Defence Builder, Ukraine’s defence tech accelerator supported by the Ministry of Defence, is starting an open call for applications for its second cohort. Building on the success and insights from the first batch, the programme will equip promising startups with mentorship, grants, and pitch opportunities to scale their solutions for the battlefield and beyond.

Hydrogen heating technology company HYTING has announced financing from investment and venture capital firm BMH Beteiligungs-Managementgesellschaft Hessen and ebm-papst. The financing will see both firms become shareholders of HYTING, and the capital raised in this round will be used for further product development, expansion of the product portfolio, and to attract new customers.

The Bupa everywoman in Technology Awards have announced this year’s finalists, representing outstanding contributions and achievement at all stages of the career journey; from girls and young women still in education to tech entrepreneurs, from apprentices to C-Suite executives.

FLIT, an engineering company that builds folding electric bikes for urban commuters, has raised £1.2 million in new funding with participation from ACF Investors, Cambridge Angels and former Head of Technical Development at British Cycling, Tony Purnell. The funding will be used to ramp up production of its latest model, the FLIT M2 at its Cambridge facility.

The UK’s AI Safety Institute has been recast as the UK AI Security Institute, bolstering protections against AI risks facing national security and crime, and delivering a key pillar of the government’s Plan for Change.

The progression of intelligent automation in manufacturing and supply chain management has been nothing short of groundbreaking. From the early days of the Industrial Revolution to today's era of smart factories and agentic AI, the journey has been marked by continuous innovation and adaptation. This evolution has not only modernised production processes but has also redefined the role of human workers in these industries.

Valentine's Day is an occasion when hearts begin to race as we prepare for feelings of love – whether that's with your Valentine or your Galentine! This year, we are shining a light on the startups on a mission to keep the beat steady by focusing on heart health – ensuring that it'll be fluttering for years to come.

tozero, a European startup in sustainable lithium-ion battery recycling, has achieved a major breakthrough by producing battery-grade recycled graphite at industrial scale. For the first time, this 100% recycled anode material has been successfully used in battery cell production, proving its viability for commercial applications.

Mixed reality (MR) gaming startup MixRift has revealed significant growth milestones as the MR gaming market approaches an inflection point. With IDC forecasting global XR headset shipments to surge 44.2% to 9.7 million units in 2024, MixRift's strategy to focus on accessible, casual gaming has put them ahead of the curve.

Businesses will have to navigate increasingly complex requirements when handling people's data and contend with technologies that make privacy violations easier and more widespread. According to Krete Paal, CEO of the Estonian data protection startup GDPR Register, regulatory oversight of data protection is becoming stricter, with higher penalties for non-compliance.

Eleven early-stage companies working in oncology have started ‘Discovery Spark’, a free seven week development programme hosted by leading science and innovation campus Discovery Park, in Sandwich, Kent.

The Good Business Charter and its 1,000+ accredited organisations received a welcome boost as it celebrated five years of championing a clear commitment to responsible business practices towards people and planet.

Only 51% of part-time and full-time workers in the UK feel their employers provide support, resources or initiatives that improve their wellbeing, a new study from infinitSpace has revealed.

Bluebook, the AI-powered software specifically designed for savvy accounting firms eager to embrace AI innovation and transform traditional accounting practices, has announced it has raised $3 million in funding including $2.5 million pre-seed round led by EQT Ventures and a separate capital injection from Y Combinator. Angel investors in the pre-seed round include Huey Lin (Founding COO of Affirm), Laura Modiano (OpenAI) and Carles Reina (Eleven Labs).

Edmund, a Czech-based startup specialising in AI solutions for manufacturing, has closed a €500,000 pre-seed round led by Lighthouse Ventures, with Czech Founders VC,  Borovicka Capital, and deeptech investor Tensor Ventures joining. This round of fundraising will be used to enhance Edmund’s platform and expand its presence throughout the EU and US markets.