Sifted

?? HUGE NEWS: Sifted, the FT-backed leading media brand for the European startup community, today recognised Vertice as 2025’s #1 fastest growing UK & Ireland startup! This crowns a stellar first quarter of 2025, starting with our $50m Series C raise. In today's world, scrutiny on spend is at an all-time high, but procurement capabilities haven't kept pace. With siloed data, multiplying vendors, and decentralized buying, the fundamentals of procurement are under threat. That's where we come in. We're giving procurement and finance teams what they've been missing: accurate data, real-time pricing benchmarks, maverick spend alerts, and the analytics to master every buying decision. The results? Our customers have entrusted $3.4bn in spend to us, saving up to 30% while cutting procurement cycles in half. Huge thanks to Sifted for the recognition, and most of all, to our incredible team for their dedication and drive in making us the fastest-growing startup in the UK & Ireland. You can read more on our latest blog here: https://vrtc.io/4c27Gvb And check out the full Sifted 100 list at the link in comments - we're in great company.

The investors backing UK & Ireland’s fastest-growing startups ?? Some investors have an eye for future moneymakers. The 100 fastest-growing startups in the UK and Ireland, according to the latest Sifted Leaderboard, have been backed by 953 between them. ???? 24% are headquartered in the US / ???? while the majority — 54% — call the UK home. Find out the top 10 leaderboard investors and their portfolios in our latest article ?? https://lnkd.in/ecfgU_hK OR uncover the full Sifted 100: UK & Ireland investor ranking (2025) ?? https://lnkd.in/enbBeAvB #SiftedLeaderboards #Sifted100 #FastestGrowingStartups

Meet the UK and Ireland’s fastest-growing startups in 2025! ?? We're back with our second annual Sifted 100: UK & Ireland Leaderboard, in partnership with Marriott Harrison. This ranking features the 100 fastest-growing startups in order of revenue growth. This year’s list is packed with fresh insights: 75 new startups have entered the leaderboard, fintech is the most dominant sector (40 companies), nine $1bn+ unicorns are highlighted and many more trends are shaping the ecosystem. ???? See the rising stars here: https://lnkd.in/eY4TmFt2 #SiftedLeaderboards #Sifted100 #FastestGrowingStartups?

NEW: Engine, the software-as-a-service platform run by UK fintech Starling, is plotting a global expansion, says the subsidiary’s CEO Sam Everington. That’s despite a turbulent six months for parent company Starling, which was slapped with a ￡29m anti-money laundering fine last year, putting its internal operations under scrutiny, as well as a?leadership shake-up?among its C-suite. Founded in 2014 by former banking veteran Anne Boden, Starling is one of the UK’s largest neobanks and makes most of its money by banking retail customers and small and medium enterprises (SMEs). But unlike most challenger banks, Starling isn’t seeking to expand internationally by exporting its primary current account product.?Instead, it plans to sell its core banking software to finance firms worldwide, via subsidiary company Engine. It’s a unique proposition that will see Starling break into new ground as it seeks to compete with other banking SaaS companies like Thought Machine, Mambu and 10X. But can Starling make a success out of its SaaS side hustle? Find out here: https://lnkd.in/eb8tipkV

Thrilled to announce the first closing of our new fund, Blue, at €200M! ?? ??Why Blue? Because we believe that science is the next driving force in the climate transition. With this third fund, we are doubling down on European scientific ingenuity to fuel game-changing startups that blend cutting-edge research with sustainable impact. ?? From research to global leadership Europe is home to world-class research, but too often, groundbreaking scientific innovations don’t make it beyond the lab. That’s changing. New generations of researchers are stepping into entrepreneurship, and we’re here to back them. ? We’ve already seen this in action with Pasqal, Airthium, Moonwatt, Epigene Labs and Pruna AI—and we’re just getting started. ?? Europe has a unique opportunity. By connecting the academic world with entrepreneurial innovation, we can foster the emergence of global champions capable of addressing tomorrow’s social and environmental challenges. Our goal? ? Final closing at €250M by year-end ? Support ~40 startups tackling sustainability challenges, leveraging science and innovation ? Back entrepreneurs thinking big and shaping the future A big thank you to our LPs including Bpifrance, Crédit Mutuel Arkéa, European Investment Fund (EIF), MGEN, PRO BTP Groupe, SWEN Capital Partners, family offices, and tech entrepreneurs ?? At daphni, we remain committed to bold, sustainable European entrepreneurship. Let’s build the champions of tomorrow, today. ???? #innovation #impact #venturecapital

Europe’s boldest startup event is back and if you’re serious about innovation, investment and scaling, #SiftedSummit is the place to be. Whether you're a founder, operator or investor, this is where Europe’s startup scene comes to scale. Here's why to attend ?? ?? Get your super early bird tickets today — https://lnkd.in/e8kmZmmz #SiftedSummit #Startups #Innovation

I'm thrilled to be joining the judging panel for the?Female Founders Summit?startup pitch event — organised by?Businettes. If you’re a female founder with a big idea, today is your last chance to apply. Female founders are building incredible companies, yet they still receive a fraction of venture funding. This event looks to open doors to investors, networks, and opportunities that can help take their businesses to the next level. Here’s how it works: ? Startups apply to enter ? The Top 8 will pitch in an online jury session on April 2nd and receive free tickets to the event ? The jury selects the Top 4 startups ? The finalists pitch live on stage in front of an audience and investors at the Female Founders Summit on April 30th Link in comments to apply??? Looking forward to hearing from bold, visionary entrepreneurs and investors who are building the future! P.S. Thank you Victoria Arnhold and Vaida S. for inviting me to be a part of this ??

Could you shift pet caring responsibilities to a robot? ?? During the pandemic, millions turned to the companionship of furry friends. However, as we return to the office, fun and active social lives don’t always go hand and paw with staying in with the pooch. ?? Could tech’s new darling — AI — come to the rescue? From AI-powered smart collars and litter boxes to using AI to figure out a cat’s emotions, pet care is becoming more high tech, more efficient and more remote. ?? New podcast out now by UNLEASHED by Purina: https://lnkd.in/evzcdGdy Featuring Nicolò Frisiani, the founder of AI-powered vet platform Lupa, Massimiliano Melis, chief operating officer of AITEM Artificial Intelligence Technologies Multipurpose, and Susan Groeneveld, founder of sylvester.ai

Who are the women to know in AI? In a space typically dominated by men, we rounded up 15 female founders who are making waves: https://lnkd.in/etaEFqCh

15 AI healthtechs to watch ?? Funding for AI healthtechs in Europe is on track to hit levels not seen since the 2021 boomtimes this year —?so far raising $701m in 2025. Daniel Ek’s Neko Health, which uses AI to provide insights from a body scan, has raised the biggest round in the sector this year, picking up $260m from investors including General Catalyst and Lightspeed. Investors from Kindred Capital VC, Eurazeo, Speedinvest, Calm/Storm ventures and Frontline Ventures share their top picks ?? https://lnkd.in/eXiKzrDC