BGF, one of the largest and most experienced investors in the UK and Ireland, recently surveyed business leaders across its 400-company investment portfolio to assess the impact of AI on SMEs.
cocreatd is a a new venture studio, designed to back big ideas in the marketing industry and bring them to life. Founded by Oliver Yonchev, a former business partner of Steven Bartlett – cocreatd is Yonchev’s first venture since exiting Flight Group, alongside co-founders James Lawson Baker, Paul Stevens, and Simon Whitaker.
Precision solutions provider Cogna, which uses AI-powered software development to address complex business inefficiencies across critical industries, has raised $15 million in series A funding.
A staggering 89% of UK cybersecurity professionals believe that AI is more beneficial to cybercriminals than to defenders, according to the latest State of the Security Profession report from the Chartered Institute of Information Security (CIISec). With only 54% stating that AI will aid defenders more than attackers, this highlights a growing concern within the industry.
Scotland’s expanded Venture Builder Incubator (VBI) 5.0 has launched, supporting 34 entrepreneurs – 12 more than last year – from UK universities to grow and develop their businesses and skills.
A notable 41% of IT professionals are struggling to hire qualified candidates due to a ‘significant’ skills gap in the industry, with only 12% reportedly unaffected by this gap. That’s according to new data from SolarWinds, a provider of simple, powerful, secure observability and IT management software.
Forefront RF, a fabless semiconductor company based in Cambridge, UK, announced the closure of its £16 million Series A funding round, backed by existing investors BGF and Foresight Group, alongside new VC partners, Octopus Ventures, and Cambridge Innovation Capital. This infusion of capital supports Forefront RF’s mission to redefine how mobile devices manage complex RF environments, expanding possibilities for connected devices worldwide.
Smart Horse Technologies BV announces Equestic Coach-Copilot, a first-of-its kind AI-powered solution, that dramatically improves performance, coaching, and safety for both riders and horses.
Solivus, a UK provider of lightweight solar installations for commercial applications, has designed and delivered a £2 million solar installation to Farnborough Airport, taking it one step closer to its commitment to reach net zero emissions by 2030.
B2B Stars, the platform for B2B search, ratings, and digital engagement, has attracted 80,000 visits in just two months since its launch, driving new digital visibility for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs). Designed to streamline how SMBs connect with prospects and suppliers, B2B Stars enables users to discover, evaluate, and engage with businesses seamlessly.
According to Towergate Employee Benefits’ research, over a third (37%) of companies with employees based outside of the UK stated that they do not offer enough health and wellbeing support and that this impacts their ability to recruit and retain people.
Lightweight solar company Solivus has announced it has been paired with modular services and infrastructure giant Modulaire Group as part of the Mayor of London’s Better Futures Net Zero Innovation Challenge.
SuperTech, the UK’s only Tech supercluster, welcomes world-first investment technology, AI Simulator, to play a pivotal role in supporting early-stage founders in the SuperTech Seeds programme. The platform provides crucial assistance to entrepreneur at the ‘idea stage’ as they work to develop their business models and navigate the complexities of the startup investment market.
Solar developer software, Glint Solar, has announced an $8 million Series A funding round led by Smedvig Ventures with participation from Momentum, Futurum Ventures, Antler’s Nordic fund, and later stage fund, Elevate.
An overwhelming majority (86%) of CFOs and finance leaders feel that decisions about their organisation’s financial strategy are made without sufficient data or insight, according to a new survey by AccountsIQ, a provider of cloud-native accounting software for mid-sized businesses.
It has been a week since the Autumn Budget was delivered by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, and the dust has started to settle.
Technology continues to redefine our senses, and AI startup Osmo has recently hit a groundbreaking milestone: the first demonstration of ‘scent teleportation’.
Miros, the visual AI e-commerce search solution, has raised a €6 million pre-Series A investment led by EBRD Venture Capital and Tera Ventures. Former Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ilves also participated in the round as an Angel Investor. Miros will use the funding to enhance R&D, further develop the technology, and expand market reach. To date, the company has raised €8 million.
Ampd Energy, a global energy industry innovator and manufacturer of the Enertainer and Ampd Silo battery energy storage systems (ESS) for heavy industries, has announced that it has raised $27.3 million in an oversubscribed Series B funding round.
83% of professionals state they’ve experienced mental ill health at work in the past 12 months – with more than a quarter encountering it ‘regularly’.
