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☆ Hopin, last valued at $7.8 billion, has sold its flagship virtual events business with founder set to step down as CEO
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-02 | by ( Callum Burroughs | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Hopin, last valued at $7.8 billion, said on Wednesday it has sold its virtual events business. Hopin founder Johnny Boufarhat is also set to depart his role as CEO next month. Hopin, one of Europe's fastest-growing startups in history, has sold its main events business for an undisclosed fee, the company announced on Wednesday. But a slowdown in demand for virtual events as the world reopened mixed with a broader downturn in tech has hobbled the company's growth. Now, Hopin said it has sold its main events business – Events and Sessions – to RingCentral, a publically-listed cloud communications provider.

Persons: Hopin, RingCentral, Johnny Boufarhat, Andreessen Horowitz, Badri Rajasekar, Boufarhat, StreamYard Organizations: Tiger Global, Catalyst, Financial Times, Sunday Times Locations: Hopin

☆ These are the 19 hottest insurance tech startups to watch in 2023, according to VCs
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-25 | by ( Callum Burroughs | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Insurance tech in Europe had its second-best-ever year in 2022, raising $2.2 billion, per Dealroom. Venture capitalists remain bullish on the insurance tech, or insurtech, sector, banking that the risk-averse industry can be disrupted. The second generation of insurtech startups is emerging across pet insurance, climate risk, and newer areas such as freight and automated vehicles. Insider asked Europe's venture capitalists to pick out some of the insurance tech startups they expected to thrive in 2023. Here are 19 European insurance tech startups to watch in 2023:This article was originally published on May 23 and most recently updated on June 5.

Persons: Root Organizations: Insurance, Venture Locations: Europe

☆ 4 prompts to get your chatbot to fact-check itself and not make things up
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-24 | by ( Callum Bains | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

A journalist breaks down the prompts he uses to identify errors Google Bard introduces. They include telling the bot to list the facts it relied on or to explain its thinking step-by-step. No matter how specific your prompts are, it will occasionally cite made-up sources and introduce outright errors. By using a few carefully honed prompts, I can identify and deal with any inaccuracies at a glance. Sure, I still need to manually verify whatever Bard spits out, but these four prompts help me fact-check quickly, saving me time by making the artificial intelligence do the heavy lifting.

Persons: Bard, loathes, I've, Google's Bard, it's, Bard doesn't

☆ Quench.ai, a new startup from the cofounder of verification unicorn Onfido, just raised a $5 million pre-seed round with this 11-slide pitch deck
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-24 | by ( Callum Burroughs | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Quench.ai, a new company from Onfido cofounder Hussayn Kassai, has raised $5 million. The pre-seed round came from an array of firms including Firstminute Capital and Tuesday VC. The startup wants to help upskill young professionals at companies to give them a competitive edge. Quench.ai, a new startup using AI to help upskill workers, has raised $5 million in pre-seed funding. The startup, which was set up by the cofounder of identity verification unicorn Onfido, aims to help professionals find relevant training content to help with learning and development.

Persons: Hussayn Kassai, Kassai, Quench.ai Organizations: Firstminute Capital, Firstminute, VC, BY Venture Partners, Ada Ventures, Ventures, Notion Locations: COVID, Europe

☆ Zelt, a HR startup founded by a former VC investor, just raised $3.5 million in seed funding with this 12-slide pitch deck
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-20 | by ( Callum Burroughs | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

London-based HR tech startup Zelt has raised $3.5 million in seed funding. The startup enables companies to manage HR, IT, and financial tasks on one platform. We got an exclusive look at the 12-slide pitch deck it used to raise the fresh funds. A startup that enables companies to manage HR, IT, and financial tasks on one platform has raised $3.5 million in fresh funds. "The current market is steps behind and people operations have become more difficult over the past five years as even small startups are global from day one."

Persons: Mumsnet, it's, Christopher Priebe, Priebe, Charlie Songhurst, Mandeep Singh, Felix Leuschner, Daniel Hegarty Organizations: Global Founders Capital, Zelt, 1, Village Locations: London

☆ This startup helps software-as-a-service firms drive sales through word-of-mouth. Check out the 15-slide pitch deck Cello used to raise $3.5 million.
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-20 | by ( Callum Burroughs | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Cello, a Munich-based startup incentivizing software-as-a-service referrals, has raised $3.5 million. We got an exclusive look at the 15-slide pitch deck it used to raise the fresh funds. A startup that aims to incentivize peer recommendations to drive growth in sales of software-as-a-service products has raised $3.5 million in fresh funds. Munich-based Cello, founded in 2022, has closed a pre-emp ted seed funding round that was led by German investor HV Capital. "Cello had strong signs of early traction soon after launching our product," Bader said.

Persons: Stefan Bader, Bader, Cello's, ByFounders Organizations: Capital, Software Locations: Munich

☆ Sequoia Capital's Michael Moritz, who led early bets on the likes of Google and PayPal, is leaving the firm after almost 40 years
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-19 | by ( Callum Burroughs | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Michael Moritz, one of Silicon Valley's best-known investors, is leaving Sequoia Capital. Moritz has spent almost 38 years at the firm and led investments into the likes of Google and PayPal. He will now focus on Sequoia's wealth management unit, The New York Times' DealBook reported. Michael Moritz, one of Silicon Valley's best-known investors, is leaving Sequoia Capital after nearly four decades at the firm, The New York Times reported on Wednesday. DealBook reported that Moritz would continue to represent the firm at a handful of companies but would be replaced on the boards over time.

Persons: Michael Moritz, Moritz, Steve Jobs, Roelof Botha, Sequoia, DealBook Organizations: Sequoia Capital, Google, PayPal, New York Times, The New York Times, Apple, Sequoia, Sequoia Heritage, . Sequoia Capital Locations: Europe, India, Southeast Asia, China

☆ The New Workday Dead Zone When Nothing Gets Done
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-16 | by ( Callum Borchers | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

The 4 p.m. meeting is canceled because half the team can’t make it. You send an email with what would have been the main discussion points, and the replies roll in through the evening and into the next morning. A consensus that could have been reached before dinner now forms the following day.

☆ Trading app Public to launch in the UK as the Tiger Global-backed fintech unicorn begins its European expansion
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-13 | by ( Callum Burroughs | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

US investment app Public is launching in the UK as it pushes into the European market. The company is backed by funds like Tiger Global and Accel as well as celebrities like Will Smith. US trading app Public is set to launch in the UK as it begins its European expansion. Leif Abraham, Public cofounder, said the UK made a "lot of sense" for the company. Public also has plans to expand to other European geographies in future, having announced its intentions to grow out its offering last year.

Persons: Will Smith, Tony Hawk, Leif Abraham, Abraham, Robinhood, Otis Organizations: Tiger Global, Accel, Public, FX Locations: New York, Copenhagen, Europe

☆ Here's the 12-slide pitch deck Prolific, a startup providing quality data to train AI models, used to raise $32 million
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-12 | by ( Callum Burroughs | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Prolific, a startup providing quality data for AI training, has raised $32 million in fresh funds. The Y Combinator graduate company aims to help AI models avoid biases and inaccuracies. A startup that gathers quality data to help train AI models has raised $32 million in fresh funds. The company offers researchers access to "fast smart human feedback at scale" that can help AI data sets avoid biases and inaccuracies. Prolific's £25 million (around $32 million) Series A funding comes from Partech and Oxford Science Enterprises (formerly Oxford Science Innovation).

Persons: Phelim Bradley, Bradley Organizations: Oxford Science Enterprises, Oxford Science Innovation, Google, Meta, Stanford University, University of Oxford Locations: London, Partech

☆ European software startup investor Notion Capital has raised $327 million for fifth and largest fund to date
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-06 | by ( Callum Burroughs | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

London-based Notion Capital has raised its fifth and largest fund to date. The software-as-a-service investor has brought in $327 million from new and existing LPs. Notion has backed companies like fintech unicorn GoCardless and Currencycloud. London-based investor Notion Capital has raised 300 million euros (around $327 million) for its fifth fund. The fund focuses on software-as-a-service and fintech companies in the UK and Europe with its latest fund domiciled in Luxembourg and denominated in euros.

Persons: GoCardless, Stephen Chandler, we're, didn't, Chandler, Itxaso del Palacio, Stephanie Opdam, Kamil Mieczakowski Organizations: BlackRock, Visa, Tiger Global, Patient Capital, Novo Holdings, Cortes Capital, KfW, Itxaso Locations: Currencycloud, London, Europe, Luxembourg, Shelby County Tennessee, Upvest, Germany

☆ Belgian insurance tech startup Qover just raised a $30 million Series C round with this 18-slide pitch deck
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-06 | by ( Callum Burroughs | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Belgian insurance tech startup Qover has raised $30 million in Series C funding. Belgian insurance tech startup Qover has raised $30 million in a Series C funding round. "2022 was pivotal for our business because VC funding slowed down, metrics changed and we have a strong exposure to VC-backed companies," Colmant said. The Series C funding round came from investors including Anthemis, Alven, Kreos Capital and Zurich Global Ventures at an increased valuation. Check out Qover's 18-slide Series C pitch deck below:

Persons: Qover, Quentin Colmant, Colmant, Monese Organizations: Kreos, Zurich Global Ventures Locations: Belgian, Brussels, Kreos Capital

We asked investors at European venture capital funds to pick out rising stars in the industry. Venture capital is in a state of flux right now. Insider has set out to identify some of the rising stars in Europe's venture capital ecosystem who are taking on that challenge. It is London-dominated, with the UK capital once again taking the most VC funding in Europe last year. Read on to see 2023's rising stars of venture capital in Europe, in no particular order.

Persons: Read Organizations: Venture Locations: London, Berlin, Paris, Europe, Stockholm

☆ The cofounder of Iconiq-backed fintech Primer is stepping down as CEO, leaked memo shows
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-03 | by ( Callum Burroughs | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Paul Anthony, the cofounder of Iconiq-backed fintech Primer, is stepping down as co-CEO. The company's cofounder Gabriel Le Roux will assume the role of sole CEO. Le Roux confirmed the organizational restructure and said it was a "reflection of the state of the business today." Le Roux insisted that there was no major disagreement to prompt this decision. In a message to staff Anthony said the move was a "real big change on my side."

Persons: Paul Anthony, Gabriel Le Roux, Le Roux, Anthony, We've Organizations: Accel, Iconiq Capital, Apple, PayPal, Braintree Locations: Cocoa

☆ Reproductive health startup Fertifa, unusually headed up by a VC, just raised $6.3 million with this 18-slide pitch deck
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-30 | by ( Callum Burroughs | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Reproductive health startup Fertifa has raised $6.3 million in seed funding. A reproductive healthcare startup run by prominent VC investor Eileen Burbidge has raised $6.3 million in seed funding. London-based Fertifa, founded in 2019, provides companies with reproductive health and well-being support for employees facing fertility or sexual health challenges. Burbidge, who was an early backer of fintech bank Monzo as a partner at Passion Capital, took over as CEO at the startup late last year. Other backers include Tiny.vc, EQT Foundation, previous investors Passion Capital and Speedinvest, along with prominent angels like Onfido cofounder Eamon Jubbawy and former Monzo CEO Tom Blomfield.

Persons: Eileen Burbidge, Burbidge, Fertifa, Eamon Jubbawy, Tom Blomfield Organizations: Passion Capital, Meta, Bain Capital, DE, Notion Capital, Triple Point Ventures, EQT Foundation Locations: London, Europe

☆ You’re ‘Rage Applying’ for Jobs and Recruiters Are On to You
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-29 | by ( Callum Borchers | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. Distribution and use of this material are governed by our Subscriber Agreement and by copyright law. For non-personal use or to order multiple copies, please contact Dow Jones Reprints at 1-800-843-0008 or visit www.djreprints.com. https://www.wsj.com/articles/you-hate-your-job-rage-applying-probably-isnt-the-answer-e9fd58ba

Persons: Dow Jones

☆ You Hate Your Job. ‘Rage Applying’ Probably Isn’t the Answer.
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-29 | by ( Callum Borchers | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Persons: Dow Jones

☆ Why High-Powered People Are Working in Their 80s
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-26 | by ( Callum Borchers | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. Distribution and use of this material are governed by our Subscriber Agreement and by copyright law. For non-personal use or to order multiple copies, please contact Dow Jones Reprints at 1-800-843-0008 or visit www.djreprints.com. https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-reasons-more-people-are-working-in-their-80s-34f11699

Persons: Dow Jones

☆ The Reasons More People Are Working in Their 80s
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-26 | by ( Callum Borchers | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. Distribution and use of this material are governed by our Subscriber Agreement and by copyright law. For non-personal use or to order multiple copies, please contact Dow Jones Reprints at 1-800-843-0008 or visit www.djreprints.com. https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-reasons-more-people-are-working-in-their-80s-34f11699

Persons: Dow Jones

☆ Hot AI startup ElevenLabs confirms it's raised $19 million from Andreessen Horowitz and GitHub's former CEO
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-20 | by ( Riddhi Kanetkar | Callum Burroughs | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

AI company ElevenLabs has raised $19 million in fresh funding, confirming earlier Insider reporting. Year-old AI voice startup ElevenLabs has raised $19 million in early-stage funding, as venture capital investors rush to back firms in generative AI. Cofounder and CEO Mati Staniszewski previously told Insider that the startup saw huge potential in the publishing and audiobooks sector. Since launching its beta platform in January 2023, the startup says it has hit 1 million users and generated over 10 years of audio content. Credo Ventures and Concept Ventures, which backed the startup's $2 million pre-seed round, also joined the new round.

Persons: ElevenLabs, Andreessen Horowitz, Nat Friedman, Daniel Gross, Mike Krieger, Mustafa Suleyman, Brendan Iribe, Mati Staniszewski, Staniszewski Organizations: Venture, Ventures, Concept Ventures Locations: London, New York

☆ One of Revolut's long-term investors just slashed the value of its stake in the fintech by 40%
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-16 | by ( Callum Burroughs | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A second investor in London-based Revolut has slashed its valuation of the fintech this year. Molten Ventures, a long-term backer, has reduced the value of its position in the company by 40%. Revolut is the latest fintech star to take a valuation haircut, following on from the likes of Stripe and Klarna. A second Revolut investor has slashed its valuation of the London-based fintech company as the price correction of high-value private startups continues. Molten cut the value of its stake in Revolut from £91.3 million ($116.8 million) last year to £54.5 million ($69.7 million) as of the end of March.

Persons: Revolut, SoftBank, Draper, Martin Davis, Davis Organizations: Molten Ventures, Tiger Global, BDO, Financial, Financial Times, City Locations: London, Revolut, Europe

☆ Trezy, a fintech that uses AI to help small businesses manage cash flow, just raised $3.3 million with this 23-slide pitch deck
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-15 | by ( Callum Burroughs | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Trezy, a fintech startup that helps small businesses manage cash flow, has raised $3.3 million. Trezy, a fintech startup that uses AI to help small businesses manage cash flow, has raised $3.3 million. Trezy also automatically identifies and categorizes payments while also tracking cash position in real-time as well as monitoring unpaid invoices. In effect, Trezy's offering is designed to remedy the often opaque world of accounting and financial planning for small business owners. The startup has raised $3.3 million in seed funding in a round led by Seedcamp and Playfair Capital, with participation from Kima Ventures.

Persons: Trezy, Quentin Lacointa, Seedcamp, Lacointa Organizations: Playfair, Kima Ventures, SME Locations: Seedcamp, Paris, Amsterdam, Netherlands

☆ Generative AI startup Synthesia just raised $90 million in fresh funds from US fund Accel and Nvidia at a $1 billion valuation
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-13 | by ( Callum Burroughs | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

London-based generative AI firm Synthesia has raised $90 million in new funding. Synthesia is now valued at $1 billion, making it the latest AI unicorn despite the difficult market. Generative AI startup Synthesia has raised $90 million in new funding at a unicorn valuation. "What we're also proud of is being a leading AI company that's based in Europe, we intend to stay in Europe and build an impactful AI company here because the talent is available." Synthesia previously raised $50 million in funding in December 2021 in a Series B round led by Kleiner Perkins, with participation from GV.

Persons: Synthesia, We've, Victor Riparbelli, OpenAI's, it's, Kleiner Perkins, Riparbelli, David Beckham Organizations: Accel, GV Locations: London, NVentures, Europe

☆ British payments fintech Volt in talks to raise fresh funds from Coinbase-backer IVP, sources say
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-13 | by ( Callum Burroughs | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

London-based fintech startup Volt is set to raise fresh funds, sources say. The company, founded in 2019, is in talks with VC firm IVP over a deal worth around $50 million. British fintech startup Volt is in talks to raise fresh capital from Silicon Valley investing firm IVP, sources say. The payments firm, founded in 2019, has already raised around $28 million to date and counts Swedish investor EQT Ventures among its biggest backers. Volt is set to raise around $50 million as part of the deal, two London-based sources said.

Persons: Slack, PSD2, IVP, Hopin, Tom Greenwood, Jordan Lawrence Organizations: EQT Ventures, Fuel Ventures, Open Finance Association, Open Banking, IFX Locations: British, Silicon Valley, London, Europe, Volt's, Brazil

☆ Early-stage investor Black Seed wants to help create the Black Silicon Valley. It just raised $6.25 million to do just that.
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-13 | by ( Callum Burroughs | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

London-based Black Seed has raised $6.25 million to back early-stage Black founders. The fund wants to create a "Black Silicon Valley" in London by investing in seed-stage startups. Black Seed, a VC fund dedicated to backing Black founders in the UK, has raised $6.25 million to invest in early-stage tech. Based out of Brixton, south London, Black Seed is the brainchild of Cyril Lutterodt and Karl Lokko. Black Seed has indicated that intends to raise the full amount.

Persons: Cyril Lutterodt, Karl Lokko, Lutterodt, We've, Lokko, hasn't, Black, haven't Organizations: Molten Ventures, Ventures, University of Texas, WestRiver Locations: London, Brixton, Manchester, Europe, Atomico, Black, Soho, Mayfair

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