In a world where a single tweet can launch a brand or a viral TikTok can transform a small shop into a global phenomenon, digital literacy is the difference between SMBs thriving or falling behind. Today, entrepreneurs are faced with a new reality: digital hesitancy is just as – if not more – important than understanding business cash flow or generating sales.
You might think that being famous is all red carpets, secluded mansions and private jets. Making huge purchases – in cash of course – and living the high life. However, though this is the case for some of the world’s A-listers, plenty of care and attention goes into managing their money, so they stay rich sustainably.
Cristiano Ronaldo, the global football legend, has made a significant investment in Bioniq, a startup known for its personalised nutritional solutions based on blood biomarker data. Founded in 2019, Bioniq has now reached a total valuation of $82 million.
Zip, the AI-driven procurement orchestration platform, has secured $190 million in Series D funding, with BOND leading the round. This substantial investment ranks among the largest in the enterprise SaaS space this year, boosting Zip’s valuation to $2.2 billion, up from $1.5 billion in 2023. New investors DST Global, Adams Street, and Alkeon joined the round, alongside returning backers Y Combinator and CRV.
Authologic, a global digital identity verification platform, has raised $8.2 million in its Series A funding round, led by European VC firm OpenOcean. YCombinator, Peak Capital, and SMOK VC also contributed, backing Authologic’s mission to modernise KYC and AML processes with secure e-ID solutions. Traditional KYC systems that rely on document images are becoming outdated, as AI-generated fake documents make these methods increasingly vulnerable to fraud, identity theft, and compliance issues. Authologic’s platform offers a more secure approach, addressing the flaws in legacy verification systems.
The race to net-zero is no longer an aspirational goal – it’s a global imperative. As we surge forward, significant technological gaps stand in the way of realising this ambition. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), a striking 35% of the technologies required are still in early development or pilot phases, not yet commercially available.
Drax Group has partnered with Smart Green Shipping to advance the use of wind-assisted technology in decarbonising the shipping sector. The project centres on Smart Green Shipping’s ‘FastRig’ wingsail, which aims to cut fuel consumption and emissions by up to 30% annually.
In today’s business environment, brands hold more power than ever before. This influence is not just a competitive edge for startups – it’s a vital tool for communication, differentiation, and survival.
Kalogon is a smart seating company that uses patent-pending sensor technology to enable a seat to adapt to the user’s body. In doing so, it is able to redistribute the way the pressure is carried as someone is sitting, which has been proven to increase blood flow.
Alchemie Technology, a cleantech company, has been featured in a prestigious new book commemorating the 75th anniversary of the Commonwealth and King Charles III’s role as its Head. The book, The Commonwealth at 75, includes a spotlight on Dr Alan Hudd, Ffounder and CEO of Alchemie, and the company’s mission to cut emissions and pollution in the textile industry.
As the UK gears up for the Labour Government’s first Budget, research from innovation incentives specialist ForrestBrown reveals the key policy changes business leaders want from the new Government.
Gartner forecasts that by 2028, three out of four enterprise software engineers will use AI code assistants – a significant increase from less than 10% in early 2023. AI and Generative AI are challenging the traditional software development process, but the integration of this rapidly advancing technology is imminent.
Oriole Networks, the company pioneering the use of light to power Large Language Model (LLM) training with significantly reduced energy consumption, has secured an additional $22 million in funding from leading investors. The round, led by Plural, saw reinvestments from existing backers including UCL Technology Fund, XTX Ventures, Clean Growth Fund, and Dorilton Ventures.
Roman Hölzl, CEO and Co-Founder of RobCo, refers to robotics as the “Swiss Army knives of the manufacturing world”, demonstrating his deep-seated belief in the power robotics has in changing the manufacturing world and alluding to the multi-faceted roles they can play.
shizl, a newly launched legaltech platform, is set to revolutionise how SMEs in the UK approach legal contract creation, negotiation, and execution. Designed to make legal processes simple, jargon-free, and affordable, shizl caters to businesses at every stage, from startups to larger enterprises.
Emilė Radytė, CEO and Co-Founder of Samphire Neuroscience, makes no secret of her interest in trying to explain behaviours through human brain action. “I have always loved the overlap of how the human brain interacts with society and the way we function,” Radytė explained.
British startup Auxtail has unveiled a new integrated bike rack designed especially for electric vehicles and, after eight years of development and patented technology, it’s targeting customers who love the outdoors and where sustainability is high on their list of priorities.
Anna Brailsford, CEO and Co-Founder of Code First Girls, is dedicated to educating and building a community of female coders to bridge the gender divide in the tech industry and connecting them with economic opportunities.
CitySwift has announced a significant new partnership with the Go-Ahead Group, a major provider of bus services in the UK. This collaboration will see CitySwift’s AI-powered platform, designed to enhance bus operational efficiency, rolled out across all Go-Ahead Group operating companies in the UK, bringing benefits to passengers, drivers, and cities alike.
The first 100 days under the first Labour government since 2010 have now elapsed. These first 100 are often considered the most telling – and most important.
