e.l.f. Beauty signed a definitive agreement to acquire rhode, the lifestyle beauty brand founded by Hailey Bieber, in a deal valued at $1 billion.

As economic pressures and AI innovations motivate countries around the world to invest in skills development, the UK has ranked 22nd globally out of 109 countries in skills proficiency. This ranking places the UK ahead of the US (27th) and China (39th), and sees it climb from 45th position last year.

Connected Places Catapult, the UK’s innovation accelerator for transport, the built environment, cities and local growth, announced on 20th May that applications are open for the latest Transport Research and Innovation Grants (TRIG) programme which will award up to 40 projects up to £45k each.

Over two-thirds (68%) of SME leaders believe their business is resilient and prepared to withstand challenges, with a similar proportion (69%) feeling confident in their ability to recover quickly from setbacks.  

With AI adoption racing ahead, outdated systems are holding organisations back as technical debt is rapidly becoming one of the most expensive challenges facing enterprises today, costing them more than just money.

Financial services provider Mollie has announced its financial results for 2024. In a year when the European fintech sector faced growing pressure on margins and growth, Mollie delivered strong financial performance. Gross profit rose by 30% to €115 million. Revenue also saw a significant increase of 28%, reaching a total of €214 million.

Artificial intelligence (AI) usage is on the rise, but with many using it for basic admin tasks and every day queries – a shocking half of Brits would use it for their legal decision-making.

Monumo, the deeptech company coupling AI and machine learning (ML) with traditional engineering expertise to redesign the electric motor, has achieved an 11.4% reduction in the bill of materials (BOM) including a 23% reduction in magnet volume from an EV powertrain and without compromising efficiency.

In an industry that is driven by innovation, resilience, and determination, recognition matters. Recognising your accomplishments is key to maintaining drive, and allows for a moment of reflection for all you have achieved so far.

A growing number of UK small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) are taking cybersecurity more seriously, with over half increasing their cyber defences in 2024, according to new research from Bionic.

The University of Oxford’s PINCH project joins EIT Health’s Deep Tech Venture Builder programme to transform pain management in young children. 

According to alarming data from The Burnout Report by Mental Health UK, an overwhelming 91% of UK adults report they experienced high or extreme levels of pressure in the past year.

Virgin StartUp, the not-for-profit incubator for UK business founders, has opened applications for its fully-funded business accelerator, Empower 100, which is exclusively aimed at under-represented business owners based in Greater London.

In 2025, MedTech World continues its global journey of connecting innovators, investors, and healthcare leaders. Following successful gatherings in Dubai and Houston earlier this year, it heads to the Bay Area, then on to Hong Kong, before culminating in the flagship summit in Malta, each event crafted to advance innovation in medical technology and healthcare.

GE Aerospace has completed its transformation from a sprawling conglomerate into a focused aviation company. The ge stock now represents a streamlined business centred exclusively on aircraft engines and propulsion systems.

Photonic chip industry accelerator PhotonDelta has announced the winner of its global engineering contest. Perceptra was judged to be the submission with the best new application of photonic chips designed to tackle global challenges.

Aberdeen, Coventry, and Liverpool have emerged as the UK’s fastest-growing entrepreneurial hubs outside London, as regional challengers put pressure on the capital’s dominance.

The highly anticipated Future of Capitalism Competition is back, offering a much-needed lifeline to tech startups across the world.

WeRoad, the travel brand that has brought together over 200,000 solo travellers worldwide, announces the launch of WeMeet, a new way for people to meet others in their cities through in-person events and shared experiences.

BGF, a UK active growth capital investor, announced a major commitment to invest £3 billion in UK businesses over the next five years – a decisive move to increase investment into high-potential companies across the country.