Tech investor TMT is ready to ride the blockchain boom – but warns of naivety in the sector March 15, 2018 Tech investor TMT Investments is planning to ramp up its involvement in the blockchain space, though the firm warned there is still plenty of naivety surrounding distributed ledger technology. The figures In the year to the end of 2017, TMT’s net asset value per share jumped 28.6 per cent to $2.43 (£1.74). The firm, which [...]
There’s a reason why London is Europe’s startup hub, but Paris is waiting to pounce March 15, 2018 For a startup, one of the biggest decisions you’ll ever make is where to incorporate and build your company. For us at Zebra Fuel – an on-demand car refuelling company – that decision was particularly difficult. My co-founder is from France and I’m from Morocco, so our first language is French. Surely Paris, which has [...]
Oxford Street pedestrianisation on track to tie-in with Elizabeth Line launch after public backs proposals March 13, 2018 The radical plans to pedestrianise Oxford Street tying in with the Elizabeth Line launch in December were given a boost today, as the results of a massive consultation revealed public backing for the project. More than 22,000 responses were received on the plans to switch up the capital's famous shopping street, with nearly two-thirds of [...]
London’s Oxford Street pedestrianisation set to coincide with Elizabeth Line launch in December 2018 after public backs proposals March 13, 2018 The radical plans to pedestrianise Oxford Street tying in with the Elizabeth Line launch in December were given a boost today, as the results of a massive consultation revealed public backing for the project. More than 22,000 responses were received on the plans to switch up the capital’s famous shopping street, with nearly two-thirds of [...]
Tech friend or foe? Sadiq on why going up against Uber isn’t bad for London’s business March 12, 2018 Sadiq Khan pledged to be the most “business-friendly” mayor to lead London when he was elected almost two years ago. But in September last year, he shocked the business community by backing Transport for London’s (TfL) decision to revoke Uber’s licence. Uber is not known for its good corporate governance, but Khan was criticised for [...]
Sir Nick Clegg has become chairman at on-demand social care startup Cera March 10, 2018 Sir Nick Clegg has been appointed chairman of the advisory board of a homecare startup founded by a former NHS doctor. Clegg joins the board of Cera, which was started by Mahiben Maruthappu in an effort to help tackle the social care crisis. Read more: Nick Clegg admits "soft Brexit" hopes are dead The startup, [...]
Open banking is a test of trust for financial firms: What lenders face in their quest to win customers’ confidence March 5, 2018 Open banking, the new initiative threatening to tear up the banking rule book, has the power to revolutionise how people manage their money. For the first time, customers will be able to give companies other than their bank access to their financial data, opening retail and business banking to fresh competition and delivering more choice, [...]
Transport for London wants access to Uber’s greatest competitive asset – the swathes of data that underpins its success February 22, 2018 Efficiently matching supply with demand is the bread and butter of tech platforms operating in the gig economy. AirBnb matches spare rooms with short-term renters. Deliveroo matches restaurants with hungry consumers, via a network of riders. Uber matches car owners with people who need lifts. Each transaction creates rich data. When processed, that data becomes [...]
Citymapper’s launched a mincab-bus hybrid carpooling service after Transport for London approves PHV licence February 21, 2018 Citymapper is launching an on-demand carpooling service in the capital that’s part minicab, part bus, after Transport for London finally approved its application for a private hire licence. The tech startup, which has been experimenting in recent months with different types of on-demand transport, will serve central London with several eight-seater cars stretching between Clerkenwell [...]
Telegram ICO: Aim-listed TMT Investments backs WhatsApp rival’s token sale in first blockchain investment February 21, 2018 An investment firm listed on London’s alternative market has invested in the initial coin offering of messaging app Telegram. TMT Investments, which is a backer of Uber rival Taxify among other tech firms, revealed it’s one of a number of investors to back Telegram’s token pre-sale. The ICO has already raised $850m before it becomes [...]