and trying to learn from people closer to the ground.

Marketing Leaders at Startups & Tech - PR & Comms Leaders To Watch

TOP MARKETING, PR & COMMUNICATIONS LEADERS TO WATCH. Looking to feature creative marketers, growth leaders, and brand builders who are helping scale companies behind the scenes: foundersbeta.com/awards From startup growth and brand strategy to community building, demand generation, and creative campaigns. Featuring: • Marketing leaders at startups and tech companies • CMOs, Heads of Marketing, and operators • Builders helping brands scale in innovative ways If this sounds like you or someone you know, send in right here. 👋🏻

foundersbeta.com

Last week, US AI chip company Cerebras made a blockbuster Nasdaq debut that saw its shares trade 68% higher than its expected range, giving the business a market cap of $95bn. It’s a remarkable feat in an IPO market that has been on ice for years, and a reflection of on-going investor confidence in companies positioning themselves as the building blocks of the AI era. How will this translate this side of the Atlantic? Are we set to see valuations soar for startups building similar products to Cerebras? How does this bode for Europe’s leading chips startups? Send me your thoughts [url=mailto:[email redacted]]here.[/url]

Tech Experts in Randburg - AI & Cybercrime & POPIA & NFC Series

🚨 SHORT CIRCUIT RADIO TECH SHOW IS CALLING TECH EXPERTS, INDUSTRY LEADERS & INNOVATORS 🚨 I’m looking for engaging studio guests to join me on *SHORT CIRCUIT* 🎙️ — *Your Tech Hour* on Urban Edge Radio. We’re recording a powerful 4-week tech series ahead of time at Solid Gold Studios and are inviting professionals, thought leaders, creators, founders, specialists, and even well-known personalities connected to these industries to join the conversation. 📍 Recording Location: Randburg 🎙️ Format: 1-hour radio show 📅 Recorded in advance | Airs Thursdays We want REAL conversations. No fluff. No confusing jargon. Just insights that matter. ## 🔹 MONTH 1 — THE MYTH OF AI **The Good, The Bad & The Ugly** Hosted by Geniene Preston — author of *AI for Small Business* and AI trainer. We’re looking for: * AI specialists * Business leaders using AI * Ethics experts * Developers * Digital futurists * Educators * Public personalities speaking about AI disruption Let’s unpack how AI changed our lives almost overnight. Over 4 shows we aim to show The Good, the Bad and the Ugly. --- ## 🔹 WEEK 2 — ONLINE SCAMS & DIGITAL FRAUD Hosted by Geniene Preston, also co-host of *The Real Scam* podcast alongside Tracey Grummet on SA Commuter Radio. We’re looking for guests knowledgeable in: * Cybercrime * Online scams * Banking fraud * Identity theft * Consumer protection * Digital safety * Ethical hacking * Scam investigations If you’ve fought scams, exposed them, researched them, or survived them — we want your voice. --- ## 🔹 WEEK 3 — POPIA, EMAIL MARKETING & DATA PRIVACY Hosted by Geniene Preston, CEO of Sell While you Sleep incorporating Whatsapp CRM, Mail and Anytime Apps. Topics include: * POPIA compliance * GDPR comparisons * Email marketing laws * Data privacy * CRM systems * Consent & databases * International communication regulations Looking for: * Legal experts * Compliance officers * Digital marketers * CRM specialists * Privacy advocates * Corporate communication experts --- ## 🔹 WEEK 4 — NFC TECHNOLOGY & THE FUTURE OF SMART CONNECTIONS Hosted by Geniene Preston, founder of the Emergency Button Scanme To SaveMe. We’ll explore the fascinating and sometimes misunderstood world of NFC technology. Seeking guests involved in: * NFC innovation * Smart devices * Wearable tech * Emergency tech * Contactless systems * IoT * Smart business cards * Tech startups --- 🎧 If you’d like to be featured, recommend a guest, or collaborate, drop a comment or send me a DM. Let’s decode tech together on *SHORT CIRCUIT*. 🚀 #ShortCircuit #UrbanEdgeRadio #AI #CyberSecurity #POPIA #NFC #TechTalk #Innovation #DigitalMarketing #DataPrivacy #PodcastGuest #RadioShow #Johannesburg #SouthAfrica #ArtificialIntelligence #TechExperts

Founders in India - Unfiltered Startup Struggles

Nobody talks about the days you wanted to quit. Everyone celebrates the funding rounds, the flashy logos, and the 10x growth. But what about the rejected pitches? The 3 AM panic? The month you almost couldn't pay your team? That’s the real story. And that’s exactly what we are documenting at NexlytIndia. I am looking for Founders across India 🇮🇳 who are brave enough to share the unfiltered, messy, and glorious reality of building a brand from scratch. We are building a platform to spotlight the real struggles behind the success. If you are building something in India, we want to hear your journey. Want to share your story and connect with other builders? 👇 Drop an "ADD ME" in the comments below, and I will personally invite you to our exclusive founders' group! Let’s stop glorifying "overnight success" and start celebrating real resilience. Who's in? 🚀 #FoundersIndia #Startups #BuildingInPublic #NexlytIndia #Entrepreneurship #IndianStartups #FounderCommunity

Defense Innovators - 100 Top Difference Makers Nominations

For too long, #DefenseInnovation has celebrated visibility over impact. The loudest voices get the panels. The best branding gets the headlines. But the people truly #changing the game? Often they’re buried inside program offices, #startups, operational units, #labs, contracting shops, and cross-functional teams quietly moving capability into mission. That deserves a #spotlight. Over the coming weeks, I’ll be publishing the Difference Makers - “100 Top Defense Innovators” list focused not on hype—but on measurable influence across the national security ecosystem. This effort is intended to recognize the builders, connectors, translators, operators, policymakers, technologists, and ecosystem leaders who are accelerating meaningful change across defense, intelligence, industry, academia, and the startup community. Not just #people with ideas. People creating #movement. I’m especially interested in innovators driving adoption, breaking down barriers, connecting communities, modernizing systems, and helping emerging technology reach real operational impact. If there are #leaders you believe are reshaping the future of defense innovation—particularly those not already getting the #recognition they deserve—I want to hear about them. I have some space left on the list, and I want to check my blind spots with the people who know this space the best. PM (or even better) comment below with who should be on the list and why. It's never a bad day to give a shout out! The future of #NationalSecurity will belong to organizations that can #adapt faster, #collaborate better, and turn #innovation into #operationaladvantage. Let’s recognize the people making that happen. David S. David Rothzeid Ryan Connell Greg Lewis Alexis B. Rob Zuppert Jesse Levin Jer M. Aniza Butler 👩🏻💻🚀 Kris Saling Victor Deal W. Ethan Eagle Katherine T. Kelli Esser Joshua Marcuse Sabra Horne Dr. Marina T. Michelle Currier, CPCM, CFCM Kameke M. Chris O'Donnell Nicholas Vandre Ryan Evans Cameron Conger Art Trevethan Wade Forbes Aubrey L. Arveice Washington Abigail Desjardins Beth Archibald Martin Mika Cross Nina Archie Bonnie Evangelista Brandi Boers

UK Founders & VCs - AI-Enabled Solopreneur Boom Vs Scalability

Something I’m increasingly writing about this year and interested in researching further is this: Are we about to see a boom in company formation… alongside a collapse in independent tech startup scalability? Two things caught my attention this week. First: Anthropic launching Claude for Small Business... People keep whispering the Sasspocalypse. I've written before about the problems I have with the whole 'big tech will eat the world' discourse. However... I do think things are being fiercely shaken up right now. There's clear and present danger for UK regional startup ecosystems, for instance. Claude evolution means you've effectively got an operational layer sitting inside the software stack of SMEs: finance, sales, legal, marketing, reporting, workflow management... the lot. So, in practical terms, it *dramatically* reduces the friction of holistically starting and operating a business. Second: Beauhurst's latest data showing UK capital continuing to concentrate into fewer, larger rounds... with AI absorbing an outsized share of investor attention and bandwidth. Ok, so we've got AI lowering the barrier to building a company but... simultaneously it's becoming a lot more difficult to scale an independent one. A few thoughts I’m exploring: - If frontier AI firms become the operational layer for SMEs, where does proprietary value creation actually sit? - If one person can now build what previously required a team of 10, what happens to startup density metrics and employment assumptions? - What happens to indigenous regional startups when capital, compute, distribution and platform dependency increasingly concentrate around a small number of global players? - How do we get nontech literate decision makers to safeguard local growth? I see a lot of well-intentioned activity in places like the North East, for instance, but I think this has major implications for: - Regional economic development, - Venture funding models of the last 15 years, - Tech startup support programmes AND generic biz support, - How we think about ecosystem health overall. (Particularly outside LDN). Most pressingly, I also think this risks worsening an already messy ecosystem problem: the conflation of digitally-enabled small businesses with genuinely scalable technology product companies... AI may create a huge wave of highly capable microbusinesses, solo operators and AI-enabled service firms. Yep, important economically but that operational sophistication is *not* the same thing as venture scalability. If we fail to distinguish between the two, regions will mistake increased business activity for a genuinely strengthening startup pipeline. Would love to speak to: founders, operators, VCs, economists etc in this space. Will include reaction in this week's Digest.

Today [url=https://email.sifted.eu/e3t/Ctc/LZ+113/d2mfCN04/VVwJN47LQdXFW2Lgthr2W6-DnW2L--MX5N_-PHN6-TN-l3qgz0W7Y8-PT6lZ3pLW7q7Dz15kHlF3W7PTNrf1mpxqlW8dNJtM6CW13ZW7xK95w8QQMjnW5WLJTL1KHrs3N2j1z8GFxT-kW80FMY-6WQnC2W2z35SV8MBtlhW70xP4X8Cm_hBW1rTDYd66n_pmW5M0BcS936r99W1QFNVt2wTcZ3W5lhC8M7Zn4x1W7FWV4H6xsMXNW6sd7mG65-dD3W5Ck27Z3PlCsLW3T-ZPG7TzryyW4GD_f_5JgZLZW3p9Tkq5Hbw4LW5y_x7w8vBf2_W4s-XDm5StYLFN7GwJLYBBB9vVZCstq1gKR3gW3r9Pdz7FRVfcVMs-mz8s2yKCN6TCVzS1SP8-f44r5sn04]I'm writing about the AI company's pay pledge[/url] — and why, sinking feeling alert, you probably won't see many startups rushing to follow suit. Pay is a fascinating subject, and I'll be writing more about it. Have you ever shared your salary with friends or colleagues? How did it go? [url=mailto:[email redacted]]Let me know.[/url]

UK VCs & AI Investors - SovereignAI Investment in Isomorphic Labs

A very quick #journorequest - Yesterday the UK's #SovereignAI fund revealed its third investment after participating in Isomorphic Labs's $2.1bn Series B, a company owned by Alphabet Inc. I'm really curious to get industry perspectives on whether this is a smart move for a government VC to get close to big tech players and sit alongside other top VCs, or is it just the UK gov giving more money to big tech? Thoughts welcome via DMs or in my email inbox for the next 30-60 mins. #UKGov #UK #AI #Startups

Startup Founders Implementing Agentic AI - WebSummit Vancouver 2026

Are you implementing agentic AI at your company? I’m Isaac Phan Nay, a journalist at The Tyee. I’ll be at #WebSummitVancouver2026covering how startups and tech companies are implementing AI. I want to hear from you — send me a message if you’re interested in a chat this week. #sovereignAI#WebSummit#artificialintelligence

thetyee.ca

VR Basketball Developers - Immersive Sports Experiences & Access

Most people still think gaming and sports are separate worlds. They’re not. The future of sports is being built inside immersive experiences, virtual spaces, and interactive communities right now. 🏀🎮 And the people building it deserve more visibility. That’s exactly why we created Jams & Joysticks. Too many innovators are creating groundbreaking experiences that never get the spotlight they deserve, not because the ideas aren’t powerful… but because the right people never hear their story. So we’re changing that. 🎙️ Our newest episode features Christine Schwarz, co-founder of Virtual Round Ballers. And this conversation opens up a much bigger discussion about where gaming, fitness, sports, and VR are all heading next. ⸻ In this episode, we dive into: 🏀 How Christine went from fitness enthusiast to VR innovator 🚀 Building immersive basketball experiences in virtual reality 🧠 Why accessibility and engagement matter in sports tech 🌍 How VR can connect players of all ages and skill levels This isn’t just about gaming. It’s about the future of human interaction, sports training, entertainment, and community. And honestly… we’re only scratching the surface. ⸻ What makes conversations like this important is that innovation no longer lives only inside massive studios or billion-dollar companies. Some of the most creative ideas shaping the future are coming from independent creators, startups, developers, and visionaries building things people haven’t fully imagined yet. That’s who we want to highlight. That’s who we want the world to see. 🎥 Watch the full episode here: https://lnkd.in/eM2BWDBU ⸻ Jams & Joysticks is continuing to grow: 🌍 Expanding across the global gaming community 📺 Bringing conversations to Roku, Amazon Fire Stick, and connected TV platforms 🎮 Showcasing more developers, creators, founders, and innovators 🚀 Creating a space where gaming culture, technology, and storytelling collide ⸻ So if you are: 🎮 Building a game 🥽 Innovating in VR or immersive tech 🧠 Creating new experiences in sports or gaming 🚀 Building something people need to see Let’s connect. We’re actively looking to: • Feature creators and innovators • Spotlight games, startups, and technology • Collaborate with people pushing the culture forward Drop a comment below: 👉 What’s one innovation in gaming or VR that you think will change the future? And if you believe more creators and innovators deserve visibility in this industry, share this with your network and subscribe to the Jams & Joysticks channel. Let’s build something bigger together. National Basketball Association (NBA) NBA G League NBA Summer League WNBA (Women's National Basketball Association) Unrivaled Basketball Athletes Unlimited Under Armour Nike Basketball Reebok AAU Boys Basketball Colin Bell The UPSHOT League #JamsAndJoysticks #VR #VirtualReality #GamingCommunity #SportsTech #GameDevelopment #Innovation #BuildInPublic #ContentCreator #IndieDev

African Creator Economy Founders - Two Major Unsolved Problems

We are sleeping on the creator economy. And we are doing it badly. I wrote this after spending a week trying to find a creator economy startup to break down for my series but what I found instead was more interesting than any single company breakdown. Two massive problems nobody is building for at scale If you are building something in this space, I want to hear from you. Full piece here 👇 #AfricanCreators #CreatorEconomy #AfricaTech #Afrobeats #MusicRoyalties #AfricanStartups #NigeriaStartups #ContentCreators #StartupEcosystem #VentureCapital #AfricanInnovation #IPRights

Rwanda Creators & Founders - Podcast on Business, Money & Growth

Over the past few years, I’ve realised that some of the most valuable insights about money, growth, business and life never make it into books or conferences. They exist in everyday conversations with people building things, taking risks and figuring life out in real time. So here’s something I want to start in Rwanda 🇷🇼 I’m looking to host conversations with people across different industries for a podcast focused on real stories and real experiences. Whether you’re in: • Trading and finance • Banking • The creator economy • Entrepreneurship • Tech and startups • Sales and marketing • Or any other industry with lessons worth sharing I want to hear your story. The goal is simple: To create honest conversations around money, business, failure, growth, risk, creativity and the realities behind the journey. Not overly scripted interviews. Just meaningful conversations people can genuinely learn from. If you’re based in Rwanda or know someone whose story deserves to be heard, feel free to comment below or send me a message. Let’s create conversations that inspire, educate and connect people across industries. 🎙️🇷🇼 #Rwanda #Kigali #Podcast #Leadership #Entrepreneurship #CreatorEconomy #Business #Finance #Innovation #PersonalBranding #AfricanCreators #Networking

Students & Young Founders - Kojan Podcast Guests

The most interesting people I know aren't in any classroom. They're building startups at 17. Publishing research before finishing school. Running communities, breaking records, asking questions nobody around them is asking. Then again, there are the average students, students who have dreams, passions and more, whose stories are constantly overlooked. None of those conversations - the outliers and the average - had an audience. I'm changing that. The Kojan Podcast launches soon — long-form conversations with students, young researchers, founders, and occasionally just someone living an interesting life. No script, just a natural conversation between 2 human beings chilling out, unlike other interview 'podcasts'. I'm now opening applications for guests for the first few episodes. If you're doing something that matters to you — research, a startup, a sport, an idea, anything — I want to hear about it. You don't have to be famous. You just have to have something worth saying. Apply here: https://lnkd.in/gZJr5FvZ Or tag someone who should be on this show. follow The Kojan Podcast on Instagram — https://lnkd.in/gGxY4gsF

Much ink has been spilled of late on the “[url=https://email.sifted.eu/e3t/Ctc/LZ+113/d2mfCN04/VWX-vP35DtxsW1QKJYm24CrB8W2x7JLQ5NQfTwN72QT-q3qgz0W7lCdLW6lZ3m8W2YqWvj5F5HrpW55LYwZ2KQ9ZKW22Mz7Z3y5cGRW12fNMS4WqYYTW6pb0rl3wTVpJW6v4DjJ6m4LLQW96m_mt1xyrRmW7z2JvR6s83HPVM4b0H1NX0LZW1rhjkB931ryNW18BHz284GS0bW8jsL8R90j7JxW25Q6N03XfM0KW2Mn3V75WWFKdN8XfY1636_qjN5P_45rWXGk9W58B0755RmsH-W2Jpr0H5jZpcTN1T5W9HvPLp7W2k9v314b-sZyW58D8TG1BL-_lW7BFF274CvhWPW7CY9v96FLYVXTF1Wy7P8YdNf306WpF04]bro renaissance[/url]” happening in European tech, exemplified by loud male VC voices on LinkedIn, popular podcasts going months without interviewing women, a surge in the 996 “grindset” and a spurt of male-dominated hackathons. But UK-based Arāya Sie Fund is raising LP money to buck the trend: the fund is dedicated to only backing women (co)-led startups. [...] Dig into my full exclusive on Arāya Sie Fund, including the types of companies the fund aims to back, [url=https://email.sifted.eu/e3t/Ctc/LZ+113/d2mfCN04/VWX-vP35DtxsW1QKJYm24CrB8W2x7JLQ5NQfTwN72QT-K3qgz0W7Y8-PT6lZ3pQW4L14Pt4CCYJmW8zgjdH5bh9KMW1nwXZ85ndr7vW4x7_dV3mJV5-W1XLmxc4txdbkW4rfzcc5jvHh0W55hMVV7X5jWhW1TmzMp6kbtZvW1RgV6r3PgvPPW4Q_5km3cB37SW6K1x765yx-84W8d934X5tYHm7W93Nt_J6hVfCJW8zgzhW5b4PcGW6mvxPG5wrqYmW8Z5Y4Z1XyTz8VfGtFG92hYpvN2ZmXqNZRZQBW79Ssrx4sVstmW77Xjfk8sxDFCW2PxBZC6LGK9ZN9h7Bc3xFBTcW32hqMP4J1RJrW8m7lDM21Dsg4W8md9fk5Kwcf4W6Ng7tf88VLGddJ5MSv04]here.[/url] I’d love to hear from you, VCs: is backing female founders a priority for you and your fund? What do you make of female founder-only funds? What is missing in these funds and initiatives? Are they necessary? [url=mailto:[email redacted]]I’m all ears.[/url]

The nature of warfare is rapidly changing, and with it, the whims and interests of Europe's defence VCs and founders. The latest “new wave”: founders pitching missiles. [...] Dig into my full analysis, including some of the companies VCs are eyeing, [url=https://email.sifted.eu/e3t/Ctc/LZ+113/d2mfCN04/VWX-vP35DtxsW1QKJYm24CrB8W2x7JLQ5NQfTwN72QT-K3qgz0W7Y8-PT6lZ3n2W7ccksn94rgMtW61xc4Q7y6ysmMh4bcPQMFlZW91VWJ-24zD1lW87PFJc3dY2ncW8qZRFs36j1VcW88p8pv3yfT_bW4rMLYp27B3sWN8Cz_YX4J13-W3c3xF63jfGqVW2Z__bx66qLW6W1FtfkC30J3JmW8CG_wf1D9sSMW3MrMqP3KgSHPW2wkdDj7MjNYQW7-Hnlp83NS_hV41y6Y6C7F6TW14QKsl110mZgW3Hp5CN1Qh_RFN9khZYyc5TDhW2pPSvb22DYmFW9hjNPG26LnyTN29KzGTnvHQgW393YjZ8lnr_yW3lNyHb5kzrkgW7f_CXf8j3Njpf3GSp6004]here.[/url] And tell me: are you looking into missiles? Does it make sense as a VC case? Which missile startups are you seeing that I should know about? [url=mailto:[email redacted]]Send me a note.[/url]

Female Founders in UK - Exit Outcomes & Valuation Gap

Female founders receive less than 2% of UK venture capital. The funding gap is well documented. But here's what makes it worse. The founders being turned away are delivering better returns than the ones being backed. Not marginally better. Measurably, consistently, better. For every pound of funding received, female-founded companies generate significantly more revenue than their male-founded counterparts. Female-founded scaleups in the UK invest 38% of their raised capital into R&D -- twice the rate of typical firms. Over a ten-year portfolio analysis, First Round Capital found that companies with at least one female founder performed 63% better than all-male founding teams. The Kauffman Foundation found that female-founded companies generated 35% higher return on investment than all-male teams. This is not a close call. The evidence has been available for years. So let's be direct about what this is. It is not a pipeline problem. It is not a confidence problem. It is not bad luck. It is bias -- operating at scale, with real financial consequences. The question that follows from this data is one that too few people are asking: if female founders are delivering stronger returns on less capital, what happens to them at exit? That's the subject of the next piece. If this resonates - or if you've experienced the other side of this data firsthand - I'd love to hear from you. At Exitologists, we work with founders who deserve better than a system that undervalues them. Including at the point they exit. #FemaleFounders #GenderFundingGap #SMEFinance #ExitPlanning #UKStartups

Established Mid-Size Founders - Real-World Product & Growth

I’m looking to feature a few established founders in my upcoming LinkedIn series. The goal is simple: I want to dig into the real-world mechanics of how you’ve built what you have. We’ll be geeking out over industry shifts, market nuances, and the actual "why" behind your unique approach. I’m looking for founders who: - Have been in the game long enough to see a few market cycles. - Are running a mid-size operation with a distinct edge. No fluff. Just deep dives into the expertise that only comes from years of consistent revenue and a product that actually solves a problem differently. Sound like you? Drop me aDM. I’d love to hear what you’re building and see if we’re a fit for the series. #startups #business #BTWwithSagar #Consulting

linkedin.com

Last week, the clever clogs on Sifted’s Intelligence team pulled the data on [url=https://email.sifted.eu/e3t/Ctc/LZ+113/d2mfCN04/MWbQhwgNzwNV9dwmH3QDzGzW20x2Jc5NKsBpN1qZLrW3qgz0W7lCdLW6lZ3pdW7Nt20b1hBTB2W6zlpgr3t2nrRW42WqTV4scT8SW1--WgV67bZzHW8_5RHh5KG07CVHz2yj3kFQGnN4bYCSqvXvdNW6s5kxP6-RB0DW2qNx872PrlKxV1S70t3RVZJxW14BM6L6bBnR4W7jmF3H8fFtMjW1YlV8w14g-WXW20pPcP4JqnrNW7XtgqN6PlPB8W6thXlG7Klb2JW8DxBl77fKyr2W1pMB416X4sVGW7DfPpb8H4RVyVrJdPs36WMNhW7LkDHc49Ry8JW2dfG3w8GtTLHW1cG-gS5czN3SW2_f2rv1Tql1Vf7PvDXq04]Europe’s fastest-growing ‘tier-two’ tech hubs[/url] — those outside capitals such as London, Paris, Berlin and Stockholm. [...] This week they’ve got another treat — [url=https://email.sifted.eu/e3t/Ctc/LZ+113/d2mfCN04/MWbQhwgNzwNV9dwmH3QDzGzW20x2Jc5NKsBpN1qZLsv3qgz0W8wLKSR6lZ3nbN6jB_DkMt-qSW81mj5s99j_R-W2DxnkG89ZQK3VSWllK4lMjvcW6VvrrW5lZtvlN81Q2nPJP4TSW2Jp6Zr5Zts6JW1RVCxT2ZbDgGW68knF53lW-D5VV0sNp2vBQb6W4SGzf14Pt0_mW3r473n2JwK_CW2wnyVV4TLLsTW3gTNGc8y2GgmW8qynPy9c72VcW8gXRJm4yZt-WV4wD-Z2XCXY3W2nhBm_7t9rszW8mK23S7vrnHfW58Hzwf6ZhtFCW7Rk5tR3m5T7yW5BmSrV8gfLT5N2-Ds8vzFHdQW1nCzM86PQ5GLW33ZjFL71sz2gW3PgNJs34pj_4W8gPQZr2pvk49W7T6jnt7vNNdNf82k2zR04]a list of the startups to watch[/url] tinkering away in Europe’s smaller tech centres. One thread that comes out of the piece is a lot of these tier-two hubs are humming with deeptech energy. Drill down a little more and you more specifically find a bunch of companies working on or adjacent to chips, a sector many VCs are betting on at the moment. [...] One reason for the mini chips boom in and around these centres is the strength of research coming out of their universities. But is there something else going on that I’m missing? And do any of them stand a chance at taking on industry titans? Where in the stack could Europe win? [url=mailto:[email redacted]]Send me your thoughts.[/url]

SF Bay Area Unitree Owners & Legged Robotics Startups - Demos & Uses

For The Guardian I am working on a story related to legged robotics and would love to meet folks and companies in the SF Bay Area who are tinkering in the space. Perhaps you own a Unitree robot dog and have found interesting uses for it, or you work at a startup developing humanoids for the masses. I want to see some of the cool and fun stuff happening in the space of legged robots! Feel free to send me a private message or email [email redacted].

theguardian.com

Young African Hardware Engineers - DIY Telecom & SIM-Free Phones

A 19 year old student in Namibia just built a phone that works without a SIM card or mobile network. Simon Petrus used radio frequencies to create a device that can communicate in areas with little or no telecom infrastructure. Is it perfect? No. Critics say it resembles existing radio technology. And they may be right technically. But that is completely missing the point. A teenager in one of the most underserved regions on earth looked at a problem, unreliable communication infrastructure, and decided to build something instead of waiting for someone else to fix it. That instinct is exactly what Africa needs more of. Not perfect inventions. Not billion dollar startups. Just young engineers who see a problem around them and reach for their tools instead of their complaints. This is the story The Circuit Diaries exists to tell. Because Simon is not an exception. He is a signal. Across Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, Namibia and beyond, there are young engineers building real solutions to real African problems with whatever they have access to. Most of them are doing it in silence. No platform. No community. No voice telling them their work matters. That changes now. If you are one of those builders, or you know one,drop a comment. I want to hear your story. #TheCircuitDiaries #BuildInAfrica #AfricanInnovation #EmbeddedSystems #HardwareEngineering

The European Commission is expected to unveil new proposals to boost the region’s semiconductor sector in the next few weeks, and I’m curious to know how startups feel about it. Known as the Chips Act 2.0, the text will update the 2023 European Chips Act, which aimed to boost the region’s sovereignty and competitiveness in the sector. But one chips founder tells me the first version didn’t do much to help startups. “There was practically nothing to help startups developing semiconductors,” they say. “Larger historical players clearly pulled the blanket towards themselves.” Founders in the space, I’d like to know your views. What went wrong with the original Chips Act? What do you expect for the next version? And how are you competing against the interests of larger, better-funded semiconductor players in Europe? Ping me [url=mailto:[email redacted]]here[/url].

Anyway, what I really want to know is: how will any of the new wave of research-heavy AI startups make the sort of serious money which will make them moneymakers for investors? And do they even make sense as a VC play? As always, [url=mailto:[email redacted]]email me your thoughts.[/url]

It’s still early days, but squint hard enough and the outlines of a potential “Lovable mafia” are just over the horizon, as my colleague Martin Coulter writes this morning. The Swedish vibe-coding unicorn has fast become a badge of honour among Sweden’s young AI engineers, but for a growing handful a stint at the company is proving to be a launchpad to start their own thing. The early signs this is happening at Lovable feels like the first time we’ve seen evidence of a founder factory among the new wave of AI-native startups. You can read about the handful who’ve left the vibe coder for founder life [url=https://email.sifted.eu/e3t/Ctc/LZ+113/d2mfCN04/VWX6fc5K4SxZW5p8LKj5FDXXjW1qZjFf5NwLHhN1RGL_x3qgz0W8wLKSR6lZ3kNW5k0fPc8BH7GfW7QDK935TnH86W7yLpMr5-ynQqW3ZWKMX3gM5JFW6CcstV6zy9fCW3C34HB9cnqyXN3bdb12rLfJYW4KV6M02bB6cHW14_Xfx7kCPXLW3Rx--G4xmqpVW4d_ZVw5pJhdcW1DJ1QT8xQT7ZV3286n20dMDjW5v5nsV56RvQfW1zTGv45GRKmhW4Wvw4r4Z4VmRW6p79j15FspzxW3MMv-97JCTrzW3TBmhR73WV4DW63_Z0J7PV-w2W6ZXTCK8w7QmxVgDH2N1ptrLzW4rJyLZ300GrMN2V3sR244SkYW76DcFC6vk0NyW2y0Jmw2Y1hQxW8YDtlM5jv7MsW6k1k7M3LMR49f8xXc6s04]here.[/url] Readers, I want to know: Who else from this new crop is churning out a new generation of founders? Who else from Lovable not on our list is tinkering with an idea and is worth watching? As always, [url=mailto:[email redacted]]email me your thoughts.[/url]

Founders & Startup Accelerators & Incubators - Honest Founder Stories

#Entrepreneurs, founders, and #accelerators, #incubators… I want to hear your story and your offer. I’m opening up guest spots on #EntrepreneurPitstop — a podcast where we cut through the noise and talk about what actually happens in the Entrepreneur Life and Startup communities and Life as a Founder. From: Founders, Accelerators, Incubators, Startup Specialist & Startup Business Services Not the highlight reel. The pivots, the pressure, the lessons that actually matter. If you: Are building or have built something and wanna share your story Have real-world lessons (wins and failures) Offer services to #Startups (Business specialist, accelerators, incubators) Want to share your journey with a global audience 👉 I’d love to have you on. No fluff. No guru talk. Just honest conversations that help other entrepreneurs move forward, make through the tough times, know when to pivot, deal with fears, and nay-sayers... Drop a “PITSTOP” in the comments or send me a DM and I’ll reach out. Let’s tell stories that actually make an impact. And offer guidance that matters #EntrepreneurLife #Founders #StartupLife #startupsweden #startupestonia #startupnorway #startupdenmark #eustartup

On dating apps, there’s already a term for the person who writes to you using AI: the chatfisher. Today I’m turning my guns on the corporate version: the senior leader who uses AI to communicate with their own colleagues. It's becoming a problem at some startups. [url=https://email.sifted.eu/e3t/Ctc/LZ+113/d2mfCN04/VX2m6c2vWnpKMYknHm6wQlJW7Pgndt5Nr-hkN7PgQ2q3qgz0W7Y8-PT6lZ3nFW3GnLMv3nJZLSW21B_qN2Qswt3W4H9gMH5QtFDmV7tt6s7nbl9lW7RHW_z3Rf35PW7Ljpkv10z0sgW600Kc02hGJ8rW1HShct210_CSW2bBmJ260D0HxN43bL7qtQfctW6PDwBJ4nCQrNW8-5kMP202tZBW2GxLkS5PJrS1W32gWCs6glpqRW4LtjMq4htZH3W7T0W3r7bgFhsW9gB5_X6Q8-86W4bHkDx4wqwwcW6f3Bxj4pZ823W7xdxrP2stD0JW4VRz_R45NxLdW4l8fmm1fQPsFW4BT37F6GxtmRW3gL4vM6hBw45W3_dCKM8XqFNrN9cdK6m4n0l8f8LJ3lC04]It’s all in here[/url] — and drop me a (human-written) line if you have a take. [...] [url=https://email.sifted.eu/e3t/Ctc/LZ+113/d2mfCN04/VX2m6c2vWnpKMYknHm6wQlJW7Pgndt5Nr-hkN7PgQ2q3qgz0W7Y8-PT6lZ3nSW45-PZD2sgj7fW3N4Wxs8mJ2t1W3MQL8T1C_b_QVjBs2r1HfZVVW3kLkz41NFcZ4W2TLbtw8__hcwW8zMPDK4tFPPvW5jq8Vm2NHBCzV1Skn635MjvhVVptzC5Z-s1RW2W2QgP4Txd_vV-kpWc6vNx34W56JhWl3vln1tW2Cv9Nc8vvCtTW1JzfPQ1JsMr7N4x8v96Y0LL2W5Cp0qB8WjWD_W2nX8fh9cTty_W8g-BSp8pr0gBW6jY3c26T4lb1W8FVKTv4L125rW3RHHr37lC5cvW4llZQf32CHjMW5LN2Rl3xT0D-W3wRCCs4x0DGlW1FYytR6NG-N1f7Qb3dd04]All the tales of AI woe are in here.[/url] What’s it like in your office? [url=mailto:[email redacted]]Let me know.[/url]

I spent last Tuesday navigating the maze that is the Guildhall in London during the Innovate Finance Global Summit — where digital assets were the talk of the town. Attendees voiced their frustration that the UK had seemingly lost its place in the stablecoin race already, with some warning of a similar missed opportunity in tokenisation. The government anticipated their cries, as City minister Lucy Rigby announced a package of measures to modernise the UK’s payment services regulation. I’m curious about where the money is actually going in this tokenisation and stablecoin excitement. Who is in acquisition talks? Which digital assets startups are currently raising? [url=mailto:[email redacted]]Drop me a line.[/url]

Startup Engineers - Retention & Turnover Trends

I've worked for two startups as an FTE and lasted 13 months and eight months respectively. Compare that to my job in 'legacy' newsrooms: 3 years, 5 years, 3.5 years. I don't think - as one former colleague sadonically suggested - that the problem is me (although I have - and do - describe myself as 'an outdoor cat'). Retention has been a problem at startups since the year dot. While the industry might have a reputation for free lunches, flashy off-sites, and equity packages, it also has one for engineers sleeping in tents and 9-9-6 work schedules. How big a problem is this in tech? And will it change? I'm working on a piece for the Financial Times. Get in touch with insights!

ft.com

Hong Kong Tech CEOs & Founders - AI Automation Space & Robotics

I'll be visiting Hong Kong soon and am keen to connect with leaders in the tech industry. I'm looking to conduct interviews with CEOs, CTOs, founders, key personnel from innovative startups, and engineers. My areas of focus include: Information Technology, Automation, Artificial Intelligence, Space exploration, Electronics, Energy, and Robotics. If your company operates within these sectors and you're interested in sharing your insights and engaging in a high-level discussion, please reach out to me via this platform or on LinkedIn. Hong Kong is a remarkable city, brimming with fascinating individuals, pioneering tech minds, and creative thinkers from diverse backgrounds. Life certainly offers incredible adventures, and I'm profoundly thankful for every experience. ❤️👊🏼" 我即将前往香港，希望采访科技行业的CEO、CTO、创始人、创新创业公司及工程师。我关注IT、自动化、AI、太空、电子、能源和机器人技术。若您的业务与这些领域相关，并愿意分享经验、进行高层对话，请通过此平台或领英联系我。香港是一座美好的城市，人才济济，科技领袖和创意人士云集。 #tech #startup #hongkong #china #interview #CEO

Legal Tech Founders, VCs & Buyers - ARR Definition Standards

Legal Tech – We Have an ARR Problem Legal tech companies, and especially VC-fuelled startups, have an ARR problem. At its core is how you define ‘Annual Recurring Revenue’. Things have come to a head andScott Stevenson, CEO of Spellbook, has suggested ‘a huge scam’ is happening (see below). Meanwhile, Artificial Lawyer would say that because ARR is such an unclear metric, startups may be quite unintentionally causing confusion. Those startup founders and legal tech experts who Artificial Lawyer contacted this weekend agreed that ARR is easily prone to abuse, and at the very least it is open to misunderstanding from the market in general. How do we fix this? > LINK: https://lnkd.in/eaUd5KZZ > We need to find a way out of this mess. AL would like to hear from startups, VCs and buyers. What is the best way forward? Pls send comment to AL also for inclusion in a follow-up article including your view. Thanks. Let's not let a blurry metric undermine the world of legal tech. #legaltech #funding #VC MT Jack Newton

artificiallawyer.com

Coaches & Consultants - Growth Newsletter Launch & Interviews

Announcement - I've spent the last ten years working 1-2-1 with coaches and consultants - helping them sign more clients. Ads, webinars, sales videos, funnels, newsletters, email outreach, SEO, offer creation - there's been a lot. I've been lucky enough to see coaches grow from idea to reality, from a few thousand a month to hundreds of thousands, from unknown coaches to industry leaders. So 10 years in, and it's time to start documenting some of what I've learnt. Here's the plan. The Coaches' Growth Letter. (I spent less 2 mins on this name) Twice weekly newsletter. Topics will include - Ads Webinars Funnels Email newsletter Cold outreach Video Scripting Social Growth Messenger Marketing SEO AEO and lots more. BONUS: I'll also be looking to regularly interview coaches that I know have unique strategies and insights and share those insights with subscribers (my favourite current story is a coach generating hundreds of live webinar attendees every week from X of reposts). This will be specifically for coaches and consultants. Not SaaS, not fintech, not AI startups. It'll be a super low price, $15 per month. I'll be launching in May. So here's the ask (well two asks). 1. If you're interested in joining in May - then drop me a DM. 2. If I've worked with you in the past, and you're up in being interviewed drop me a DM.