News

Demand for Tech Nation Global Talent Visa soars

Tech Nation have revealed new data on the Tech Nation Global Talent Visa, providing insights into the global talent pool working in the UK’s digital technology sector.

Tech investors back coding startup to address global talent shortage

Rocket Academy, a startup providing online coding courses, has announced it has raised $1.1m in pre-seed funding. The investment comes from a consortium of 50 marquee tech investors and venture capitalists including entrepreneurs Darius Cheung from 99.co, Marcus Tan from Carousell and Stanley Tang from DoorDash, former Singapore Ambassador to the UN Kishore Mahbubani, SEA tech leaders’ investment network XA Network, and VC firms Taurus Ventures and Hustle Fund.

Sure Valley Ventures extends investment in Ambisense

Sure Valley Ventures, the venture capital firm that invests in deep technology and software startups, is pleased to announce that it has invested in a €3m funding round completed by Ambisense, the IoT and AI enabled environmental risk assessment business. BGF has led the round and, together with Sure Valley Ventures, existing investors Atlantic Bridge and Enterprise Ireland have participated.

Changing the world one founder at a time

A new series shines a spotlight on 25 of the UK’s most innovative entrepreneurs and their ground-breaking businesses that are revolutionising the way we live. An entrepreneur who invented 3D printed personalised gummy vitamins tailored to people’s nutritional needs, lifestyles and goals is just one of the highlights of a new documentary featuring weird and wonderful ideas that will change the world.

WeWork brings On Demand to four new markets in its first international expansion

WeWork has announced that WeWork On Demand, the company’s pay-as-you-go offering to access workspace and meeting rooms, is now available in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Singapore, and Australia. 

Instagram teams up with Small Business Britain to launch Small Businesses Mentorship Programme

Instagram have announced the launch of its first Small Business Mentorship programme in the UK, in partnership with Small Business Britain. Aimed at supporting the country’s entrepreneurs and small businesses after an unprecedented 18 months, the mentorship programme will celebrate their creativity and resilience, as many have turned to Instagram to survive and thrive.

Open banking could save SME lenders more than 18,000 work-hours a year

Lenders could see the time they spend processing the average loan reduce by more than 85% with the adoption of open banking technology, according to research from Yolt Technology Services (YTS), an open banking provider in Europe.

Research platform raises £110m to accelerate global expansion

Research platform, Atheneum have announced they have secured a £110m growth capital funding round led by Guidepost Growth Equity. Existing investors also participated in the round including Crosslantic Capital Management, Michael Brehm, Vogel Communications Group, and the founding management team of Atheneum.

Solution to £23bn problem of late payments for SMEs

LawtechUK has published a feasibility study and proof of concept for a new technological approach to the late payment challenges facing British business. This would work as an ‘SME online dispute resolution’ platform, produced in partnership with a consortium of legal, technology and alternative dispute resolution experts from the University of Oxford, Oxford Computing Consultants, Resolve Disputes Online and Jur.

Campaign to find UK’s inspiring female entrepreneurs kicks off

Brilliant female entrepreneurs across the UK are being encouraged to apply to take part in a campaign which showcases inspiring women running their own businesses, and offers support.

Krystal plants one million trees and sets blueprint for future of business

Cloud hosting provider Krystal has set out a blueprint for the future of businesses and the planet, as they announce their millionth tree has been planted way ahead of its 2022 goal.

Card payment solutions provider launches eBook to help SMEs become future-proof

UTP have launched a new eBook for SMEs, offering advice about how to future-proof their businesses.

Azerbaijan investment company signs deal with OurCrowd

OurCrowd has announced that it has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Azerbaijan Investment Company (AIC), represented by the Chairman of its Supervisory Board, Minister of Economy of Azerbaijan, Mikayil Jabbarov, to promote strategic cooperation in the field of investment by the Government of Azerbaijan in OurCrowd’s portfolio.

85% of SMEs understand GDPR but legal requirements are still not being met

A new survey has revealed that 85% of SMEs in the UK are familiar with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), but more than half are still not cleaning their data and therefore not adhering to the GDPR’s legal requirements.

Event dedicated to entrepreneurs

In celebration of Startups Magazine’s ‘Women in Tech’ issue, Startups Magazine and Inspiration Space have joined forces to host Entrepreneurship Decoded, a live event that brings together ambitious female founders for an honest conversation about what it really takes to start and grow a brand in 2021 and beyond.

Startups Mag returns to The Business Show

Startups Magazine will once again be exhibiting at The Business Show at London’s ExCeL from 24th-25th November.

Tramshed Tech launch startup academy supported by Google

Tramshed Tech, a startup ecosystem and a fast growing business incubator in Wales is launching a startup academy supported by Google for startups. Workshops will take place every Thursday, beginning 30th September 2021.

British startup chosen as partner to shape the future of European blockchain

iov42, an emerging British startup, which builds blockchain-inspired identification tools, has been chosen over corporate giants including EY, Vodafone and Deloitte to secure a spot as one of only seven tenderers selected to design and develop the next-gen of the European Blockchain Services Infrastructure (EBSI). The flagship project from the European Commission hopes to leverage blockchain technology to improve standards of cross-border services for public administrations across the EU.

Two-thirds of bosses still don’t trust employees to work remotely

New research released by Ricoh Europe revealed that just 35% of employers trust their staff fully while working remotely, with 39% suggesting their people don’t work as hard or effectively as in the office.

Thinking of franchising? The legal need to knows

Startups looking to enter franchise agreements should pay careful attention to the contracts they enter into, a leading law firm has said. Harper James Solicitors said many franchisors are often willing to include a force majeure clause, which changes the franchisee’s obligations in the event of extraordinary circumstances – like the ones that devastated many businesses in the last 18 months.