With a lifelong ambition to use technology as a force for good in society, Gökhan Meriçliler, CEO and Co-Founder of WeWALK, set out on an assistive technology journey, eventually landing at the mobility-driven company of his own creation.

The way we work has undergone pronounced changes in recent years – the convergence of political instability, economic volatility, and ongoing global conflicts, coupled with transformative accelerators including COVID-19, Black Lives Matter, and movements such as #MeToo has dramatically altered our view of workplace culture and employee wellbeing. These seismic shifts have blurred the lines between work and home, personal and professional, creating an undercurrent of fear and instability and posing huge challenges for individuals mental and physical wellbeing.

New research from PayFit reveals that nine in ten (89%) UK workers are unhappy with their current pay, admitting it’s not enough for their needs; a sentiment set to intensify after the government announced a series of cost-cutting policies in the Spring Statement last week.

Due diligence and compliance have long been slow, paper-heavy, and reactive, surfacing risks only after key business decisions. That paradigm is shifting. As well as automating tasks, AI is transforming how risk is assessed, decisions are made, and compliance teams operate.

Lumai, an AI accelerator startup using optics to address global computational challenges, has announced that it has secured more than $10 million in investment.

Workplace experts Acas has published new guidance on neonatal care leave to coincide with a change in the law this weekend.

International business development consultancy Intralink has acquired Orissa International, a market expansion company headquartered in Singapore, enabling it to offer a comprehensive service to tech startups looking to capitalise on the fast-growing markets of Southeast Asia.

Ayan Capital, a fast-growing provider of halal vehicle financing, has secured up to £25 million in Shariah-compliant financing facility from institutional debt provider Partners for Growth (PFG), a global private credit firm with a strong 20-year track record of backing high-growth technology and fintech companies in more than 20 countries.

Plexal has opened a new Growth Partnership division to directly empower the country’s SMEs, which account for 99.8% of companies nationwide.

BOW, the universal robotics software company, has launched a compelling new robotics application for security patrols at Hannover Messe (31 Mar – 4 Apr). Built on BOW’s software development kit (SDK) and Universal Controller platform, the new Mission Control application allows operators to easily set up, define and orchestrate robots for security patrols, opening up the benefits of robotics-enhanced security to millions of businesses.

UNA Watch, the tech startup taking on global tech industry giants like Apple and Garmin, has launched a Kickstarter campaign to fund the world’s first modular, repairable GPS sports watch.

Legacy Compass, a legacy-tech startup, has secured £60,000 in funding from Bethnal Green Ventures’ Tech for Good Programme.

Photonic chip accelerator PhotonDelta has established a strategic collaboration with Silicon Catalyst, the world’s only incubator and accelerator focused on the global semiconductor industry. Over the last five years, PhotonDelta has raised close to $1.5 billion to accelerate the commercialisation of the photonics industry.

Fiberdom, a pioneer in wood fibre material innovation, has secured €3.5 million in funding to accelerate the development and scaling of its patented technology and its high-performance, 100% plastic-free material. Fiberdom’s mission is to replace non-essential plastics with scalable, circular solutions.

WeeFin, the sustainable fintech that helps financial institutions manage their sustainability strategies, has announced a new round of financing totalling €25 million.