The ONS also found that 54% of businesses reported higher hourly wages in April this year than in March. Meanwhile, 23% said they would respond to future employment cost increases by reducing employee numbers.

A lot of business owners are also starting to take another look at plans for retirement and expansion, as well as the everyday spending decisons. It can become harder to make decisions froma. hiring perspective when wage bills and pension contributions, etc. go up within a short space of time.

Jules Robertson, co-founder of Tally Workspace, said, “This morning’s ONS figures reinforce what many SME leaders have been feeling for some time – the cost of employing people has risen significantly, and that inevitably affects hiring decisions.”

She added, “When two-thirds of businesses are reporting higher staffing costs, it’s not just a line on a balance sheet. For smaller businesses in particular, rising wages, National Insurance contributions and pension costs can have a direct impact on growth plans, recruitment and investment decisions.”

This creates new commercial opportunities for companies and startups selling AI software…

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Could AI Companies Benefit From Higher Staffing Costs?

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The ONS survey did not ask businesses about AI but the findings do, hoewever explain why AI startups may be finding a gap in the market.

Many AI startups sell software that handles admin and support work, and the software is often marketed as a way for smaller teams to get work done efficiently without needing more staff.

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This becomes relevant when employers are not as willing to expand their workforce and this can be seen with the rise in lean startups built around automated systems. Robertson said, “Most SMEs aren’t looking to stand still. They want to grow, hire and invest in their teams. But when employment costs rise sharply, businesses naturally become more cautious about taking on additional headcount, particularly in entry-level roles where the return on investment may take longer to realise.”

Businesses who are trying to hold back on recruiting, spending money on software might sound like a better alternative than commiting to the long term cost of new employees. Now, this doesn’t necessarily mean companies are replacing workers with AI, but what it does mean is that software vendors are entering discussions that previously were based on recruitment.

The ONS found that 44% of businesses said they would respond to future employment cost rises by just increasing prices and 38% said they would absorb those costs within profit margins and it looks like tech spending could be the alternative they go for.

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Is A New Customer Base Emerging For AI Startups?

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Again, in an environment where these costs are going up, tech companies selling productivity software may find more customers willing to consider new tools.

Robertson said, “SMEs remain incredibly resilient, but growth depends on confidence. If businesses are expected to play a bigger role in tackling youth unemployment and building future talent pipelines, they need an environment that makes hiring feel achievable rather than increasingly costly.”

She concluded, “The conversation shouldn’t just be about creating jobs. It should also be about creating the conditions that give businesses the confidence to offer them.”

And it’s not that AI is replacing work – what the latest ONS data does show is that employers are reassessing spending decisions as staffing costs increase. That environment could create favourable conditions for AI startups selling software designed to help businesses achieve more with existing teams.

The post How Are Rising Employment Costs Creating A New Market For AI Startups? appeared first on 91̽��.

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Why Is Finland A Strong Base For IoT Innovation?

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Finland’s innovative wireless infrastructure (5G/6G leadership), rigorous testing settings, strong open-data rules, and solid public-private partnerships make it a global leader in IoT innovation. These components provide the perfect environment for creating robust, low-power connected devices.

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What Is Driving IoT Growth In Finland?

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Finland’s vast terrain, severe seasonal climate, and leadership in mobile technology are the main factors driving the country’s Internet of Things (IoT) growth. These elements, along with government support and robust Industry 4.0 manufacturing, are expected to significantly expand the Finnish IoT market.

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The Challenges Facing IoT Startups In Finland

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Finland’s IoT entrepreneurs confront a distinct combination of market realities and systemic obstacles. Although the nation’s strong ICT ecosystem and tech-forward culture provide a solid foundation, founders face challenges such as the high cost of expanding hardware, worldwide market saturation, tight EU cybersecurity and privacy compliance, and limited domestic B2B commercialisation.

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Top IoT Startups in Finland to Watch

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The growth of the IoT scene in Finland is only starting. Because of this continuous growth, more and more startups are opening their doors in Finland. This includes:

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1. Skyfora

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With Skyfora, atmospheric researchers, weather stations, and weather measurement organisations may measure the weather more accurately while lessening the environmental impact of weather measurement detritus. Additionally, our AI-powered severe tropical storm forecasting model enables insurance firms, financial institutions, and disaster management specialists to offer services for individuals and businesses.

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2. Rollyy

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In dynamic settings like parking lots, fleets, and urban mobility hubs, Rollyy creates autonomous mobile EV charging robots along with a software platform for energy orchestration. Without the need for specific parking places or fixed charging infrastructure, their technology combines robotics, battery storage, power electronics, cloud software, and connection to deliver energy directly to vehicles.��

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3. Emission Eye

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Emission Eye uses AI-driven Digital Emission Twins to evaluate data in real time, employs robust onboard IoT modules to communicate directly measured ship emissions, and anchors cryptographic proofs on blockchain infrastructure. Beyond compliance, the Digital Emission Twins provide ongoing optimisation and predictive insights that enhance operational decision-making, fuel efficiency, and emissions reduction.��

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4. Katana Concierge

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For hotels, commercial real estate, and Airbnb, Katana Concierge is a subscription-based virtual hosting service. It enables hosts to greet visitors in person and maintain contact with them even when they are not physically there. For a monthly subscription, we offer the concierge hub, cloud services, and client apps for both hosts and guests. Concierge Hub is a virtual assistant, home automation hub, and smart lock with key distribution.

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5. Steelbridge

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In order to assist manufacturers and technology providers in adhering to the EU Data Act, Steelbridge offers a regulatory technology (RegTech) SaaS platform. They assist businesses in the IoT, Industry 4.0, automotive, healthcare, and energy industries in managing safe and legal data exchange from linked devices.��

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6. Salusfin

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Increased energy efficiency, security, and safety are made possible by Salusfin’s IoT solutions, which also give you visibility and control over your building or site. They provide a Demand-Response service for B2B partners in which they use machine learning algorithms to optimise energy use. As we have done for AEON, their solution can be white labelled or rebranded with a customer-focused aesthetic.

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We’re halfway through 2026 and this week’s crowdfunding roundup reflects just how broad the startup opportunity has become. to recycled EV batteries and textiles grown from wetland plants, this cohort spans enterprise software, clean tech and sustainable materials.

What connects them, though, isn’t their sector or stage but rather a shared conviction that now is the time to put themselves out there to the public.

So, who are the startups crowdfunding this week? Here they are.

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1. Athena AI

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How much are they raising: £200,004

Website: www.athenachat.ai/

SEIS/EIS? Yes, SEIS

About: Athena AI lets businesses build, train and deploy AI agents across any channel and CRM, from a solo founder to an enterprise running multi-channel workflows.

The promise of AI for customer relationship management has been a conversation for years, but the gap between that promise and something a business can actually implement has remained stubbornly wide. Athena closes that gap, offering a platform that is flexible enough to meet businesses where they are.

Where to invest: Europe Republic

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2. Tharos

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How much are they raising: £165,000

Website: www.tharos.co.uk

SEIS/EIS? Yes, EIS

About: Tharos has built a proven, revenue-generating business in equine gut health and is now bringing the same expertise to the fast-growing canine market.

Gut health has become one of the most compelling areas in human and animal wellness, and Tharos has demonstrated that its science works where the standards are high and scrutiny is serious. Having earned credibility in the equine space, moving into dog health is a natural next step where the market is bigger and the consumer base is a passionate one.

Where to invest: Europe Republic

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3. MIM Habits

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How much are they raising: €200,007

Website: www.mimhabits.com

SEIS/EIS? N/A

About: MIM Habits is solving a persistent problem in the food industry – technical barriers preventing large-scale manufacturers from producing functional foods without compromising on what makes them work.

The processing conditions required by industrial food production routinely degrade the very compounds that give functional food their value. MIM has developed technology that overcomes these limitations, enabling global food giants to bring genuinely functional products to market at the volumes the industry demands.

Where to invest: Europe Republic

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4. Altilium

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How much are they raising: £700, 006

Website: www.altilium.tech/

SEIS/EIS? N/A

About: Altilium is closing the loop in the clean energy transition by taking end-of-life EV batteries and recycling them into critical minerals needed to make new ones.

The company addresses both problems of what happens to batteries at the end of their life and the UK’s dependence on imported critical minerals at the same time. They have built a domestic recycling infrastructure which keeps valuable materials in circulation and reducing the need to source them from overseas.

Where to invest: Europe Republic

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5. Ponda

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How much are they raising: £1,400,003

Website: www.ponda.bio

SEIS/EIS? Yes, EIS

About: Ponda is developing a new generation of textiles from wetland plants, turning one of nature’s most abundant and underutilised resources into a viable alternative to synthetic and environmentally costly fibres.

They have turned to wetland ecosystems for raw materials that grow quickly, require no pesticides and that have been largely overlooked by an industry still too dependent on oil-derived synthetics.

Where to invest: Europe Republic

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6. Oli Help

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How much are they raising: €175,000

Website: www.olihelp.com

SEIS/EIS? N/A

About: Oli Help is an AI companion designed for the caregivers of neurodiverse children, providing personalised, evidence-based support available when needed.

Professional support is often scarce, expensive or hard to access when it’s most needed. Oli Help fills that gap, not as a replacement for clinical care, but as an always-available informed companion that helps caregivers navigate the questions and decisions that come with raising a neurodiverse child.

Where to invest: Europe Republic

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7. Nanusens

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How much are they raising: N/A

Website: www.nanusens.com

SEIS/EIS? Yes, EIS

About: Nanusens is developing a way to embed nano-mechanical devices directly into integrates circuits which could fundamentally change how chips are designed and manufactured.

The semiconductor industry is under enormous pressure to do more with less. Nanusens is approaching that challenge from the inside, integrating mechanical functionality at the nanoscale in a way that opens up new possibilities for sensors, silicon photonics and chip architecture more broadly.

Where to invest: Crowdcube

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8. Exogene

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How much are they raising: N/A

Website: www.exogene.co.uk

SEIS/EIS? Yes, EIS

About: Exogene is developing next-generation cancer immunotherapies using a platform that combines generative AI with novel laboratory assays.

Immunotherapy has transformed cancer treatment for many patients, but the field is still in its relative infancy. Exogene’s platform is designed to speed up that discovery process, using generative AI to identify and design candidates that would take far longer to find through conventional research methods.

Where to invest: Crowdcube

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9. Artefact

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How much are they raising: N/A

Website: www.artefact.eco

SEIS/EIS? N/A

About: Artefact is an upcycling brand and studio that takes technical materials at the end of their working life and transforms them into high-quality accessories.

The materials that they work with, being technical fabrics, industrial textiles and other end-of-life components, carry their own history and character, and the studio’s skill lies in finding the beauty in that.

Where to invest: Crowdcube

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10. Minor Figures

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How much are they raising: N/A

Website: www.minorfigures.com

SEIS/EIS? N/A

About: Minor Figures is a B-corp certified plant-based beverage brand that produces barista-standard oat milk and ready-to-drink coffees.

In a crowded oat milk market, they have differentiated on quality and culture rather than price, becoming the brand of choice for coffee professionals who care deeply about what goes into the cup.

Where to invest: Crowdcube

The post 10 Startups Crowdfunding w/c 01.06.2026 appeared first on 91̽��.

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Why is Saudi Arabia Becoming a Fashion Startup Hub?

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The government’s Vision 2030 economic diversification strategy, which sees creative sectors as essential drivers of GDP and non-oil revenue, is the main reason Saudi Arabia is quickly becoming a hotbed for fashion startups. Massive financial support, a youthful population, and state-funded mentoring initiatives are driving this change.

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How Are Saudi Fashion Startups Changing the Industry?

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By fusing cutting-edge technology, circular economy solutions, and localised supply chains with Saudi Arabia’s deeply ingrained cultural character, Saudi are quickly revolutionising the sector. These entrepreneurs are transforming the design, production, and consumption of clothing with the support of strong initiatives by the Saudi Fashion Commission.

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What Makes Saudi Fashion Startups Unique?

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Saudi fashion businesses are unique in that they combine cutting-edge fashion technology, environmental innovation, and historic Arabian history. They are turning traditional clothing into contemporary luxury and streamlining supply chains with data-driven solutions, thanks to the quick expansion of the local market and institutional assistance.

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Top Fashion Startups In Saudi Arabia

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Saudi Arabia’s is evolving rapidly, with startups across the Kingdom bringing fresh ideas, modern designs, and innovative business models to the market. This evolution allows top startups to open their doors in Saudi Arabia. These startups include:

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1. Maison Safqa

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Maison Safqa is a Saudi Arabian flash sale e-commerce platform that is handpicked and exclusive to its subscribers. Customers can take advantage of temporary savings of up to 80% on local and worldwide designer names in the fashion, beauty, and lifestyle categories. The platform’s distinctive business strategy offers clear advantages to both consumers and brands.

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2. TAFFI

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TAFFI was established to assist customers in making quicker and more informed purchasing decisions. By directing users at several touchpoints in their buying journey, it removes all the guesswork that fashion consumers have to deal with while assisting businesses in increasing sales, improving retention rates, and lowering returns.

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3. Oriental Queen

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Oriental Queen is a cutting-edge Saudi e-commerce company that is revolutionising the way women purchase high-end lingerie, accessories and costumes. We bring unique designs, high-quality materials, and individualised styling advice right to our customers’ doors in Saudi Arabia and around the world by fusing traditional Middle Eastern artistry with contemporary internet convenience.

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4. Kees Chic

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As much a social movement as a company, Kees Chic offers a variety of stylish, fashionable, and “must-have” lifestyle items for city dwellers who are concerned about the environment and the world. These goods are made and marketed in the Saudi Arabian coastal city of Jeddah with the goal of sating the appetites of the contemporary, well-educated, and energetic urban populace.��

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5. Madzy

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Madzy makes women’s apparel according to what the buyer wants, so it’s largely custom-made. A group of ladies who recently obtained sewing instruction from the Municipality make up the manufacturing team. Madzy employed them in order to assist them in achieving financial independence and to give them a stage on which to display their work in the hopes that it would result in more employment prospects.

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6. Pulr.co

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An AI-powered social commerce platform called Pulr.co is revolutionising the MENA region’s connections between local firms, consumers, and innovators. Pulr allows artists to tag products directly in their content and smoothly reroute customers to the brand’s own website for checkout, catering to a mobile-native generation that finds products through creators rather than search bars.��

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The campaign was launched by Balderton Capital and features founders from businesses such as Revolut, Wayve, Lovable, ElevenLabs, Mistral AI, Synthesia, Alan, Voi and Lassie. Advertising has started in London, Paris, Stockholm, Berlin and Munich, encouraging people to build or join startups in Europe.

Supporters want more people to see what already exists in European tech. They believe Europe has successful companies, experienced founders and a massive talent base. Their goal, basically, is to focus on getting more people to build careers inside the continent’s startup ecosystem.

Suranga Chandratillake, General Partner at Balderton, said, “Travelling across Europe and meeting founders every day, what we feel is excitement and energy, not just from the big names who have already proven that their ideas work, but also from founders with huge ambition who are just getting started. For too long, the narrative around European tech has been stuck on all the things that need to change. Built In Europe aims to shift the conversation from potential to proof.”

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What Does Working Together Actually Look Like?

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One of the aspects of the campaign is how openly founders are helping one another build a larger talent pool. Companies that could compete for workers are backing a shared effort to bring more people into European startups.

BuiltInEurope.com has launched a jobs platform that gathers vacancies from 1,000 European tech startups in one place and Balderton believes it is ���ܰ��DZ��’s largest startup talent hub. So, there are places where people looking for work can browse opportunities from hundreds of businesses without searching company websites one by one or relying on platforms such as LinkedIn that have become oversaturated with spam .

The website also lists incubators and resources for people thinking about launching startups of their own. That means the campaign targets future founders as well as future employees.

Anton Osika, Co-founder of Lovable, said, “There has never been a better time to build from Europe than now. The talent is here, the capital is here, the ecosystem is here. And we have the ambition to match.”

Mati Staniszewski, Co-founder of ElevenLabs, said, “There are tons of great founders right now trying to build things that are truly special. And we’re surrounded by people who are keen to get involved and work with us on frontier technologies. This blend of people, talent and ambition has never been more real.”

Victor Riparbelli, Co-founder and CEO of Synthesia, said, “When we founded the company nine years ago, few European AI startups could compete on the global stage. Today, the situation is very different: we have great companies winning in their categories, not just in Europe but worldwide.”

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How Big Has ���ܰ��DZ��’s Tech Sector Become?

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Supporters of Built in Europe say the continent’s tech sector has reached a scale that deserves more recognition.

According to Dealroom, ���ܰ��DZ��’s tech sector is now worth $6.7 trillion. Atomico’s State of European Tech report says tech now accounts for 15% of ���ܰ��DZ��’s GDP – it was 4% in 2015.

Those statistics help explain why founders are promoting Europe collectively instead of concentrating on individual businesses. Their argument is that successful companies already exist throughout the continent and more can follow.

Alex Kendall, Co-founder and CEO of Wayve, said, “If you think about what’s going to matter in the next 100 years, it’s the really hard, , and startups are where that’s built. It’s the most adventurous, exciting thing you could do, build or join a startup in Europe.”

Murvah Iqbal, Co-founder and CEO of HIVED, said, “The best part about building in Europe is the diversity of the talent that this region attracts, from all over the world. The ecosystem is robust, there is energy and momentum – I would say there’s never been a better time to start a company in Europe than right now.”

Fredrik Hejlm, Founder and CEO of Voi, said, “To anyone thinking about starting a business in Europe, I would say – just go for it. We have the talent, the capital, and we’re starting to have the support from our politicians and governments.”

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Why Is The Idea Of European Self-Reliance Gaining Support?

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The campaign launched at the right time (whether coincidentally or not) when many Europeans are thinking more about local tech and infrastructure.

Research from payment company Enfuce found that 73% of consumers and 97% of payment providers believe the UK and EU should have more control over payment systems, and 60% of consumers and 67% of payment providers believe it is a problem that a small number of global companies control so many payments.

Enfuce also found that 62% of consumers and nearly 78% of payment providers are worried could interrupt payment services. These stats are all related to the growing support the campaign is receiving.

Denise Johansson, Co-Founder and CEO of Enfuce, said, “For decades, payments were designed around convenience and global scale. Now they are becoming a question of resilience, control and economic security.

“Consumers are starting to recognise that the systems moving money around the world are not politically neutral infrastructure. This is a rare opportunity to rethink what we want from payments – not just faster, but more transparent, resilient and more aligned with the values of consumers, businesses and society itself.”

That helps explain why startup founders are speaking about Europe as a shared project.

Hedda Båverud Olsson, Co-founder and CEO of Lassie, said, “Europe is full of underestimated founders ready to take on industries no one has touched in decades. The opportunity now is to keep that talent here and back it ambitiously enough to win globally. There has never been a better moment to build in Europe.”

And as Hélène Huby, Founder and CEO of The Exploration Company, advised, “For anyone thinking about , I would say: do it now. This is a crucial moment to come together and defend European values of collaboration, peace and diversity. It’s a time for ambition and for big ideas.”

The post What Happens When 100+ EU Founders Market An Entire Tech Ecosystem Like A Product? appeared first on 91̽��.

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Tell Me About Yourself and UpCodes

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I’m a software engineer by training, and I’ve always been interested in technology, whether that’s new science or software systems. I co-founded UpCodes with my brother Scott, who’s an architect. He saw firsthand how difficult it was to navigate building codes in practice; I saw a systems problem hiding in plain sight.

UpCodes started as a way to make building codes searchable and accessible, but it’s grown into something broader: helping people understand and apply the law more clearly. At its core, the company is about reducing friction in an industry where clarity, accuracy, and safety really matter.

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What Inspired You To Start UpCodes, and What Problem Were You Trying To Solve?

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The spark came from discussions with my brother Scott, who would spend hours digging through PDFs and physical books just to answer basic compliance questions. The information existed, but it wasn’t structured, searchable, or even reliably accessible. In many cases, the law itself wasn’t freely available online.

That disconnect bothered us. It seemed like a silly problem to be struggling with in the 21st century. Putting the law online and making it searchable was just very obvious, and we couldn’t understand why it hadn’t been done.

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What Has Been Your Biggest Challenge So Far, and How Did You Overcome It?

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We soon found out why the law was not free. There were groups who thought they owned the text of the law given they had been involved in authoring it.

One of these law publishers sued us soon after starting. Lawsuits in the US are tremendously expensive, long and stressful. The judicial system favors big incumbents who can bury innovative startups in legal fees.

It was only through venture capital that we were able to survive the onslaught of the early years. Being physically present in San Francisco was critical for that, at least back in 2017.

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Can You Describe a Pivotal Moment That Significantly Shaped the Direction of UpCodes?

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A turning point was realizing that access alone wasn’t enough. Making codes searchable solved part of the problem, but applying them correctly across real projects required deeper intelligence.

Construction has near-infinite variation, and hard-coded rules can only go so far. That’s when it became clear that structured data and AI were the answers to scale understanding responsibly. Importantly, AI wasn’t the starting point; it was the result of listening to the problem. That shift reframed UpCodes from a reference tool into a system that actively supports professional judgment.

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How Do You Define Success?

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For your business:��Success means being trusted. If professionals rely on our tools when the stakes are high (safety, legality, cost), that tells us we’re doing something right. And generally surviving and growing; the conversion funnel is pretty harsh.

As a founder:��In my opinion, the most important thing a founder can do is stick around. The journey can be pretty gruelling and stressful at times. A startup’s success is mostly luck, but you do also have to play your cards right and endure a lot. In the early years, we never imagined UpCodes growing this big. We did get lucky.

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What Advice Would You Give To Someone Thinking About Launching Their Own Startup?

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Start with the problem, not the technology. It’s tempting to fall in love with a solution (especially with something as powerful as AI), but that’s usually backwards.

Look for something that frustrates you deeply, something you’d want fixed even if it weren’t fashionable and glamorous. Then ask what approach actually fits. At UpCodes, if AI hadn’t been the right tool, we wouldn’t have used it. The best startups I’ve seen are driven by clarity of purpose, not by chasing trends.

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What’s Next for UpCodes? Any Exciting Developments We Should Watch Out For?

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We’re focused on continuing to turn static rules into usable systems. That means helping professionals move not just from research to answers, but from answers into real decisions: where requirements, intent, and documentation stay connected instead of breaking apart across tools.

More broadly, we’re interested in how better access to the law can unlock safer, faster, and more equitable outcomes, especially in housing and infrastructure. The details will evolve, but the direction stays the same: reduce handoffs, reduce guesswork, and help teams carry clarity from early design all the way through execution.

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Want to be featured as 91̽��’s Founder of the Week? Find out more about this weekly feature and how to get involved .

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Founder’s 5 with Garrett Reynolds

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Want to know more about the man behind UpCodes? Here’s 91̽��’s exclusive Founder’s Five with Garrett Reynolds.

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Favourite business tool

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As the CTO, I love linters (automatic code checkers) and automated test suites (tests that check to make sure the code does what you think it does over time). We use Ruff for Python. I think companies tend to underinvest in these guardrails.

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One lesson you learned the hard way?

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Let people “try and fail” to some extent. As a founder, I kiboshed an idea for a new feature the team had for years, but finally someone joined who really pushed hard. I decided to let them do it since it wouldn’t take too long to try it. Turns out I was wrong, and it was our best-converting feature ever. Even if it had failed, there would have been good learnings.

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One future trend you’re watching?

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AI automating more coding work. Coding is itself automation, so once the automation gets more automated, things could move really fast.

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One quote you live by

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I like thinking about the Steve Jobs quote: “We don’t make most of the food we eat, we don’t grow it, anyway. We wear clothes other people make, we speak a language other people developed, we use mathematics other people evolved and spent their lives building. I mean, we’re constantly taking things. It’s a wonderful, ecstatic feeling to create something and put it into the pool of human experience and knowledge.”

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One book/podcast you recommend

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“Homo Deus” by Yuval Noah Harari. Great exploration of the potential of technological progress.

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Want to be featured as 91̽��’s Founder of the Week? Know someone who deserves to be recognised as a founder making waves in the startup landscape? Find out more about this weekly feature and how to get involved .

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As blockchain technology continues to evolve, Estonia is poised to stay one of ���ܰ��DZ��’s leading centers for Web3 and decentralised innovation.

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What Is Blockchain?

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A blockchain is a shared digital ledger that records transactions safely across many computers. In a blockchain, data is not stored in a central location but is distributed across the network. This makes it very secure, transparent and very hard to change.

Each transaction is recorded in a “block,” and the blocks are chained together chronologically in a “chain.” Once data is added to the blockchain, it cannot be easily altered. This helps to create trust and transparency. Blockchain technology is widely applied in:

• Like Bitcoin and Ethereum, cryptocurrencies
• DeFi (Decentralised Finance)
• Tracking the Supply Chain
• Smart contracts��
• Electronic Identity Systems
• NFT marketplace
• Cybersecurity solutions��

The technology is helping to transform industries by cutting down on fraud, increasing transparency and cutting out the need for middlemen in many digital processes.

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The Blockchain Environment In Estonia

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Estonia has been a country for years. The country introduced its popular e-Residency program in 2014 and has embedded digital technologies into government services, healthcare, education and tax systems.

Estonia was one of the first adopters of the block-chain technology. The nation has deployed blockchain-based security systems to protect government data and ensure the integrity of digital records. Several factors make the Estonian blockchain ecosystem strong:

• A very digital society
• Advanced cybersecurity skills
• Rules for businesses starting up
• Solid engineering skills
• Backing for innovation by government
• Access to the markets of Europe

With Web3 and decentralised technologies advancing, Estonia is poised to stay a key player in blockchain innovation.

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Why Estonia Is Key In Blockchain Innovation

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Estonia’s blockchain ecosystem is unique as the country adopted digital transformation earlier than most countries. Its strong cybersecurity expertise, innovative startup culture and supportive digital policies continue to attract blockchain entrepreneurs from all over the world.

The country’s startups are building practical solutions for cybersecurity, logistics, finance, digital identity, gaming and enterprise infrastructure as well as cryptocurrency platforms.

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Estonia’s Top Blockchain Startups

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Estonia has a rich ecosystem of blockchain companies in fields like decentralised finance (DeFi), cybersecurity, supply chain management, NFT gaming and Web3 infrastructure. These startups are helping to shape the future of decentralised technology in Europe and across the globe.

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Paxful

Paxful has become one of the world’s best-known peer-to-peer marketplaces for cryptocurrency. It is a platform where you can buy and sell Bitcoin directly with each other with multiple payment options.

The firm has been instrumental in increasing access to cryptocurrency in underbanked regions. Paxful’s platform was particularly well received in emerging markets because of its flexibility and ease of use. The startup played a role in shaping Estonia’s image as a crypto-friendly and blockchain-forward country.

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OBORTECH

OBORTECH leverages blockchain and (IoT) technology for transparency in global supply chains. The company’s platform allows companies to monitor goods, shipments and logistics data in real time.

Supply chain industries suffer from inefficiencies, fraud and a lack of visibility. OBORTECH addresses these issues by creating secure digital records that are difficult to alter. The startup is a good example of how blockchain technology can be used to improve industries outside of cryptocurrency and finance.

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Konsta Network��

Konsta Network is building decentralised blockchain infrastructure for secure and scalable digital systems. The company focuses on high-speed Proof-of-Authority blockchain solutions that are good on security and efficient.

Designed for enterprises, decentralised applications and organisations looking for trusted blockchain networks. Konsta Network is developing the fundamental infrastructure required for the expansion of Web3. As decentralised technologies continue to evolve, infrastructure providers such as Konsta Network will be key to blockchain adoption.

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IQ Labs

IQ Labs is the developer of the IQ Protocol, a decentralised asset rental system for blockchain ecosystems. It allows users to borrow digital assets for a limited time without having to buy them outright.

This concept opens new possibilities for NFT gaming, subscription models and decentralised digital economy. At IQ Labs we develop pragmatic blockchain solutions to enable scalable Web3 applications. The startup is a symbol of Estonia’s growing innovation in the field of decentralised finance and digital asset management.

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Alium Swap

AliumSwap is a decentralised exchange (DEX) platform that focuses on multichain trading and liquidity solutions. It allows users to move digital assets between multiple blockchain ecosystems and keep decentralised control over their funds.

The platform is intended for applications like staking, yield farming and liquidity pools. AliumSwap is another extension of DeFi services in the ecosystem of the Estonian blockchain. With the rise of decentralised exchanges, platforms such as AliumSwap are helping reshape digital finance.

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Dealroom found that Europe accounts for 45 of the world’s top 100 tech ecosystems on a per capita basis, ahead of North America’s 40. The ranking measures startup activity, unicorn creation, enterprise value and university connections relative to population size.

That result brings cities such as Cambridge, Ghent and Lausanne into view. Cambridge came third globally in the Density Leaders category, which is only behind the Bay Area and Boston. London, Stockholm and Ghent also locked in positions in the global top 10.

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So, What Does This Mean?

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This completely changes an old assumption startups might’ve had. Building a global company no longer requires being based in one of a few giant tech capitals. Dealroom’s data shows specialised ecosystems producing internationally competitive companies from cities that many investors would once have overlooked.

Raffi Kamber, General Partner at Singular, said, “The European tech narrative is a familiar one but what we talk less about is the rare breed quietly building something the continent has never produced before: scientists who think like entrepreneurs, technical talent that thinks like operators, building from their European hometowns.

“Dig deeper and you find this new generation of AI x Science founders: the sciencetrepreneurs like Basecamp Research and Spore.Bio. And, on the other hand, you have Aikido Security, which flipped the cybersecurity space from Ghent which I bet was unexpected. This is the data as we see it and nothing speaks louder.”

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What Makes Europe Different From The US Model?

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The Dealroom rankings tell us that ���ܰ��DZ��’s startup strength comes from many locations. Success is not concentrated in a small collection of mega hubs.

Research institutions form an important element of that formula. Cambridge, Lausanne and Munich all benefit from close relationships , technical talent and entrepreneurs. The result is a pipeline of startups rooted in scientific research and engineering expertise.

Yoram Wijngaarde, Founder and CEO of Dealroom.co, said, “As Europe struggles with entrenched low growth, political leaders see tech and innovation as a fundamental building block of economic competitiveness. Innovation is seen as a route not only to securing growth but also national resilience and strategic autonomy.

“What stands out is not just the strength of leading hubs like London and Paris, but the rise of high-performing smaller ecosystems often built around leading research and academic institutions. Our Index provides a transparent, data-driven benchmark to help leaders understand and accelerate that growth.”

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Bobby Jäckle, Partner at Visionaries, said, “���ܰ��DZ��’s strength in tech has never been about one city or one country. It comes from the depth and diversity of ecosystems building globally relevant companies across the continent.

“From London’s leadership in AI to deep tech hubs like Munich, Cambridge and Lausanne, we’re seeing a new generation of founders building with greater ambition and urgency. What’s especially exciting is how ���ܰ��DZ��’s technical talent, research strength and industrial base are coming together to turn the continent into a serious force in AI, software and strategic technologies.”

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Is Policy Becoming A Startup Growth Tool?

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The European Commission’s first European Startup and Scaleup Scoreboard presents an interesting conclusion. Countries that make life easier for founders tend to produce better startup ecosystems.

According to the Scoreboard, 20 of the EU’s 27 member states improved their performance between 2020 and 2025. Estonia, Sweden, Finland, the Netherlands and Denmark lead the rankings.

Estonia recorded 615 venture capital backed companies per million inhabitants, the highest level in the EU. Sweden produced 409 unicorns per million inhabitants, more than any other EU country. Finland matched high research and development spending with substantial patent activity.

The Commission also identified the issues faced by countries lower in the rankings. Access to later stage isn’t as accessible in many markets. Administrative processes can slow expansion, and talent often leaves for ecosystems that would provide more attractive conditions.

That is important for startups because policy now influences where companies choose to launch and grow. The Commission is using the findings to guide initiatives such as EU Inc., a proposed single corporate framework across the EU, the European Business Wallet and the EU Visa Strategy.

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What Can Founders Learn From ���ܰ��DZ��’s Rankings?

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One big lesson here is that startup success depends less on geography and more on ecosystem quality.

London reclaimed its position as ���ܰ��DZ��’s leading tech ecosystem after raising $17.8 billion in funding during 2025, according to Dealroom. AI investment in the city reached $7 billion, and London is home to 138 unicorns.

The most interesting lesson from this year’s rankings comes from cities outside the traditional capitals. Munich has become a hub for defence technology and industrial innovation. Istanbul, Kyiv, Zagreb, Athens and Sofia are all moving higher in Dealroom’s Rising Star rankings.

Jan Hendrik Boelens, co-founder and CEO of Alpine Eagle, said, “Munich has fast become a critical hub for ���ܰ��DZ��’s next generation of defence and companies. What makes this ecosystem different is the combination of engineering talent, advanced manufacturing and a growing recognition that the continent must build more of its own strategic capabilities.

“The city also benefits from its proximity to Technische Universität München (TUM), one of the world’s leading engineering universities, which helps create a strong pipeline of technical talent. For Alpine Eagle, growing here means we can scale quickly while remaining deeply connected to the industrial and technological foundations Europe will need to strengthen its long-term security and sovereignty.”

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The data shows some drift – the average crept from 41 in 2000 to 44 during the 2010s, before slipping back to 43 in 2024 and 2025, the first decline in over a decade. The range across the entire period is just three years, from 41 to 44. Financial crises, recessions, periods of rapid technological change and the biggest public health emergency in a century haven’t shifted the profile of who starts a business in Britain in any statistically significant way.

“When analysing over nine million data points, the noise of ‘trends’ disappears and the reality emerges,” says Graeme Donnelly, founder and CEO at 1st Formations. “British business thrives on experience. Today, the average age to start a business matches that of the millennium’s start. While younger generations enter the business world and veterans continue to grow, the heavy lifting of the economy is done by the 43 Club – professionals who have spent decades honing their craft before taking the leap.”

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What The Data Actually Shows

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The consistency is notable when set against the economic backdrop. In 2008, the year of the global financial crisis, the average age was 43. In 2016, the year of the Brexit referendum, it was 44. In 2020, the year of the pandemic, it was 44. The figure for 2026 to date is 43. Whatever was happening in the economy, the person most likely to incorporate a new company in the UK was a mid-career professional in their early-to-mid forties.

The age spread in the data is also remarkable – the minimum director age under the Companies Act 2006 is 16, and the dataset includes founders at that age. At the other end, a director appointment at 110 years old was recorded in 2012. Over the full 25-year period, the average oldest founder in any given year was 91. Entrepreneurship in the UK isn’t a young person’s game by default – it spans seven decades of working life.

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Why Mid-Career Professionals Drive The Numbers

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The steady rate of 43 highlights underlying systemic factors in how UK businesses are launched. The typical founder isn’t a fresh graduate with a disruptive idea – they’re someone with sector knowledge, professional networks, financial stability and, often, a specific problem they’ve spent years watching go unsolved. This combination typically emerges in your forties rather than our twenties, and the data shows it holds regardless of the economic conditions around it.

The picture is complicated slightly by the rise of younger entrepreneurship. According to a Glassdoor-Harris poll, 57% of Gen Z individuals now run a side hustle, pointing to growing momentum among younger founders that may not show up fully in company incorporation data. Many of those businesses start informally before being registered, which means the 43 average could be partially reflecting when people formalise something that started earlier.

Either way, the data from 1st Formations indicates the formal startup moment – the point at which someone commits enough to incorporate – is still being made primarily by people with significant professional experience behind them.

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The SME Backbone

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��with between zero and 249 employees currently account for 99.9% of the UK’s private sector business population and 60% of total private sector employment, representing around 16.9 million jobs. The 43-year-old founder, mid-career and experienced, is the person building and running that infrastructure. Not the teenage tech prodigy or the retired Silver Starter that startup culture tends to celebrate, but the professional who spent their thirties becoming very good at something and their forties doing something with it.

The AI era is the next stress test for that pattern. 1st Formations’ data marks 2026 as the year of the “AI and green energy shift.” Whether a technological transformation as significant as this one finally disrupts the 43 figure, or whether mid-career professionals once again prove to be the ones who build the businesses that matter, is the question the next decade of this data will answer.

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Why Is The Netherlands Emerging As A Fashion Startup Destination?

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Because of its distinctive combination of sustainable innovation, circular economy rules, and a highly linked, English-fluent digital infrastructure, the Netherlands is becoming a leading destination for fashion startups. The nation serves as a link between cutting-edge technology and design, drawing eco-aware artists and online retailers.

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What Makes Dutch Fashion Startups Stand Out?

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Dutch in that they skilfully combine sustainability and technology. Motivated by the nation’s practical, environmentally sensitive culture, these companies eschew quick fashion in favour of ethical material sourcing, circular business structures, and digital-first innovations like supply-chain transparency and AI-driven inclusion tools.

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What The Future Looks Like For Fashion Startups In The Netherlands

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A significant shift toward sustainability, robots, and digital-first models will shape the future of fashion businesses in the Netherlands. Startups are in a unique position to develop in sophisticated material sciences, on-demand manufacturing, and repair services because of stringent European rules and circular economy objectives.

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Top Fashion Startups In The Netherlands To Watch

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Because of its distinctive combination of sustainable innovation, circular economy rules, and a highly linked, English-fluent digital infrastructure, the Netherlands is becoming a s. This includes the following fashion startups in the Netherlands:

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1. RE&UP

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The circular tech startup RE&UP is changing the conventional textile-to-textile model. It addresses the most urgent problems facing the earth by creating Next-Gen Cotton and Next-Gen Polyester that function just as well as virgin fibres.

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2. Manufy

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Manufy is an online marketplace that efficiently, transparently, and, above all, sustainably links ethical brands with sustainable manufacturers across Europe. By doing this, they seek to contribute to an industry that is future-proof, increase support for local sourcing, prioritise quality over quantity, and aid in the expansion of companies of all kinds.

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3. The Swapshop

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The Awaerness Kollektif Foundation’s impact-driven Swapshop program focuses on clothing exchanges. Clothes and other fashion items that people no longer wear can be turned in at events like The Swapshop. For every item turned in, they get “Swaps” on their account. The type of item, quality, condition, brand, material, and style all affect how many swaps there are.

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4. Rimoda

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Rimoda is a circular and traceable marketplace that enables fashion designers to sell their returns, customers to make money by using their unwanted clothing for discounts, and the impoverished to have free shopping experiences just like any other fashion consumer.

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5. Faslet

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Fashion brands throughout Europe can enhance conversion, decrease returns, and eliminate missed sales with only one integration thanks to Faslet, a retail intelligence platform. Faslet integrates shopper profiling, virtual try-on, missed sales tracking, and ML-powered size suggestions into a single platform.��

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6. NUTT Amsterdam

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The meeting point of street culture and haute fashion is NUTT Amsterdam. founded on the idea that genuine style drives trends rather than following them. Each garment is made by hand from carefully chosen used apparel. With attitude, they dissect, reassemble, and become new narratives.��

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7. Alexandra Barker

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Alexandra Barker is a symbol of timeless, eco-friendly apparel that was inspired by the ambition to design exquisitely designed, long-lasting styles for daily use. Handmade locally to order with consideration and empathy for both people and the environment.

By collaborating with regional ateliers that guarantee fair wages and equal rights for the workers who produce their goods, the brand is committed to uniting communities.

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8. Wad en Design

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Wad en Design produces eco-friendly kitchen fabrics, beds, shirts, and sweaters for the travel and tourism sector. Fast fashion is overwhelming this business. They seek to create an additional line of worthwhile memories of the location you recently visited, by tying the memento to the area’s natural beauty and cultural legacy.��

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