Launching a startup in the UK has never been more attractive. In 2024, founders raised over $17 billion, making the UK Europe’s leading hub for early-stage ventures and home to 30+ unicorns. But behind the buzz lies a stark reality: up to 90% of startups can fail – and for many, the first 90 days can determine the trajectory.
ASML has invested €1.3 billion in Mistral’s Series C funding round as the lead investor. This has resulted in ASML holding an approximate 11% share on a fully diluted basis in Mistral AI. The total funding for the Series C round totals €1.7 billion, at a €11.7 billion post-money valuation.
Plum, the smart money app trusted by millions, has unveiled its AI-powered tool built on Google Cloud and enabled by Google’s Gemini models.
New research from Kore.ai reveals that a shortage of specialised AI talent is slowing UK enterprises’ ability to scale and realise return on investment on AI pilots. Despite overall optimism into AI implementation across enterprises, over a third of UK businesses (36%) are faced with a lack of AI expertise when implementing a new AI solution, acting as a handbrake on progress.
Fyxer AI, creator of the AI-powered executive assistant designed for everyday professionals, today announced a $30 million Series B funding round led by Madrona, with participation from Lakestar Capital.
A new survey from The Open University reveals a growing dilemma for UK businesses: almost all leaders (96%) see growth as central to their strategy, particularly in the context of the UK Government’s priority mission in achieving strong, secure, and sustainable economic growth by 2035. Yet nearly three in four admit it often comes at the expense of workforce diversity and inclusion goals (72%) and sustainability and net zero efforts (71%).
UK employees were off sick for nearly two full working weeks (9.4 days) on average in the last 12 months. This is a significant jump compared to pre-pandemic levels (5.8 days), and 7.8 days in 2023 when this survey was last carried out.
UK and Netherlands-based cybersecurity and compliance company Naq has successfully closed a €6 million Series A funding round to accelerate its mission to help health technology companies meet essential NHS standards amid rising cyber threats and regulatory delays.
Skylark Lasers, a diode-pumped solid-state (DPSS) laser specialist, has appointed international business development consultancy Intralink to accelerate its growth in China.
BoobyBiome, a London-based biotechnology company advancing the science of breast milk and the microbiome, has raised £2.5 million in seed funding for its infant feeding solutions. Founded in 2019 by a team of female scientists-turned-entrepreneurs – Dr. Lydia Mapstone, Dr. Sioned Jones, and Dr. Tara O’Driscoll – BoobyBiome plans to tackle the rising rates of infant health issues by harnessing the power of the breast milk microbiome.
For e-commerce businesses, the last quarter (Q4) is often the busiest and most lucrative time of the year with Prime Day, Halloween, Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and end-of-year sales.
Microsoft laid off 9,000 workers, citing artificial intelligence (AI) developments. Goldman Sachs announced it is deploying digital co-workers to enhance human performance and drive productivity. One story grabs headlines. The other reveals the future.
The short- and medium-term investment plans of UK small to medium sized enterprises (SMEs) have been hit hard by the recent changes to international trade tariffs.
Runna, the running coaching app, has launched the start of internationalisation on the platform. The app is now available in seven new languages, unlocking access to personalised running training plans for millions of new runners worldwide.
The entrepreneurial journey is as demanding as it is rewarding. Startup founders operate in an environment defined by uncertainty, long working hours, and relentless pressure to perform. While stress is often considered part of the founder’s role, unmanaged stress can quickly escalate into burnout – impacting not only personal wellbeing but also the performance of the business.
It is not news that sustainability has become an issue for societies across the globe. To understand the extent of the problem, you only have to consider that the UK alone generates approximately 191.2 million tonnes of waste annually to picture the global crisis at hand.
MOTH announces the launch of Quantum Brush, an open-source digital painting tool that brings quantum computing into the creative process. By translating brushstrokes into quantum algorithms, the tool allows artists to explore new visual styles shaped directly by the physics of superposition, entanglement, and quantum measurement.
DeepL, the global AI product and research company most known for its AI-powered translation tools, has unveiled an autonomous AI agent for businesses.
UK artificial intelligence (AI) companies attracted a record-breaking £2.9 billion in investment last year, solidifying Britain’s position as a global leader in cutting-edge technology.
In an era defined by economic uncertainty and rising operational costs, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are increasingly turning to artificial intelligence (AI) to drive efficiency and innovation. Business lending platform Funding Circle, which has supported over 110,000 UK SMEs, reveals how AI can help small businesses grow smarter, not just faster, in 2025 and beyond.
