Startups

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Property
Fintech

August wins HMRC recognition for Making Tax Digital

Richard Samuel, chief executive of rental platform August, on HMRC recognition for Making Tax Digital and the landlords now entering the regime.August wins HMRC recogniti

The self-managing landlord has never been well served by software. Most UK landlords own between one and five homes, run them without an agent, and administer the lot from a spreadsheet, a folder of scanned PDFs and a bank statement scrolled through in January.

Rowen Brooks  · 
Fintech

Cordant exits stealth with $8m to close the payments control gap

Fresh from Rapyd, Eric Rosenthal has raised $8 million from Motive Partners and Oak HC/FT to build a command centre for financial infrastructure.

Cordant has emerged from stealth with an $8 million seed round from Motive Partners, Oak HC/FT and others, pitching itself as a command centre for financial infrastructure.

Rowen Brooks  · 
Energy
Fintech
Retail & E-Commerce

Alfred opens waitlist for Costco-style household services bundle

UK startup Alfred bundles energy, mobile, broadband and insurance under a £195 membership, targeting households squeezed by rising utility costs.
UK startup Alfred bundles energy, mobile, broadband and insurance under a £195 membership, targeting households squeezed by rising utility costs.
Disrupts Editorial Team  · 
Defence
Transportation & Logistics
Robotics

BOS Better Online Solutions lifts net income guidance on Q2 surge

The Israeli supply chain integrator's 29% Q2 revenue jump and record $31m backlog point to resilient defence and aerospace tech demand.
The Israeli supply chain integrator's 29% Q2 revenue jump and record $31m backlog point to resilient defence and aerospace tech demand.
Disrupts Editorial Team  · 
Wellbeing
Robotics
Sustainability

Decent Holding triples revenue with eldercare-environment pivot

The Yantai-listed firm's digital senior care platform and wastewater wins pushed H1 revenue to $18.6m, up 238%.
The Yantai-listed firm's digital senior care platform and wastewater wins pushed H1 revenue to $18.6m, up 238%.
Disrupts Editorial Team  · 
Retail & E-Commerce
AI & ML

BOSS Zhipin posts 14% revenue growth as AI reshapes China hiring

China's dominant recruitment platform reports accelerating margins as AI-assisted matching and interviews move from experiment to commercial product.
China's dominant recruitment platform reports accelerating margins as AI-assisted matching and interviews move from experiment to commercial product.
Disrupts Editorial Team  · 
Real Estate
Property

Development Bank of Wales backs £7m North Wales property push

Four commercial schemes across Kinmel Bay, Conwy and Bangor will deliver 67,000 sq ft of industrial space via public fund backing.
Four commercial schemes across Kinmel Bay, Conwy and Bangor will deliver 67,000 sq ft of industrial space via public fund backing.
Disrupts Editorial Team  · 
Cybersecurity
AI & ML

Reggy launches unified compliance platform as EU AI Act bites

Oslo startup Reggy goes public with a single-system compliance platform as European regulatory fines hit a record $19.3 billion in 2024.
Oslo startup Reggy goes public with a single-system compliance platform as European regulatory fines hit a record $19.3 billion in 2024.
Disrupts Editorial Team  · 
Energy
AI & ML
Fintech

Permutable joins TotalEnergiesOn to test real-time energy signals

The London-based intelligence firm will stress-test its macro-sentiment platform inside TotalEnergies' six-month startup accelerator.
The London-based intelligence firm will stress-test its macro-sentiment platform inside TotalEnergies' six-month startup accelerator.
Disrupts Editorial Team  · 
Retail & E-Commerce
AI & ML
Internet of Things

Trident launches AI marketing JV targeting 9.4m SMEs across Asia-MEA

A Singapore-US joint venture will deploy an AI enterprise platform across Asia, the Middle East and Africa, targeting millions of underserved small businesses.
A Singapore-US joint venture will deploy an AI enterprise platform across Asia, the Middle East and Africa, targeting millions of underserved small businesses.
Disrupts Editorial Team  · 
Fintech
AI & ML
Blockchain

Fasset reaches $1B valuation with $68M SBI-led Series C

Japan's SBI Group backs a stablecoin neobank spanning 125 countries, signalling institutional capital's pivot to emerging-market financial infrastructure.
Japan's SBI Group backs a stablecoin neobank spanning 125 countries, signalling institutional capital's pivot to emerging-market financial infrastructure.
Disrupts Editorial Team  · 
Fintech
Sustainability

Standard Chartered Foundation backs women-led tech founders in Egypt

A $35,000 grant programme targets Egypt's $2.2bn funding gap for women entrepreneurs across 12 tech startups.
A $35,000 grant programme targets Egypt's $2.2bn funding gap for women entrepreneurs across 12 tech startups.
Disrupts Editorial Team  · 
Fintech
AI & ML
Retail & E-Commerce

Fintech pulls $700m in a week as AI accounting hits unicorn

A bumper week for fintech capital sees Rillet reach a $1bn valuation and Ingenico recapitalise with PIMCO backing.
A bumper week for fintech capital sees Rillet reach a $1bn valuation and Ingenico recapitalise with PIMCO backing.
Disrupts Editorial Team  · 
Fintech
Real Estate

Exits MENA acquires Avanz Capital Egypt in MENA private equity push

The multi-seven-figure deal creates an integrated advisory-to-PE platform targeting Egypt's $123bn SME finance gap.
The multi-seven-figure deal creates an integrated advisory-to-PE platform targeting Egypt's $123bn SME finance gap.
Disrupts Editorial Team  · 
Fintech
AI & ML

Payments giants pivot from lending to AI agents as margin logic shifts

Toast, Block, Shopify and Adyen are quietly sidelining their lending arms as agentic AI rewrites the merchant-services value chain.
Toast, Block, Shopify and Adyen are quietly sidelining their lending arms as agentic AI rewrites the merchant-services value chain.
Disrupts Editorial Team  · 
Fintech
AI & ML

Paraglide joins CICM as agentic AI reshapes credit collections

A $5m Bessemer-backed AR platform partners with the UK credit profession's chartered body to prepare members for autonomous AI agents.
A $5m Bessemer-backed AR platform partners with the UK credit profession's chartered body to prepare members for autonomous AI agents.
Disrupts Editorial Team  · 
Fintech
Retail & E-Commerce

PayQuicker secures Clearhaven PE backing to scale global payout reach

A software-focused PE firm backs PayQuicker's 210-country payout platform as enterprise demand for real-time global disbursement intensifies.
A software-focused PE firm backs PayQuicker's 210-country payout platform as enterprise demand for real-time global disbursement intensifies.
Disrupts Editorial Team  · 
Media & Publishing
Fintech
AI & ML

Parachute launches outcome-based advisory with $1.5m venture arm

Austin startup Parachute ties advisory fees to client outcomes and writes cheques, as Big Three consultancies edge toward performance pricing.
Austin startup Parachute ties advisory fees to client outcomes and writes cheques, as Big Three consultancies edge toward performance pricing.
Disrupts Editorial Team  · 
Retail & E-Commerce
Internet of Things
AI & ML

OPPO launches Enco Clip2, Enco Air5 and Pad 5 in Saudi Arabia

OPPO's three-product Gulf rollout tests whether premium audio and AI-tablet features can convert mid-market consumers in Saudi Arabia.
OPPO's three-product Gulf rollout tests whether premium audio and AI-tablet features can convert mid-market consumers in Saudi Arabia.
Disrupts Editorial Team  · 
Fintech
Real Estate

OPay's $358bn GTV fuels $4bn New York IPO push

Nigeria's OPay targets a $4bn US listing after doubling gross transaction value to $358bn in 2025.
Nigeria's OPay targets a $4bn US listing after doubling gross transaction value to $358bn in 2025.
Disrupts Editorial Team  · 
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