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☆ Inside climate tech's record-breaking year where the energy crisis, new regulation, and a maturing debt market helped European startups raise $17.5 billion
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-30 | by ( Tasmin Lockwood | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Climate tech was a clear green shoot in a tumultuous 2022 but there will be a delayed correction. But there has been one green shoot: Climate tech. "We've just gotten started when it comes to climate tech," Emitwise's Cozzi said. Many climate tech companies have raised at high valuations, said Magda Lukaszewicz, principal at Balderton Capital. Energy and infrastructure companies are tipped as winners, while pure software plays may see some consolidation, climate tech investors and founders said.

☆ Think long-term, grab land, watch your runway: Here's how European VCs are advising their founders ahead of a looming recession
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-29 | by ( Tasmin Lockwood | Callum Burroughs | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Sequoia's iconic 2008 'R.I.P Good Times' presentation still rings true for some investors. Good Times" presentation from 2008. "Because people are so programmed with the whole RIP Good Times thing, the nuance gets lost sometimes." Magda Lukaszewicz, principal at Balderton, echoed this – even if it takes companies longer to achieve said goals. Sequoia's "RIP Good Times" ends on a bleak note: Get Real or Go Home.

☆ Europe's tech ecosystem nursed a hangover in 2022 as the post-pandemic party ended and VCs returned to fundamentals
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-28 | by ( Callum Burroughs | Tasmin Lockwood | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

VCs returned to slower capital deployment and due diligence processes after a record-breaking 2021. The COVID-19 pandemic and the last remnants of the era of cheap money led to reckless abandon in funding markets with tech startups raising capital at record rates, often at valuations untethered from reality. VC cash dried up considerably this year with investors pumping $16 billion into startups in the third quarter of 2022, a 44% annual decline. Numerous VCs told Insider the past two years had felt like an out-of-control celebration with many "now looking around at the aftermath and thinking about tidying up. " "The ecosystem is nursing its hangover after two years of a big party," Arne Morteani, founding partner at Kiko Ventures said.

☆ Amazon aggregator Razor has raised a fresh $70 million and acquired Latin American peer Valoreo, sources say
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-22 | by ( Tasmin Lockwood | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Amazon aggregator Razor Group has raised around $70 million in a new equity funding round. LVMH-backed private equity firm L Catterton led the deal, Insider understands. Razor has also acquired a Mexico City-based aggregator in a separate transaction, one source said. Amazon aggregator Razor has raised approximately $70 million in a round led by US private equity firm L Catterton, according to two sources familiar with the deal. L Catterton has placed bets on a range of other e-commerce aggregators, including Berlin-based SellerX, Nebula in Asia, and US-headquartered Dragonfly.

☆ A food fight is raging over what we can and can't call 'meat'
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-17 | by ( Tasmin Lockwood | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +13 min

Morten Toft Bech, the founder of a startup that makes plant-based meat alternatives, brought the animals in protest. Meat lobbies argue that plant-based products have stolen the concept of meat without matching its taste and nutrition standards, tarnishing the integrity and cultural importance of meat. It tends to argue that plant-based meat alternatives shouldn't be allowed to use meaty terms at all because, put simply, they aren't meat. Meat bodies want startups to come up with new terms for plant-based food that imitates meat. Both meat organizations and plant-based companies told Insider they encouraged a healthy, balanced diet.

☆ Leaked video shows the CEO of $3 billion GoStudent announcing fresh layoffs. Insiders and Slack screenshots suggest hundreds of staff have been cut.
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-16 | by ( Riddhi Kanetkar | Tasmin Lockwood | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

GoStudent held a company-wide all-hands meeting Thursday after a fresh wave of layoffs. The number of employees affected isn't clear, but Slack screenshots show members dropping by 370 over two days. Screenshots of GoStudent's Slack seen by Insider show the number of members dropping by 370 over two days. GoStudent u-turned on perks intended to combat rising inflationScreenshots of the company's Slack channels show employee confusion in response to the layoffs. According to public layoffs tracker Layoffs.fyi, almost 1,000 tech companies have cut more than 150,000 staff.

☆ Google's popular program to turbocharge climate startups doesn't take equity and is open in Europe. Its sustainability boss explains how to land a spot.
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-15 | by ( Tasmin Lockwood | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Google for Startups has launched an equity-free climate change accelerator in Europe. The Google for Startups Accelerator: Climate Change program has launched in Europe after running for two years in North America. Some 21 startups have taken part in the original program, chosen out of a pool of "hundreds," according to Google. It comes as Europe continues to grapple with high energy prices; Google hopes the accelerator will help respond to the crisis. He is looking for agenda-setting solutions that help companies or individuals "really leapfrog" forward.

☆ GoStudent, a $3 billion education startup backed by Coatue and SoftBank, has started a fresh wave of layoffs that could hit over 100 jobs, sources say
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-14 | by ( Tasmin Lockwood | Riddhi Kanetkar | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

SoftBank-backed education startup GoStudent is cutting jobs for the second time in three months. The Austrian startup has already cut roles in Italy, Germany, and Vienna, Insider understands. GoStudent has raised $686 million to date and is also backed by Coatue and Prosus. GoStudent, a $3 billion edtech startup backed by some of the world's biggest tech investors, has started laying off staff for the second time in three months, Insider understands. According to public layoffs tracker Layoffs.fyi, almost 1,000 tech companies have cut more than 150,000 staff.

☆ This startup wants to show the impact Fortune 500 companies have on the environment and society. Check out the 18-slide pitch deck Upright used to raise $5.2 million.
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-13 | by ( Tasmin Lockwood | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Finnish startup Upright just landed a 5 million euros seed round (around $5.2 million). The platform reveals the impact the world's largest companies have on the environment and society. Check out the 18-slide pitch deck Upright used to raise its first round from VC Planet A.Annu Nieminen has always found solace in math. She couldn't find anyone working on a tool to show the overall negative or positive impact of businesses so decided to do it herself – "as the cliche goes," she told Insider. The Helsinki-based startup has been bootstrapped until now, as it announces a 5 million euros seed round (around $5.2 million).

CNN —The global soccer players’ union, FIFPRO, said it is “shocked and sickened” by reports that Iranian soccer player Amir Nasr-Azadani faces the possibility of execution “after campaigning for women’s rights and basic freedom in his country.”“We stand in solidarity with Amir and call for the immediate removal of his punishment,” FIFPRO said in a statement posted on Twitter on Monday. In the report, Jafari said Nasr-Azadani had been charged with rioting against authorities. He has been in custody since November 27, but no sentence has been issued yet for the accused, the report added. FIFPRO is shocked and sickened by reports that professional footballer Amir Nasr-Azadani faces execution in Iran after campaigning for women’s rights and basic freedom in his country. That followed the execution of another man last Thursday, in the first known execution since protests began.

☆ Here's why a former Meta, Slack, and Google sales director swapped Big Tech for climate tech by joining SoftBank-backed startup Plan A
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-12 | by ( Tasmin Lockwood | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A former Meta, Slack, and Google sales director is joining SoftBank-backed carbon accounting startup Plan A.Neil Delaney, who is joining the startup as chief revenue officer, left Meta in pursuit of "ikigai." Former Google director Neil Delaney describes himself as personable; he enjoys learning and has a natural interest in people. He was working as the interim global sales director at Meta when something else caught his eye: climate tech. With 15 years in Big Tech under his belt, Delaney has now joined Berlin-based carbon accounting company Plan A as its chief revenue officer. The next wave of tech unicorns is expected to be in climate tech, and Delaney sees Plan A as one of them as long as it "executes well."

He was convicted of “waging war against God” for reportedly killing two members of the Basij paramilitary force, and injuring four others on November 17, the outlet said. The charge of “waging war against God” carries the death penalty under the theocracy of the Islamic Republic since 1979. Rahnavard was hanged in a public execution in the northeastern city of Mashhad early Monday morning, it said. He is the second known person to be executed in connection to the 2022 protests. His death comes less than a week after Mohsen Shekari – the first known protester to be executed – who was hanged last Thursday.

☆ The funding environment for female founders in Europe is set to remain equally dire in 2022, new report shows
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-08 | by ( Tasmin Lockwood | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The investment landscape for female founders has remained equally dire in 2022, a new report has found. The funding environment for female founders in Europe is set to remain equally dire in 2022, a new report has predicted. AtomicoThere are a number of initiatives and funds targeted towards early-stage startups with women founders. Just 12% of Europe's general partner roles were filled by women in 2021, according to last year's State of European Tech report. The updated report found women founders are "almost just as likely" to begin angel investing as their men counterparts, creating a positive flywheel.

CNN —Iran has executed a man for injuring a paramilitary officer in the first known execution linked to protests that have swept the country since September, state media reported Thursday. Mizan Online, a news agency affiliated with Iran’s judiciary, and the semi-official Tasmin news agency both named the protester as Mohsen Shekari. It is the first execution connected to the protests to be publicly reported by state media. At least 458 people have been killed in the unrest since September, according to Norway-based Iran Human Rights on Wednesday. In late November, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights said Iran was in a “full-fledged human rights crisis,” and called for an independent investigation into violations of human rights in the country.

☆ European startups are on course to raise $85 billion this year – over $18 billion short of 2021's record, new report shows
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-07 | by ( Hasan Chowdhury | Tasmin Lockwood | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

European startups are on track to raise $85 billion this year, a new report has stated. We've analysed the key highlights from the industry-wide report on Europe's tech sector. European startups are on course to raise $85 billion by the end of 2022, which would leave it 17% – or $18.6 billion – short of last year's record dealmaking, according to Atomico's State of European Tech 22 report. Investment in European startups was up 52% in the first quarter of 2022 to $29.2 billion. In theory, this comes down to a cooling off of what Wehmeier described as "capital markets becoming overheated through cheap available capital."

☆ This startup is creating realistic sound experiences in virtual reality. Check out the pitch deck Treble used to raise a $5.7 million seed round.
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-06 | by ( Tasmin Lockwood | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

An Icelandic sound startup just closed a 5.5 million euros (around $5.7 million) seed round. Treble Technologies helps architects and game designers design better sound experiences using simulations. His company, Treble Technologies, has nabbed 5.5 million euros (around $5.7 million) to improve the way sound is designed. The company has also secured a 2.5 million euros (around $2.6 million) European Innovation Council grant. Check out the 22-slide redacted pitch deck Treble Used to raise the Seed round below.

☆ Chattermill helps Amazon and Uber understand customer feedback across social media and review sites. Check out the 14-slide pitch deck it used to raise a $26 million Series B.
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-06 | by ( Tasmin Lockwood | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

London-based Chattermill has raised $26 million to analyze customer feedback for big firms. Isupov had been working at a market research company, manually looking at customer feedback and brand perception. That essentially is a huge waste of opportunity because there is a lot of amazing insight in that data," Dubov added. As well as scraping internet data, Chattermill plugs into SurveyMonkey, Typeform, and Qualtrics. It is honoring some signed contracts with Russian customers, of which none are Kremlin-affiliated or on a sanctions list, Dubov said.

☆ Elizabeth Holmes, Donald Trump, and childcare are all contributing to a loss of trust in women leaders
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-03 | by ( Jason Lalljee | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Trust in women leaders is decreasing across the globe, a new study found. Experts say that the normalization of sexism, as well as perceived failures of some female leaders, may be why. That's on top of reduced childcare options during the pandemic locking many women out of the workforce. The survey, which was taken by over 30,000 people across the G20 countries, found that trust in women as leaders has fallen significantly over the past year. In particular, she pointed out that when Hillary Clinton lost the presidential election to Trump, many media outlets speculated whether America was really ready for a female president.

☆ Video: Soccer player mourns friend who rights group says was killed for celebrating US soccer win
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-02 | by ( ) edition.cnn.com time to read: 1 min

An activist group tells CNN that Iranian regime forces killed 27-year-old Mehran Samaak for celebrating the US soccer win over Iran. Iranian police denied that Samak was killed by authorities and announced the arrest of several suspects, Iran's state aligned Tasmin news agency reported. CNN's Jomana Karadsheh has the story.

CNN —A man is reported to have been killed by security forces in northern Iran during public celebrations by anti-government protesters following the national football team’s defeat against the United States on Tuesday. Norway-based rights group Iran Human Rights (IHR) said Mehran Samak was shot in the head by security personnel when he was out celebrating in Bandar Anzali Tuesday night. Based on existing evidence, he had been shot by a hunting rifle,” Bandar Anzali police chief Colonel Jafar Javanmardi said according to Tasnim. Footage obtained by CNN from pro-reform news outlet IranWire shows Samak's funeral in Bandar Anzali. Several videos were posted on social media Tuesday night showing people in cities across Iran, including in the capital Tehran, celebrating inside their homes and residential buildings after the US defeated Iran 1-0 in the World Cup.

☆ Nesta's VC arm just launched a $60 million fund to back social and climate impact startups. We got an exclusive look at the 13-slide pitch deck it used to sway its board.
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-30 | by ( Tasmin Lockwood | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The VC arm of the UK's social innovation agency Nesta just launched a £50 million ($60 million) fund. We got an exclusive look at the 13-slide pitch deck used to convince Nesta's board to launch the fund. While UK-focused, Nesta Impact Investments can invest in any geography as long as the company could have a positive impact on the UK market. In this portfolio, Nesta Impact Investments is running at 71% from minoritized or disadvantaged groups, according to Barclay. We got an exclusive look at the 13-slide pitch deck Nesta Impact Investments used to sell Nesta's board on the new fund.

☆ This startup comes up with cash offers for homeowners in 24 hours. Check out the pitch deck Rive used to raise a $24 million Series A to make buying and selling real estate easier.
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-30 | by ( Tasmin Lockwood | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Finnish proptech Rive has just closed a 23 million euros (around $24 million) Series A funding round. We got an exclusive look at the 14-slide pitch deck Rive used to raise the cash. While listing some properties on the market, Rive also has a portfolio of its own. Rive gives sellers cash offers with time frames that suit their moving plans. Check out the 14-slide pitch deck the company used to raise the cash below.

☆ Startups helping make farmers more efficient and sustainable have raised $1.1 billion in 2022. Here's 10 of the most-promising agritech startups, according to VCs.
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-29 | by ( Tasmin Lockwood | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Climate change and Russia's war on Ukraine have helped put food supply chains high on the agenda. European agritech startups tackling challenges in the food system have raised $1.1 billion this year. Insider asked investors to pick the 10 hottest agritech startups emerging in Europe right now. Venture capital funding has tumbled in 2022 but investment dollars continue to flow into European-headquartered startups helping farmers be more efficient and sustainable while also benefitting from greater yields. Agritech startups raised $1.1 billion across 143 deals in the opening 10 months of 2022, down from the $1.4 billion secured in 224 deals across the entirety of last year.

☆ Anne Hathaway-backed VC firm Pact just closed the first tranche of its $36 million seed fund. Here's the 11-slide LP deck it used to raise the capital.
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-24 | by ( Riddhi Kanetkar | Tasmin Lockwood | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

A female-founded VC firm has closed the first tranche of its £30 million ($36 million) early-stage fund. Check out the 11-slide LP deck the London-based firm used to raise the fresh funds. While investments will span Europe, Pact will help its portfolio companies scale into regions underserved by traditional investors, Gu told Insider. Gu will support companies looking to enter Asia while Pham and Mobassaleh-Wyndham will focus on EMEA, and specifically Türkiye. It sees this as a pull for potential portfolio companies who can then take advantage of the network's expertise.

☆ Deep tech investor OTB Ventures raises $145 million for new fund and plans to expand into seed stage startups
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-22 | by ( Tasmin Lockwood | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

OTB has raised 140 million euros ($145 million) of its 150 million euros ($155 million) target. European venture capital firm OTB Ventures has raised over 90% of its new 150 million euros (around $155 million) second fund at first close. The Amsterdam-based company, founded in 2017, will invest in 10 seed and 15 Series A-stage startups, writing checks of up to 1.5 million euros and 7 million euros respectively. Niewinski said LPs had "doubled down" since its first 108 million euros fund, which was later topped up 30 million euros by the European Investment Fund. The investor is bullish on space tech specifically and tapping into expertise at the European Space Agency and European Union Space Programme to assess startups.

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