MintStars: ‘Ethical’ OnlyFans rival more than doubles in value March 25, 2025 MintStars, a start-up launched as an ‘ethical alternative’ to OnlyFans, more than doubled in value during its latest financial year, it has been revealed. The challenger was established by Jessica Van Meir and Daniel Sargent, who serves as its chief executive, in 2022. In an interview with City AM last year, Van Meir said the [...]
‘It feels like a break-up’: CEO shuts down firm after passion runs dry January 22, 2025 The chief executive of a technology start-up has decided the close down the business after ‘running out of passion’. Ike Cooke, who co-founded Liverpool-based Bundant, announced the news on social media that the firm is to be wound down. The company provided a home refill service centred around a smart device – The Bundantband – [...]
Start-up boom or doom? How this year could spark the UK’s business appetite January 9, 2025 For many, the new year is a time to celebrate leaving the stress of our past behind – kickstarting a number of resolutions designed to spark a sense of optimism in the months ahead. But that sense of hopefulness can only last for so long when the dreaded sense of reality soon finds its way [...]
Myenergi crashes into the red as jobs cut December 20, 2024 Smart home start-up Myenergi has crashed into the red after its sales were cut and it shed more than 100 jobs. The Lincolnshire-based business has reported a pre-tax loss of £24.5m for the year to 31 May, 2024, after having generated a pre-tax profit of £8.8m in the prior year. Newly-filed accounts with Companies House [...]
UK start-ups punch above their weight — and it’s being noticed worldwide December 5, 2024 Despite the “doom and gloom” narrative and post-Budget fears looming over the UK’s start-up ecosystem, the country still holds its ground at the forefront of global innovation. At least that is the view of Ashish Patel, managing director at Houlihan Lokey’s Capital Market Group, who says that a rise of international investment into UK start-ups [...]
Calls grow for Reeves to step back from capital gains tax raid on entrepreneurs October 28, 2024 Over a thousand entrepreneurs have signed an open letter to the Chancellor Rachel Reeves warning of the punitive effect of a potential hike in capital gains tax at the Budget on 30 October. Nearly 1,200 entrepreneurs have now warned of the risks that could follow the rumoured rise in Capital Gains Tax (CGT) and restriction [...]
Budget uncertainty threatens to freeze growth at small businesses October 22, 2024 A significant number of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have warned their growth ambitions may be at risk if Rachel Reeves doesn’t prioritise their concerns in the upcoming Autumn Budget. According to a survey of over 500 SME leaders on behalf of specialist lender Simply Asset Finance, 74 per cent said the outcomes of the [...]
Revolut investor backs Gen Z credit card fintech Yonder September 19, 2024 Credit card start-up Yonder has exceeded a post-money valuation of £100m as it secured another £23.4m in its latest funding round, led by one of the early investors of fintech app Revolut. The credit card rewards firm, which is geared towards millennials and Gen Z consumers, plans to use the latest injection of funding to [...]
Could venture capital firms miss out on the great pension fund start-up splurge? September 3, 2024 The UK's top pension fund managers are poised to pump billions into the UK's start-ups - but venture capital investors keen for cash may play a smaller part than they had hoped, writes Charlie Conchie
Venture capital firm launches UK’s only fund for British pensions September 2, 2024 A venture capital firm has launched the first-ever fund devoted to helping UK pension funds invest in British start-ups and scale-ups. Future Planet Capital’s new British Co-Investment Fund (BCF) will channel pension investment into some of the UK’s fastest growing and most innovative businesses in a move that has been praised as “much-needed” by start-ups [...]