eBay has announced the global expansion of its Circular Fashion Fund (CFF), aimed at helping fashion startups scale circular solutions across the entire lifecycle – from production to disposal, including rental and repair services. Applications for the fund are now open and will close on 15th November 2024. Eligible startups and small businesses can apply via eBay’s website.
TravelPerk, a global business travel management platform, has released new findings on how UK professionals feel about the potential use of AI avatars in the workplace. Despite some reservations, 91% of respondents said they would be open to delegating meeting tasks to an AI avatar.
Zerve, a platform designed for data science and AI development, announced a seed round of $7.6 million, led by Paladin Capital Group. Other backers included existing investor Elkstone and notable angel investors like Rob Hickey, former Executive Vice President of Engineering at DataRobot.
Glovo, the multi-category app, has revealed its largest product overhaul since 2016, setting itself apart by blending social media elements with food discovery. This update seeks to enrich the customer experience and push forward innovation.
In the age of thriving online shopping, with millions of people making purchases every day, choosing a product has turned into a challenging task. Endless lists of features, a sea of options, and an ocean of prices, how does one avoid drowning in this flood of information?
Intuit’s September 2024 Small Business Index has revealed a slowdown in the UK job market, based on data from 25,000 small businesses with one to nine employees. The report shows a decline of around 1,400 jobs and fewer vacancies across the sector, indicating a cooling labour market.
Estonian startup Symmetrista has unveiled a bra specifically designed for women who have undergone breast reconstruction after breast cancer treatment.
Mollie, a rapidly expanding European financial services provider, has unveiled its new integration with HubSpot, the customer platform for growing businesses. This integration allows UK businesses to initiate and track payments directly within HubSpot, streamlining CRM payment processing and significantly reducing time spent on administrative tasks.
Belgian biotech startup AmphiStar, known for its sustainable surfactant innovations, has been awarded a €2 million non-dilutive grant from SPRIN-D, the Federal Agency for Disruptive Innovation. This brings the company’s total funding for the year to €10 million.
Hormony (Prelude Health), a startup in the femtech space, has been honoured as the winner of the inaugural FemTech category at the Global Tech Awards 2024. This accolade recognises Hormony’s technological innovation and significant impact on women’s healthtech.
Where You At (WYA), a female-founded app that enhances nightlife safety using indoor mapping and offline mesh technology to help users stay connected in crowded venues, has raised significant funding which has helped it make a huge impact in a short space of time.
INSHUR, a global embedded insurance provider for the on-demand economy, has secured $19 million in its latest funding round. This round was led by Viola Growth, with contributions from MS&AD Ventures and existing backers, bringing INSHUR’s total funding to $78.5 million.
Qlik has released a new study involving 250 C-suite executives and AI decision makers across the UK. The research highlights key challenges slowing AI progress in the country and offers insights on how to overcome these obstacles.
Rare Founders’ second demo day was a huge success, with 100 founders across 14 sectors pitching their innovative startups to an audience of investors. Each startup was allowed a one-minute pitch, with a further three minutes for audience questions.
Manigo, a fintech infrastructure platform based in London, has been acquired by the established investment firm Invex Ventures, known for its focus on the fintech sector.
New research from emlyon business school and Bocconi University has revealed that family-owned businesses are over 3% less likely to license their patents compared to non-family firms. Instead, these businesses are more inclined to develop their innovations internally, with a 6% higher likelihood of commercialising their products in-house rather than through external licensing.
A recent poll commissioned by iwoca, one of Europe’s major lenders to SMEs, revealed that almost half (49%) of small businesses have not seen any benefits from the decrease in inflation this year. The survey, published ahead of the ONS’s upcoming inflation data, highlighted that the cost of running a business remains unmanageable for 50% of the UK’s 5.6 million SMEs.
The adoption of AI in corporate finance is advancing rapidly, with 68% of Chief Financial Officers (CFOs) now considering it essential for financial reporting.
Each year, LinkedIn reveals its Top 20 UK Startups list, alongside highlighting top emerging companies from various cities across the country. In Manchester, the top five startups are distinguished not only for their rapid growth but also for capturing significant attention and developing innovative solutions that are shaping the future of their industries.
Profilr, a recruitment platform combining the swipe-and-match functionality of dating apps with the professional networking approach of LinkedIn, is gearing up to launch in the UK. Aiming to shake up the recruitment process in the service industry, Profilr promises a seamless experience for both job seekers and employers.
