News

£1m funding for startup accelerating drug discovery with AI and quantum

Kuano.ai, a software platform for rapid, cost effective quantum modelling of enzymes, has raised £1m in seed funding from ACF Investors, o2h Ventures and a syndicate of Cambridge-based angel investors. The funding will accelerate the company’s growth as it moves further towards commercialisation.

Edtech startup raises $20m series B to reinvent college recruitment

Unibuddy, the number one peer-to-peer university recruitment platform that has helped 770,000 students from over 180 countries make better decisions about their higher education journey, has raised $20m in funding. The Series B round was led by Highland Europe with additional participation from Stride.VC. Unibuddy has raised a total of $32m since its inception in 2017.

Record six months for VC investment into London and global fintech sector

It has been a record first half of the year for VC investment into London’s fintech sector, with new research from Dealroom.co and London & Partners revealing London-based fintech firms have already raised more VC investment than any other year, in only six months.

European Innovation Council Fund invests €5m in medical startup

European Innovation Council (EIC) Fund is investing €5m in the Israeli medical startup, NanoVation, for accelerating the development of its high accuracy respiratory monitor and for launching initial marketing efforts in the EU. The investment is part of the EIC’s strategy to identify and support high impact startups and small companies and assist them in scaling up game changing technologies.

Startup Bia Care launches virtual clinic to deliver modern menopause care

Bia Care has launched its virtual clinic to improve menopause care by combining technology with personalised treatments. The remote care solution ensures that women are provided with the knowledge needed to control their symptoms, access clinically-validated treatment options, and are given the ability to share their experiences in a confidential setting.

Transport startup issues warning over masks

The Government’s policy on face-masks will create ‘misery and confusion’ for workers using trains, a transport expert said today. Dash Tabor warned Boris Johnson’s plan to scrap mandatory coverings may also lead to millions of employees steering clear of public transport. 

Accelerator programme to help ethnic minority-owned businesses in the UK

MSDUK, an organisation that champions the inclusion of Ethnic Minority Businesses (EMBs) and founders in corporate supply chains, has partnered with Unilever, WPP, Google and Dow to launch the UK’s first accelerator programme focused on helping 300 EMBs to become supply chain ready.

UK tech firm aims to take on US celebrity video calling service with a bigger platform

An ambitious UK tech firm is aiming to take on US celebrity video calling service Cameo – by launching a ‘bigger and better’ platform.

Bioplastics company to expand after successful fundraise

Specialist M&A advisory firm Ciesco has confirmed that Chip[s] Board, which develops bioplastics from food waste, has completed fundraising to support the next stage of its development.

Fertility, menopause and gender confirmation benefits now accessible to SMEs

Fertility, menopause, maternity and gender confirmation benefits are often only available from health and wellbeing packages for the very largest corporations. As a specialist in supporting SMEs and startups, Towergate Health & Protection is now making this level of progressive care accessible to companies of all sizes.

Desana raises $4m seed round to solve hybrid working for global employers

Desana, a startup transforming how global employers utilise workspace, has announced that it has raised a $4m seed round. The oversubscribed round was led by Berlin-based PropTech 1 Ventures, BGF and existing investor Techstart Ventures, with participation from GroundBreak Ventures and the Accel Scout programme.

eBay UK opens entries to 5th annual eBay for Business Awards

eBay UK has announced the launch of the 5th eBay for Business Awards, designed to celebrate the growing talent of entrepreneurs across the country.

The GIANT Health Event 2021: Super Early bird tickets on sale now

Europe’s greatest festival of Health Tech Innovation in returning – save the date: 30th November – 1st December 2021.

A Snapshot of the Digital Age in Sweden

For most people, technology has become an indispensable part of their lives. A trend that the pandemic has accelerated even more. 

Global startups ‘speed up sustainability’

Now in its second year, the ABB Electrification Startup challenge saw an unprecedented level of entries from global startups across 28 countries. Competing applicants took up the challenge to seek out and develop next generation solutions using IIoT and digitalisation to enable a low-carbon society and provide sustainable practices.

Chelsea fans can be the first to secure premier league match breaks

Leading sports travel operator, Sportsbreaks.com, are the first platform to provide match breaks for Chelsea’s 2021/22 Premier League fixtures. With the announcement of their Official Ticket and Hotel Breaks for the upcoming Premier League campaign, Chelsea fans can purchase their tickets from £129pp. Thanks to Sportsbreaks.com, fans can beat the rush, and secure their Premier League match breaks before they go on general sale.

Israeli startup proves that AI and computer vision remove the need for cell biopsy in testing embryos

Israeli startup, AiVF has unveiled a scientific study which shows for the first time that genetic characteristics in embryos can be extracted using novel AI-based computer vision technologies. The study, presented this week at the prestigious ESHRE (European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology) annual conference, was carried out by researchers at AiVF, which specialises in AI technology for digitising IVF (In Vitro Fertilisation) clinics, together with researchers led by Dr. Marcos Meseguer from the IVIRMA clinic in Valencia, Spain.

Support for new business creation could increase wellbeing of families in the UK’s poorest communities

People in the UK’s most deprived areas could play a greater role in the post pandemic recovery than was previously realised and give the Government’s levelling up agenda a significant shot in the arm.

Small businesses in hospitality begin to see improvement

Small business sales suggest a gradual return to pre-COVID sales rates, the Small Business Index from Xero, reveals. The Index was unchanged at 86 points in May, reflecting that overall conditions in small businesses were steady despite the winding back of some business trading restrictions.

Five AI-led healthtech startups selected for first Edison Accelerator

Five healthtech startups have officially become the first cohort of the Edison Accelerator in EMEA – a healthcare startup and scaleup acceleration programme designed by GE Healthcare in partnership with innovation organisation, Wayra UK.