European tech media company Sifted has acquired startup events platform Onstage, expanding its founder-focused offering with one of Europe’s leading Demo Day communities. The acquisition marks Sifted’s first-ever acquisition and aims to help the company support founders from the earliest stages of fundraising through to scaleup growth. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
About Sifted
- Sifted is a European technology media company covering startups, scaleups, investors, and the broader innovation ecosystem. Founded by the team behind the Financial Times, the company provides journalism, research, and events focused on Europe’s technology sector.
- Through its annual Sifted Summit and other community initiatives, Sifted brings together founders, operators, and investors from across Europe. With the acquisition of Onstage, the company aims to expand its role beyond scaleups and provide support to founders earlier in their journey.
“This acquisition perfectly fits our mission to represent European tech all the way through the startup journey. There’s a real opportunity for Sifted to support founders much earlier: to write about them, amplify them and build a stronger community around them," explains Florencia Schiavon, CEO of Sifted.
About Onstage
- Founded in 2020 by Hector Mason, Taos Edmondson, and Issie James, Onstage has built one of Europe’s most recognised startup Demo Day platforms.
- The company connects early-stage founders with leading venture capital investors through its flagship Demo Day, where thousands of startups apply for the opportunity to pitch. More than 2,000 founders apply to each cycle, with selected companies presenting to a network of more than 330 VC firms, including Sequoia Capital, Andreessen Horowitz, Balderton Capital, and LocalGlobe.
- Companies that have participated in Onstage Demo Day have collectively raised more than £500 million. In addition to Demo Day, Onstage runs Deploy, an event connecting venture capital firms with limited partners, expanding its focus across different parts of the startup investment ecosystem.
Details of the acquisition
- Following the acquisition, Onstage will continue operating under its existing brand, with its Demo Day remaining free for founders and maintaining its model of no participation fees or equity requirements. An independent board will continue selecting startups that participate in the programme.
- Onstage aims to attract more founders and investors while scaling its community. The acquisition will allow the platform to strengthen its position as a bridge between emerging startups and leading venture capital firms.
