A pivotal experience in Simon Bailey’s twenties while commuting across London on a route besieged by poor public transport links led him to think about the “crazy system we’ve got,” he confessed, with regard to cars being oversized for single-occupancy, a path that set him on the journey to founding WeatherVelo, a mobilitytech startup that is developing a prototype vehicle that presents a midway point between a car and a bicycle.
Sagittal AI, the company building AI solutions that adapt to human workflows instead of forcing humans to adapt to AI, has raised $2.2 million in pre-seed funding. The investment round was led by Twin Path Ventures, with participation from SineWave Ventures, Fuel Ventures, Blue Lake VC, and angel investor Husayn Kassai, Founder of Onfido and Quench AI.
Startups have a unique advantage when it comes to building a sustainable future. Unlike large enterprises that must modernise or upgrade operations to align with circular economy principles, startups can integrate these models from the beginning, creating a sustainable foundation for future growth while contributing to global decarbonisation efforts.
Let’s be real, startup life isn’t always what it seems to be on Insta… we all know there’s often a tough reality behind some of those smiles, beyond midnight working, client calls at dawn, all whilst trying to juggle a million spinning plates… As brilliant as the entrepreneurial founder’s life is, it can also come with a heavy dose of stress.
Building a startup is a healthy mix of energy, optimism, and of course, risk. The focus is often on product development, funding rounds, and scaling up fast. But in the rush to get off the ground, people management – the heartbeat of any organisation – can often skip a beat. And while it’s understandable, ignoring tried and tested HR best practices early on can be a costly mistake.
In this day and age, every business must have a digital presence to survive. Do you need a cleaner? A dog walker? A plumber? A quick Google search will bring up hundreds of thousands of options. However, search algorithms are unforgiving, and to get to the top of the page can be a feat. Couple this with short attention spans and picky users, crafting the perfect digital presence becomes a hefty task.
As global trade regulations continue to shift constantly, the UK retail sector faces a new wave of challenges, particularly with the evolving impact of tariffs on cross-border commerce. These changes are not just increasing the cost of goods sold but also complicating the way returns are managed. For UK retailers, the evolving tariff landscape presents both new obstacles and opportunities to reassess business practices, particularly when it comes to returns management.
Cardiff-based B Corp and sustainable money app, Zero, has raised £1.5 million in its latest funding round including crowdfunding via Crowdcube – surpassing its original crowdfunding target by 44%. This investment fuels Zero’s mission to transform everyday banking for the UK’s growing community of climate-conscious consumers, estimated at over 11 million under-35s.











