Dear hustlers, founders, operators and visionaries,

Microsoft announced a quantum computing breakthrough with the creation of a new state of matter, Majorana 1. Who names these things? You can’t smoke it, but it might take us to new highs. Speaking of highs and lows - remember Humane, the AI pin startup dubbed the worst product ever tested on Youtube? They got acquired by HP for $116m. Seems like the guys from Microsoft were not the only ones smoking weed. Follow the Gradient and stay tuned.

🫶🏼 Melanie & Christian

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Your talk track for this week’s cocktail party

Lilium files for bankruptcy a second time

Munich based Lilium has filed for insolvency a second time after failing to secure funding. Despite initial hopes of a financial rescue by Mobile Uplift, the promised investment did not materialize. Discussions for alternative solutions continue, yet the company sees little chance of restructuring and has halted operations.

More AI startups moving out of Europe

Dutch startup Bird is moving its main operations out of Europe, citing restrictive AI regulations. It will replace its Amsterdam HQ with offices in the US, Singapore, Dubai, Istanbul, and Thailand, keeping only one in Lithuania. CEO Robert Vis says Europe's regulations hinder AI innovation. Another blow in the face for the EU, just as its AI Act continues to face criticism for stifling progress.

What do you meme?

Food for thought

Do you belong to the 0.004%?

Getting through the hustle we call Entrepreneurship, we need more time than the day has hours. Sleep is where many of us make sacrifices. Chances are too few sleep will have long-term ill effects. Only 0.004% of humans require less than 6.5 hours of sleep a day - to which group to you belong?

Where are the risk-takers?

The willingness to take risks is key for building companies, both on the founding and funding side. In an indication of the discrepancy between the Old and the New World, the share of of venture funding is about 3.5x higher in the US than Europe.

The thing lacking from building a large company isn’t money - it’s insights

In the always-on contest of having the best funding post one may easily lose sight on what really matters: a deep understanding of your users and your market. Rohit Mittal broke down these dynamics in this spot-on post. His take: focus on insights from customers and users and a good business will follow.

Mark your calendar 

France

Bio x AI in Paris, 25 February at 6.30 pm [Register here]

UK

Sifted Connects: An exclusive dinner: Dine, connect, and grow in London, 26 February [Apply now]

Online 

SSA: Adapting to AI and Social Search – Your SEO Playbook for 2025, 25 February 12pm CEST [Register here]
Sifted Talks: Redefining growth: How to build a modern finance team, 26 February 1pm CET [Register here]

Do you like what we do at Follow the Gradient? Help us grow this community and share a like and add a comment to our LinkedIn post that just went live:

Smart hack

Over 80% of new product fails - how do you avoid building things nobody wants? Alberto Savoia argues user feedback is often mistaken for tangible willingness to buy and advocates skin-in-the-game points.

“It’s much easier to open your mouth than your wallet” - make sure you know on which side your product feedback truly is when going to market.

One good read

Have America’s industrial giants forgotten what they are for?

Join the entrepreneurial journey

Are you ready to take your first steps into the startup ecosystem or seeking an exciting new opportunity? Below is a curated list of startup job openings across Europe for you to explore.

Internships

Content & Social Media Intern [📍Zurich], Robotics, Anybotics [Apply]
Internship - Legal & Compliance (6 weeks) [📍Berlin], Fintech, Mondu [Apply]

Some inspiration on how to stand out in a sea of thousands of ChatGPT-written applications that flood HR for every job posting.

Customer Success

Senior Customer Success Manager [📍Remote], Communication Platform, Cloudtalk [Apply]
Customer Success Manager EMEA [📍Remote], Cybersecurity, Corelight [Apply]

HR & Finance

Community Experience Manager [📍Barcelona], TravelTech, Travelperk [Apply]
Head of Happiness [📍London], Media, Flightstudio [Apply, Hiring manager]

Marketing & Comms

Lead Marketing [📍Winterthur, Zurich], Health, betterview [Apply, Hiring manager]
Digital Marketing Manager [📍Berlin], studio venture, hallo theo [Apply, Hiring manager]
Head of Communications - DACH [📍Munich], AI, OpenAI [Apply, Hiring manager]

Sales

SDR [📍Bern], MarkTech, hypt [Apply, Hiring manager]
Account Executive - Nordic Market [📍Barcelona, Hybrid], Industry, Qualifyze [Apply]

Strategy & Ops

Senior Project Manager, Payments [📍Remote], Fintech, Enfuce [Apply]
Senior Sales Operations Manager [📍Remote], Data Analytics, Exasol [Apply]

Product & Tech

AI Engineer [📍Zurich], Gaming, nunu.ai [Apply, Hiring manager]
Designer [📍Zurich], LegalTech, DeepJudge [Apply]

Final words — take what you need