Tech will disrupt the City more than Brexit May 2, 2019 The City’s roof gardens may be opening up for the summer but the fog of Brexit still hangs over the Square Mile. Businesses have been unequivocal about the consequences of uncertainty but the policy debate rages on, while political manoeuvring (or even the lack of it) tests the collective patience of the nation. You’d be [...]
London startup Checkout.com raises $230m in Europe’s largest ever fintech series A May 2, 2019 London-based fintech firm Checkout.com has raised $230m (£176.6m) from investors Insight Partners and DST Global, marking the largest European early-stage fintech raise to date. It is also the largest series A fintech fundraise globally of all time. Singapore’s sovereign wealth fund GIC, Blossom Capital, Endeavor Catalyst and other strategic investors also participated in the round. With [...]
VCs delay funding for London’s tech startups after the latest Brexit delay May 2, 2019 The latest Brexit extension has struck hesitancy into the heart of London’s venture capitalist scene as funders delay investments in the UK tech sector. Read more: Tech sector activity gets a boost despite falling optimism Almost a quarter of the capital’s technology startups have suffered a drop in VC funding since the end of 2018 [...]
50,000 businesses exposed to cyber attacks through SAP systems May 2, 2019 Up to 50,000 businesses running Sap software are at risk of being hacked after security researchers uncovered new ways to exploit insufficiently protected systems. German firm Sap, which provides software to more than 90 per cent of the world’s top 2,000 firms, said it had issued guidance on configuring security settings in 2009 and 2013. However, security [...]
Why Airbnb, Paypal and Spotify are paying hackers to break their security May 2, 2019 Top global chief executives have willingly forked out more than $50m (£38m) to hackers amid growing concerns about cybersecurity threats. Bosses have paid so-called ethical hackers to help tighten up their cyber defences in a bid to avoid expensive and embarrassing data breaches. Read more: Government to roll out new cybersecurity laws for IoT products [...]
Tesla looks to strengthen with $2.3bn fundraising round May 2, 2019 Tesla will look to raise around $2.3bn (£1.76bn) by issuing new shares and debt, with chief executive Elon Musk pitching in $10m of his own cash to buy shares. The electric car maker said this afternoon it has filed with regulators to launch the fundraising, after it lost $700m in the first three months of [...]
AI-powered fintech chatbot Plum closes $4.5m funding round May 2, 2019 Money management chatbot Plum has raised a fresh $4.5m (£3.45m) in funding to bring it to a total raise of $6.3m, it confirmed today. Read more: Former HSBC trader's fintech startup raises £3.8m from the crowd VC outfit Venture Friends, along with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), led the funding round for [...]
Defence secretary Gavin Williamson ousted from cabinet over Huawei security leak May 1, 2019 Defence secretary Gavin Williamson has been fired from the cabinet after an investigation into the leak of details of a National Security Council (NSC) meeting discussing Chinese tech firm Huawei. Prime Minister Theresa May wrote in a letter released today that "no other credible version of events to explain this leak has been identified". Read more: [...]
Shareholders call for Google parent Alphabet to be broken up May 1, 2019 A group of shareholders in Google's parent firm Alphabet has called for the company to be broken up, following a string of complaints against the firm regarding alleged human rights abuses and excessive founder dominance. Read more: Google parent Alphabet misses estimates as EU fine takes its toll The resolution, submitted by four members of [...]
UK is ‘nesting a dragon’ by allowing Huawei equipment in 5G network May 1, 2019 The UK will be ‘nesting a dragon’ if it allows Chinese tech firm Huawei to participate in its 5G network, a senior Tory MP has warned. Last week it emerged the government will give the green light for Huawei’s equipment to be used in non-core parts of the network, despite warnings from spy bosses over [...]
