Largest combined early-stage and growth funds focused on Europe Balderton Capital, one of Europe’s leading technology venture capital firms, today announced the launch of its $615 million Early Stage Fund IX and $685 million Growth Fund II, aimed at supporting Europe’s most ambitious entrepreneurs from seed stage through to IPO. “At Balderton, we believe the best way to change the world is to build a business – and that many of these world-changing businesses will be built in Europe,” said Bernard Liautaud, Managing Partner at Balderton. “As a firm, our mission is simple: to be the partner of choice for…
Author: News Team
Online platform work offers new employment opportunities to individuals with health problems or limited prospects, providing them with a means to earn a wage, according to new research from Vienna University of Economics and Business (WU). The study, led by Dominik Klaus and his team, reveals that while online platform work can have adverse effects on health, financial risk, social protection, and overall financial stability, the allure of a flexible income source, accessible from home, continues to attract a growing number of workers to the platform economy. Despite widespread criticism of the precarious nature of such work, the study highlights…
Assaí Atacadista (ASAI), one of Brazil’s leading cash & carry chains, closed the first half of 2024 with net sales of R$ 35.1 billion, marking a 12.9% year-on-year increase and an additional R$ 4 billion compared to the second half of 2023. This robust performance reflects the maturation of newly converted stores and a 2.9% rise in same-store sales. Quarterly net sales reached R$ 17.8 billion, up 11.8% year-on-year, contributing to a reduction in leverage to 3.65x. Assaí operates under the cash & carry model, akin to Costco, where “everyone shops, regardless of social class,” but without the need for…
NHS reports 7.62 million treatments were pending as of the end of June, involving 6.39 million patients (1). However, according to a new poll, 30% of people currently on an NHS waiting list waited over a year from the awareness of their condition to being added to the list (2). With NHS waiting lists increasing for the third consecutive month, according to new figures released yesterday (1), a private healthcare provider has highlighted that these statistics fail to account for the time it takes to receive a diagnosis before a patient is added to a treatment waiting list. A study…
Experts reveal the butterfly tattoo as the most searched design, with 45% more searches than any other Rose tattoos are the second most searched for design, according to the study The experts found dragons, flowers, snakes, and wolves among the other designs most searched, and reveal their hidden meanings Tattoo artists at LLTattoo have revealed the ten most searched tattoo designs world over, and the meanings behind the ink. LLTattoo examined tattoo design search terms on Google Keyword Planner regarding an array of the most common tattoos, to unveil which are the most searched globally, as well as individually in…
Despite the ongoing decline in the UK job market, the demand for AI skills remains robust, raising concerns that employers might face difficulties in recruiting new AI talent in an already scarce talent environment. This is based on new data from the leading talent solutions provider, WilsonHCG. WilsonHCG’s talent intelligence and labour market analytics platform has disclosed that the UK job market, while faring slightly better than in recent months, continues to struggle, with overall job postings decreasing by 1.2% between June and July 2024. This marks the tenth consecutive month of decline. Despite these adverse market conditions, the demand…
Sweet Cherry Publishing has acquired the worldwide rights to Sital Gorasia Chapman’s delightful new festive picture book, Little Spruce. Kellie Jones, Commissioning Editor at Sweet Cherry, struck the deal with Becky Bagnell, Founder of Lindsay Literary Agency, after being captivated by Chapman’s seasonal tale. With world rights now secured, the publishing house anticipates that this story will become a modern classic. Little Spruce tells the tale of a small tree’s grand Christmas adventure, leading readers on an exciting journey from the field to the family home. But what will happen when Christmas comes to an end? Where will our cherished…
Women experience significantly more difficulty in separating their work and family lives when working from home compared to men, according to new research from Durham University Business School. While remote work is often praised for its potential to address gender inequality due to its flexibility, these findings highlight that personal circumstances still impact women’s careers. The research, carried out by Menghan Shen, an MSc Information Management student at the University of Sheffield, and Dr. Efpraxia Zamani, Associate Professor of Information Systems at Durham University Business School, aimed to understand the experiences of both women and men working remotely, focusing on…
A Driving Force for SSAFA * is a biennial charity event, raising funds for SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity. It involves seventy people, in thirty-five vehicles, including participants and support vehicles, on an exhilarating 10-day driving adventure across the Iberian Peninsula and Gibraltar from 30 July to 9 August 2024, hoping to raise £120,000 for SSAFA. The 10-day event visited Gibraltar on Saturday 3 and Sunday 4 August 2024 which was seen as the jewel in the crown of the 2024 A Driving Force for SSAFA event -they made quite a spectacle as they arrived. The A Driving Force Team worked closely with…
Skills shortages: The real challenge for the water industry While discussions around bonus payments, funding, and hygiene have dominated the headlines, the primary concern for the water industry over the next six years is staffing. This is the view of specialist recruiter, Water by Murray. The recruiter has cautioned employers that significant skills shortages affecting the sector could hinder many key projects planned for AMP8, commencing in 2025. According to Water by Murray’s Water Industry Labour Report, which surveyed nearly 4,000 specialist engineers, ‘skills and recruitment’ was identified as the foremost issue facing the water industry, surpassing concerns about ageing…