Kai Nicol-Schwarz

Kai Nicol-Schwarz was a senior reporter at Sifted. He covered AI and UK tech.

Matt Clifford: It’s rational for British founders to move to the US
The big interview
November 19, 2025
Matt Clifford: It’s rational for British founders to move to the US
Clifford sits down with Sifted to discuss the UK’s AI hopes, problems with working in government and EF’s shift to the US
Kai Nicol-Schwarz
10 key findings from Atomico’s State of European Tech report
News
November 19, 2025
10 key findings from Atomico’s State of European Tech report
Sifted combed through the 183 charts in this year’s edition to pick out the most important bits
Kai Nicol-Schwarz
Meet the 17 venture scouts Sequoia has hunting for deals in Europe
List
November 14, 2025
Meet the 17 venture scouts Sequoia has hunting for deals in Europe
The programme was launched in Europe in 2020
Kai Nicol-Schwarz
Plural moves parent company from UK to Estonia
News
November 11, 2025
Plural moves parent company from UK to Estonia
Founded in 2022, Plural was launched by Estonian Wise cofounder Taavet Hinrikus and serial entrepreneur Ian Hogarth
Kai Nicol-Schwarz
UK tech leaders urge Rachel Reeves to rule out exit tax
News
November 10, 2025
UK tech leaders urge Rachel Reeves to rule out exit tax
Finance minister Reeves is reportedly considering charging entrepreneurs leaving the country a 20% levy on British assets
Kai Nicol-Schwarz
Europe has minted half its decacorns in 2025
List
November 7, 2025
Europe has minted half its decacorns in 2025
Four European startups have reached or surpassed a $10bn valuation so far this year
Kai Nicol-Schwarz
Exclusive: AI startup PhysicsX to raise up to $100m from Nvidia
Exclusive
November 6, 2025
Exclusive: AI startup PhysicsX to raise up to $100m from Nvidia
PhysicsX is building an AI software platform to quickly design parts for manufacturing projects in industries such as defence and aerospace
Kai Nicol-Schwarz
Europe’s 10 fastest-growing AI agent startups
Fastest-growing startups
November 3, 2025
Europe’s 10 fastest-growing AI agent startups
2025 has seen investors pour record amounts of funding into the sector
Kai Nicol-Schwarz
Bending Spoons raises $270m at $11bn valuation
News
October 30, 2025
Bending Spoons raises $270m at $11bn valuation
The announcement comes a day on from the company raising $2.8bn in debt financing
Kai Nicol-Schwarz
AI legal tech Legora raises $150m at a $1.8bn valuation
News
October 30, 2025
AI legal tech Legora raises $150m at a $1.8bn valuation
The round comes five months on from the Swedish startup’s Series B
Kai Nicol-Schwarz
The European AI legal techs which have fundraised in 2025
List
October 30, 2025
The European AI legal techs which have fundraised in 2025
Startups in the sector have raised nearly twice as much this year as they did in 2024
Kai Nicol-Schwarz
Synthesia raises $200m at $4bn valuation, say reports
News
October 30, 2025
Synthesia raises $200m at $4bn valuation, say reports
The round comes 10 months on from the AI darling’s previous $180m Series D
Kai Nicol-Schwarz
OpenAI-backed startup aims to deliver in-home humanoid robots in 2026
News
October 28, 2025
OpenAI-backed startup aims to deliver in-home humanoid robots in 2026
Debut robot model ‘Neo’ has built-in bluetooth speakers in its pelvis and chest
Kai Nicol-Schwarz and Tom Nugent
UK startups lay out demands for ‘make or break’ Budget
Analysis
October 28, 2025
UK startups lay out demands for ‘make or break’ Budget
Lobby groups pitch greater investment and fewer restrictions ahead of crunch announcement
Martin Coulter and Kai Nicol-Schwarz
VCs urge founders to fundraise before AI bubble bursts
Analysis
October 27, 2025
VCs urge founders to fundraise before AI bubble bursts
The boom times can't last forever, warn tech leaders
Kai Nicol-Schwarz
SoftBank-backed Robin AI cuts a third of staff after failing to close $50m fundraise
Exclusive
October 24, 2025
SoftBank-backed Robin AI cuts a third of staff after failing to close $50m fundraise
The London-based startup had previously raised around $70m from investors including Quantumlight, Plural and Episode 1
Kai Nicol-Schwarz
Synthesia rejects $3bn Adobe acquisition offer
News
October 24, 2025
Synthesia rejects $3bn Adobe acquisition offer
The London-based AI startup hit a $2.1bn valuation in January
Kai Nicol-Schwarz
Can the UK’s new blueprint for AI regulation deliver?
Analysis
October 24, 2025
Can the UK’s new blueprint for AI regulation deliver?
Government plans promise better outcomes in health, housing and defence
Martin Coulter and Kai Nicol-Schwarz
The European vibe coding startups which fundraised in the past 12 months
List
October 23, 2025
The European vibe coding startups which fundraised in the past 12 months
VCs have backed nine startups promising to change the way software is built in the last 12 months
Kai Nicol-Schwarz
Europe’s AI startups are increasingly being targeted for M&A
Analysis
October 20, 2025
Europe’s AI startups are increasingly being targeted for M&A
Sifted data shows AI exits are on a high as companies in Europe and beyond look to expand their capabilities and hire top talent
Kai Nicol-Schwarz and Daphné Leprince-Ringuet
DeepMind cuts academic donations as AI race heats up
Exclusive
October 15, 2025
DeepMind cuts academic donations as AI race heats up
Cuts to research funding could have ‘significant impact’ on tech ecosystem
Kai Nicol-Schwarz
Nscale targets 2026 IPO after signing $14bn Microsoft deal
News
October 15, 2025
Nscale targets 2026 IPO after signing $14bn Microsoft deal
The UK-based startup has secured $1.5bn in funding over the past few weeks
Kai Nicol-Schwarz
Oura hits $11bn valuation after $900m Series E
News
October 14, 2025
Oura hits $11bn valuation after $900m Series E
The Finnish smart ring maker is targeting $1bn in revenue in 2025
Kai Nicol-Schwarz
AI robotics startup Dexory raises $165m round backed by Eurazeo and Lakestar
News
October 14, 2025
AI robotics startup Dexory raises $165m round backed by Eurazeo and Lakestar
The London-based company will strengthen its commercial teams and expand across multiple international markets
Kai Nicol-Schwarz

Kai Nicol-Schwarz

Matt Clifford: It’s rational for British founders to move to the US

10 key findings from Atomico’s State of European Tech report

Meet the 17 venture scouts Sequoia has hunting for deals in Europe

Plural moves parent company from UK to Estonia

UK tech leaders urge Rachel Reeves to rule out exit tax

Europe has minted half its decacorns in 2025

Exclusive: AI startup PhysicsX to raise up to $100m from Nvidia

Europe’s 10 fastest-growing AI agent startups

Bending Spoons raises $270m at $11bn valuation

AI legal tech Legora raises $150m at a $1.8bn valuation

The European AI legal techs which have fundraised in 2025

Synthesia raises $200m at $4bn valuation, say reports

OpenAI-backed startup aims to deliver in-home humanoid robots in 2026

UK startups lay out demands for ‘make or break’ Budget

VCs urge founders to fundraise before AI bubble bursts

SoftBank-backed Robin AI cuts a third of staff after failing to close $50m fundraise

Synthesia rejects $3bn Adobe acquisition offer

Can the UK’s new blueprint for AI regulation deliver?

The European vibe coding startups which fundraised in the past 12 months

Europe’s AI startups are increasingly being targeted for M&A

DeepMind cuts academic donations as AI race heats up

Nscale targets 2026 IPO after signing $14bn Microsoft deal

Oura hits $11bn valuation after $900m Series E

AI robotics startup Dexory raises $165m round backed by Eurazeo and Lakestar