UK tech special: The rocky but unstoppable rise in startup valuations January 30, 2022 The accelerated growth of startup valuations has sparked debate around the world, particularly in the markets where this has been reflected in the most significant raises and the speediest unicorns. Despite ongoing pandemic uncertainty, a quarter of the UK’s 116 unicorn tech companies became unicorns during 2021. Investment climbed significantly, up to £26bn in 2021 [...]
What a day for Mike Lynch: Priti Patel to make extradition decision and £3.7bn High Court fraud ruling at 11.30am January 28, 2022 All eyes will be on the High Court today at 11.30, as a judge is due to announce his decision on a multibillion-dollar fraud case brought by Hewlett Packard over its acquisition of British software company Autonomy a decade ago. The American technology giant sued British entrepreneur Mike Lynch, Autonomy’s founder, and its former chief [...]
LayBuy accelerates UK growth after revenues surge January 27, 2022 Buy now pay later (BNPL) firm LayBuy says it is accelerating its UK expansion plans after reporting a 70 per cent jump in revenues.
WeTransfer cancels plans for Euronext listing in Amsterdam due to ‘volatile market’ January 27, 2022 WeTransfer announces it will not proceed with its intended listing on Euronext Amsterdam due to market conditions WeTransfer’s parent company, WeRock, said this morning it has decided not to proceed with its intended initial public offering and listing of its ordinary shares on Euronext Amsterdam “due to volatile market conditions, notwithstanding the substantial investor demand [...]
UK can be home of crypto and fintech, says Matt Hancock January 26, 2022 The UK can be the home of cryptocurrency, according to Matt Hancock, as watchdogs scramble to regulate the emerging digital asset. Speaking in the Commons earlier today, the minister hailed the UK’s blossoming fintech industry, urging that it can be a sector in which the UK is a world leader. “These innovations have the potential [...]
Robinhood outlines safeguards to prevent a ‘memestock’ repeat January 26, 2022 Retail trading app Robinhood has outlined a series of safeguards it has put in place to prevent a repeat of the “memestock” trading craze which crippled hedge funds and sent share prices soaring last year.
Judge says No: Mike Lynch loses High Court battle to delay extradition to US January 26, 2022 British technology tycoon Mike Lynch, who is facing extradition to the US after being accused of fraud, has lost the latest stage of a legal battle. Lynch wants Home Secretary Priti Patel to be given more time to make an extradition decision. He mounted a High Court challenge after a judge who oversaw an extradition [...]
Sales and productivity have jumped since move to four-day work week, says London tech firm January 25, 2022 A London-based tech company has seen a 30 per cent boost in sales since moving to a four-day work week, the agency told City A.M. Since the change to a four-day, 32 hour working week, implemented in October of last year, technology consultancy company THRYVE ahas also seen its productivity go up by 20 per [...]
Forbes 30 under 30 data shows London is the best city in the world to be a young entrepreneur January 23, 2022 Using the Forbes 30 Under 30 lists from Europe, North America, Russia, Asia and Africa, London has been named as the best city in the world to be a young entrepreneur. Despite North America being by far the most popular in providing Forbes Under 30 candidates, London is the most popular city for young entrepreneurs [...]
Shoppers rack up £3.3bn buy-now-pay-later debt in Christmas spending spree January 20, 2022 Shoppers racked up £3.3bn of debt using buy-now-pay-later (BNPL) products in a spending spree over the Christmas period, new data has revealed.