New research from small business lender, iwoca, suggests that although the initial easing of restrictions has helped recovery for some SMEs, around a third are still sacrificing customer numbers with existing COVID restrictions in place.

Members of the UK business community have signed an open letter asking the Government to extend its funding deadlines for startups in the wake of the pandemic.

The UK’s largest ecommerce investor and a digital insights specialist have joined forces to help accelerate business transition online.

This year CRL ran their first in-person Hackathon event where business and design students from Brunel University had the chance to join this year’s startup cohort team for two weeks and collaborate closely with the founders to help them test and develop their customer and commercial opportunities.

PocketLaw, the Swedish legal tech solution providing a one-stop shop for businesses’ legal needs, has announced that it has launched in the UK.

Tech Nation’s ‘The future UK tech built’ 2021 report, published earlier this year, revealed that the UK currently sits third in the world for venture capital (VC) investment in tech companies, behind only China and the US, with $15bn pledged last year. Great news for the UK’s emerging businesses, right? Well, Simon Philips, CEO of ScaleUp Capital, tells a different story.

Alibaba Group’s Tmall Global has announced the launch of the UK and Ireland edition of ‘Go Global 11.11 Pitch Fest’, a virtual event designed to help international brands grow their businesses globally. Following the success of Pitch Fest 2020 in the US, the programme will be opened up to British and Irish brands looking to find success in China.

Clim8 Invest (Clim8) launched its crowdfunding campaign on Crowdcube on Tuesday and has already smashed its target by 168%, raising £1.26m by the end of Day 1. The latest round is set to fuel its product roadmap and team.

The invitation-only network for Founders and CEOs of the most successful tech businesses, Fast Growth Icons, has announced the return of its physical London event, taking place on 5th-6th July 2021.

The pandemic has inspired long-term digital transformation projects, with UK businesses set to increase IT spending and hiring in the year ahead, new research from Studio Graphene has revealed.

Nearly three quarters of employers (73%) believe the pandemic will mean long-term changes in the way they support the health and wellbeing of staff, according to research undertaken on behalf of GRiD, the industry body for the group risk protection sector.

Last year, all types of people with different jobs were thrust into a new, unfamiliar place of business, which also happened to be their home. While we have all become used to the diverse types of personalities you find in an office, we have all had to adapt to different styles of and needs for working from home.

The application of artificial intelligence to automate diagnostics is one of the solutions that are already being implemented. DES2021, in collaboration with EIT Health, has brought together experts from companies such as T-Systems Iberia, Novartis and Ferrer to analyse the impact of technology on the health and pharmaceutical sector.

Reactive Reality, the leading augmented reality (AR) company increasing sales and brand loyalty for fashion e-commerce brands by enabling them to offer virtual fitting rooms to their customers, has announced the opening of a new office in Minato-ku, Tokyo along with the appointment of their Japan Country Manager, Keiichi Iwamoto. This move continues the company’s international expansion, adding to offices in Graz, Austria, and Milpitas, California.

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced businesses of all shape and size to adapt, adjust and pivot in response to the ‘new normal’. Whilst larger businesses - who suffer from being less nimble than their startup counterparts - have faced unique difficulties, startups – who lack the cash reserves and structure of larger businesses – have also faced their own challenges. Many startups have had to fundamentally reconsider their business models and how they operate as a result.

Swedish tech startup, Staccs, has launched its brand new, premium streaming on-demand service for filmed music concerts in the Nordics. Opening the doors to a world of iconic and legendary concert moments, Staccs is providing fans the opportunity to relive their favourite gigs, on demand, advert free - and in the highest quality possible. It also opens up new revenue streams for the music industry, whereby legacy video content can be marketed in a new and innovative way - benefiting the content owners. The new home for concerts on demand, Staccs presents a new and unique commercial opportunity for the industry.

Banco Santander (through Santander Universities) and Oxentia Foundation are launching the Santander X Global Challenge | Helping Businesses Prosper for entrepreneurs with innovative, scalable solutions to help SMEs - the main driver of economic growth, job creation and social unity - digitalise and be more efficient.

As businesses develop, so do their ideas and offerings. This often leads to an expansion in a business’ IP portfolio. Due to the public disclosure associated with Intellectual Property (IP) rights, monitoring your competitors’ application filings may provide insight into their future offerings and business direction.

Mobility technology company, WhereIsMyTransport is set to successfully close the second funding round for capital to expand its already impressive portfolio of mobility data and solutions for emerging-market megacities. This will bring the total raised by the company during its Series A funding to $22m.

Black, Asian and mixed background tech entrepreneurs from London and Greater Manchester will join a five-day virtual trade mission starting today (7th to 11th June). The mission will see fifteen companies ‘touch-down’ in North America to meet with corporates and startups to explore new investment and export opportunities and accelerate their expansion plans in the US market.