Data first: How tech startups build trust and tap investment November 19, 2020 When Phil Marshman set about launching his health startup Sentai this year he faced a challenge. For the serial entrepreneur, it was not the pandemic or the intricacies of artificial intelligence or even getting to market that posed a challenge, it was customer data. “For any product team you need to be data first… We [...]
TODAY: Boris Johnson to unveil largest military spending increase in decades November 19, 2020 Boris Johnson will today announce he is tripling a planned increase of the country’s military budget in what will be the largest defence investment in decades. The government will spend an extra £16.5bn on the UK’s military over the next four years, which will take the total increase over this time period to about £24.1bn. [...]
How central bankers see the prospects for digicurrencies November 17, 2020 Last week three of the world’s central bankers met for an online European Central Bank Forum: BoE Governor Andrew Bailey, ECB President Christine Lagarde, and Fed Chair Jerome Powell. Their opinions will affect policy for the near-term—policies that determine inflation, interest rates, economic activity, the sales your company makes and the salaries or raises you [...]
DEBATE: Will the National Security and Investment Bill make it harder for the UK to remain a business hub? November 13, 2020 Max von Thun, senior associate at political advisory firm Global Counsel, says YES. Under the screening regime proposed by the new National Security and Investment Bill, a much higher number of deals will be subject to potential government intervention on national security grounds for up to five years after they have taken place. In addition [...]
New law to probe foreign takeovers to be unveiled this week November 10, 2020 A new law which will enable ministers to scrutinise foreign takeovers of companies deemed of national importance will be published on Wednesday. Sky News reported that the National Security and Investment Bill will list 17 sectors of strategic significance that will need governmental approval for transactions. Sources told Sky that these would include nuclear energy, [...]
Box-fresh? Sandboxes go global November 4, 2020 What image does the word ‘sandbox’ conjure up for you? For most people, the answer is likely to be kindergartens, buckets and sandcastles. But for financial services innovators, sandboxes have a different meaning – and, for some projects, pivotal importance. For organisations looking to launch a product that needs a regulatory licence, a sandbox is [...]
Calculating the good, bad and boring in Defi November 3, 2020 There is a feeding frenzy around decentralised finance (Defi). The most popular decentralised exchange Uniswap has surpassed more than $3bn locked in it, and there was a peak in October of more than $12.5bn of assets in Defi. Much of the excitement has been driven by the returns earned for providing liquidity for ‘automated market [...]
Trump or Biden: Who would be better for the UK? November 3, 2020 Trump or Biden: Who would be better for the UK? JOIN THE DEBATE Sarah Elliott, chair of Republicans Overseas UK, says TRUMP When I turn the radio tomorrow morning, I hope that the BBC will announce a victory for President Donald J. Trump — and not just for America, but for the sake of the [...]
Five trends to watch in China’s consumer sector November 3, 2020 As the world continues to try to contain the spread of Covid-19, China is among the few countries sustaining a return to normal activity. Restrictions on movement have been lifted and the government’s test and trace system has so far proven effective in containing new outbreaks. As a result, shops, restaurants and other services have [...]
Softbank Vision Fund dealt another blow with boardroom exodus November 2, 2020 After a year of hefty losses, Softbank is now dealing with an exodus of executives at its $100bn Vision Fund. The Japanese conglomerate plunged to its worst ever annual performance in March after recording a huge $18bn loss for the Vision Fund. It bounced back in August after strong performances by its tech investments. Softbank [...]