Early-stage founders spend a huge amount of energy on the usual forms of capital: cash, talent, time, and product. But purpose-driven startups have access to a fourth resource that often makes the biggest difference in the years where margins, headcount, and certainty are all painfully thin – their community.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves has been urged to use the opportunity afforded by AI to ‘Make Britain Great Again’.

Many leaders treat Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs) as little more than a legal formality or a simple perk to attract talent. According to Stefan Surina, CEO and Founder of Eldison, this is a critical mistake. Drawing from years of experience advising founders, he believes that an ESOP isn't just a part of a compensation package – it's the foundational tool for building a company's culture. Done right, strategic ESOP turns employees into true owners, while a poorly planned one risks creating resentment and killing motivation before a company even gets off the ground.

Buildroid AI, an AI robotics startup, has emerged from stealth with $2 million in pre-seed funding led by Tim Draper, known for backing Tesla, SpaceX, Skype, and Robinhood. The startup has also announced the launch of its first block-laying robot, built using BIM-to-BUILD simulation.

More UK businesses can slash their energy bills thanks to Octopus Energy’s latest ‘Shape Shifters: Agile’ tariff – the UK’s first fully agile tariff for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

Social Links has secured $3 million to accelerate the development of next-generation defence tools designed to secure companies' brand, assets, and people in the AI-Driven Era against modern risks.

The last decade has seen the flexible workspace market change drastically, thanks to shifts in remote and hybrid working patterns across the UK.

The government has announced a comprehensive package of AI-focused reforms and investments to accelerate national renewal, boost economic growth, and cement the UK’s position as a global leader in artificial intelligence.

Every founder reaches a moment where growth becomes harder than it used to be. Early expansion might come from a great product, strong word-of-mouth, or the founder’s own network, but scaling beyond that can be a different game entirely. That’s where many startups find themselves stuck – growing, but not fast enough; investing in ‘random acts of marketing’ but not seeing a return; and spending more time being reactive and tactical rather than proactive and strategic.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly shaping customer engagement, but a growing number of US mid-sized businesses are under mounting pressure of being left behind with small players being pushed out the market. Over three-quarters of business leaders are calling for the government to step in to help regulate the growing divide and prevent mid-sized businesses from being squeezed out of the market.

Smart tech company, Tewke, has announced TewkeAI, its first foray into voice-controlled home assistance. Tewke was invited by Google to present this week at Slush in Helsinki as the accelerator programme they were part of comes to a close.

The Royal College of Art (RCA) announces that the RCA Design & Innovation S/EIS Investment Fund I, managed by Infinity Asset Management LLP, has successfully closed.

Digital Catapult, in partnership with Sony Music UK and Sony Music Publishing UK, and in collaboration with Channel 4, has announced the 12 Black-founded startups joining the 2025 cohort of its Black Founders Programme. Designed to accelerate the growth of high-potential creative-technology companies and enable them to scale, it connects entrepreneurs with mentorship, technical support, and targeted funding to prepare them for investment and successful commercialisation.   

Bloxx has announced the global launch of its home equity subscription platform on the centre stage of Web Summit. The platform introduces a revolutionary new route to homeownership, allowing individuals to build equity from day one without taking a mortgage.

Rift, a deeptech company specialising in on-demand aerial intelligence, has announced a €4.6 million funding round led by AlleyCorp with participation from OVNI Capital. The investment will accelerate the development of Rift’s technology and the deployment of the first on-demand aerial intelligence network, operated from a single remote command centre in France.