Travel industry set to increase investment in tech stacks in the year ahead with AI the priority for technology budgets.

Pophouse, the global entertainment and music investment firm co-founded by ABBA star Bjorn Ulvaeus, has hit a high note with the closure of its debut fund, Pophouse Fund I, securing over €1 billion. This achievement saw the firm reach its hard cap, positioning it among the largest first-time private equity funds raised in Europe in the past decade.

Scaling a startup and building out an executive team can be a daunting process. As a business grows, so does the complexity, and this is where a Chief of Staff can make a significant impact. So, what is a Chief of Staff? What do they do? And how do you know if your startup needs one?

In a market increasingly defined by a “rush to quality,” venture capital firms are finding it harder than ever to win the most competitive deals. With fewer standout startups raising money and those that do often commanding sky-high valuations, VCs are under pressure to evolve.

Companies across the Technology Channel are tackling a complex landscape when it comes to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives. Recent political and social pressures, particularly in the USA, has meant that some companies are scaling back their efforts. It is promising to see, however, that over 75% of UK companies are doubling down on their DEI initiatives despite the ongoing pressures.

How often have you said yes to something that didn’t feel right just to avoid discomfort? And what has that cost you? Your wellbeing, your work, or the impact you set out to create?

Vistage has released its quarterly CEO Confidence Index for Q1 2025, revealing a notable decline in economic confidence across the UK and Ireland.

Over half (52%) of organisations are cutting expenses in light of rising government costs. That’s according to a survey by AccountsIQ, a provider of advanced financial management software, and ExpenseIn, who joined the AccountsIQ Group earlier this year.

Isomorphic Labs, an AI-first drug design and development company, has raised $600 million in its first external funding round. The financing round is led by Thrive Capital, with participation from GV, and follow-on capital from existing investor, Alphabet.

Verley, a French biotech startup specialising in sustainable food solutions, has launched the world’s first portfolio of functionalised precision fermentation dairy proteins, designed to overcome the limitations of both traditional and plant-based alternatives.

Geovation, an Ordnance Survey initiative, in collaboration with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government’s (MHCLG) Digital Planning Programme has announced the launch of a new £1.2 million PropTech Innovation Challenge.

Phlux Technology, a UK startup in infrared sensor technology, has announced a £9 million Series A funding round. BGF led the round with funding from existing backers including Octopus Ventures, Northern Gritstone, and Foresight.

A breakthrough in respiratory diagnostics is set to transform the way serious lung conditions, such as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), are detected and managed in the UK.

Scaling a business is one thing. But retaining a sense of community amongst customers and users as the business grows – something which their continued custom and loyalty relies on – is another thing entirely.

Q5D Technology, pioneers of hardware and software tools for robotic wiring harness manufacture, has taken delivery of the core structure of frame and drives for its latest and largest to date wire harness automation robot at its Bristol headquarters in the UK.

Artificial intelligence has been a business game changer and has been the technology of the last few years. According to experts, the digital solution is already considered to have started a new cycle after the emergence of smartphones and social networks.

Flowwow, a global gifting marketplace for local shops in 40+ countries, has reported a surge in consumer spending as Brits gear up for Mother’s Day 2025.

Taulia, a provider of working capital management solutions and part of SAP group, and Lloyds, part of Lloyds Banking Group, have announced a partnership to issue Visa-enabled Virtual Cards, embedded across a range of solutions available with SAP Business Suite.   

Several leaders from Booking.com, Netflix, Atomico, and more have been announced as speakers for this year’s Startup Moldova Summit.

TAITRA (Taiwan External Trade Development Council) has announced that Dr. Rick Tsai, CEO of MediaTek, will deliver a keynote at COMPUTEX 2025, discussing AI vision from Edge to Cloud.