In partnership with
Dear hustlers, founders, operators and visionaries,
Elon Musk was found guilty in defrauding Twitter investors in his take-over bid in what is now X. What some call “move fast and break things”, others call illegal. Meanwhile, a YC startup whose founders features in Forbes 30 under 30 was accused of faking hundreds of customers. In startupland, not all things are what they appear to be. Follow the Gradient and stay tuned.
PS: Has this e-mail been forwarded to you? Sign up here.
Your talk track for this week’s cocktail party
Amazon acquires Zurich robotics startup for stair-climbing deliveries
Amazon acquired RIVR, a Zurich-based startup building a four-legged wheeled robot that can climb stairs to deliver packages. Jeff Bezos had previously invested in the company. The deal addresses a critical last-mile gap: most delivery robots can't navigate apartment buildings. RIVR's co-founder Marko Bjelonic built the tech to handle terrain no wheeled-only bot can reach.
The European Commission announces EU Inc.
The European Commission proposed EU Inc., its pan-European corporate structure that lets founders incorporate in under 48 hours, fully online, with no minimum capital. Instead of navigating 27 different legal frameworks, startups would operate under one set of rules across the single market.
What do you meme?
Food for thought
Is European tech's "bro era" back?
Sifted's Freya Pratty reports that “bro culture” has resurged in European tech. The data point that stings: 20VC published 144 episodes with only 7 featuring women. Sophie Winwood of Unlock VC warns that the language shift is signaling to people the industry isn't for them. Scaling Europe's Seb Johnson fired back, pointing out Sifted's own fundraise coverage features even fewer women founders.
Both sides raise uncomfortable truths. What is your take?
