At CES 2025, Startups Magazine’s Paige West spoke to Ron Yoogun Leem BANF’s VP of Business Development. They discuss how the technology works, the competitors in the market, and the future of the startup.

Nomupay has completed a third investment round of $37 million, bolstering the firm’s ambition to open up the notoriously complex Asian market to international acquirers, merchants, Payment Service Providers (PSPs) and Independent Sales Organisations (ISOs). The final $12 million tranche of the September fundraise was led by Endeit Capital, with Uneti Ventures (backed by early Adyen employees) participating. Existing investors continued their support, contributing $25 million over the last 18 months.

Zubr Capital is a private equity firm focused on investments in fast-growing private companies with high potential value in international markets. As the Brand Manager, Darya Ksianzova's role involves nurturing the Zubr Capital brand and developing the brands of the fund's portfolio companies. Her primary focus is on establishing sustainable processes to develop and strengthen these brands. It's well-known that companies with strong brands are valued more highly.

Estonia’s leading startups and investors will be selected from a competitive field of 321 nominees. The winners for 2024 will be revealed at the annual Estonian Startup Awards Gala, taking place on 23 January 2025.

At CES 2025, Startups Magazine’s Paige West interviewed Gabi Muñoz, Head of Business Development at Augmental. They discussed how the technology works, the challenges the startup has faced along the way, and where the inspiration for the technology came from.

At CES 2025, Startups Magazine’s Paige West talks to Tim Balz, CEO and Founder of Kalogon.

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.