The UK investment industry stands at the dawn of an AI-driven revolution. Just as the Internet once totally reshaped business, artificial intelligence now promises to become the greatest enabler of our era.

AI-powered content creation is changing the world. Companies benefit from rapid development of content based on AI so much that the industry is expected to reach $3.53 billion this year.

The sharp rise in UK consumer-price inflation to 3.5% in April has re-energised cost pressures that never fully dissipated after the pandemic and subsequent global trade shocks. Higher energy contracts, steeper materials costs, and renewed wage demands are converging to erode already-thin operating margins, forcing the country’s 5.5 million small and medium-sized enterprises to revisit their financing playbooks.

Fintech is approaching a time of consolidation. During the last decade, growth has been rapid and expansive, spawning new technologies and seemingly endless startups. But while both markets have always been characterised by volatility, various socioeconomic factors have led to an industry slowdown.

In the realm of artificial intelligence, the adage of "garbage in, garbage out" holds more weight than ever before. 

Ira Guha is the founder of Asan, an award-winning social venture committed to reducing period product waste and ending period poverty.

For founders trying to find their way through the world of investment, the language alone can feel like a closed shop: SEIS, Series A, VCT (venture capital trust), syndicates, ARR (annual recurring revenue), traction. But understanding these terms – and the logic behind how investors make decisions – can change how you approach pitching entirely.

In a world increasingly preoccupied with AI displacing jobs and automating roles, one question dominates headlines and boardroom discussions alike: Will AI replace people? As the founder of Solvora.ai, a platform building agentic AI co-pilots for solopreneurs and small businesses, my answer is clear: AI will not replace people. But it will radically replace how people work.

As an entrepreneur navigates their startup from the helm, they will have an optimal view of financial health and the direction this is heading in. While navigating a business is no smooth sailing, witnessing the first signs of financial strain can be distressing, however, when acted upon early, the business owner can shore up finances by seeking professional insolvency guidance.

In the world of business, change is constant and forward planning is challenging. But, despite all this, one thing remains the same – the ambition to spend smarter.

Fintech startups often underestimate the complexity of scaling revenue, sometimes fatally. Mistakes made during this critical stage frequently drain resources, halt momentum, and can even lead promising companies to fail entirely.

Ask most founders when they first called a lawyer, and the answer is usually the same: when something went wrong. A co-founder fallout. A deal that turned messy. A competitor copycatting their product. Legal support gets brought in when things catch fire, not while the idea’s still burning bright.

In the new normal of global trade, policies shift overnight, markets swing unpredictably, and yesterday's financial reports might as well be ancient history.

With over 34 billion connected devices expected to be in operation worldwide by 20281, industries across the globe are facing mounting pressure to adopt streamlined, scalable connectivity strategies. The accelerating expansion of the Internet of Things (IoT) brings immense opportunity, but also significant logistical and technical complexity.

Startups today face more complexity and competition than ever before. Having a great idea is no longer enough. Success depends on how quickly founders can build the right support around them – whether that’s forging strong connections, accessing funding and mentorship, gaining access to the right talent at the right time, having flexibility, or becoming part of a strong community.

In an age where every click, swipe, and search can be tracked, stored and analysed, data privacy is no longer a luxury but a necessity. From social media profiles to medical records and financial transactions, personal information is constantly collected and processed, often without understanding or consent.

Some professionals don’t fit the mould. In fact, it’s often the most talented, high-impact workers who quietly carry more than their share of work, especially in specialised fields like deeptech. These individuals can often define the direction and pace of progress in startups and small business, yet leading them is anything but straightforward.

Jamie Boyd is a former professional rugby player who suffered a career-ending knee injury aged 24. He took a £3,000 loan from The Prince's Trust (now known as The King's Trust) to lease a van and put in 70-hour weeks to build a nationwide same-day courier operation, Today Team, from scratch.

The US National Institutes of Health (NIH) has long been a pillar of global medical research and the lead agency of the United States government for biomedical and public health research. The NIH has been instrumental in advancing medical knowledge and improving health outcomes through its extensive support of clinical trials.

Every year, The Apprentice finale sparks lively conversations about the merits of the candidates, including what it means to be a successful entrepreneur. The boardroom drama, the sharp suits, the elevator pitches – it’s designed for TV, but it also reflects how many still view business: competitive, high-stakes, and full of ebullient characters.