Missed by the headlines: the true story of European tech’s summer 2025

While much of Europe sweats through a record-hot summer and the headlines are unusually quiet, the real action in tech investing is happening where few are looking. No IPO fireworks, no M&A frenzy – and yet, this is precisely the season when the most interesting trajectories quietly start to take shape.

Accent bias: does the way you speak affect your paycheck?

I used to think the way you speak was just a part of who you are. A reflection of your roots. Your family. Your story. Something to be proud of.

But then I started noticing just how quickly some people make judgments based on someone’s accent. How a certain voice in a meeting gets listened to more seriously. How a regional twang gets laughed off.

This article is part 3 of 6 in the series Diversity Disrupted: challenging outdated narratives
Accelerator overhaul needed to supercharge Britain’s high-growth firms

A report from The Entrepreneurs Network, one of Britain’s think tanks for entrepreneurship policy, urges the UK Government to establish clear programme standards and classifications for startup support schemes, such as accelerators and incubators.

Scotland draws early-stage investors amid market challenges

Scotland’s early-stage investment landscape continues to broaden its international appeal, with 73 investors new to the Scottish market participating in funding rounds during 2024, according to the latest Scotland Newcomer Investors Report from Young Company Finance.

One in five UK employees miss out on gender-specific support

One in five employees across the UK, equivalent to 6.8 million employees, are not receiving any coaching or awareness-building for gender specific issues, such as menopause, fertility, and screening programmes for gender-based cancers, according to research by Towergate Employee Benefits.

How neobanks can reassure and retain users as fines add up

In early July 2025, neobank giant Monzo was handed a £21 million fine by the FCA for onboarding thousands of customers deemed ‘high risk’. This followed a €3.5 million fine issued to Revolut earlier in the year for failing to address money laundering on its platform, and a £29 million fine levied against Starling Bank in October 2024 for deficiencies in its financial crime controls.

One year on – is Labour still the party of business?

A year since Labour’s historic landslide, is the government doing enough to back British business? Mark Smith, UK & Ireland Managing Director at Ayming, argues that while the intent is there, Labour must accelerate the pace of delivery on innovation and reform if it’s serious about driving meaningful economic growth.

Children’s online safety startup aims to raise £250,000

A Manchester based children’s online safety app backed by Innovate UK and Centre for Digital Innovation, is looking for £250,000 in funding, to help younger children aged 6-13 stay safe on social media.

Risk-averse leadership: is imposter syndrome stifling your business growth?

Even the most accomplished business leaders can secretly wrestle with crippling self-doubt. This is particularly true of SME leaders lacking significant peer networks with which to share concerns and challenges with. The consequences of this can be significant, hindering the bold decision-making and inspirational leadership an SME needs to grow and innovate.

New model outperforms popular AI in women’s health

A new scientific paper from Aneira Health finds that its women’s-health-specialist large language model (LLM), improves on the performance of popular AI models using context from a large volume of expert-curated clinical documents.

Q.ANT raises €62M to transform the future of computing

Q.ANT announces a  €62 million Series A financing round to accelerate the commercialisation of its energy-efficient photonic processors for artificial intelligence (AI) and high-performance computing (HPC).

Fiber Elements raises €2.6M for construction decarbonisation

Fiber Elements announces it has raised €2.6 million in seed funding. The round was led by LEA Partners alongside the Amadeus APEX Technology Fund.

Why startup funding needs a rethink

Gaining startup funding is notoriously difficult. With venture capital (VC) as the dominant model, it’s been down to startups to push hard, seeking to outshine competitors in a race to the top.

Edinburgh entrepreneurs launch FringeFlow.Ai to navigate festival

A pair of Edinburgh-based entrepreneurs have launched a new AI-powered planning tool to help audiences cut through the noise of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe while supporting the thousands of artists who often go unseen.

Only a third of small business leaders have a basic understanding of AI

New research by Start Up Loans, conducted by YouGov, reveals less than half (46%) of small businesses use AI at work. Furthermore, over a third (34%) of small business leaders only have a ‘basic understanding’ of AI tools.

British Business Bank commits £15M to Prefequity to back UK small businesses

British Business Bank has announced a new commitment of £15 million to a new separately managed account (SMA) managed by Prefequity LLP.

London powers UK fintech’s $2.4Bn funding urge in H1 2025

Tracxn has released its UK FinTech H1 2025 Funding Report, offering a comprehensive view of the funding landscape between January and June 2025. The report captures notable developments in funding volumes, investor activity, major acquisitions, and IPOs.

Solestial awarded $1.2M by SpaceWERX for space solar development

Solestial, the solar energy company for space, has announced that it has been selected by SpaceWERX for a Direct-to-Phase II contract in the amount of $1.2 million dollars to develop a novel, fast to manufacture, multiorbital solar array wing concept for small satellites.

More SME leaders turning to business schools over trade bodies

Business schools are a leading source of support for SMEs, according to a new report from The Small Business Charter (SBC). More SME business owners are now turning to business schools than trade associations or their accountants, new research has found.

The power of borrowing trust when building a startup brand

There’s an actual marketing strategy in business that I think is barely talked about or shared by the online self proclaimed “gurus”, and yet I think it’s one of the most powerful things to genuinely move the needle in your business, and fast.