ECOCEM Secures EU funding for low-carbon slag-based cement

Ecocem as part of a consortium of Europe’s leading academic and industrial leaders, has announced it has been awarded €4 million in research funding the European Innovation Council (EIC)’s.

Meet the Companies Heading to the EIS Forum

The Sustainable Times EIS Forum, taking place on 24th April 2025 at The Royal Institution, is fast approaching. This week, the four innovative companies set to pitch have officially been announced. From radical renewables to character-fuelled kidswear, the latest cohort at the EIS Forum are out to disrupt industries, drive sustainability, and deliver serious returns.

London SME growth forecasts dampened by tariff concerns and tax rises

Small businesses in London are the most worried in the UK (78%) about current economic instability including US tariffs and the prospect of tax rises later in the year – according to new research out this week from Novuna Business Finance.

Porto Alegre, the Capital of Innovation in Latin America with South Summit Brazil 2025

South Summit Brazil, the leading event of the entrepreneurial and innovative ecosystem in Latin America co-organised by IE University and the Government of Rio Grande do Sul, inaugurated its fourth edition yesterday, Wednesday, April 9, in the city of Porto Alegre. South Summit Brazil 2025 will bring together the main protagonists of the global entrepreneurial ecosystem in Porto Alegre until tomorrow, Friday 11, which with this new edition consolidates its position as the capital of innovation and entrepreneurship in Latin America.

The 5 things to cover in your workplace mental health training

Most businesses now provide some form of mental health training for employees. But do you know what should be included in this training to ensure it is effective and impactful? With an estimated £42-£45 billion being lost each year due to presenteeism, sickness absence and staff turnover from poor mental health, mental health training can play a crucial role in the wider success, happiness and productivity of your employees.

Airbnb AI software partner Conduit raises $3.1M

Conduit, the AI-powered operating system revolutionising residential property management, has secured $3.1 million in seed funding to expand its full-cycle tenant engagement platform worldwide, with a new focus on hotels and long-term rentals.

Students’ AI football footage innovation wins startup funding

An invention that enables smartphones to film grassroots football matches by automatically following the play has won a share of £72,000 at a University of Bristol pitching competition.

Global children’s charity launches SME Club

Small and medium-sized enterprises in the UK are being given a unique opportunity to give back on a global scale by joining an exclusive club launched by SOS Children’s Villages, the charity focused on supporting children and young people who don’t have, or are at risk of losing, parental care.

TransFICC secures $25 million Series B investment

TransFICC, the specialist provider of low-latency connectivity and workflow services for Fixed Income and Derivatives markets, announced a $25 million Series B investment led by Citadel Securities. BlackFin Tech and existing investors also participated.

Ryft secures £7.4M to boost merchant tech

Ryft announced a successful £5.7 million Series A round to fund the development of technology that will empower acquiring banks, like Clearhaus, to compete with Stripe Connect, Adyen, and similar payment providers in the market.

Trint receives growth funding package

Trint has secured a growth funding package from Virgin Money’s Venture Debt team. This investment will further accelerate Trint’s growth and help enhance its technology, solidifying its position as one of the leaders in the media and broadcasting industry.

Women don’t need to be louder, you just need to listen

I said something in a meeting once. When I was just a Junior FX broker trying to make it in an extremely male-dominated industry. It was an idea I believed in, one I’d thought through, one I knew had value. Silence. Then five minutes later, a man repeated it almost word for word. Suddenly, it was “brilliant.”

This article is part 6 of 6 in the series Diversity Disrupted: challenging outdated narratives
The Rise of the Female Entrepreneur: Sháá Wasmund MBE and Scott English Announce Annual Event for Women in Business

Following the success of last year’s inaugural event, renowned entrepreneur Sháá Wasmund MBE and Scott English, Brand Director at CE Marketing Group (CEMG), announce the return of “The Rise of the Female Entrepreneur” (RISE), a transformative annual convention designed to empower women to grow, scale, and successfully exit their businesses. The event is set to take place on the 9th May 2025 at Howden, One Creechurch Lane, London.

National Insurance changes driving cost management challenges

elementsuite, a Zellis company, HR and workforce management provider, announces new research into the state of HR in 2025 in the UK.

Planning for a CEO departure is a core priority in 2025

What Directors Think 2025 – an annual survey conducted in partnership with Diligent, Corporate Board Member, and FTI Consulting – has found that succession planning is rapidly rising up the board agenda, but directors don’t feel prepared.

Tips to help employees struggling with financial stress

In a previous study carried out by CIPHR, it was found that financial worries are the joint main cause of stress in the UK. Also, this year’s Quids in! ‘Cost of Living Survey’ highlighted that financial anxiety is impacting many of us – 40.6% feel scared, worried, or sad about money, and one in five (22%) say stress has made them physically ill.

Europe’s fastest growing fintech raises $78M Series B

Sipay, the payment and embedded finance platform for businesses and consumers in Turkey, has announced a $78 million Series B funding round, achieving a valuation in excess of $875 million.

From intros to intelligence: the future of fundraising

Starting a business has never been easier. Platforms like Shopify, Stripe, and Notion mean anyone can go from idea to execution in a matter of days. And now, with AI tools automating everything from customer service to product descriptions, the speed at which digital businesses can be launched, and scaled, is staggering.

Branding for startups: three questions every founder needs to answer

Startups move fast. There’s product to build, funding to raise, customers to win over. With so much going on, branding often gets pushed down the to-do list. It’s seen as something to worry about later, once the MVP is out, the investors are in, or the team’s a bit bigger. But here’s the thing: if you leave branding until later, you’ll end up playing catch-up.

UK startups rethink software investment

A new survey of over 2,000 professionals reveals UK businesses are ditching cost-cutting in favour of smart decision-making, security, and long-term resilience.