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.

New NEBOSH-funded programme offers vital support to self-employed women, freelancers, and micro-business employees navigating menopause and mental health challenges.

From quiet cracking to bare minimum Mondays, 2025 gave workers plenty of food for thought with a new wave of workplace trends. While some of these trends encouraged workers to prioritise work/life balance and to strive within their role, others encouraged employees to simply turn up to work and do the bare minimum.

As many employed workers start to slow down for Christmas and meet up with friends and attend work Christmas events, a new YouGov survey has found that nearly half (44%) of smaller business owners in the UK say they have felt lonely or isolated while running their business. The research was carried out by YouGov on behalf of The Start Up Loans Company, part of the British Business Bank.

Latitude59 kicked off today in Nairobi. It was officially opened by Daniel Schaer, the Ambassador-at-Large for African Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Estonia, Henriette Geigeris, European Union Ambassador to Kenya, and Hon. William Kabogo Gitau, Cabinet Secretary of the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Digital Economy in Kenya.

It’s Saturday afternoon and you suddenly get a headache. Nothing dramatic, just enough to derail your plans. You rummage through the medicine cabinet, find expired paracetamol and realise the GP is closed. So, you do what most people do: you reach for your phone for a solution.

Swimming has always been a huge part of my life. As a teenager, I competed in butterfly at a high level, representing the British youth squad and the South African national team. Butterfly is not just physically tough; it is also one of the most mentally demanding strokes.

Before you say ‘we’re not ready for PR’ – read this!

Bill Gates, the founder of Microsoft, once said: “If I were down to my last two dollars, I’d spend one on PR.” That sentence reveals a truth many early-stage entrepreneurs need to realise. Communication doesn’t start when you become successful. It is a strategic instrument that helps you reach the pathway forward – not a reward for later.

Virgin Red has announced a new transfer partnership with Capital on Tap, enabling small business owners to convert their Capital on Tap Rewards Points into Virgin Points – unlocking access to flights, hotels, cruises, unique experiences, and more on Virgin Red and Flying Club.

Why am I invisible?

Most startups are convinced their product is unique. And we don’t doubt they are. They also believe everyone must know about it. So, they pitch them to top-tier journalists. And … nothing happens. Often a radio silence. Crickets. Many ask me, why?

Contributing $ 5 billion from stock-option withholding for the top four companies alone, and employing circa 1.7 million people, the Silicon Valley represents 13.1% of California’s overall GDP. It’s hardly surprising then that so many government and policy makers are wrecking their brains on trying to emulate its success back home, in the UK, in Europe and anywhere else in the world.

Once again AllBright everywoman has gathered a group of exceptionally talented women from across the breadth of the UK to recognise their hard work, talent, and dedication at the 2025 Tide everywoman Entrepreneur Awards, in association with BGF, the UK’s longest-running programme celebrating female founders.

It’s a common workplace story: December hits, and suddenly the office turns into a ghost town of checked-out employees chasing holiday cheer over deadlines. But let's challenge that myth head-on.

A new study conducted by researchers at Warwick Business School has revealed significant insights into the gender finance gap in startup funding, shedding light on how biases influence investment decisions.