The 45th PODIM Conference, one of the most influential startup and technology events in the Alpe-Adria region and the Western Balkans, taking place from May 12 to 14
in Maribor, once again gathered the crème de la crème of the startup and tech world. The three-day event attracted over 1,000 participants from around the globe, 58 venture capital funds and other types of private investors—who are estimated to manage investment funds worth more than €8.2 billion earmarked for investing in startups—188 startups from 23 countries, more than 80 speakers from all over the world, and many successful entrepreneurs. In addition to a rich program, more than 1,300 one-on-one meetings were held at the event. Yesterday’s final event of the Podim Pitching Competition also brought a winner – the startup infrared.city from Austria.
Following rallying calls for global tech, research and innovation ecosystems to ‘Choose Europe’ and the groundbreaking launch of the EU Startup & Scaleup Strategy, Europe’s tech sector embarks on a revitalised era of exponential growth and development, fuelled by a renewed focus on research, tech talent and increasing later-stage investments across the continent.
Laura Kankaala, Head of Threat Intelligence at F-Secure, explains why everyone from government to service providers, schools to consumers has a role to play in online safety.
When was the last time you asked for directions? Perhaps you’re too proud. And now we have Google Maps, the need to plead with another human to show us the way is reassuringly rare. But I asked for directions last week and came completely unstuck.
A screening process that removes bias in VC investment decisions identifies more successful exits and fewer shut-downs than traditional methods, according to a new white paper that has analysed thousands of companies over 25 years.
Kickscale, an AI-powered sales and intelligence platform, has raised a €2.1 million Seed round to scale its business in Europe and later to the Middle East and Asia.
The latest research from The Global Payroll Alliance (GPA), reveals that since Labour’s Autumn Statement in October 2024, the number of PAYE staff in the UK has fallen by -334,748, equivalent to -67,000 people going off the books every month as businesses battle to reduce overheads under the strain of increased staffing costs.
Applause has released the results of its fifth annual State of Digital Quality in Accessibility survey, revealing growing awareness and adoption of inclusive design practices ahead of the European Accessibility Act (EAA) deadline in June, as well as interest in adopting AI’s accessibility-related capabilities.
Sylvester.ai is disrupting the global $300 billion+ pet care industry with its veterinarian-backed, AI-technology innovation in feline healthcare that helps cat caregivers assess whether their kitty is in distress and – most importantly – use that info to inform whether it’s time to get their beloved cat to the vet.
As we begin the second quarter of 2025, the first companies with 12-month accounting periods are preparing their latest research and development (R&D) tax relief claims under the new merged R&D Expenditure Credit (RDEC) – and the Enhanced R&D Intensive Support (ERIS) scheme. But what are the key considerations early claimants need to be aware of?
Across global innovation hubs – from the UK and US to key markets in APAC – university spinouts are capturing investor attention like never before. These research-rooted ventures are now seen as high-potential engines of scalable growth, sparking an emerging hiring boom focused on transformative leadership.
The sales game has changed, and if you’re still relying on outdated methods, you’re already falling behind. Conversational AI isn’t just another buzzword – it’s a powerhouse for sales teams looking to scale their outreach, close deals faster, and operate with efficiency.
Meridian Health Ventures, formerly known as KHP Ventures, has announced a transatlantic fund to provide healthtech superscalers with global and domestic growth opportunities, while supporting UK innovation to be adopted in the NHS.
In a digital first economy, the performance and security of any software is what hold a business together. Creating seamless user experiences involves curating a rigorous and well thought out software testing processes. Without a doubt, these processes require high level of collaboration and innovation from the software testing team and quality engineers.
Shakers, the workforce orchestration platform connecting companies with top tech freelancers, has announced its €14 million Series A funding round. The round was led by Partech, with further investment from KFund, Brighteye Ventures, Athos Capital, and Wayra.
In today’s ever evolving digital landscape, innovation has become a necessity. However, the path to enabling fast, secure and scalable software delivery remains complex. Many engineering leaders continue to face the fundamental challenge of empowering developers and providing autonomy to facilitate autonomy. This also comes with the added challenge of maintaining governance, security, and compliance that the organisation demands.
South by Southwest London has announced the semi-finalists for its international Venture Spotlight competition for early-stage startups across life science, biotech, deeptech, and creative tech.
The Oil & Gas Automation and Digitalisation Congress (AUTOMA) 2025 convenes industry leaders to present their technological advancements and smart solutions for the oil and gas sector on 13-14 October in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. The Congress gathers key companies such as TotalEnergies, Shell, and Fluor, known for their commitment to innovation and inclusion initiatives, to share their expertise and strategies driving progress in the industry.
99% of private sector businesses in the UK are classed as SMEs, but despite the scale of the activity that takes place within this segment, there’s often a lack of guidance for smaller companies seeking to comply with the significant regulatory barriers they must navigate.
Over the past three years, Latitude59 Pitch Competition winners have collectively raised more than €20 million in investments, reinforcing Latitude59’s position as one of the most influential startup launch platforms in the Baltics and the New Nordics.
