Features

Ho Chi Minh City is a vibrant metropolis. It is the most populous city in Vietnam, with a population of around 10 million in 2023. The city is often referred to as the economic powerhouse of Vietnam, and in recent years, the city has quickly emerged as a tech hub, as well as becoming a hotspot for startups and entrepreneurial learning opportunities.

As an innovation expert, I’ve created a portfolio of ideas over the years, but one has gone to prototype – FlowSense, the world’s first patented period detection device that empowers visually impaired women to independently manage their menstrual hygiene.

Successful commercialisation of deeptech innovation in the UK hinges on addressing key factors such as industrial demand, viable market applications, and the establishment of robust infrastructure. Among these, bridging the UK’s connectivity and compute gap is critical – not only for industrial advancements but also for the burgeoning Createch sector, where creativity and technology intersect to deliver transformative outcomes.  

For startups and mature companies operating internationally, understanding the value added tax (VAT) registration process is essential for maintaining compliance with tax regulations.

The world of work is changing faster than ever. But let’s be honest – hasn’t it always been? The industrial revolution gave us factories. The digital revolution gave us laptops. And now, we’re in the middle of something even bigger: a revolution of independence.

Ongoing discussions among industry leaders about AI, including those from this month’s Paris AI summit, have the potential to democratise AI and inspire larger enterprises to actively support small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in adopting it, levelling the playing field and driving innovation.

The beehive is the ultimate business case study for complex organisations and working life today. On this National Leadership Day, Philip Atkinson, leadership team expert, organisational coach, founder of Hive-Logic Coaching & Communications, and author of ‘Bee Wise – 12 Leadership Lessons from Inside a Busy Hive’ lifts the lid on what happens in a hive and explains what we can learn for creating harmony and teamwork in the fast moving world of technology startups today.

For almost two decades, since the SaaS boom, it’s become standard for businesses to rely on patchworks of third-party platforms, apps, and tools. Either to support their own operations, offer new services, or simply keep up with the pace of tech. In the early days, such solutions were the most cost-effective way to scale. They gave quick access to features without the need for in-house development, and the costs that come with it, and could be built around legacy systems that were too expensive to replace.

Vinita Rathi is the CEO and Founder of Systango, a digital engineering services company specialising in generative AI, Web3, blockchain, automation, and cloud solutions.

The year 2025 started with a shockwave for the AI community. Launched by a relatively obscure Chinese startup, DeepSeek not only challenged the rules of the AI game by sending NVIDIA’s stock plummeting 17% in one day and becoming the most-downloaded app on the App Store and Play Store, but also showed the persisting security problems by accidentally exposing its database and leaking sensitive data including chat histories, API keys, and backend operational details.

We’ve all experienced how online shopping has transformed retail. But this digital revolution comes with an inconvenient truth: every package delivered to our doorsteps has an environmental cost.

Brexit’s official 5th anniversary was on 31st January, and – for some businesses – international trade remains a point of great frustration. Brexit, for many British enterprises, has been more shock and less awe. A recent LSE study revealed that the UK lost £27 billion in trade during Brexit’s first two years, with the value of British goods exports falling by 6.4% and total goods imports by 3.1%.

After a few years of turmoil for businesses and individuals alike, the world is finally starting to look a little more stable. And business owners feel that way, too; in our 2025 survey, an overwhelming 96% of business owners said they felt optimistic about their business succeeding in 2025. By contrast, just 77% said the same the previous year. This is likely due to the formation of a new government, decreased stress, and feeling more prepared to embrace AI.

According to the British Chambers of Commerce, business confidence across the UK in 2025 has dropped to its lowest level since the aftermath of the Autumn 2022 mini Budget. Compounded by the looming threat of potential tariffs under President Trump’s new leadership, and the upcoming Spring Forecast in the UK, businesses are grappling with complex challenges and significant uncertainty in an already tight economic landscape.

We’re now in February 2025, and the challenges from last year for businesses and individuals are still lingering. Geopolitical tensions, the rising cost of living, and general economic uncertainty are still causing turbulence for businesses and individuals.

Pricing your startup’s products correctly can make or break your business. Overpricing can scare off buyers, whereas underpricing may lead to financial challenges and hinder long-term profitability. Choosing the right pricing strategy requires a mix of market research, financial analysis and strategic decision-making.

When you’re in startup mode, your biggest enemy is usually time. Every day spent not learning from real customers is a day wasted. You need to test ideas quickly without burning through funding and you can’t afford long development cycles. Cloud Native could make a huge difference to your business.

The progression of intelligent automation in manufacturing and supply chain management has been nothing short of groundbreaking. From the early days of the Industrial Revolution to today’s era of smart factories and agentic AI, the journey has been marked by continuous innovation and adaptation. This evolution has not only modernised production processes but has also redefined the role of human workers in these industries.

Securing talent, making strategic investments, and fostering long-term growth remain key hurdles for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), in part due to limited financial resources. With fewer long-term lending options available, many SMBs are left relying on short-term credit to manage essential expenses. A recent survey underscored this challenge, revealing that a third (33%) of UK small businesses had placed over 25% of their monthly expenses on credit cards over the past year.

AI-powered voice solutions are revolutionising customer interactions, making businesses available 24/7 and redefining engagement. AI agents are no longer just answering calls; they are now handling everything from resolving inquiries to completing purchases with human-like efficiency. But as these virtual assistants grow smarter, the real question is – can they truly transform customer support and elevate the entire customer experience?