News

Brits curious yet baffled by cryptocurrency, national survey finds

Almost a third of Brits are curious about investing in cryptocurrency but are too baffled by it to take the plunge, according to a new national survey.

Digital, Debt and Diversification – top ways small businesses survived 2020

Embracing digital, diversifying products and services and accessing emergency finance – particularly Bounce Back Loans – were found to be the top ways small firms have survived the covid-19 crisis so far, according to a new report from Small Business Britain that offers firms advice on how to be resilient in a crisis.

How 3D technology will shape the future of fashion

Fashion production software company, SupplyCompass has announced its next webinar on 27th January at 16:30 GMT, delving into ‘How 3D will shape the future of the fashion industry’. The webinar will examine the potential for 3D technology to transform the current fashion industry and how 3D can become a more widely accessible tool that can be adopted by big and small fashion brands alike.

Campaign to get COVID-19 loans scrapped for SMEs

Businessman Simon Dolan is today launching a new campaign which is calling on the Government to scrap the payback of emergency COVID-19 loans taken out by crisis-hit SMEs.

Workspace accelerator launches new series to help founders looking to raise funds

Workspace accelerator, Huckletree has launched a new quarterly series, Huckletree VC Connect, which sees them partner with leading VC firms to help founders who are looking to raise in the near future with informal and personalised advice. 

New partnership aims to support London-based scaleups

London & Partners have announced a new partnership for the Mayor’s International Business Programme (MIBP) with Ciklum, a leading technology partner, to help London startups and scaleups expand internationally.

Businesses offer insights for adapting and surviving in lockdown

The past 12 months have presented unprecedented challenges for small businesses. Many have undergone severe hardship during the COVID-19 pandemic, and some have closed completely. Even in this harshest of climates others have been able to keep trading, startup or even thrive.

How can UK startups attract international investors?

Data from Innovate Finance has revealed that the UK fintech sector received $4.1bn of investment across 408 deals in 2020. This places the UK second in the world for capital raised, and first in Europe. Although fintech investment fell year-on-year by 9%, this can be attributed due to the pandemic and subsequent economic turbulence.

Tech startup brings AI to Australia’s bridges

The New York, Berlin and Tel Aviv based-startup, Dynamic Infrastructure has won its first contract in Australia and will deploy a novel AI-driven predictive technology for maintaining dozens of bridges and infrastructure assets in Horsham Rural City Council in the state of Victoria.

Scottish edtech team makes four new hires

Edinburgh-based robotics and STEM education startup, Robotical has bolstered its team with four new hires as it rolls out the latest version of its hero product, Marty The Robot.

COVID-19 and Brexit unearths a nomadic business generation

With COVID-19 uncertainty carrying on well in to 2021, and Brexit seeing billions of pounds lost to the EU, job security is at a low for Brits of all ages. Individuals are turning to self-employment or setting up their own businesses, losing their jobs after time on furlough, taking voluntary redundancy or as a form of additional income.

Oculid secures next round of seed funding led by IBB Ventures

Oculid, the eye tracking platform for remote user experience testing and marketing research, has announced completion of a seed funding round led by IBB Ventures and joined by the company’s existing investors.

Record number of Generation Z businesses planned this year

As COVID-19 wreaks havoc on the UK economy, the country’s young people are taking matters into their own hands, a new major poll has revealed. The poll of over 2,000 British adults shows that one-in-seven (15%) young people (aged 18-24) in the UK plans to start their own business in 2021.

There’s Snow Stopping Ski Startup Maison Sport

Tech startup, Maison Sport has launched a crowdfunding campaign on Seedrs in a bid to raise £400,000 as part of a larger £1.4m raise. COVID-19 has undoubtedly hit the ski industry hard, but the challenges have accelerated the trio of founders’ determination to make the startup flourish.

Online event series to help next generation of startups adapt and thrive in 2021

Right now is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for a significant rethink, rewire and reset – but it won’t happen with the same tools and the same instruction manual of the past.

Together Price exceeds funding goal of €200K just 48 hours after launch

Together Price, the digital identity platform for managing group subscription plans, has become another equity crowdfunding success, securing €310,000 in just 6 days. The platform, which tackles growing ‘subscription fatigue’ around digital subscriptions, is among a new wave of startups adopting this latest approach of crowdfunding investment and quickly exceeded its target of €200,000 from over 1,500 public investors on Crowdcube.

Mental health startup raises £2m to help companies emotionally support employees

Spill has announced that it has raised £2m in a seed round led by Ada Ventures. Spill is a London-based startup which provides remote mental health support for companies through the workplace messaging tool, Slack.

Covid-19 creates boom in ‘early entrepreneurs’ aged under 25

GoDaddy, the company that empowers everyday entrepreneurs, has released new research which finds that the COVID-19 pandemic has caused a surge in young people starting their own businesses in the UK.

Business growth agency waives setup fee on growth marketing package

Business growth agency, GRO.TEAM, is waiving its setup fee for all new companies that sign up to their ‘growth hacking marketing starter package’ for a 1st February start.

Digital weather intelligence platform raises a six-figure investment deal

EHAB have successfully raised £150,000 investment deal through Suss Ventures, the new investor matching service at Sussex Innovation. The platform helps construction companies to identify and plan for weather-related risks using decades’ worth of weather data.