When Hermann Hauser, co-founder of Acorn Computers in the late 70s and Arm Holdings in the early 90s was asked about quantum computing’s potential recently, he drew a comparison to the early days of personal computing. Back then, the stakes were high, the technology unproven, and the promise uncertain and yet the rewards for those who took the leap were transformative.

The holiday shopping extravaganza of Black Friday and Cyber Monday is fast approaching, and this four-day window isn't just the busiest shopping period of the year, but a golden opportunity for e-commerce businesses to drive sales, attract new customers and supercharge their bottom line.

The emergence of "death tech" is reshaping how society approaches end-of-life matters, transforming a traditionally sombre industry into one ripe for innovation and growth. Valued at £78 billion, this sector aligns with the burgeoning silver economy, which is projected to reach €5.7 trillion (a third of Europe’s GDP) by 2025.

Growth is what we are all aiming for. In fact, it is the number one mission of the UK government. For founders and startups, the great success stories of the Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme (SEIS) and the Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) being preserved in the UK Budget was welcome news. As was the extension of the sunset clause of the EIS and Venture Capital Trust (VCT) schemes to April 2035 in the Autumn Statement.

AI skills are important in today’s knowledge economy – there’s no doubt about it. Roles requiring such abilities are growing 3.5 times faster than all other jobs combined, meaning that workers need to learn about AI to avoid falling behind their peers. This is especially true in the UK, where knowledge-intensive sectors like financial services, professional services, and technology dominate economic growth.

Building a regtech startup that not only survives but thrives in today’s regulatory climate requires more than a bright idea. It takes strategic foresight, meaning teams must keep a finger on the pulse of ever-evolving regulations. As with any business, having a deep understanding of the market that you’re either creating or addressing is critical – but with regulatory environments constantly tightening, the regtech sector takes this one step further.

October’s Cyber Awareness Month may have heightened the awareness of digital threats, but the battle against cyber risks is far from seasonal. According to the UK government’s recent Cyber Security Breaches Survey, nearly half of all UK businesses experienced a cyber-attack last year – a sharp rise from 39% in 2022.

Maintaining a healthy work-life balance is a significant challenge, especially for family-owned businesses where family matters and business operations are deeply intertwined.

Venture capital investment in longevity startups has surged over the past decade. This trend signals promising prospects for age-extending technologies, particularly from a venture capital perspective, as investors recognise the potential for innovation in this emerging field to address the health and economic impacts of an ageing population.

For any business that’s looking to scale up, expanding through acquisition can open up a wide range of opportunities – whatever the current business size.

Ever since OpenAI’s ChatGPT burst onto the scene towards the end of 2022, Generative AI has become one of the most talked about technologies – and potentially the most transformative – since the advent of the Internet. Although the field of AI research was first founded over 60 years ago and the technology has been through a number of ‘hype bubbles’ and ‘AI winters’ since then, only in the last few years has it truly gained momentum in a mainstream capacity.

At the current rate that AI is developing, it holds the potential to completely transform society, from revolutionising healthcare to creating millions of new jobs by 2025

In an era where disruption has become the norm, 2025 promises to usher in a new wave of startup innovation. As we've observed through our work with challenger brands across various sectors, successful startups aren't just creating new products – they're fundamentally reimagining entire industries.

The path to becoming a CEO in any industry is filled with hard work, determination and grit. Any leader will have highs and lows, successes and failures, and will learn plenty along the way.

With significant economic disruption over the past few years, the ability to adapt to changing circumstances quickly has never been more important for businesses. Increasingly, there are instances of sudden pressure on organisations to adopt the latest technology, such as the push to move to cloud computing models or embrace AI.

As new governments are elected in the US, UK, and France – three countries that are among the world’s most prolific producers of AI startups – it is time for general thinking about artificial intelligence to shift dramatically.

In today’s crowded marketplace, with countless products competing for attention, some startups manage to break through and become indispensable. These are the startups that see swathes of investment and rapid scaling, but this isn’t always the case – particularly for female founders.

Payment data breaches are a threat with costly consequences for businesses. In fact, a major breach of a major payment system uncovered in September 2024 revealed that an unauthorised party accessed sensitive consumer data for nearly ten months. The compromised information included names, addresses, credit card details, expiration dates and more. Such incidents not only erode consumer trust but also leave businesses facing significant financial, legal and reputational repercussions.

The evolution of technology has always been a catalyst for redefining industries, workplaces, and individual career paths. From the Industrial Revolution to the digital era, each wave of innovation has reshaped the world’s professional landscape.

Every decision impacts the future of a startup. Careful planning is essential in an environment where even small mistakes can have significant consequences. A Product Requirement Document (PRD) provides the structure to turn ideas into a clear, actionable plan for success.