Tom Nugent

Tom Nugent is Sifted’s managing editor. He covers university spinouts and robotics. Follow him on X and LinkedIn

Amazon buys ETH robotics spinout Rivr
News
March 20, 2026
Amazon buys ETH robotics spinout Rivr
The delivery robots startup will become part of the delivery giant’s operations
Tom Nugent
Startups in the Netherlands to watch, according to VCs
Investor survey
March 19, 2026
Startups in the Netherlands to watch, according to VCs
Dutch tech was on the up last year, with equity funding rising from €2.5bn to €3.6bn, according to Sifted data
Tom Nugent
Can Rachel Reeves stop the UK’s deeptech startups drifting abroad?
Analysis
March 18, 2026
Can Rachel Reeves stop the UK’s deeptech startups drifting abroad?
UK finance minister Rachel Reeves this week announced a package of support for the UK's quantum companies. But is it enough?
Freya Pratty and Tom Nugent
Dozens of scaleup execs back new VC to find Europe’s next decacorn
News
March 17, 2026
Dozens of scaleup execs back new VC to find Europe’s next decacorn
Enzo Wälchli, the former chief commercial officer at Swiss robotics scaleup ANYbotics, is general partner at Operator Circle
Tom Nugent
All the decacorns in Europe: listed
List
March 12, 2026
All the decacorns in Europe: listed
Europe’s cohort of $10bn+ startups is growing rapidly, with companies reaching the milestone quicker than ever before
Tom Nugent
Nucleus and First Momentum back stealth geothermal energy startup Telura
Interview
March 9, 2026
Nucleus and First Momentum back stealth geothermal energy startup Telura
Telura’s tech could potentially unlock the ability to mine geothermal energy anywhere
Tom Nugent
SPACs are back. This time they can’t be a dumpster fire for European startups
Sifted View
March 9, 2026
SPACs are back. This time they can’t be a dumpster fire for European startups
The SPAC comeback tour in Europe puts capital and tech sovereignty in the spotlight
Tom Nugent
Self-driving startup Oxa raises $103m round backed by Nvidia and BP
News
March 4, 2026
Self-driving startup Oxa raises $103m round backed by Nvidia and BP
Oxa develops self-driving software for industrial use cases, with customers including BP, DHL and Vantec
Tom Nugent
UK government-backed photonics chip startup targets $100m+ Series B
Interview
February 18, 2026
UK government-backed photonics chip startup targets $100m+ Series B
Optalysys is exploring licensing its chip designs to leading industry players
Tom Nugent
Meet the 25-year-old wunderkind behind Britain’s newest unicorn
Profile
February 12, 2026
Meet the 25-year-old wunderkind behind Britain’s newest unicorn
James Dacombe dropped out of school at 16 and now heads up two of the UK's buzziest tech companies
Freya Pratty and Tom Nugent
OpenAI, Hugging Face angels back robotics startup Allonic in Hungary’s biggest ever pre-seed
Exclusive
February 10, 2026
OpenAI, Hugging Face angels back robotics startup Allonic in Hungary’s biggest ever pre-seed
Budapest-based Allonic is targeting the hardware bottleneck in robotics by developing a new way to produce robotic bodies
Tom Nugent
JPMorgan: The ‘surprising’ sector that could be ripe for M&A in Europe
Interview
February 9, 2026
JPMorgan: The ‘surprising’ sector that could be ripe for M&A in Europe
European scaleups are doing more and more secondaries — but we’re still missing a healthy exit environment
Tom Nugent
This startup wants to dismantle EVs to solve Europe’s critical materials problem
Exclusive
February 5, 2026
This startup wants to dismantle EVs to solve Europe’s critical materials problem
Luxembourg-based R3 Robotics has raised €20m to scale operations recovering critical materials used to build electric vehicles
Tom Nugent
What RobCo's valuation reveals about European robotics
Analysis
February 5, 2026
What RobCo's valuation reveals about European robotics
Startups building in more hyped areas are seeing their valuations skyrocket
Tom Nugent
Startups are hitting $10bn valuations faster — is that a problem?
Analysis
February 4, 2026
Startups are hitting $10bn valuations faster — is that a problem?
Half of Europe’s decacorns were minted this year, with some hitting the milestone quicker than ever
Tom Nugent, Ruggero Di Spigna and Jonathan Sinclair
27 European spinout labs to watch, according to investors
Investor survey
January 29, 2026
27 European spinout labs to watch, according to investors
Europe’s brightest minds are turning their scientific research into companies
Tom Nugent
The inventor behind humanoid startup 1X is back building robots for the factory floor
Interview
January 23, 2026
The inventor behind humanoid startup 1X is back building robots for the factory floor
Physical Robotics wants its robots on customer sites by Q3 this year and plans to produce 100k robots by the end of 2031
Tom Nugent
Solo GP Andreas Klinger raises €15m for European robotics, automation and AI
Interview
January 19, 2026
Solo GP Andreas Klinger raises €15m for European robotics, automation and AI
The fund will write first cheques of $200k-500k into 30-40 companies, with around one-third reserved for follow-on investments
Tom Nugent
Shift in global dynamics a ‘gift’ for the UK, says Cambridge Enterprise CEO
Interview
January 16, 2026
Shift in global dynamics a ‘gift’ for the UK, says Cambridge Enterprise CEO
One year into his job as head of Cambridge university’s tech transfer office, Jim Glasheen is backing the UK to capitalise on geopolitical headwinds
Tom Nugent
Parloa hits $3bn valuation with $350m Series D led by General Catalyst
News
January 15, 2026
Parloa hits $3bn valuation with $350m Series D led by General Catalyst
The AI agent startup has tripled its valuation in eight months
Tom Nugent
What will shape European robotics in 2026?
Analysis
January 8, 2026
What will shape European robotics in 2026?
Robotics has become one of European tech’s buzziest sectors this year. Here’s what could be in store in 2026
Tom Nugent
European AI predictions for 2026
Analysis
January 2, 2026
European AI predictions for 2026
After a whirlwind 12 months, VCs and founders pitch their AI predictions for next year
Tom Nugent
The roles startups will need to hire most in 2026
Analysis
December 24, 2025
The roles startups will need to hire most in 2026
From the next AI talent battle to the rise of new generalist roles, here’s where insiders think startups will need to hire most next year
Tom Nugent
These 33 robot startups raised over €10m in Europe this year
Sifted data
December 23, 2025
These 33 robot startups raised over €10m in Europe this year
AI advances have led to surge of interest in the field
Tom Nugent and Ruggero Di Spigna

Tom Nugent

Amazon buys ETH robotics spinout Rivr

Startups in the Netherlands to watch, according to VCs

Can Rachel Reeves stop the UK’s deeptech startups drifting abroad?

Dozens of scaleup execs back new VC to find Europe’s next decacorn

All the decacorns in Europe: listed

Nucleus and First Momentum back stealth geothermal energy startup Telura

SPACs are back. This time they can’t be a dumpster fire for European startups

Self-driving startup Oxa raises $103m round backed by Nvidia and BP

UK government-backed photonics chip startup targets $100m+ Series B

Meet the 25-year-old wunderkind behind Britain’s newest unicorn

OpenAI, Hugging Face angels back robotics startup Allonic in Hungary’s biggest ever pre-seed

JPMorgan: The ‘surprising’ sector that could be ripe for M&A in Europe

This startup wants to dismantle EVs to solve Europe’s critical materials problem

What RobCo's valuation reveals about European robotics

Startups are hitting $10bn valuations faster — is that a problem?

27 European spinout labs to watch, according to investors

The inventor behind humanoid startup 1X is back building robots for the factory floor

Solo GP Andreas Klinger raises €15m for European robotics, automation and AI

Shift in global dynamics a ‘gift’ for the UK, says Cambridge Enterprise CEO

Parloa hits $3bn valuation with $350m Series D led by General Catalyst

What will shape European robotics in 2026?

European AI predictions for 2026

The roles startups will need to hire most in 2026

These 33 robot startups raised over €10m in Europe this year