Ten of the UK’s most promising startups working with immersive technologies have graduated from Digital Catapult’s Augmentor programme, with a number of investment ready, disruptive and commercially focused applications ready to market.

EverUp, the savings app offering tax-free cash prizes, has launched in beta in the UK today to help millions of people to save money in a fun and exciting way. EverUp encourages and rewards good financial habits, through in-app games with real cash prizes.

Included VC, the first-of-its-kind global initiative building diversity within venture capital, has in a collaborative partnership with 11 funds from around the world, kicked off its Fellowship II. It is the only offering on the market that offers a nine-month, fully funded Fellowship to diverse individuals globally who are looking to enter the VC ecosystem.

New data has shown that December was one of 2020’s worst months for small businesses in the UK, according to data based on hundreds and thousands of small businesses.

Miso Robotics, the startup transforming the food service industry with intelligent automation, has announced the extension of its Series C round following high demand on the SeedInvest crowdfunding platform

Almost a third of Brits are curious about investing in cryptocurrency but are too baffled by it to take the plunge, according to a new national survey.

Data from Innovate Finance has revealed that the UK fintech sector received $4.1bn of investment across 408 deals in 2020. This places the UK second in the world for capital raised, and first in Europe. Although fintech investment fell year-on-year by 9%, this can be attributed due to the pandemic and subsequent economic turbulence.

The New York, Berlin and Tel Aviv based-startup, Dynamic Infrastructure has won its first contract in Australia and will deploy a novel AI-driven predictive technology for maintaining dozens of bridges and infrastructure assets in Horsham Rural City Council in the state of Victoria.

Embracing digital, diversifying products and services and accessing emergency finance – particularly Bounce Back Loans - were found to be the top ways small firms have survived the covid-19 crisis so far, according to a new report from Small Business Britain that offers firms advice on how to be resilient in a crisis.

Fashion production software company, SupplyCompass has announced its next webinar on 27th January at 16:30 GMT, delving into ‘How 3D will shape the future of the fashion industry’. The webinar will examine the potential for 3D technology to transform the current fashion industry and how 3D can become a more widely accessible tool that can be adopted by big and small fashion brands alike.

Businessman Simon Dolan is today launching a new campaign which is calling on the Government to scrap the payback of emergency COVID-19 loans taken out by crisis-hit SMEs.

Workspace accelerator, Huckletree has launched a new quarterly series, Huckletree VC Connect, which sees them partner with leading VC firms to help founders who are looking to raise in the near future with informal and personalised advice. 

London & Partners have announced a new partnership for the Mayor’s International Business Programme (MIBP) with Ciklum, a leading technology partner, to help London startups and scaleups expand internationally.

The past 12 months have presented unprecedented challenges for small businesses. Many have undergone severe hardship during the COVID-19 pandemic, and some have closed completely. Even in this harshest of climates others have been able to keep trading, startup or even thrive.

Edinburgh-based robotics and STEM education startup, Robotical has bolstered its team with four new hires as it rolls out the latest version of its hero product, Marty The Robot.

With COVID-19 uncertainty carrying on well in to 2021, and Brexit seeing billions of pounds lost to the EU, job security is at a low for Brits of all ages. Individuals are turning to self-employment or setting up their own businesses, losing their jobs after time on furlough, taking voluntary redundancy or as a form of additional income.

Oculid, the eye tracking platform for remote user experience testing and marketing research, has announced completion of a seed funding round led by IBB Ventures and joined by the company’s existing investors.

As COVID-19 wreaks havoc on the UK economy, the country’s young people are taking matters into their own hands, a new major poll has revealed. The poll of over 2,000 British adults shows that one-in-seven (15%) young people (aged 18-24) in the UK plans to start their own business in 2021.

Tech startup, Maison Sport has launched a crowdfunding campaign on Seedrs in a bid to raise £400,000 as part of a larger £1.4m raise. COVID-19 has undoubtedly hit the ski industry hard, but the challenges have accelerated the trio of founders’ determination to make the startup flourish.

Right now is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for a significant rethink, rewire and reset - but it won’t happen with the same tools and the same instruction manual of the past.