Small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs), are being given the chance to engage with their bigger counterparts, along with education and governments, in order to help drive policy reform, close the skills gap, and generate growth, it has been announced.

Trilateral Research, which investigates ethical AI solutions to address a range of complex social issues, has secured a £2.5 million investment from Growth Lending. The funds will facilitate the growth of the business as Trilateral Research accelerates the rollout of ethical AI products, which are designed to tackle complex social issues such as child safeguarding, modern slavery and public health.

YouLend, the global embedded financing platform, has reported that a growing number of UK SMEs are turning to embedded financing to secure vital capital ahead of the most important sales period of the year – Black Friday and Christmas.

A new framework designed to guide businesses to introduce and implement new ideas, processes, products, or services that improve an organisation’s overall efficiency, productivity, or culture has been published by UK national standards body BSI.

Starting a retail business in today's digital age can be both exciting and challenging. With the rapid evolution of online platforms and digital marketing tools, startups have incredible opportunities to reach their target audience effectively. However, navigating the world of small business digital marketing can be overwhelming without the right strategies. This guide provides essential digital marketing tips for retail startups to establish a strong online presence, engage customers, and grow sustainably.

The UK’s largest ever pre- A funding round for a digital diagnostics company, has been announced by Cambridge-based healthtech startup, PocDoc.

Building a regtech startup that not only survives but thrives in today’s regulatory climate requires more than a bright idea. It takes strategic foresight, meaning teams must keep a finger on the pulse of ever-evolving regulations. As with any business, having a deep understanding of the market that you’re either creating or addressing is critical – but with regulatory environments constantly tightening, the regtech sector takes this one step further.

Black Friday 2024 is almost upon us, and new data from Criteo shows it promises to be a significant moment for retail. With UK consumer spend set to rise year-on-year, the insights demonstrate that tailored product recommendations, omnichannel experiences, and discounted offerings will be key to attracting high-intent shoppers.

The Consumer Technology Association (CTA), owner and producer of CES, the world’s most powerful tech event, announces Jennifer Witz, CEO of SiriusXM, a leading audio entertainment company in North America, will keynote at CES 2025. During an event at McIntosh Group’s House of Sound this afternoon, CTA shared the news that Witz will take the stage alongside Ashley Flowers, the #1 female podcaster in the U.S., host of the hit podcast Crime Junkie, and Founder of audiochuck, a leading media company. Witz and Flowers will participate in a fireside chat on the evolution of audio and what they believe is next for the industry.

The Consumer Technology Association (CTA) is announcing its CES Innovation Awards 2025 honorees. The 2025 awards program received a record-breaking number of submissions, over 3400, a 13% increase from CES 2024. The CES Innovation Awards annually recognises and honours exceptional designs and engineering in technology that tackle global challenges and drive meaningful change.  

Bristol-based aerospace startup, Vertical Aerospace, has announced a major funding injection, after financially struggling in recent times.

Latvian defence tech startup Origin has secured €4.5 million from the European Defence Fund (EDF) to develop a man-portable ISTAR drone (intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance) with target laser designation capability.

October’s Cyber Awareness Month may have heightened the awareness of digital threats, but the battle against cyber risks is far from seasonal. According to the UK government’s recent Cyber Security Breaches Survey, nearly half of all UK businesses experienced a cyber-attack last year – a sharp rise from 39% in 2022.

Maintaining a healthy work-life balance is a significant challenge, especially for family-owned businesses where family matters and business operations are deeply intertwined.

Mario Draghi’s recent EU competitiveness report is a stark reminder of what needs to change in Europe’s wider venture capital (VC) scene. The report argues that insufficient venture capital has limited the growth of European tech and economic growth more widely; estimating that an additional €800 billion in annual investment, mostly from the private sector, is needed for the continent to catch up with the US and China.

In anticipation of Black Friday and Cyber Monday, European Visa Fintech Partner, Rivero is urging banks, neobanks, and financial institutions to prepare for a potential spike in cardholder disputes.

As part of its mission to empower customers across the UK and beyond to meet their financial needs while fostering a sense of community and connection, financial services platform Kixy has announced an exciting new partnership with British Wrestling Association (BWA).

Over £20 billion could be spent by households across the festive season in the UK this year, as small businesses prepare to target a fifth of Christmas spend – equating to approximately up to £4.4 billion.

Venture capital investment in longevity startups has surged over the past decade. This trend signals promising prospects for age-extending technologies, particularly from a venture capital perspective, as investors recognise the potential for innovation in this emerging field to address the health and economic impacts of an ageing population.

SatVu, a global company in climate technology, has secured £20 million in strategic funding, comprising a £10 million landmark equity round co-led by European venture capital firm Adara Ventures and existing investor Molten Ventures, and an insurance payout.