Plum raises £16m series B amid rapid growth and nears profitability

Smart money app Plum has raised £13.4 million in funding from institutional investors, including a second tranche of investment from strategic partner Eurobank. New anchor investor iGrow Venture Capital has joined the round, alongside previous investors such as Venture Friends and Ventura Capital.

Lightyear launches business accounts

Starting today, UK businesses can take advantage of Lightyear’s new business accounts, enabling them to earn interest and invest their cash through the platform.

Over 110,000 UK small businesses at risk of going bust

A recent SME insights report by Dojo, a specialist in card payments for independent and enterprise businesses, has highlighted a concerning trend: approximately 110,940 SMEs are at risk of insolvency due to depleted cash reserves.

Splight Inc. secures $12M to tackle energy curtailment

Splight, an AI startup pioneering grid operations technologies, announced the successful completion of its seed funding round, securing $12M.

Why being a small brand isn’t the marketing disadvantage you think it is

Marketing theory often highlights the inherent disadvantages faced by small brands. Firstly, customers’ brains naturally gravitate towards familiar names, equating well-known brands with trustworthiness. Secondly, advertising tends to be more cost effective for brands with wider availability, further reinforcing the dominance of larger players.

Shrinking the gender skills gap with tech bootcamps

Despite progress, women’s representation in the global tech workforce remains low, even at leading tech firms. This highlights the need for ongoing efforts to boost gender diversity in the industry.

Cybersecurity startup Wiz rejects $23 billion Google deal

Wiz, a cybersecurity startup, has turned down a $23 billion (£18 billion) takeover offer from Google’s parent company, Alphabet, opting instead for a stock market flotation. This deal would have marked Alphabet’s largest acquisition to date.

Exoticca secures €60M to transform multi-day tour package market

Exoticca, a traveltech platform specialising in multi-day tour packages, has secured €60 million in a Series D funding round. The round was led by Quadrille Capital, with new investors All Iron and ICF, alongside existing backers 14W, Mangrove, Bonsai, Sabadell, and Aldea, also participating.

iTero Gaming acquired by GIANTX in multi-million deal

Global gaming and esports brand GIANTX (GX) has announced the acquisition of UK startup iTero Gaming, known for its AI coaching solutions for competitive gamers. This acquisition marks a significant milestone for the gaming and technology industries, emphasising the integration of AI in esports.

The Road to CES 2025 Begins Now

The Consumer Technology Association (CTA), the owner and producer of CES, the world’s most powerful tech event, is paving the way to CES 2025 with its robust fall event schedule, new exhibitors, updated CTA and CES branding—including a new CES website—and acclaimed programming.

$1 million up for grabs: Startup World Cup kicks off in Ukraine

EIT Community RIS Hub in Ukraine and Sigma Software Labs, backed by the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine, have launched the Ukrainian leg of the Startup World Cup competition. The regional winner will advance to the global Grand Finale in San Francisco in October 2024, vying for a $1,000,000 investment prize.

What the changing social media landscape means for SMEs

 In today’s digital age, SMEs are the backbone of our economy, driving innovation and providing essential services across various sectors. However, the rapidly evolving social media landscape poses unique challenges, as well as opportunities, for these businesses.

Press Coverage in Digital Marketing and PR

When it comes to raising awareness of your brand or product, press coverage stands out as a powerful tool for companies aiming to enhance their visibility and credibility.

James Clough on Robin AI’s role in the evolving legaltech landscape

James Clough is the CTO and Co-Founder of Robin AI, a legaltech startup aiming to revolutionise the legal industry through advanced AI technology. Founded with the vision of making legal services more accessible, efficient, and cost-effective, Robin AI combines machine learning algorithms with expert legal knowledge.

NetFabric secures $2.2M to revolutionise network monitoring

NetFabric, a spin-off from ETH Zurich, has announced the successful closure of a $2.2 million pre-seed funding round. This investment, led by Founderful and Playfair Capital, marks a significant milestone in NetFabric’s quest to revolutionise network observability.

UK public concerned about rushed adoption of AI in personalised medicine

New research indicates that 57% of the UK population fears the rapid adoption of AI in personalised medicine is outpacing the necessary training for safe system use. Additionally, 49% are worried about health data protection in this context.

Blue Earth announces Waterhaul’s investment to propel ocean health & environmental impact

From the rugged coasts of Cornwall, Waterhaul emerges as a beacon of innovation in the battle against plastic pollution. Transforming discarded fishing nets into stylish sunglasses, this enterprise embodies sustainable change.

UK innovators achieve milestone in airborne 5G connectivity with successful demo flights

An advanced airborne 5G connectivity system has been successfully integrated into a Britten-Norman Islander aircraft, completing a series of demonstration flights. Developed by Stratospheric Platforms Limited (SPL), a Non-Terrestrial Networks telecoms developer, in collaboration with Britten-Norman, this cutting-edge technology promises to revolutionise wide-scale high-performance 5G coverage.

Global Venture Ecosystem unveils AI investment advisor ‘Claudia’ powered by Anthropic

Axevil Capital, an international digital venture ecosystem facilitating investments in top-tier global tech companies, introduced Claudia, an AI-powered investment advisor.

SoSafe Research: Cybersecurity threats hit five-year peak

New research by SoSafe revealed that 85% of UK security professionals believe the current threat landscape is the toughest it has been in five years, with only 44% hopeful for improvement in the next 12 months. The alarming rise in cybercrime is overwhelming organisations.