Relocated tech founders are settling in Europe, but their experience points to a deeper issue: ecosystems feel closed, capital is hard to secure, and much of the support on offer is low-value. A new study suggests Europe risks wasting incoming talent, while investors may find overlooked opportunities in the gaps.
New insights from American Express’ Merchant Barometer reveal that nearly two-thirds (65%) of small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) say customer expectations around payment choice are higher than ever, with over half (52%) planning to improve their online checkout experience in order to reduce levels of cart abandonment.
Five years ago, I launched my first startup in The Bay Area. I’ll skip to the end: it failed. The idea was solid, I was motivated, but my co-founder and I didn’t see eye to eye. It was a costly, time-sucking mistake and it taught me a lesson I wish I’d learned sooner: non-technical founders don’t need a technical co-founder to get started.
The AI boom has reshaped the startup landscape. By some estimates, just over half of all the new billion-dollar companies in 2025 so far are AI companies. Many founders still operate with the same mindset they had during the booming valuations of the late 2010s and early 2020s. The default, time and again, is focusing on raising big rounds and chasing billion-dollar status as quickly as possible.
The recent debate around MIT’s NANDA report on the success or failure of generative AI in corporate projects underlines one truth about careers in technology: don’t get into it if you want certainty in your life. The reality is that this industry is changing continuously as innovations move through Gartner’s Hype Cycle.
Despite more conversations being held publicly about the impact of menopause and the requirements for support, many women still feel alone in their struggles, especially the physical and mental health effects on their work and career.
Every business is a tech company now. It doesn’t matter if you’re selling clothes or executing a large-scale green engineering project; you’re ultimately driven by tech. Without it, your company wouldn’t exist in its current form. And yet, with all the advanced tech available, you’re still running your business using spreadsheets. Because they’re familiar, they feel comfortable… And they’re letting your business down. It’s time for a new approach.
The UK Government has announced fourteen flagship projects funded under its new Regional Tech Booster programme, aimed at stimulating tech ecosystems and creating job opportunities across Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, and in all English regions. The £1 million initiative will support businesses, founders, and communities through training, mentoring, networking, and scaling support, designed to spread tech-led growth beyond London and the South East.
In the West Midlands, the startup ecosystem is getting a boost from an unlikely source: local pension funds and the combined authority. Involved from the start of this innovative approach is Rupert Lyle, Principal of the West Midlands Co-Investment Fund. This pioneering fund, launched two years ago, is changing how regional businesses get financed, offering a blueprint for how pension capital can fuel homegrown innovation.
Rachel Curtis spent three decades in financial services, building a career focused on customer experience, operations, and marketing. But it was a digital transformation project that opened her eyes to the potential of a new kind of technology, and the gaping need for it.
Digital twin implementation challenges in the energy sector, smart operations for sustainability and the use of robotics – all in an agenda powered by advanced technologies.
Oneleet, the all-in-one security compliance platform, announced that it has raised a $33m Series A round led by Dawn Capital, with participation from existing and new investors including Y Combinator, Frank Slootman (former CEO of Snowflake and ServiceNow), and Arash Ferdowsi (co founder of Dropbox).
MyRoboteam is launching its third batch of its acceleration program for tech startups at the beginning of October 2025. This program is free and designed for sole non-developers and even developers themselves who want to establish their own business but lack funding and co-founders.
India is a land of incredible opportunities – opportunities stitched together by diversity, ambition, and potential.
A critical financial skills gap is undermining the resilience and growth of small businesses across the UK, according to new research by Xero.
55 North, the dedicated quantum technology venture capital fund, today announced the first close of its €300 million inaugural Fund I at €134 million, establishing its position as the sector’s largest pure-play quantum VC.
Creator Fund, the pre-seed VC fund that helps scientific founders turn research into deeptech startups, has announced an initial close of $41 million for its first European institutional fund.
Property management software Hospitable announced it has raised over $1.5 million in funding directly from its own customers and employees.
NGP Capital announced the results of its third, annual data-driven deep dive into the DACH startup ecosystem’s investment landscape. Comparing data from the 1 July 2024 to 30 June 2025.
Love Finance, the SME lender and broker, has secured £45 million in its first debt financing arrangement, enabling the company to expand its loan book and support more UK SMEs with fast and flexible business loans. The funding package comprises a £35 million Revolving Credit Facility (RCF) from FTSE 250 specialist lender, Paragon Bank, and a £10 million junior Medium-Term Note (MTN) programme from LGB Capital Markets.
