News

Industry-wide action needed to close AI security gaps

The rapid adoption of AI is unlocking significant opportunities for organisations across the UK, enabling them to innovate, streamline operations, and compete on a larger scale. Yet, as businesses integrate AI into their operations, many face serious security risks for which they are often unprepared.

Bboxx and AWS collaborate to transform customer experience and increase efficiency with GenAI

Bboxx, a data-driven super platform that transforms lives by unlocking access to clean energy and digital products across Africa, has announced an agreement with Amazon Web Services (AWS) to integrate generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) into its Bboxx Pulse platform.

What sets Europe’s best-funded founders apart

NGP Capital, the global venture capital firm, has unveiled the results of its latest comprehensive data report, “A Decade of European Startup Founders.” The new research offers an unparalleled examination of the European startup ecosystem and the visionary founders who have driven its growth over the past ten years.

Lucanet launches GenAI capabilities to transform CFO complexity management

Lucanet, a global provider of end-to-end CFO software solutions, is releasing the first of its GenAI capabilities – a addition to its CFO Solution Platform. This release will add advanced Copilot features for Lucanet’s Consolidation and Financial Planning and Disclosure Management solution, in addition to the Copilot for the XBRL Tagger made available in October.

Athlete365 Business Accelerator Programme is launched with support from Alibaba

The International Olympic Committee (IOC), in collaboration with Alibaba.com, has officially launched the first phase of the fourth edition of the Athlete365 Business Accelerator programme, which aims to empower current and former elite athletes to transfer their skills into successful business ventures.

Finance and SME experts come together to launch free Business Survival eBook for the UK’s 5.5M SMEs

In the 12 months ending 31 October 2024, one in 427 adults in England and Wales entered insolvency, higher than the 12 months to October 2023. Combine this with overall registered company insolvencies in 2024 tracking similarly to 2023’s figures – which were the highest for a decade – leading finance and small business experts have pooled their wisdom and launched a new eBook to help SMEs survive.

Private markets platform bunch launches in the UK

Berlin-headquartered fintech bunch has launched in the UK, bringing its operating system for private equity and venture capital funds to the largest market in Europe. The move builds on a stellar year of growth for the company, which has tripled both its revenue and Assets under Administration over the past 12 months.

Economic pessimism grows post-Budget as recession fears rise

Economic uncertainty is on the rise for the UK’s 5.6 million small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) following the Autumn Budget, according to iwoca’s Q3 2024 SME Expert Index.

Second win for DeSci Labs in one month

Open science startup and preprint network DeSci Labs has been listed as one of the 20 Most Innovative Companies to Watch, 2024, by Business Worldwide Magazine. This is DeSci Labs’ second accolade within a month following its Lab Awards success in the Best Automation & Data Innovation category at Lab Innovations 2024.

New partnership to boost paid search performance

A new partnership aims to transform the performance of the £14.7 billion UK search market by creating a transparent approach to paid search and setting a new standard in digital advertising.

EIT Jumpstarter launches innovative startups tackling society’s urgent challenges

This year’s final of the EIT Jumpstarter programme was held on 28 November in Budapest, Hungary, along with the EIT Community conference “The next decade of innovation for the future of Europe. Celebrating the 10th anniversary of the EIT Regional Innovation Scheme”. EIT Jumpstarter is an initiative of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology, a body of the European Union.

VCT Scheme celebrates 30 years of supporting UK scaleups

The Venture Capital Trust Association (VCTA) is celebrating the 30th anniversary of the introduction of Venture Capital Trusts (VCTs), an initiative launched by then-Chancellor Ken Clarke in November 1994.

UK cleantech companies get government support for APAC expansion

Three innovative UK tech companies – specialising in renewable energy, advanced sensors and hydrogen-powered systems – have been given government support to expand into Japan, South Korea and Taiwan. Each has been selected to participate in the UK-APAC Tech Growth Programme, an initiative that helps British scaleups unlock commercial opportunities in 11 markets across the Asia Pacific region.

Small Biz wish for share of UK’s £20.4bn Christmas spend

Over £20 billion could be spent by households across the festive season in the UK this year, as small businesses prepare to target a fifth of Christmas spend – equating to approximately up to £4.4 billion.

Raspberry Pi Co-Founder, Liz Upton, joins Robotics Software startup BOW

BOW, the universal robotics software company, has announced the appointment of Liz Upton, Co-Founder of Raspberry Pi, as Chair of its board.

Kixy and British Wrestling partner to empower communities

As part of its mission to empower customers across the UK and beyond to meet their financial needs while fostering a sense of community and connection, financial services platform Kixy has announced an exciting new partnership with British Wrestling Association (BWA).

Rivero advises banks to brace for spike in cardholder disputes as Black Friday and Cyber Monday near

In anticipation of Black Friday and Cyber Monday, European Visa Fintech Partner, Rivero is urging banks, neobanks, and financial institutions to prepare for a potential spike in cardholder disputes.

Litera acquires Office & Dragons to bolster its drafting and transact offerings

Litera has announced the acquisition of Office & Dragons, the platform for mass drafting and editing, which leverages intuitive automation and generative AI to streamline document workflows for lawyers.

Industry giants look to quantum to optimise operations

Seven businesses have joined Digital Catapult’s latest quantum innovation accelerator to fast track the development of solutions and accelerate the practical application of deeptech. Aiming to help solve complex market challenges in major sectors of the UK economy including transport, defence, and telecommunications, the programme convenes unique quantum capabilities and innovation consultancy to de-risk technology adoption.

CTA Announces CES Innovations Awards 2025 Honourees

The Consumer Technology Association (CTA) is announcing its CES Innovation Awards 2025 honorees. The 2025 awards program received a record-breaking number of submissions, over 3400, a 13% increase from CES 2024. The CES Innovation Awards annually recognises and honours exceptional designs and engineering in technology that tackle global challenges and drive meaningful change.