What is leadership? Is it a gift or a skill you can develop? Can you learn how to be a leader, or is it a natural way of working? These are the questions I asked myself when I stepped into a managerial position for the first time. But after working with different types of people, I realised that the title of the position has nothing to do with leadership. I met brilliant leaders who were engineers or designers, and I also came across terrible managers at the C-level who had no idea how to build or inspire a team.

TactoTek, the company specialising in In-Mold Structural Electronics (IMSE) technology, has announced that Kyocera, a global innovator in fine ceramic components, electronics, and technology solutions, has joined TactoTek’s current funding round with an investment of €5 million.

Employee benefits will come under increased scrutiny in 2025 as the cumulative effect of pressures from 2024’s Autumn Budget start to bite, according to GRiD, the industry body for the group risk sector.

Superhero Capital, a Helsinki-based venture capital firm dedicated to investing in early-stage software startups across Finland and the Baltics, has announced the launch of its fourth fund. With a target of €50 million, this new fund signifies a leap in its commitment to supporting founders in creating meaningful change.

Global employment solutions company Employment Hero, has announced it has entered into an agreement to acquire Humi, Canada’s trusted employment platform, in a deal estimated to be worth CAD$100 million in one of the largest recent deals in Canadian tech.

As the UK’s startup ecosystem continues to thrive, 2025 brings a new set of HR challenges for budding businesses. From navigating hybrid working, the fierce competition for skilled talent to staying ahead of regulatory changes, and fostering inclusive company cultures, startups are finding themselves in a place where they need to combine operational excellence with their innovation.

Contentstack, the composable digital experience platform (DXP) company, has announced its acquisition of Lytics, a pioneer of the real-time customer data platform.

A recent study by ISC2 reveals that 73% of Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) in the US reported experiencing burnout over the past year. According to this Voice of the CISO report 61% of CISOs said they face excessive expectations from their employers. Additionally, owing to the cyber security skills gap, many CISOs must continue to defend their companies with incredibly stretched resources and a mounting list of tasks that fall at the CISO’s feet.

Towergate Employee Benefits predicts that ensuring ‘everybody benefits’ from health and wellbeing support must be a major and essential HR focus for 2025. All employees, at all levels and, crucially, the business itself must gain full advantage of employee benefits if businesses are to thrive in the coming year.

With 801,006 new startups registered between 2022 and 2023 – a 6.4% increase – competition for skilled talent remains fierce. To stand out, startups must provide more than competitive salaries and one area gaining attention is employee benefits, which can accelerate growth and enhance competitiveness.

Very few founders go into business wanting to learn more about legislation. And yet, understanding your legal commitments is a huge part of the role, particularly in the early days. Whether it’s employment law or regulatory considerations, knowing where to start to stay ahead – or even meet compliant standards – can be a challenge. 

The workplace has undergone significant transformations in recent years. If we think back to 2020, the pandemic’s impact on remote working disrupted traditional norms forever. Now, its impact lives on, through hybrid working models and the popularisation of work life balance. Now in 2025 approaches, workplaces will continue to evolve, leading organisations to rethink how they balance employee expectations with business priorities.

Sixteen cryptocurrency and AI startups are to gather in one grand venue over drinks and BBQ cuisine to demonstrate their latest innovations.

Dote, the technology brand redefining parenting with its AI-driven ecosystem, has announced the launch of its Series A funding round to accelerate growth and global expansion. To lead its entry into the US market, Dote has appointed Avril Murphy as COO, bringing with her a wealth of experience in scaling international consumer tech brands. 

Elvie, the female-led femtech startup and creator of the Elvie Pump, has launched its newest innovation, the Elvie Rise, at CES in Las Vegas.

Siemens has launched Siemens for Startups, a new programme to empower early-stage engineering and manufacturing startups. Announced at CES 2025 in Las Vegas, the programme will enable new innovative companies to accelerate innovation, streamline development processes, and scale faster by providing venture-related services, while reducing the cost of access to Siemens software and hardware.

At now 81 years old, I’ve learned a thing or two about business and entrepreneurship along the way. My career to date has taken me from the engineering workshop, through delivering training and seminars to teams across the world, to even now taking on new projects in my ninth decade.

In 2024, cybersecurity breaches and attacks were a significant issue for UK businesses, with approximately 50% of organisations reporting incidents. Government data reveals that 58% of small businesses, 70% of medium-sized businesses, and 74% of large businesses experienced cyber threats.

TurmaFinTech, a new fintech startup helping US community banks bridge the technological gap, increase sales, beat customer churn, manage customer relationships, and provide targeted customer communications, has announced its launch.

Monolith, an AI software provider to the world’s most innovative engineering teams, has started work with Vertical Aerospace, a global aerospace and technology company that is pioneering zero emission aviation. Monolith will help the Bristol-based company optimise its eVTOL testing and simulation programmes to improve performance and accelerate time to market.