Statistics show that first-time founders have an 18% success rate. To avoid failure, many new ventures focus heavily on customer feedback.

Throughout my 20 years working in and around European startups, I've always looked to the UK market for inspiration, collaboration, and, of course, investment. At Ryte, we successfully raised funds from UK-based Octopus Ventures. Led by their partner Paul Davidson, we experienced firsthand the immense value that cross-border collaboration can bring.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves faces warnings that the UK risks losing a significant number of owner-managed businesses if tax hikes are introduced in Labour’s upcoming Budget, according to new research commissioned by professional services firm Evelyn Partners.

Research from Towergate Employee Benefits reveals that one in five employers (20%) anticipate a growing need for female-specific support, particularly for menopause-related issues. In light of World Menopause Day on 18th October, the organisation is urging businesses to assess how they can meet this rising demand and provide effective support for employees navigating menopause.

Hiring international team members can help startups grow quickly and cost-effectively, but navigating international laws can be challenging and often leads to compliance mistakes. Many startups struggle with managing payments and onboarding, especially when using multiple tools, which increases the risk of errors. A lack of proper compliance processes can harm investor confidence and damage the startup's employer brand.

Blecon has announced a $4.6M seed funding round, advancing its mission to unlock the full potential of Bluetooth Low Energy for IoT Connectivity.

The percentage of UK small business predicting growth for the final three-months of 2024 remains at the two-year high of last quarter (35%) – with significant upturns in growth forecasts across the North, the Midlands, and among younger businesses – according to new research from Novuna Business Finance.

Armalytix, a fintech specialising in financial data solutions for compliance and affordability, has announced its strategic move into family law, aiming to streamline financial discovery processes for legal professionals. By offering bespoke tools and financial insights, Armalytix hopes to address key pain points in family law cases, making it easier and faster for lawyers to access the financial information they need.

CEOs face sleepwalking into reputational disaster through a concerning over-confidence which masks inadequate crisis planning to mitigate modern day risks, new research shows.

As part of its mission to help companies build better products and digital experiences, Amplitude has announced it acquired Command AI, a startup that provides intuitive, AI-powered user assistance to make software easier to use.

CitySwift has announced a significant new partnership with the Go-Ahead Group, a major provider of bus services in the UK. This collaboration will see CitySwift’s AI-powered platform, designed to enhance bus operational efficiency, rolled out across all Go-Ahead Group operating companies in the UK, bringing benefits to passengers, drivers, and cities alike.

British startup Auxtail has unveiled a new integrated bike rack designed especially for electric vehicles and, after eight years of development and patented technology, it’s targeting customers who love the outdoors and where sustainability is high on their list of priorities.

shizl, a newly launched legaltech platform, is set to revolutionise how SMEs in the UK approach legal contract creation, negotiation, and execution. Designed to make legal processes simple, jargon-free, and affordable, shizl caters to businesses at every stage, from startups to larger enterprises.

Oriole Networks, the company pioneering the use of light to power Large Language Model (LLM) training with significantly reduced energy consumption, has secured an additional $22 million in funding from leading investors. The round, led by Plural, saw reinvestments from existing backers including UCL Technology Fund, XTX Ventures, Clean Growth Fund, and Dorilton Ventures.

As the UK gears up for the Labour Government’s first Budget, research from innovation incentives specialist ForrestBrown reveals the key policy changes business leaders want from the new Government. 

Alchemie Technology, a cleantech company, has been featured in a prestigious new book commemorating the 75th anniversary of the Commonwealth and King Charles III’s role as its Head. The book, The Commonwealth at 75, includes a spotlight on Dr Alan Hudd, Ffounder and CEO of Alchemie, and the company’s mission to cut emissions and pollution in the textile industry.

Gartner forecasts that by 2028, three out of four enterprise software engineers will use AI code assistants – a significant increase from less than 10% in early 2023. AI and Generative AI are challenging the traditional software development process, but the integration of this rapidly advancing technology is imminent.

Emilė Radytė, CEO and Co-Founder of Samphire Neuroscience, makes no secret of her interest in trying to explain behaviours through human brain action. “I have always loved the overlap of how the human brain interacts with society and the way we function,” Radytė explained.

Roman Hölzl, CEO and Co-Founder of RobCo, refers to robotics as the “Swiss Army knives of the manufacturing world”, demonstrating his deep-seated belief in the power robotics has in changing the manufacturing world and alluding to the multi-faceted roles they can play.

The first 100 days under the first Labour government since 2010 have now elapsed. These first 100 are often considered the most telling – and most important.