A study released today (7th October 2025) reveals the core traits shared by billion-dollar startup founders across the UK, Europe and North America. Developed in partnership between VC firm Ada Ventures and behavioural scientists at Synaptiq, the study analysed how founders communicate to find a clear psychological profile behind unicorn success. These findings stand to reshape how VCs assess potential, making it easier to spot talent fairly and consistently, without bias towards background or identity.

Following a massively successful inaugural event, Good Hope FM’s ‘Warrior Woman Awards’ will be joining forces with the phenomenal WomenIN Festival 2025, delivering the biggest celebration of women that the Mother City has ever seen and rocking Cape Town on 13 to 14 November at Newlands Cricket Ground.

British workers and jobseekers will be forced to compete with a surge of 100,000 virtual AI employees that will enter the workforce before the end of 2026.

 With capabilities of AI advancing every year, its potential to address challenges once thought unsolvable is rapidly expanding, from the possibility of curing genetic diseases to transforming urban mobility or enabling green data centres. With the global AI market set to reach $4.8 trillion by 2033 (UNCTAD), the race to deploy AI for critical sectors has never been more urgent. Against this backdrop, GITEX GLOBAL 2025 convenes as the world’s largest tech and AI event, with this year’s edition highlighting significant developments in biotech, physical AI, quantum computing, semiconductors, and data centres. 

Monumo, the deeptech company coupling AI and machine learning (ML) with traditional engineering expertise to redesign the electric motor, has announced a significant commercial breakthrough, successfully delivering for multiple international companies. This progress signals a critical tipping point for the company, as its technology has now been proven to deliver superior, low-cost motor designs in record time.

UK credit technology company Abound has passed £1 billion in total lending volume, less than five years after launching.

The percentage of small business owners predicting growth has fallen for the fourth consecutive Quarter to a new five-year low (25%) – and in every industry sector, the percentage of enterprises predicting growth is down on the start of the year – according to new tracking research from Novuna Business Finance.

As the global digital finance evolution accelerates, Future Blockchain Summit x Fintech Surge returns to Dubai Harbour from 12th - 15th October 2025, convening international innovators, startups, regulators, investors, and tech leaders during Expand North Star, the world’s largest startup and investor connector event powered by GITEX GLOBAL.

New insights from American Express’ Merchant Barometer reveal that nearly two-thirds (65%) of small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) say customer expectations around payment choice are higher than ever, with over half (52%) planning to improve their online checkout experience in order to reduce levels of cart abandonment.

A critical financial skills gap is undermining the resilience and growth of small businesses across the UK, according to new research by Xero.

The UK Government has announced fourteen flagship projects funded under its new Regional Tech Booster programme, aimed at stimulating tech ecosystems and creating job opportunities across Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, and in all English regions. The £1 million initiative will support businesses, founders, and communities through training, mentoring, networking, and scaling support, designed to spread tech-led growth beyond London and the South East.

Digital twin implementation challenges in the energy sector, smart operations for sustainability and the use of robotics – all in an agenda powered by advanced technologies. 

Beyond Aero has reached Technology Readiness Level 6 (TRL6) for its hydrogen-electric powered aircraft. This achievement is validated by a full-scale propulsion system test campaign in a representative environment, a critical milestone moving Beyond Aero from laboratory promise to real-industrial viability.

The British Business Bank’s Debt Funds programme has made a positive impact on the UK debt market and finance ecosystem, according to an independent evaluation published today.

Cyber Runway, the largest cyber accelerator in the UK, is back and bigger than ever. The entrepreneurship support programme returns for its fifth edition as part of the Cyber Growth Action Plan – a component of the wider Plan for Change. 
 

This autumn, Vienna will once again become a global epicentre where culture and technology join forces to bring positive societal changes. From 22nd - 23rd October, the CultTech Summit returns for its highly anticipated second edition. Set in the Aula der Wissenschaften, the Summit will transform this historic venue into a high-energy hub for startups, investors, and innovators at the cutting edge of culture and technology. Following last year’s sold-out debut with over 650 attendees, the 2025 edition will host 1,000+ participants ready to explore how emerging technologies are reshaping the creative industries – and how startups can lead the charge.

 This October, Vienna will once again become a global hub where culture and technology join forces to bring positive societal changes. From 22nd - 23rd October, the CultTech Summit returns for its highly anticipated second edition, building on the success of last year’s sold-out debut, which gathered over 650 pioneers from across the cultural and tech sectors. 

South Summit Industry & Energy returns to Bilbao on 26th - 27th November 2025, to celebrate its fourth edition. Co-organised by South Summit and the Provincial Council of Bizkaia, the event will once again bring together leading experts, corporations, investors, and startups in Industry 4.0, the Energy Transition, and Mobility sectors at the BAT – B Accelerator Tower. 

Defence tech startups are booming, led by an influx of former UK armed forces personnel, but critical venture capital funding gaps remain, according to a new report from Dealroom and Resilience Media. The report highlights that despite the overall trend of increasing investment in defence technology, failure to match the US on key technologies, including space tech and semiconductors for AI, could impact future growth and security in the region.