The UK’S most extraordinary female founders have been unveiled as the finalists for the 2024 everywoman Entrepreneur Awards, in association with BGF, the UK’s longest-running recognition programme for women in business. Now in their 22nd year, the awards set out to uncover and amplify the diverse array of female-led businesses, recognising them as influential role models for future generations, and celebrating their economic contribution.
CampusAI, one of the fastest-growing AI education startups, has announced its expansion into the UK. This move aims to empower individuals, teams, and communities to embrace AI-driven transformation through its innovative platform, taking a human-centred approach to technology.
Oxford Capital, the Oxford-based venture capital firm, has sold part of its Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) investment in Moneybox, the award-winning savings and investment platform, achieving a return of up to 17x.
Trustly, the global fintech in Open Banking Payments, is on track towards processing $100 billion in Total Payments Value (TPV) in 2024, underscoring a substantial shift in the payments industry as merchants worldwide continue to explore card alternatives. To date, over 112 million consumers have used Trustly’s products globally, showcasing the appeal of Pay by Bank options at checkout.
Medialister, a new startup designed to streamline editorial advertising placements, launched this month to connect brands with media outlets looking for alternative revenue streams. Focused on affordability and data-driven insights, Medialister enables brands to access editorial advertising that aligns with their messaging goals, while providing media outlets with an additional way to monetise content.
Jarvis, a pension fintech that empowers employees to actively plan for their ideal retirement, has partnered with JA, the software provider for umbrella companies, to transform pension management for umbrella companies.
Wayve, a startup in Embodied AI for the automotive industry, has expanded its US operations with the opening of a new office in Silicon Valley and the start of a driver assistance testing programme in San Francisco and the Bay Area.
Pleo, a European spend management platforms, has released a new report examining the current landscape of UK businesses. ‘The Finance and Business Synergy Report’ from Pleo, delves into the sentiments surrounding budget cuts, collaboration and growth in 2024, and how these dynamics are influencing business operations.
OpenAI’s former Chief Technology Officer, Mira Murati, is reportedly raising funding from venture capitalists for her new AI startup. The news was originally reported by Reuters, who claimed it came from sources familiar with the matter.
The value of bad debt suffered by small businesses has surged by a staggering 127%, according to a report by SME funder, Bibby Financial Services (BFS).
A survey by AND Digital, featured in its ‘Rewards & Resilience’ report, revealed that 68% of women believe more can be done to enhance the workplace for women in leadership, particularly through better career pathways and mentorship support.
Genie AI, an AI legal editor, has raised £13.3 million in Series A funding, led by GV (Google Ventures), and joined by Khosla Ventures (early investors in OpenAI), taking its total raised to over £15 million. Previous to this round, Genie AI received one of the UK Government’s largest grants for a startup, and seed funding led by Connect Ventures.
Dryad Networks, a startup working in ultra-early wildfire detection technology, has announced a major financial boost to advance its wildfire prevention solutions. The company has been awarded a €3.8 million grant from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), via Investitionsbank des Landes Brandenburg (ILB), to accelerate the development of its revolutionary wildfire suppression project, codenamed “Florian.”
Opteran, a company focused on natural intelligence, has revealed that Airbus Defence and Space, with support from the European Space Agency (ESA) and the UK Space Agency, will trial its Opteran Mind neuromorphic software in Airbus’ space rovers.
Estonian startup GDPR Register has created an AI-powered solution designed to assist businesses and public institutions across Europe in meeting their data protection requirements under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). By leveraging AI, the platform streamlines compliance, offering a unique approach to managing GDPR obligations.
adCAPTCHA, a newly launched security verification platform, has secured £1 million in funding to combat the growing challenge of automated bots and cyber fraud.
Burnout among security professionals in Europe is reaching concerning levels, with 68% of workers experiencing burnout to varying degrees. Of this number, 32% reported high burnout, while 36% indicated moderate levels. The UK has been hit particularly hard, with 40% of professionals facing elevated stress.
Student Minds, the UK charity dedicated to student mental health, has unveiled a new partnership with Mind Data, a digital platform providing real-time mental health insights.
An increasing number of young, skilled professionals, innovators, scientists, and entrepreneurs are leaving the UK, seeking better quality of life, career prospects, and tax advantages, driven by concerns over potential tax hikes under the new Labour government.
Munich energy startup, PIONIERKRAFT, has secured a significant investment in its Series A funding round, amounting to a high seven-figure sum. The round was led by First Imagine!, a European venture capital firm committed to sustainable innovation.
