Intuit’s September 2024 Small Business Index has revealed a slowdown in the UK job market, based on data from 25,000 small businesses with one to nine employees. The report shows a decline of around 1,400 jobs and fewer vacancies across the sector, indicating a cooling labour market.

The Consumer Technology Association (CTA) announces Martin Lundstedt, President and CEO of Volvo Group, as a keynote speaker for CES 2025, along with several influential guests. Volvo Group will highlight its vision for a 100% safe, 100% fossil-free, and 100% more productive transportation and infrastructure.

Keep, a Y Combinator-backed open-source AIOps platform, has raised $2.7M in a Pre-Seed funding round led by Runa Capital, with additional support from key industry entrepreneurs and venture firms. Participants include Firestreak and Y Combinator, as well as prominent angel investors like Shay Baron (Elastic CTO and Founder), Andrew Miklas (PagerDuty Co-Founder), David Cramer (Sentry Co-Founder), Maxim Konovalov (NGINX Founder), and Nizam Shapira (Epsagon Founder).

Zerve, a platform designed for data science and AI development, announced a seed round of $7.6 million, led by Paladin Capital Group. Other backers included existing investor Elkstone and notable angel investors like Rob Hickey, former Executive Vice President of Engineering at DataRobot.

The duty on employers to make reasonable adjustments for disabled job applicants and employees was introduced by the Equality Act 2010. More commonly now termed as ‘workplace adjustments’, these refer to making changes to the way someone does their job to help remove the barriers they may experience.  

TravelPerk, a global business travel management platform, has released new findings on how UK professionals feel about the potential use of AI avatars in the workplace. Despite some reservations, 91% of respondents said they would be open to delegating meeting tasks to an AI avatar.

A San Francisco-based AI startup, has launched Tattoon, an innovative app that allows users to “fit” tattoos onto their own bodies with just a tap. The app’s mission is to bridge the gap between art, tattoo artists, and aspiring tattoo enthusiasts by enabling people to experiment with different tattoo designs on their body photos.

eBay has announced the global expansion of its Circular Fashion Fund (CFF), aimed at helping fashion startups scale circular solutions across the entire lifecycle – from production to disposal, including rental and repair services. Applications for the fund are now open and will close on 15th November 2024. Eligible startups and small businesses can apply via eBay's website.

UK-based spacecraft propulsion startup, Magdrive, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Orbit Fab, a specialist in spacecraft refuelling. The partnership, announced at the 75th International Astronautical Congress (IAC) in Milan, aims to develop satellite refuelling technologies that promise to reshape space sustainability.

autone, the AI-powered platform helping retailers transform their business through optimal inventory management, has raised a $17 million Series A funding round led by General Catalyst.

Startups working to strengthen trust in carbon markets across sectors such as farming, ocean health, and cotton have been selected for the second year of an accelerator programme run by BSI and the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL).

Rare Founders Demo Day wasn't just an event; it was a celebration of entrepreneurial energy. Organised for the second time this year by entrepreneur Vasily Alekseenko, Rare Founders, London’s Largest Demo Day has quickly become the highlight of the UK startup calendar.

French space startup Skynopy, specialising in satellite connectivity, has announced a new partnership with satellite IoT operator Kinéis to launch its own network of antennas and enhance its turnkey satellite connectivity services. This collaboration addresses the increasing demand for space industry solutions.

As an entrepreneur, you will face many obstacles on the road to success in your field, and it is crucial that you are passionate about your product or service so that your startup can take off and build a solid customer base.

The third edition of South Summit Industry & Energy, co-organised by South Summit and Bizkaia, will return on 21 and 22 November to the international entrepreneurship centre B Accelerator Tower (BAT) in Bilbao. The meeting for the entrepreneurial ecosystem focused on Industry 4.0, Energy Transition, and Mobility will bring together the most prominent leaders, startups, and investors in these sectors in the capital of Bizkaia to discuss the future trends, opportunities, and challenges they face.

Canvas Offices, a leading provider of flexible workspaces in the UK, has announced its latest project in partnership with real estate powerhouse Hagag Group. Slated to open in spring 2025, this new development marks Canvas Offices’ largest undertaking yet, building on the success of their restored period property at 88 Kingsway, Holborn.

Heilbronn Slush'D, Germany's only official SLUSH offshoot, announces the first confirmed speakers and pitch competitions. Over 15 speakers from various industries are ready to share their insights. The event, taking place on October 24, 2024, offers an international platform for fostering and collaborating with startups, discovering innovative applications and business models, and networking within the ecosystem.

A mental health crisis is unfolding among young women. At wonderwork, an ethical marketing agency, we see the critical work that needs to be done within our industry to address the harmful narratives and unrealistic expectations that contribute to this crisis.

SKL.vc is set to debut its B2C Launch Camp, a programme designed to give aspiring entrepreneurs a risk-free environment to explore their business ideas without dipping into personal savings.

“Talent is the driving force behind tech.” Or so we are told. Yes, someone with the right skillset is critical when it comes to scaling up a startup. But, and I can’t stress this enough, so is their mindset. And that mindset is shaped by you. The leader. The co-founder or the CEO.