Pandemic is a relatively new word to most of us. Not that we do not fully understand what it means, more that we had little use for it before March this year.

Like so many startup companies, the origin of Developing Experts was in the recognition of a problem, and an individual with the foresight to come up with a solution. The individual in question is Co-founder, Sarah Mintey, and her company was one of Tech Nation’s 2019 Rising Star Winners, and are one of ten UK companies on Google’s Immersion Growth Program for 2020. For our women in tech issue, Startups Magazine caught up with her to find out more.

We couldn’t really publish our annual women in tech issue without featuring our very own Hustle Award winner Joanna Montgomery, Fonder of Little Riot. Montgomery scooped the Biggest 2020 Hero award earlier this summer for her company’s innovative Pillow Talk product, so we caught up with her to find out more.

The Really Good Idea Test offers seven practical steps to test an idea and find out if it really is worth pursuing. It might be an idea for a new business launch, a development to an existing product or a major life decision, but the simple process will help you understand what people really want and spot potential downfalls before you commit (or waste) time and resources on them.

The New York, Berlin and Tel Aviv-based startup, Dynamic Infrastructure is expanding its pilot project with the Public Works Department of New York’s Suffolk County using the world’s first deep-learning solution which allows bridge and tunnel owners and operators to obtain visual diagnosis of assets they manage in order to reduce direct and indirect maintenance costs.

E-commerce is something many of us have experienced, but how popular is it, and should you be prioritising ecommerce when looking to sell to customers? 

Cleantech startup, Sunswap has successfully secured two Innovate UK grants worth £376k, working in partnership with the Clean Energy Processes (CEP) Laboratory at Imperial College London and Cenex, to develop their zero-emission transport refrigeration technology.

The Tampliner, the period-care innovation created by UK-based B-corp Callaly, has been recognised in TIME’s 100 Best Inventions of 2020 - its annual list of the 100 Best Inventions that are making the world better, smarter and even a bit more fun. Callaly is one of only eight British companies to make this year’s list.

Bristol-based immersive training company, Virti have been included on TIME’s prestigious annual Best Inventions list.

It is a continuously changing and fast-paced world. For maintaining the competitive advantage you need to have systems in place in the commercial market for scaling and adapting as necessary. More than 50% of the global merchandise trade in the year 2018 was focused around 10 localised economies.

New research involving 150 HR leaders has found that 3 in 5 UK workers have experienced mental health issues since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic. The report authors, Accountancy and Finance, HR and Data Analytics recruiter, Wade Macdonald, and workplace law specialist, Doyle Clayton, have raised concerns of an increase in known incidences as a result of the current lockdown measures.

From the ongoing pandemic and climate change to the fight for greater inclusivity and diversity across society, the world is currently facing a number of social and economic challenges.

In the second part of this business mix article series we see Brash Solutions Limited focus on technology. But not the sexy tech of product development, more the ‘behind the scenes tech’ that keeps you operating and secure – a real fundamental backbone to the operations of every business, regardless of size.

As England is once again in lockdown, new research shows the rate of ‘lockdown loneliness’ and its impact on mental health is as high as 27% in the UK. As the NHS strains to support an increase in mental health conditions, the Flow headset and therapy app treatment for depression, the first of its type to be medically approved in the UK and EU, aims to tackle ‘lockdown loneliness’ and mental health outcomes by providing immediate, at-home access to effective treatment.

This week is Global Entrepreneurship Week, designed to celebrate ambitious individuals within the business world, and those who have believed in their own abilities and branched out on their own. Despite the waves of shock that the pandemic has brought to the business world, there has been a 12% increase in new businesses starting during 2020 already compared to 2019.

Positive Plus One is a free app for the HIV community. It connects members locally and globally, providing a safe and secure environment for support, friendship and connection. Startups Magazine spoke to Christian Mercer, Founder and CEO of Positive Plus One to find out more.

Navenio, UK healthcare scaleup, has announced a $1.1m investment from Future Planet Capital to help revolutionise healthcare efficiency worldwide.

Tech Nation, the growth platform for tech companies and leaders, has launches a new report, which reveals changes in the international talent landscape and growing interest in the Global Talent Visa.

Bobacino, a startup bringing the unique boba tea experience to a growing audience of boba aficionados and new enthusiasts through advanced artificial intelligence, automation and robotics - launches on StartEngine to target a market set to hit $8.4bn by 2024.