Guy. Hipwell.

2 Year Fhunded Snapshot: 💰£21M+ early-stage equity raised through the Fhunded VC community 🧑‍💼 Around 40 new, high-skilled jobs created across Lancashire 🌹 19 leading VC's engaged with Lancashire-based deals via Fhunded events 🪽 Launch of the Fhunded Angel network 💻 Roll-out of Lancashire's bespoke Dealroom platform Read more: https://lnkd.in/eCX353jb

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Report reveals greater success for startups The startup graveyard might not be as crowded as you’ve heard. Contrary to the much-repeated stat that 90% of startups fail, new PwC analysis reveals the failure rate among early-stage UK companies is at its lowest in over a decade. https://lnkd.in/g8A-jwf3 In 2024, startups accounted for just 46% of all business insolvencies – a sharp drop from the 60% average of the past ten years, even as company formations hit record highs. So, what’s going on? It’s a mix of adaptability and austerity. Many founders have tightened costs, embraced GenAI and delayed big bets to protect runway. But with investor caution growing and talk of “zombie” companies surfacing, the real test may lie ahead: can these leaner startups reignite growth – or are they just biding time? ******* For more like this, try my free newsletter: https://lnkd.in/gBf8n27a

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Big news for Goldiam International Ltd —their share price surged over 13% following the launch of ORIGEM, their new retail lab-grown diamond brand (as covered by AngelOne). At Noesis.tech we’re thrilled to have played a part in this milestone by building out https://origemindia.com, the e-commerce engine powering their direct-to-consumer vision. At Noesis.tech, we’ve always believed that the real measure of success isn’t just delivering a product—it’s unlocking genuine business value. Seeing Goldiam International unlock new growth and tap into a more eco-conscious audience through our work is exactly the kind of impact we set out to create. This launch—and the market’s enthusiastic response—reminds us why we do what we do: 1. Innovation that drives tangible outcomes: E-commerce done right can help transform brands and elevate shareholder confidence. 2. Partnership that goes beyond checklists: Collaboration with forward-thinking teams yields extraordinary results. 3. Sustainability meets scalability: Showcasing lab-grown diamonds in a user-friendly digital store proves that eco-friendly solutions can captivate modern consumers and markets alike. Huge congratulations to Anmol Bhansali and the Goldiam International Ltd  team on this exciting step forward. We’re proud to have shared in the journey—and can’t wait to see what’s next! #businessvalue #ecommerce #digitaltransformation #innovation #growth https://lnkd.in/db3qKxAC

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Pharmacy2U Ltd #teamtech deliver another game changer to the healthcare market ….🙌👌 ….and we glady accept 2nd place in the App Store, second only to the NHS app in health 🫡 The brand new Pharmacy2U app combines pharmacy, private consultations, NHS services, veterinary medicines, and wellness services in a single app 🤩 The new platform fully supports the Government’s 10-year plan for digital access to health services. We’re committed to putting people in control of their healthcare. Read the full story: https://lnkd.in/gFwxBNYs https://lnkd.in/eqjPwAWC #Pharmacy2U #digitalhealth

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Big news for founders: SeedLegals has acquired The Pitch, the UK’s largest pitching competition for early-stage entrepreneurs. Since 2008, The Pitch has been connecting startup founders with active investors through its flagship programme, offering participants guidance and support as they refine their pitch to a panel of experts. Now with SeedLegals – the UK’s #1 closer of funding rounds – at the helm, startups can expect greater exposure, boosting both their brand reach and their chances of securing investment. And of course it will always be free to pitch. https://lnkd.in/d_MBgk8n

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Good to see the government are pausing InnovateUK smart grants to review the treatment of SMBs versus Startups. I've said in the past that startups are not SMBs, even though they might be small. They are searching for a business model to scale up - growth. A SMB might be a great business but growth is not its purpose, in general. Now I think they also need to purge their pool of assessors for people who understand startups and technology. I'd suggest using ex-founders, entrepreneurs and VCs. VCs live and die by successfully deciding which companies to fund. How many government assessors would that apply to? I had an assessor on my Machine Learning smart grant application, asking why I needed so much funds for "training my staff, aren't they already qualified" - he was referring to our ML-training budget. I'll say no more, this is not unusual in my experience. https://lnkd.in/eXh98YFJ.

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