UK small business growth forecasts crash to lockdown levels

The percentage of UK small businesses predicting growth has fallen for the fourth consecutive quarter, plummeting to the low levels seen during the lockdown era of 2020, according to new research from Novuna Business Finance.

UK youth confidence crisis calls for business action to secure workforce future

A pervasive confidence crisis is silently undermining the workforce of the future, directly impacting talent pipelines for businesses across the UK.

From fairway to flight paths: how professional golf prepared me for startup life

My moment of clarity in knowing that I wanted to build businesses for a living came in an unusual place: a US Open qualifier.

Novenda Technologies raises $6.1M for 3D-printed dental products

As sugar consumption rises and dental visits become increasingly expensive, nearly 3.5 billion people worldwide struggle with oral diseases. The dental industry faces mounting pressure to increase manufacturing efficiency, particularly in markets where centralised manufacturing is becoming the norm.

Call for action as report exposes scale of workplace sexual harassment

A new survey has revealed that sexual harassment remains widespread and underreported in UK workplaces, prompting renewed pressure on employers to act as legal reforms advance.

Parents say working local and hybrid is key to alleviating strain of childcare

New research from International Workplace Group has revealed that over half (58%) of UK parents are stressed about arranging childcare ahead of the upcoming school summer holidays. 72% of parents surveyed said they would utilise a local workspace or nearby office, closer to home, in order to reduce this stress.

Arago raises $26M to slash AI energy consumption with photonic chip

Arago, a Paris and Silicon Valley-based deeptech startup pioneering a new class of energy-efficient AI chips powered by light, has raised $26 million in seed funding to accelerate the commercialisation of its photonic processor, codenamed “JEF”.

Biorce raises €5M from Norrsken VC to accelerate drug development with AI

Norrsken VC has invested €5 million in Barcelona-based healthtech startup Biorce, revolutionising clinical trials with AI to bring treatments to patients sooner. The funding comes just seven months after Biorce’s €3.5 million first round in November 2024, led by healthtech specialist YZR Capital and Mustard Seed Maze.

€700K secured for methane-reducing technologies on dairy farms

A fund of €700,000 has been secured to trial next-generation methane-reducing technologies on 10 additional dairy farms in West Cork, expanding the reach of Carbery’s Farm Zero C project – a research and demonstration initiative aiming to create a blueprint for an economically viable, sustainable dairy farming model.

LADbible co-founder Arian Kalantari launches Plus1 Assembly

LADbible Co-Founder Arian Kalantari is launching Plus1 Assembly, a global innovation agency designed for brands that want to lead culture, not follow it.

Future Labs Live USA draws experts and leaders from science, academia, startups, FMGC, chemical, and agricultural industries to its conference floor in Philadelphia, PA, USA.

Future Labs Live USA returns to Philadelphia this October, bringing together industry leaders, innovators, and disruptors from across the United States and Europe for two transformative days of insight, collaboration, and discovery. As the laboratory industry continues to experience rapid development, this event serves as a critical platform for those shaping the future of lab environments across sectors.

Former Everton and Norwich player Steven Naismith backs ScribePro

Former Everton and Norwich player Steven Naismith has invested a six-figure sum in sportstech platform ScribePro. The ex-footballer is backing the medical app and online portal that logs real-time interactions between athletes and clinicians.

Carbon Markets Africa Summit reveals packed programme featuring continent’s entire carbon markets value chain

The upcoming Carbon Markets Africa Summit (CMAS) programme features the continent’s entire carbon markets value chain in what is a compelling combination of successful early carbon market movers, climate-finance-ready projects, regulatory bodies as well as global institutional development organisations and investors. The event is taking place in Johannesburg from 22 to 23 October, with pre-conference sessions on 21 October.

From Sofia to Saigon: a new map for startup engineering

Remote hiring is becoming increasingly popular. 82.9% of tech firms utilise it to optimise costs, tap into a global talent pool, and scale their operations efficiently. Startups use this strategy to remain agile, innovate fast, and compete in volatile markets.

XPANCEO joins unicorn ranks with smart contact lens
XPANCEO joins unicorn ranks with smart contact lens

XPANCEO, a deeptech startup that is focused on redefining computing through smart contact lenses, has confirmed the close of its $250 million Series A funding round, pushing its valuation to $1.35 billion and marking its entry into unicorn territory.

Cumulus Neuroscience closes £3.25M funding round

Belfast-based digital health technology company Cumulus Neuroscience has successfully closed a £3.25 million equity funding round that will be used to scale up its commercial operations.

Donut Lab continues momentum with €25M raise and global expansion

Helsinki-based e-mobility tech startup, Donut Lab, continues its remarkable journey with a busy and productive first half to 2025.

Digital divide widens as 74% of regional SMEs lack support access

As the UK government renews its focus on levelling up, new research from e-Residency reveals a widening digital divide among entrepreneurs: SMEs in London are pulling ahead in digital transformation, while many regional businesses remain cut off from critical support.

A 10 step guide to cultivating wellbeing and success in a startup

If you are a manager or startup founder reading this – and you probably are, based on the title of the magazine – then you are probably already overloaded with ambiguous, random advice on how to build culture. Or you’re inundated by LinkedIn posts telling you how you’re a terrible person if you don’t let your staff work from Bali year-round on a four-day work week. Or you’ve read a couple of Walter Isaacson biographies and now you’re thinking the trick is to act like a dictator.

Purina launches fourth BetterwithPets Prize to fund pet-human bond initiatives

Applications are now open for Purina Europe’s BetterwithPets Prize (BWPP). Nestlé Purina Petcare Europe is calling for organisations and social entrepreneurs who help improve the health and wellbeing of people in vulnerable situations to apply for the prize.