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Klarna layoffs, a16z’s latest European investment and the Glovo founder’s new fund — The Sifted Podcast

This week on Startup Europe — The Sifted Podcast, we chat about more layoffs and more raises

By The Sifted Podcast Team

Listen to Startup Europe — The Sifted Podcast on Apple, Spotify and all major platforms.

From defence tech to pets in the metaverse, we’re celebrating our 30th episode this week. And we’re marking that anniversary with a brand new name — Startup Europe — and brand new artwork.

Up this episode, we discuss the news that buy now, pay later giant Klarna has announced a second round of layoffs; we chat about the $260m investment into French insect-breeding company Innovafarm — making it the world’s biggest bug business; and we talk a16z’s latest investment this side of the pond.

Then we hear about cofounder and CEO of Spanish delivery company Glovo Oscar Pierre’s new VC fund… which was announced as the company was fined €79m for breaching labour laws.

And then attention turns to defence, as Sifted’s nordics correspondent Mimi Billing and editorial director John Thornhill report on Nato’s new €1bn venture fund.

Lastly, we dive into the metaverse, and ask: Do we really need to take our pets virtual?