Founders stories

Berlin’s Cloover secures USD $1.222bn to scale AI-powered financing for home solar, batteries and heat pumps across Europe.

Aspire embeds Deel’s Employer of Record tools to let startups hire, pay and manage overseas staff from a single cross-border finance platform.

London wellbeing rewards platform incentifi raises GBP £150,000 pre-seed to run pilot with employers, including Specsavers practices.

GrowthPal raises USD $2.6m to scale its AI platform for off‑market M&A deal sourcing and global expansion from its Singapore base.

AI is fuelling a boom in solo UK “Founder + AI” ventures as entrepreneurs favour lean, automated operations over hiring staff.

NIIT Learning Systems snaps up US learning designer SweetRush for up to USD $26m to boost AI-driven custom training and near-shore reach.

UK learning platform HowNow backs domain-specific AI agents to join teams as ‘colleagues’ by 2026, reshaping workflows and competition.

Manchester agency PushON marks 20 years with 40% revenue growth, tripled scale and fresh AI-driven, international eCommerce ambitions.

Hedgehog lab has bought Label Sessions to build a full-stack innovation consultancy, linking AI delivery with a 500-strong global expert network.

Bizcap appoints long-time executive Rebecca del Rio as Deputy CEO for APAC, expanding her leadership as the lender accelerates global growth.

Canadian merger and acquisition activity is set to surge in 2026 as domestic startups gain favour, driven by local firms seeking labour-saving tech solutions.

NEC X invites founders to join Elev X! Ignite, offering hands-on AI access and up to USD $250,000 funding for seed-ready B2B SaaS startups.

Australia has seen a 40% rise in tech rescue projects, revealing a gap between startup ambition and early-stage technical support needed for scaling.

UK fintech founders embrace AI, with 83% adopting it, despite 81% losing confidence in the economy and nearly half considering relocating abroad due to tax concerns.

SOUTHSTART 2026 returns to Adelaide, uniting founders, investors, and innovators across Australia’s startup and technology sectors in March.

High-growth firms often underestimate equity's true cost, risking excessive dilution and lost control despite apparent freedom from immediate repayments.

KiwiSaaS relaunches as an industry-led network under NZTech to drive growth and connect New Zealand’s booming SaaS sector contributing NZD $2.2bn to GDP.

Gaming firms often raise equity early on, but cohort financing offers a smarter, less dilutive way to fund predictable growth stages.

Surveys show Osome users in Singapore and Hong Kong report higher satisfaction and loyalty than clients of traditional accounting firms.

Deel launches Business Visas service to simplify short-term international travel, easing HR burdens amid rising global business trips and regulatory changes.