A group of former Pfizer employees have launched their own businesses, now thriving within the life sciences hub of Discovery Park in Kent. The newly established companies – Biowaived, Matheus Engineering, and Particology – are contract research organisations, each benefitting from initial support and contracts from Pfizer’s Pharmaceutical Sciences Small Molecule (PSSM) division.
Osmos has launched an AI-powered platform that facilitates meaningful, one-on-one connections, specifically designed for professionals seeking deep and purposeful communication.
Opportuna has officially launched, unveiling its first investment strategy, with a target of $30 million. The fund will focus on direct venture secondaries and late-stage primaries, seeking to meet the rising demand for liquidity in the venture capital market.
The Kluz Prize for PeaceTech was awarded in New York City on 20th September, with Aerobotics7 securing the top honour of the evening. Hosted by The GovLab at New York University, the event recognised trailblazing innovations in the field of PeaceTech.
Desia, an AI-driven intelligence and productivity platform for investment professionals, has secured $3.3 million in pre-seed funding, led by Dig Ventures. This funding will accelerate the development and scaling of Desia’s platform, with the goal of reshaping how the financial investment sector operates.
The goal of the newly established Tech Happy Hours technology event is to put Prague on the European startup map and create a flagship event based on Finland’s SLUSH or Estonia’s Tartu. Up to 400 participants from the CEE region consisting of startup enthusiasts, venture capital investors, leading corporations, and young people from technology universities, will gather in one place.
The communication app, emotii, is making strides as a trusted translation tool for businesses worldwide with its recent integration into popular platforms like Microsoft Teams and Slack.
A recent study by claims automation firm, Sprout.ai, highlighted that 65% of insurance claims handlers have observed a rise in fraudulent claims since the onset of the cost of living crisis. Of those surveyed, 19% estimated that up to one in four claims now include fake or altered documentation, generated through AI and digital tools.
The SEMICON Taiwan expo saw a strong presence from the UK this month, showcasing the country’s technological advancements on a global stage. The British Office in Taipei coordinated the participation of 24 UK innovators, while the UK-APAC Tech Growth Programme organised 31 high-level meetings for seven of these companies.
Switchee, a UK-based tech company focused on improving social housing, has developed an approach to measuring home efficiency at scale using real-world data. Its Smart Meter Insights technology enables housing providers to accurately assess the thermal performance of homes, including metrics like Heat Transfer Coefficient (HTC), Heat Loss Parameter (HLP), Space Heat Demand (SHD), and running costs.
Small businesses across the UK are seeing revenue on the rise, driven by a notable surge in ecommerce, according to QuickBooks Small Business Insights – a quarterly report examining small business trends in the US, Canada, UK, and Australia.
AxonJay, a deeptech AI company and multi-award winner, has secured €1.5 million in seed funding to scale its AI-assistants globally. Known for its Self-Machine-Learning Platform, AxonJay’s AI tools empower business leaders to make real-time decisions with 80% greater accuracy.
Biotope by VIB, a biotech startup incubator and early-stage investor, has announced its fifth cohort of startups. From 11 teams participating in a three-week basecamp, three standout companies have been selected to receive €250,000 in funding, as well as tailored support and access to advanced laboratory, greenhouse, and pilot facilities through VIB and its partner network.
LG Electronics has unveiled the LG NOVA Partner Alliance Program, a new initiative designed to foster collaboration between corporate partners and startups, driving innovation across industries. This platform focuses on facilitating the development of new technologies, business models, and partnerships to accelerate the pace of innovation.
London Business Partnership (LBP) has announced the launch of its new Harrow Female Startup Accelerator Programme, a free six-week course designed to equip local women with the tools to start their own businesses.
Oxford-based startup FluoRok has secured £7.7 million in an oversubscribed funding round to accelerate its scaleup, manufacturing, and commercialisation of cutting-edge fluorochemical reagents and battery electrolyte salts.
Finnish venture capital firm Innovestor announced new investments in three university spinouts, made through its €90 million Life Science fund. The companies – Polku Therapeutics, Kasvu Therapeutics, and Soihtu DTx – are working on innovative treatments for neurological conditions.
South Summit has named Nacho Mateo as its new CEO, tasking him with spearheading the event’s international growth and solidifying its role in the global entrepreneurial and innovation ecosystem.
Ten international startups have been chosen for the inaugural CyberBoost Catalyse programme, a collaboration between Plexal, the innovation company founded by Delancey, and NUS Enterprise, the entrepreneurial arm of the National University of Singapore (NUS). The programme will take place at the CyberSG Talent, Innovation and Growth (TIG) Collaboration Centre, a joint initiative between the Cyber Security Agency of Singapore (CSA) and NUS.
In a transformative partnership, Irish startup SQUID, known for its innovative loyalty platform, has joined forces with Square, a leading provider of commerce and financial services, to deliver spend-based loyalty programmes for independent businesses across Ireland and the UK.
