Deadline extended for everywoman Entrepreneur Awards

The nominations deadline for this year’s everywoman Entrepreneur Awards, in association with BGF, has been extended.

Emma Jones CBE appointed as new Small Business Commissioner

Emma Jones CBE, Founder of Enterprise Nation, has just been announced as the new Small Business Commissioner, supporting the Government’s mission to support small businesses in the UK.

London’s SME job growth slumps to 0.7% as capital trails behind

London’s small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) are struggling to keep pace with the rest of the UK’s employment recovery, with the capital recording the weakest job growth in May, a new report from HR, payroll, and employment platform Employment Hero shows.

Forest riders clock 24M km in 2024, saving London 1,104 tonnes of CO₂e
Forest riders clock 24M km in 2024, saving London 1,104 tonnes of CO₂e

Forest, one of London’s e-bike operators, has launched its latest Sustainability Report, highlighting how the company is supporting the capital’s shift to more sustainable and affordable forms of travel.

Renow raises €1.8M to reshape Europe’s €150Bn returns and resale market with AI platform

Renow, the Nordic startup modernising how returned and second-hand goods are handled and resold, has raised €1.8 million in seed funding to expand its AI-powered recommerce platform across Northern Europe, opening new hubs in Sweden and Norway, and aiming to launch in the Danish and Beneluxian markets.

Orbit Capital launches €100M Growth Debt II fund

Orbit Capital is bringing venture debt to Central and Eastern Europe with its Growth Debt II fund. The fund will hold €100 million, allowing technology companies to accelerate further growth. This second fund follows on the success of Growth Debt I, which held €40 million.

British workers are ready for AI, but employers must accelerate support

Miro, the Innovation Workspace, reveals the findings of its study into the attitudes and behaviours of British knowledge workers using AI.

Mask off: the exhausting reality of neurodivergence at work

I was diagnosed with ADHD in my late 20s and putting a name to something I always struggled with was such a relief.

You see, I wasn’t failing. I had a thriving business, managed a team, powered through a to-do list that never seemed to end. But under the surface, things felt harder than they should. I was constantly overwhelmed, mentally drained, quietly wondering why everything took so much out of me.

This article is part 4 of 6 in the series Diversity Disrupted: challenging outdated narratives
How to increase your business’ value through customer loyalty

Over my 30 years of experience buying and selling businesses I’ve gained a deep insight into what buyers want when they look for a company, and I’ve come to the conclusion that there are several factors that they take into account. Specifically, I refer to these as the 10 drivers of business value, and of the most important drivers is high customer loyalty.

Native Teams unveils “Gig Pay,” automating global gig economy compliance and payments

Native Teams, the global platform for work payments, unveils Gig Pay, the end-to-end automated payroll and wallet solution engineered to turn compliance deadlines into growth drivers.

Why every business needs a QR code system in 2025

The modern startup moves fast – testing, iterating, pivoting. But one thing that doesn’t change is the need to connect with customers in simple, scalable ways. And in 2025, there’s one underrated tool that’s quietly becoming essential across industries: the QR code.

Sensay founder calls for AI shake-up in policymaking as firm launches first AI government

Dan Thomson, Founder and CEO of AI startup Sensay, has urged governments worldwide to deploy AI in their policymaking, as the firm launches the world’s first AI-powered government to experiment with new cutting-edge ways of developing policy. 

Newcastle named top British city to work for an SME

Newcastle upon Tyne is ranked the best city to work for a small business in Britain, according to new research released today by iwoca, one of Europe’s largest SME lenders.

AI and trademark infringement – what are the risks?

AI’s reliance on existing material to generate content raises a number of thorny intellectual property issues, both legal and ethical. When sourcing material to complete its tasks, AI does not distinguish between content protected by intellectual property law and content that isn’t. As a result, there is a genuine risk that AI systems could produce infringing material. If your business uses that content, you could face legal action and a claim for financial compensation.

Half of UK firms risk breaches from poor data

As UK businesses race to adopt AI, nearly half (47%) of data leaders admit their organisation’s cavalier approach to the rapidly emerging technology could lead to inevitable data leaks or privacy breaches, offering a stark warning from new research from AND Digital.

Successfully raising Series C and D rounds: the critical role of preparation

The landscape for growth-stage fundraising has fundamentally changed. Today’s Series C and D rounds, typically involving raises of $50–100 million or more, are significantly tougher than in recent years. Investors have become more selective, valuations more restrained, and expectations for business performance far more rigorous.

Optalysys launches hardware solution for blockchain transactions

Optalysys, a company enabling the future of secure computing, has launched the world’s first dedicated enterprise-grade server for blockchain – LightLocker Node, designed to enable Fully Homomorphic Encryption (FHE) and ensure complete confidentiality on any transaction.

Building personalised learning paths with AI: a 3-step guide for edtech providers

I still remember learning history in school, memorising dates, cramming timelines, trudging through dry textbook passages. It was boring and ineffective. Mostly, I remember not understanding why any of it mattered.

Ones to watch: deeptech

In the March/April 2025 issue of Startups Magazine, we introduced four startups that we believe are the ones to watch in the deeptech space.

5 ways to retrain your brain and become a confident speaker

Speaking in front of an audience is one of the most common fears, whether it’s pitching to investors, leading a meeting, presenting at an event, or simply sharing ideas in front of a group.