System7, a new AI consultancy co-founded by Nicolas Baxter designed to transform marketing and sales teams, has launched as the first co-founded company from cocreatd, the venture studio founded by Oliver Yonchev.

The United Kingdom is steadily emerging as a key player in the AI space, attracting the highest AI investment in Europe and ranking third globally, surpassed only by the United States and China. This success has been bolstered by the UK government’s commitment to fostering growth in the sector, however, it now stands at a critical juncture.

Raising your first round of funding is often painted as a rite of passage for a startup, the shiny trophy that signals you’re on your way to unicorn status. But here’s the truth that gets glossed over in all the LinkedIn celebration posts: not everyone raises when (or even if) they think they will.

A new global survey titled ‘AI Workplace Report’ from Freshworks, a business software provider, reveals that nearly half (45%) of UK employees would consider swapping their current jobs for roles that better harness AI, and 35% of UK workers say they have already received a salary bump or a promotion as a result of their AI usage. 

As we now know a second Trump presidency looms on the horizon, the American manufacturing sector finds itself at a critical juncture. The policies and priorities of a potential Trump administration could significantly reshape the landscape of US manufacturing, with far-reaching implications for the industry's competitiveness, workforce, and global positioning.

Elemind, founded by researchers from MIT, has developed a headband that uses acoustic stimulation to move people into a sleep state.

Italian startup Artinoise, known for reimagining traditional musical instruments, has unveiled its latest innovation: Zefiro.

As the year draws to a close, it’s the perfect time to reflect on some of the standout moments from The Cereal Entrepreneur podcast. This year we have had the pleasure of talking to a wide array of figures in the startup ecosystem, from founders of early-stage startups, to angel investors and venture capitalists, to all of the winners of the 2024 Hustle Awards.

Over the course of 2024, the interest in gen AI has spread like wildfire. Data from McKinsey indicates that while AI adoption among organisations stayed at around the 50% mark for six years, the past year alone saw it jump to 72%.

Remember when the world shifted from paper to computers? Or from desktops to mobile devices? We're on the cusp of a similar revolution with AI. What once felt like a futuristic, magical tool is quietly weaving itself into our daily lives.

In recent months, allegations of sexual misconduct by high-profile figures have dominated the headlines in the UK. From the ongoing police investigation into historic claims of rape and sexual abuse against former Harrods owner, Mohamed Al-Fayed, to the litany of accusations of inappropriate behaviour against BBC Presenter Greg Wallace, it seems that some of the most powerful institutions in our country are still grappling with how to identify and prevent sexual harassment in the workplace.

With the phased shutdown of the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) and Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) set to conclude in 2027, new research from Zen Internet has revealed that UK businesses are alarmingly unprepared for the transition.

AI will continue to dominate the European tech ecosystem in 2025, according to the Partners at Antler, the early-stage VC firm in Europe.

AI Simulator, a technology that uses AI to replicate the private investment market, is set to join the American Angel Capital Association as a consultant to develop a curriculum for their deeptech toolkit. This prestigious project, funded by the Nation Science Foundation, aims to educate early-stage investors.

Embeddable, an award-winning developer tool for building interactive customer-facing analytics directly within software applications, has announced the close of its oversubscribed €6 million seed funding round.

Three startups supported by the Venture Builder at Nottingham Business School’s Centre for Business and Industry Transformation (CBIT) have achieved significant milestones in investment and growth.

The EU has officially launched DiMAT, a project offering European materials SMEs the digital tools they need to meet competitive challenges, both in Europe and globally.

Startup Maisa confirms it has completed a $5m pre-seed round funded by NFX and Village Global, VCs backed by many of the world’s most successful entrepreneurs.

A BBC investigation has revealed that Steven Bartlett, host of the Diary of a CEO podcast, has amplified harmful health misinformation, potentially undermining trust in conventional medicine.

Many employees find themselves facing extra challenges at the turn of the calendar year.