DIRS.INFO top alerts submit data jurnalism about API
login
Top related persons:
Top related locs:
Top related orgs:

Search resuls for: "Tasmin Lockwood"


25 mentions found


☆ 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).
☆ 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."
☆ 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.
☆ 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.
☆ 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.
☆ Startups trying to turn cities into carbon sinks to fight climate change have raised a record $2.2 billion this year, new report shows
  + stars: | 2022-11-22 | by ( Tasmin Lockwood | ) www.businessinsider.com   time to read: +6 min
Green construction startups have raised a record $2.2 billion in 2022, per VC firm A/O PropTech. The construction and operation of buildings account for 37% of global CO2 emissions from energy use, according to the UN. The adoption of bio-based materials, such as wood, and a circular approach to construction can help cities become carbon sinks, the report stated. A carbon sink is when something can store more carbon emissions than it produces. Most building materials are currently "down-cycled" and used for things like filling potholes, she added.
☆ This secondhand fashion startup wants to become the Depop of Africa. Here's the 11-slide pitch deck Yaga used to raise $2.2 million.
  + stars: | 2022-11-10 | by ( Tasmin Lockwood | ) www.businessinsider.com   time to read: +4 min
Estonia-based Yaga just raised $2.2 million to bring its secondhand marketplace to Africa and Asia. The startup, backed by Startup Wise Guys, wants to become the next Vinted or Depop. An Estonia-based circular economy startup that wants to become the Vinted or Depop of Africa has just raised 2.2 million euros ($2.2 million). The company operates an app and website that are currently available in South Africa, Kenya, and India. "I went to Instagram and looked at how people buy and sell secondhand in South Africa and Kenya," the founder said.
☆ Carbon-accounting startup Planetly was shut down and all 200 staff laid off just a year after acquisition. Insiders say it's a bad omen for 2023.
  + stars: | 2022-11-08 | by ( Tasmin Lockwood | ) www.businessinsider.com   time to read: +5 min
European carbon accounting companies lured $670 million in venture capital last year, as investors banked on growing appetite from corporates to bolster their ESG credentials. The slowdown means 2023 will be the toughest year since the Lehman Brothers collapse for potential closures of acquired companies, the source said. Still, carbon accounting companies are struggling with commercial traction due to market saturation and little differentiation, he said. "But if you acquire a carbon accounting software solution, you are probably a large organisation that has established customer relationships and had conversations about this before. European industry sources added that they expect further consolidation in the carbon accounting space.
☆ A startup building software to encrypt messaging tools such as Slack just raised $11 million from Molten Ventures. Check out the 17-slide pitch deck Worldr used to secure the round.
  + stars: | 2022-11-07 | by ( Tasmin Lockwood | ) www.businessinsider.com   time to read: +4 min
A startup building encryption software to secure business communications on Slack and Teams just raised $11 million. London-based startup Worldr has built an additional layer of "zero-trust" infrastructure offering security, privacy, and compliance for business communication apps. As the company scaled into new markets, it became a highly regulated business, Buchan told Insider. This means that despite using Slack or Teams for business communications, those companies can't access the customer's data. The company has built integrations for Microsoft Teams, Slack, and WhatsApp, and has Microsoft Outlook in the works.
☆ Russia's invasion of Ukraine has accelerated a nuclear renaissance. Europe's nuclear startups have raised a record $403 million in 2022.
  + stars: | 2022-11-01 | by ( Tasmin Lockwood | ) www.businessinsider.com   time to read: +5 min
Nuclear power has long been shunned by policymakers due to disasters like Chernobyl and Fukushima. Rising energy costs caused by Russia's invasion of Ukraine have sparked a nuclear resurgence. For most, nuclear energy sparks memories of the large-scale disasters at Fukushima and Chernobyl. To generate energy via nuclear fusion, two atoms have to be combined – the same process that fuels the sun. Both are needed to fight climate change, according to Aneeqa Khan, a nuclear fusion research fellow at the Dalton Nuclear Institute.
☆ A pair of European VCs just closed the first tranche of a $50 million social impact fund. Here's the 7-slide LP deck Redstone and EnjoyVenture used to raise the funds.
  + stars: | 2022-10-27 | by ( Tasmin Lockwood | ) www.businessinsider.com   time to read: +2 min
European VC firms Redstone and EnjoyVenture have closed the first tranche of their social impact fund. We got an exclusive look at the 7-slide LP deck it used to raise the first tranche of the fund. He agreed, but only if he could set up his own venture fund. Paul said he had seen a flurry of activity around environmental impact investing but less so around social impact. "The idea was really to have a holistic understanding of social impact," he said.
<< prev 6 next >>
Total: 25