A shot in the arm for the economy: customers to increase spending once vaccines rolled out

Customers are set to increase their spending once vaccines have been rolled out, according to research by SAS. When asked if they would increase their spending, nearly a fifth (17%) said they would, compared to just a tenth (10%) who said they would reduce spending once vaccines were available.

Why we cannot abandon innovation beyond COVID

One of the few silver linings to come from the pandemic has been the rapid adoption of innovation in healthcare. The race to develop vaccines in less than one year is a prime example – taking anywhere between 10 and 15 years in normal circumstances. Other technologies such as telemedicine for virtual appointments, and Virtual Reality (VR) or Augmented Reality (AR) that provides lifelike remote training for medical staff, have broken through with great pace.

Traveltech startup boosts connectivity with launch of new app for hoteliers

Thanks to the new advancement, hoteliers will be able to manage multiple properties all in one place. Built by Bidroom’s in-house team of technical experts, the new web application offers a simpler solution for managing bookings and room rates, and an intuitive content management platform designed to easily update hotel information, images and offers.

Bridging the gap between virtual and in-person trade shows

A little over a one year ago, CES just made it under the wire. One of the last of the major trade shows to ‘go live’ prior to the onset of the Coronavirus Pandemic, the mammoth showcase for emergent technology attracted its normal lineup of 1,200 startups, 4,400 total exhibitors and 170,000 attendees while delivering more than a hundred panels, seminars and presentations.

Diginex Solutions launches new disruptive ESG platform

Diginex Solutions, the disruptive impact technology company helping to solve the world’s most pressing challenges, has launched DiginexESG to help companies of all sizes and reporting experience make their ESG reporting faster, easier and more affordable. The platform also enables large organisations to collect ESG data in their B2B client network, allowing them to make more educated decisions around risk, lending, and value.

Mental health not a priority for half of businesses according to over 1,000 HR leaders

Koa Health, a digital mental healthcare provider offering personalised employee solutions, has launched a new report titled Wellbeing at Work, exposing the impact of COVID-19 on mental health in businesses across the UK and organisations’ response to the crisis.

New analysis shows importance of UK small businesses to job growth

Demonstrating the importance of small business to the UK’s COVID-19 recovery, a new report from Xero, shows 410,000 small business jobs need to be created by the end of the year to return to the pre-pandemic jobs trajectory.

Three cybersecurity tips for SMEs

On February 5, 2021, a hacker initiated a cyberattack on a small water plant in Florida. If successful, the attack would have caused multiple health complications for the 15,000 residents that the plant provides water for. This is just an example of the disastrous consequences of cyberattacks on smaller companies. But how to avoid them?

Investors gather to back AI-powered family travel startup tripAbrood

A series of backers, including former c-suite executives from Barclays, American Express, Expedia and Hertz have invested in family travel tech startup tripAbrood, to further develop its revolutionary AI-powered family booking experience. tripAbrood has raised £645,000 seed funds in its second round of funding, bringing total funding to just shy of the £1m mark. It comes seven months after its September 2020 beta-launch.

Should businesses class long-COVID as a disability?

Businesses should consider classing long-COVID as a disability, an employment expert has warned. Up to one million people are expected to require treatment for the condition after June, according to recent reports.

A pledge to help your local community

How can the British public help their local pub, restaurant, cafe or hotel recover from May 17th when venues reopen indoor seating?

The wearable for expectant mothers

According to the stillbirth, premature birth and miscarriage charity, Tommy’s, one in every 250 pregnancies end in a stillbirth. That’s around 3,400 babies dying every year, or nine every day, on average. But research has shown that some still births can be prevented.

Austrian AR leader enhances e-commerce experience for retailers and consumers

Reactive Reality is a leading Austria and California-based augmented reality (AR) company enabling brands to reduce costly and environmentally damaging returns, by improving their customers online shopping experiences through the generation of high-quality digital models of people and products.

Insurtech startup raises £8m to meet global demand

Sprout.ai, the insurtech that enables insurance claims to be settled within just 24 hours, has announced that it has raised £8m/$11m in Series A funding. The round was led by one of Europe’s largest and most active early-stage investors, Octopus Ventures, and was joined by existing investors, Amadeus Capital Partners, Playfair Capital and Techstars.

Revolutionising Venture Capital and Making the Startup Universe Fairer

Martijn De Wever’s venture capital fund Force Over Mass has raised €103M to back the UK and Europe’s most promising tech startups. One sure bet in this pandemic has been the accelerated growth of tech, including the record returns seen in venture capital.

Tech scaleup smashes past its previous unicorn status from April 2020

SafetyCulture, the global operations platform which empowers working teams to drive improvements in the workplace, has announced a A$2.2bn valuation (approx. £1.2bn), smashing past its previous unicorn status from April 2020.

The Owlett – a camera to help the visually impaired around the house

There are a lot of things that we take for granted. Something as simple as reading the label on the ingredients for dinner is quick and easy; but not for everyone. For all the wonderful things making our lives easier, there is still a lack of tech out there which effectively assists blind people in everyday tasks, such as reading text. Billy Wood, Founder of Owlett, has set out to change this.

Nesta and UKRI offer £6m funding for startups in healthy ageing

Nesta, the UK’s innovation foundation for social good, and UK Research and Investment (UKRI) have announced a new two-year partnership to provide up to £6m in combined investment and grant funding for companies working to improve health outcomes in later life.

IOT network welcomes space startup to its international community

LOT Network, an international community of high-tech companies committed to protecting its members from costly litigation from patent assertion entities (PAEs, also known as ‘patent trolls’), welcomes space tech startup company, Orbital Exploration Technologies (OrbitX), to its membership of more than 1,400 members. OrbitX is the first commercial space venture in the Philippines.

Santander Universities funding to nurture creative business talent of the future

Student and graduate entrepreneurs are receiving a £40,000 boost through Kingston University’s longstanding partnership with Santander Universities to launch and develop their startups this year.