2020 acted as a catalyst for trends we have seen in our economy for some time, from the rapid digital transformation across every aspect of our lives, to the dramatic rise in demand for e-commerce. Now more than ever, customers are expecting the 'next day delivery' option to be the norm, and it’s vital that all business leaders, regardless of the size of their operations, recognise the impact this can have on their business.

As the pubs re-open today - hooray - outside only course, we thought we wold highlight some of our beer related startups to celebrate! Did you know, after water and tea, beer is the most consumed liquid by human? In the UK alone, there are more than 2,100 breweries and 120,000 alcohol-serving retail locations, which results in over nine million kegs in existence.

Last month we officially reached the milestone of a year since the first national lockdown. With lots of change and uncertainty - both at home and work - many of us turned to Google for advice and support.

Prsnt have raised £180,000 through Suss Ventures, the bespoke investor matching service at Sussex Innovation. The tech startup aims to dominate the gifting marketplace, by creating a peer-to-peer gift exchange platform to leverage the ‘feel good' factor of giving and receiving gifts. The investment will be used to streamline the app after its successful beta testing, and to grow its user base as part of ongoing business and technological development. 

There once was a time when setting up a business without a website would have been unthinkable, however in the age of social media, websites seem to have been prioritised and replaced by social media accounts, and this is particularly relevant in the hair and beauty industry, which is dominated by mobile stylists, freelancers and small independent salon chains.

The Event Technology Awards 2021 (ETA21) opens for submissions from 1st April and the first wave of judges has been announced, more than 75% of them new to the process.

Attic Self Storage has announced the launch of its eCommerce Accelerator Program, to celebrate the official opening this week of its brand new facility in Harrow, London. Attic also has several other sites across London, so will be championing budding entrepreneurs in the capital by offering them free units, workspaces and funding to help them scale their enterprises. 

Ziglu, the UK-based and FCA regulated cryptocurrency challenger, has launched Bitcoin Boost, an account that allows Ziglu users to earn interest equivalent to an annual percentage rate of 5% on their bitcoin.

Funding Options has joined forces with digital bank, Starling Bank to deliver business critical access to finance as SMEs across the UK rebuild following a turbulent year.

Intellectual property firm, Mathys & Squire will celebrate World IP Day 2021 on Monday 26th April by hosting a virtual pitching session inviting innovative UK-based startups and SMEs to showcase their business and innovations in front of an expert panel to win a prize of £3,000.

It is common knowledge that the manufacturing industry is facing an existential crisis. Recent reports from Deloitte and Fictiv indicate that COVID-19 has only increased an already bleak narrative.

Triend Travel is a social marketplace that utilises user-generated video content with an innovative algorithm and technology which allows consumers to make personalised travel recommendations based on their love of travel.

Technology today plays a major part in our daily routines, as well as our working lives. It has had a huge impact on the workplace and will only continue to do so at an incredible rate, due to the technological advancements of our time. What’s more, the events of the last 12 months have massively reshaped work culture across the globe. In particular, the need for technologies that can be used to virtually replicate an office environment, will continue to grow in importance as we move into 2021.

Creative workspace and accelerator, Huckletree has announced it’s hosting Earthrise Summit, a virtual festival to unite sustainability leaders, founders, politicians, change makers and innovators from all corners of the world, to inspire people to take action.

There is no denying the far-reaching impacts of COVID-19 on the UK economy. The pandemic has tested the resolve of even the most robust firms, causing enormous upheaval and unpredictable market conditions. As such, many UK businesses were forced to rely on Government support schemes to stay afloat.

The world is not going digital anymore, it is already there. Many industries have now embraced technology in almost all their operations, and the Financial industry is no different. Bitcoin, Robinhood, Monzo, Fintech are just examples of how technology has enhanced services in the Financial industry.

Empathy, a platform helping families navigate the journey they face after losing a loved one, has announced the launch of its application on iOS and Android for users across the United States. Empathy’s technology-enabled platform is designed to guide families experiencing loss with purpose and compassion. Empathy is backed by $13m in a seed round co-led by General Catalyst and Aleph.

The twin forces of Brexit and the coronavirus pandemic have wreaked havoc on business confidence in the UK. It therefore comes as little surprise that almost two thirds (64%) reported the combination of the two made 2020 the hardest year they have faced, according to a recent survey of commissioned by One World Express.

Towergate Health & Protection is warning employers that they could unwittingly be leaving themselves open to uninsured liabilities that could cost them hundreds of thousands of pounds if their employee benefits are not aligned with their contracts of employment. 

Medical innovation has become a significant focus for venture capital investment in the last ten years. A growing, ageing population combined with the opportunity to develop global solutions is driving a spike in investment innovation that helps people better manage wellbeing or enables them to get well sooner.