Spain’s innovation ecosystem strives to keep pace with global rivals, according to the new ‘Tech Scaleup Spain. Keeping the pace of innovation in an evolving global scenario 2024 Report’ that Mind the Bridge (with the support of ACCIONA and Crunchbase) presented at Tech Spirit Barcelona, shedding light on the state of Spain’s innovation ecosystem and its positioning in the global race for technological leadership.

The CIPD is urging the UK Government to consult thoroughly with employers to ensure that proposed changes to employment law don’t negatively impact organisations or workers.

New research from Intuit QuickBooks uncovers a potential surge in entrepreneurial activity across the UK, marking 2025 as a pivotal year for self-employment growth.

In 2022-23, approximately 801,006 companies were registered in the UK, showcasing a rapidly growing entrepreneurial landscape.

The University of Salford’s Centre for Sustainable Innovation has received £101,000 of funding from Innovate UK, to help educate SMEs across Greater Manchester on the intersection of AI and cybersecurity.

Energy Revolution Ventures, an energy tech venture capital firm targeting the multi-trillion-dollar opportunity in electrification, has closed an $18 million seed and series A fund focused on breakthrough deeptech.

Switzerland Global Enterprise, the official Swiss agency for export and investment promotion, and Presence Switzerland, the Swiss government marketing and communication agency, announced that swisstech will be showcasing 10 of Switzerland’s most innovative startups at CES Unveiled, held before the start of CES 2025 on Sunday, January 5th, 2025, from 5:00-8:30pm at the Mandalay Bay Hotel, Mandala Bay Convention Centre, Shoreline Exhibit Hall in Las Vegas.

The startup ecosystem in 2024 has proven to be a hotbed of innovation, with emerging companies tackling global challenges and shaping the future of technology, sustainability, and industry.

When was the last time you gave your business a gift?

At Christmas we often think about giving gifts to our nearest and dearest. Well, is your business not something you care deeply about? Why not give your business some gifts this year. Often, we can get so busy this time of year, wrapping presents but also wrapping up as much as we possibly can before we take some well-deserved time off over the festive season. In all that business, we forget to take a step back and see what our business may need, or what may be of significant benefit for our businesses this year.

Despite Christmas having a reputation for being a quiet time for fundraising, many founders will continue negotiating rounds over the holiday season.

As we approach 2025, personal branding is no longer optional for entrepreneurs. It has evolved into a necessary component to achieve personal and professional success.

With registered company insolvencies the highest they have been for a decade, and 50% of new businesses failing within three years, many SMEs face financial trouble; to the point of having to fold. This usually comes down to finances. Many small business owners don't have any accounting qualifications, may never have seen a cash flow statement before, or understand the nuances in respect of tax and VAT. Michael Steed, President of AAT (Association of Accounting Technicians), shares the ‘danger’ signs small businesses need to look out for which indicate they may be in difficulty, and what they can do if they find themselves in financial trouble.

UK startups face a stark challenge: early-stage graduation rates, from Seed to Series A funding, have dropped dramatically from 12.5% in 2020 to just 4.5%. This trend highlights deep-set vulnerabilities in the UK’s startup ecosystem, compounded by a notable slowdown in new tech company incorporations. These shifts have serious implications for the UK’s ability to foster innovation and economic growth.

Tips and tricks from an investor, a startupper, and an event manager.

When it comes to building a sustainable business, the road from ideation to implementation can be challenging, tough, brutal, emotional… but also immensely rewarding. At Growth Studio, we've been fortunate to guide hundreds of startups through this journey, particularly through our work with the recent Amazon Sustainability Accelerator where we put these principles into real action (and for context, the startups we have worked with at Amazon have raised over £39 million in the past three years and increased their sales by over 700%). 

Entrepreneurship often comes with a relentless drive to succeed, the weight of expectations, and the need to constantly be “on.” For many entrepreneurs, these pressures manifest as high-functioning anxiety, which is a state where outward appearances of success mask an internal struggle with overthinking, self-doubt, and chronic stress. It’s like building a business with the brakes on: progress is possible, but it’s slow, draining, and riddled with inefficiencies.

With the colder weather and shorter days, many of us notice shifts in mood and energy levels. For me, winter often means feeling more tired, a need for more sleep, and less time outside – just as work and life seem to be at their busiest.

Get ready for a world where robots walk among us – and I'm not talking about your coffee-addicted co-workers on Monday mornings. As we approach 2025, the world of robotics is on the brink of a transformation that promises to reshape our daily lives and workplaces.

Startups Magazine is excited to announce that we will once again be exhibiting at CES in Las Vegas, on the 7th-10th of January. If you’re attending the show, come by Stand 60311 at Eureka Park to pick up a copy of our Survival Guide, and have a chat with the team!

The New Year offers a unique opportunity for startups to recalibrate, innovate, and plan for sustainable growth. Drawing insights from my column in 2024, here’s a list of New Year’s resolutions for founders and marketers to navigate the challenging yet rewarding startup to scaleup journey.