News

DATE 2025 to spotlight the region’s most powerful tech voices and ventures

On 26th – 27th November 2025, Madinat Jumeirah will host DATE – a Digitisation, AI & Emerging Technology Summit, where technology meets investment and deals take shape. An initiative by Trescon, D DATE will bring together government leaders, global innovators, investors, and technology visionaries to explore how emerging technologies – powered by cloud, hybrid, and hyper-converged infrastructure – are shaping industries and translating innovation into tangible business outcomes.

Defence Builder and 17Tech unite to accelerate defence innovation

Defence Builder, Ukraine’s accelerator for defencetech startups and 17Tech Oy, a Finnish defence technology accelerator and venture capital firm, announce a strategic partnership to reinforce the defence tech innovation ecosystems of Finland and Ukraine. The accelerator accepts startups from all NATO countries.

Functional tech is costing UK businesses revenue, but AI could help

As UK organisations strive to boost productivity in a challenging economy, new research from TeamViewer highlights concern about dysfunctional technology. Digital friction, the study reveals, is quietly eroding business performance and limiting productivity gains across industries. 

89% of businesses adopt AI workloads, but fail to manage exposures

According to the ‘State of Cloud and AI Security 2025’ report by Tenable, developed in collaboration with the Cloud Security Alliance, 89% of organisations today are either running (55%) or piloting (34%) AI workloads.

Build your AI career path with AWS

The World Economic Forum estimates 40% of core job skills will change by 2030, with employers already paying an average of 47% more for workers with AI skills, according to Skillsoft’s 2024-2025 IT Skills & Salary Report.

Global Entrepreneurship Week UK launches ahead of budget
Global Entrepreneurship Week UK launches ahead of budget

This year’s Global Entrepreneurship Week UK launches on 17th November, under the theme of ‘Together We Build’. Led by the Global Entrepreneurship Network UK (GEN UK) and Centre for Entrepreneurs (CfE), over 150 events will take place across the country from Belfast and Glasgow to Exeter, Hull, and Oxford.

One in five startups on course to leave UK by 2028

Despite two-thirds (64%) of startups planning to increase investment and 85% wanting to stay in Britain, one in five of the UK’s fastest growing companies could leave the UK within the next three years without action, a new report from Virgin Media O2 has warned.

Tech startups stall on stablecoins due to fraud fear and links to crime

Tech startups are embracing stablecoins to streamline cross-border payments and boost operational efficiency. But adoption is still being constrained by concerns over fraud and links to criminal activity.

Government-backed leadership journey begins at Slush

Innovation and growth company Plexal has welcomed six forward-thinking founders to its Cyber Runway Ignite leadership programme. 

Dreame Technology, CES Innovation Awards 2026 honouree

Dreame Technology announced that three of its products have been named CES Innovation Awards 2026 honourees: the H15 Pro Heat Wet Dry Vacuum, Aqua10 Ultra Roller Robot Vacuum, and Furcatch Air Purifier FP10.

Cocreatd achieves £100M+ portfolio value in first year
Cocreatd achieves £100M+ portfolio value in first year

Cocreatd, the British venture studio founded by serial entrepreneurs Oliver Yonchev, James Lawson Barker, Paul Stevens, and Simon Whittaker, has announced its portfolio is valued at over £100 million from a standing start just 365 days ago.

Partnership allows companies access to Chinese innovation

Companies can now access China’s fast-growing innovation ecosystem via a new partnership between UK innovation scaleup Wazoku and InnoMatch, the Chinese open innovation platform.

Startup founder joins UK review tackling barriers to entrepreneurship

Finance lecturer, author, and award-winning entrepreneur, Tara Askham, has been appointed to the Steering Committee for the Maple Review, a government-backed independent review led by Small Business Britain and supported by Xero, focused on tackling the barriers that economic deprivation creates for UK entrepreneurs.

OptAI wins CES 2026 Innovation Award

OptAI has announced that it has been named a CES 2026 ‘Innovation Award Honouree’ for its proprietary platform, OptHancer. The award recognises OptAI’s technological achievements ahead of CES 2026, the world’s largest consumer electronics and IT exhibition, taking place this January in Las Vegas.

World’s first AI app measuring period blood volume launches in UK

Menstrual health startup Joii is launching the world’s first AI-powered app that measures period blood volume in the UK, transforming a guessing game into data that doctors can’t dismiss.  

Gen Alpha: flexibility and tech to revolutionise the workplace by 2040
Gen Alpha: flexibility and tech to revolutionise the workplace by 2040

New research has revealed that Generation Alpha expect their jobs to be dramatically different to those of their parents, from the death of the daily commute and email to working regularly with robots at work. 

Ada Ventures launches AI “Deck Genius” to help founders fine-tune their pitch
Ada Ventures launches AI “Deck Genius” to help founders fine-tune their pitch

Ada Ventures, the pre-seed investment firm backing inclusive alpha founders across the UK and Europe, has launched an AI-powered pitch deck review tool for founders that allows them to access VC-grade feedback before they share their materials with prospective investors.

CGT shake-up could net Treasury £100Bn while supporting UK entrepreneurs

A reformed Capital Gains Tax (CGT) regime could be a powerful tool to incentivise wealth creation while boosting long-term productivity, according to research commissioned by Ryan Howsam, CEO of Howsam Ventures and founder of travel insurer, Staysure.     

Catalyst and Ulster University partner to empower Northern Ireland innovators

Catalyst, Northern Ireland’s science and technology hub, has announced a new partnership with Ulster University that will embed entrepreneurial thinking and innovation into the academic experience of more than 450 second and final-year students across the Faculty of Computing, Engineering and the Built Environment.

Gen Z leads Britain’s entrepreneurial boom
Gen Z leads Britain’s entrepreneurial boom, but lacks support to succeed

Entrepreneurship is at the heart of Britain’s ambitions for the future, but a lack of support could threaten the next generation of business leaders. That is according to new research from Young Enterprise, released today ahead of Global Entrepreneurship Week.