The pandemic hit many industries in very different ways and insurance is among them. On one hand, COVID-19 brought excessive deaths among policyholders causing claims to reach a staggering $5.5 billion in the first nine months of 2021. On the other hand, insurers jumped in on the digitisation race: the 2020 KPMG CEO Outlook surveyed insurance executives and 85% stated that due to the pandemic, they invested more effort to create a seamless digital customer experience.

With all the ChatGPT talks that have been going around for months now, the Conversational AI industry has experienced a rise of interest from companies and investors alike.

In its exponential rise, artificial intelligence has already proven it can streamline business processes, improve operational efficiencies, and help cut costs. In fact, 68% of large companies have already adopted at least one AI application, followed by 34% of medium sized companies and 15% of SMEs.

Having decided to scale your business and having concluded that the only way to make that happen in a meaningful way is to raise equity funding, there are then some very obvious next questions.  This would include how much exactly do you need to raise and at what valuation, and where is the best place to raise the investment?

It’s very likely you’ll have ideas about new features that you want to add in the next-generation product. These will probably have started forming during the previous development cycle, but – being the self-disciplined entrepreneur you are – you will have resisted the temptation to make changes that could hold up your project and risk delaying market entry.

Revolutionising the landscape industry requires embracing cutting-edge technologies that optimise processes, enhance creativity, and foster seamless collaboration. Tech startups are doing just that, transforming the sector into an environmentally-aware one that understands and exceeds current client expectations.

A wave of credential stuffing, with no attempt to use the accounts. A pause. The accounts are accessed but not leveraged. A pause. Then, a flood of transaction fraud, using either the taken-over accounts or new ones set up with similar personal information. 

The catch: The stages of this process may occur days or weeks apart. And they may not all take place on the same websites.  

In today's digital age, the convergence of e-commerce and live-streaming technology has given birth to a new phenomenon: live e-commerce. This innovative approach to online shopping allows businesses to engage with customers in real-time, providing interactive experiences and seamless purchasing opportunities.

In today's world, businesses are on the lookout for new and innovative ways to stay afloat or ahead of the curve. One of these ways is by embracing Artificial Intelligence (AI). But that raises a few questions.

The UK continues to undergo a prolonged period of economic instability and uncertainty, primarily due to high inflation and interest rates. This has put even greater pressure on cash-strapped startups and small businesses looking to secure funding to test and launch their new products in the current market.

The cost of living crisis - in addition to the uncertainty of the last few years - has had a significant impact on employees’ financial, mental and emotional wellbeing that’s affecting both their professional and personal lives. 57% of UK employees say that the cost of living crisis is negatively impacting their work and over two in five frequently experience burnout.

When starting a new role such as a director or managing director, or even a departmental manager, it is fundamentally important for future success in the role and for the company, that you quickly understand the people and learn their views and perceptions.

More companies than ever expect – and even demand – that employees adopt an entrepreneurial mindset. A close look at current job descriptions reflects this trend: About half of all ads for jobs emphasise that applicants demonstrate an entrepreneurial mindset. The pandemic likely intensified this trend. Samantha Dewalt, Managing Director of the Lehigh@NasdaqCenter, and Anh Dinh, Research Fellow at Lehigh@NasdaqCenter and Head of Accreditation at the University of Hohenheim, discuss what an entrepreneurial mindset is, and how to put it into action.

The cost of an office can feel hard to justify for startups. Commercial rents remain sky-high, and with hybrid work the new norm, vast sums of money are wasted on empty desks. But spending time in the office is invaluable for building company culture and lifting productivity. And with research showing startups with an office presence scale 3.5 times faster than those that operate fully remotely, having a physical space seems like a no-brainer.

Times remain tough for startups. Any opportunity to strengthen the business and to grow is a vital metric to compete on in a challenging economic environment.

As an entrepreneur in today's fast-paced business world, adopting a holistic approach to business planning may be better for one’s mind, body and soul. By embracing a holistic approach, you align your purpose, passion, and profit, creating a business which resonates with your deepest values and aspirations. It is never only about chasing financial success; it is about building a business reflecting who you truly are and what you believe in.

Podcasts are one of the most popular ways to consume content in the 21st century, with over 19 million listeners in the UK alone. Listen on your daily commute, as you clean the house, or even as you work if you’re an A-star multi-tasker, keeping you entertained whilst you live your life.

One of the opening keynotes at Dublin Tech Summit this week came from Dr Patricia Scanlon, Ireland’s first AI ambassador, which explored the opportunities and challenges ahead in embracing AI.

AI expert Emad Mostaque commented that large AI models will only get “crazier and crazier” unless more regulation and control is taken. As the EU AI Act progresses, what challenges or priorities should businesses be on guard for?

Altruism is an important quality that helps us create a better society by helping others selflessly without expecting anything in return.