The startup playbook says: hustle harder, stay responsive, show up consistently, outwork everyone. For AuDHD founders, that playbook is a recipe for burnout. I know because I've watched it happen. I burnt out spectacularly as a teacher and now I coach women who are discovering their neurodivergence while trying to build businesses. The pattern repeats: brilliant, driven founders forcing themselves into productivity systems designed for brains that work nothing like theirs, then wondering why they're falling apart.

Yonda Tax, the global tax automation platform helping businesses stay compliant across borders, has announced its first institutional funding round, bringing total investment to $15 million. The round was led by Kennet Partners, with participation from NYO Capital and Portfolio Ventures. The funding will be used to enhance platform features and functionality, and to support its expansion into new industries and tax jurisdictions.

Small businesses across the UK will benefit from new Government funding and support to help them invest in sustainability, to cut their operating costs, and boost their business.

monday.com has released the UK findings from its latest World of Work report. Surveying 500 UK and US directors on what will shape AI adoption in 2026, the data reveals that 78% of UK directors do not expect AI to reduce headcount within their teams next year – and almost a third (32%) actually expect to hire more because of it.

Ignite Next has announced its launch as Europe’s new scale-up programme for deeptech innovation, designed to bridge the gap between early-stage founders and industrial-scale success.

Harley Street Health District and AlbionVC announce a strategic partnership designed to expand access to transformative healthcare technologies and accelerate the adoption of new models of care in the UK.

 AttiFin AI, a UK legal-AI startup, has secured £5 million in seed funding ahead of its planned launch in early 2026. The funding marks a significant endorsement of the company’s ambition to build Britain’s first enterprise-grade AI platform trained specifically on UK and devolved law.

I can’t remember a Budget with as much doom-mongering and speculation in the build-up as the one Rachel Reeves delivered two weeks ago.

A team of experts with over 15 years of experience in funding businesses has launched Aneli Capital, a fund to support early-stage startups in the Baltics, Poland, and other Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries. The €35 million fund will primarily focus on Information and Communication Technology (ICT) as well as robotics, space, photonics, and energy startups, with the goal of helping them grow and become ready for follow-on investors.

Quantum Dice has secured a €2 million grant from the European Innovation Council (EIC) Accelerator programme, with the project now officially underway following its October kick-off.

The Invest in Women Taskforce, which was established to support female entrepreneurs in the UK, has announced Nationwide and the British Business Bank as new partners in the UK’s first female-led Fund of Funds that targets first close of £130 million, subject to final terms, relevant approvals, and signing.

Orbital Marine Power, the Scotland-based operator of one of the world’s most powerful tidal turbines, has secured a multi-million pound investment to advance its international commercial projects and contribute to the wider decarbonisation of energy.

Melt&Marble has raised €7.3 million in Series A funding to scale production and bring its first ingredients to market. Designed to deliver enhanced functionality, taste and even health outcomes, the company’s ingredients offer sustainable, high-performance alternatives to conventional oils and fats for use in personal care and food applications.

The world's most iconic startup event 4YFN26 will return to the halls of Fira de Barcelona’s iconic Gran Via during MWC26 Barcelona next year for a groundbreaking showcase of 2026’s most exciting startups. Selected from hundreds of submissions, 2026’s Top 20 startups showcase the brightest ideas and leading minds from across five key industry categories. 

Small businesses have always been quick to adapt, and in 2025, that adaptability has been tested more than ever. Between rising costs, staffing shortages and customers who expect instant replies and 24-hour availability, many owners are stretched thin.