Four standout teams have been crowned winners of the Isle of Man Innovation Challenge 2025, following a global competition showcasing cutting-edge solutions in cleantech, data and AI, fintech, and sustainability.
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Start-up in bid to prove UK leads in space tech with launch of metal-fuelled engine
UK space tech start-up Magdrive is set to launch a metal-fuelled spacecraft engine from California, aiming to prove Britain’s potential as a leader in next-gen satellite propulsion.
Metro Bank takeover approach adds to fears of London Stock Market exodus
Metro Bank has received a takeover approach from Pollen Street Capital, sparking fresh concerns over the number of companies leaving the London Stock Exchange amid rising private equity interest.
EDF buys EV charger firm Pod Point for just £10m – four years after £352m london float
French energy giant EDF has acquired EV charger company Pod Point for just £10 million, down from its £352 million IPO valuation in 2021, after a sharp drop in revenue and continued losses.
Oxford Said alumni win £700k UKRI backing to power Nigeria with clean, off-grid energy
Oxford Saïd Business School alumni secure £700k from UKRI to develop solar and wind hybrid systems for off-grid communities in Nigeria, tackling the world’s largest energy access gap.
UK defence innovation strategy opens new doors for SMEs in AI and autonomous tech
UK defence innovation strategy opens new doors for SMEs in AI and autonomous tech
Starmer pledges £1bn investment to supercharge UK tech and AI infrastructure
Sir Keir Starmer has unveiled a £1 billion investment package aimed at scaling up the UK’s computing power twentyfold, in a major push to solidify Britain’s status as a global technology and artificial intelligence leader.
Believ secures £300m to roll out 30,000 public EV charge points across the UK
EV charge point operator Believ secures £300m to install 30,000 public EV charge points across the UK, supporting government net-zero targets and boosting EV infrastructure.
Valla raises £2m as venture capital backs boom in employment rights claims
A legal tech startup helping workers represent themselves in employment disputes has secured £2 million in fresh funding, as investors prepare for a likely surge in workplace grievances under the Labour government’s incoming reforms.
NP Aerospace secures multi-million-pound funding from NatWest to power global expansion
Coventry-based defence manufacturer NP Aerospace has secured a multi-million-pound funding package from NatWest, designed to support the company’s international growth and boost its exporting capacity.
British Business Bank hits £5bn milestone fuelling regional growth and housebuilding
The British Business Bank has reached a major milestone in its mission to support smaller businesses across the UK, with more than £5 billion now delivered through its ENABLE structured guarantee programmes.
![ThreatSpike Raises $14M To Unify and Simplify Cybersecurity The funding, from Expedition Growth Capital, will expedite ThreatSpike’s continued global expansion as it brings enterprise-grade cybersecurity to mid-sized enterprises with its fixed price, all-in-one platform. Alongside Expedition’s investment, Darktrace co-founder Emily Orton is also joining the company’s Board of Directors, bringing a wealth of experience in growth and cybersecurity. LONDON, UK, [3] June, 2025 – ThreatSpike, an end-to-end cybersecurity provider, has raised $14 million in Series A funding to help organizations move beyond the complexity and cost of fragmented traditional security tools with a unified platform. The funding is led by Expedition Growth Capital and in conjunction with the investment, Will Sheldon, Partner at Expedition, and Emily Orton, co-founder at Darktrace, have joined ThreatSpike’s Board of Directors. “We founded ThreatSpike having witnessed first hand that achieving high quality cybersecurity protection is far too complex and costly,” said Adam Blake, CEO and Founder at ThreatSpike. “In a market full of three-letter acronym products and aggressive upselling, we take a different approach which puts customer security at the core. We are proud to combine world-class technology and expert support into one transparent, flexible solution that delivers true protection without the complexity or hidden costs. With this investment from Expedition, we have gained an aligned partner with deep expertise and resources to support our continued growth journey.” ThreatSpike was founded by computer scientists Adam and Kate Blake in 2011, following their experience building software and cybersecurity programmes in some of the world’s most sophisticated financial institutions. The company has been bootstrapped with no institutional capital to date, growing rapidly through customer-driven demand. Today, ThreatSpike serves over 200 customers with deployments across 90 countries, including industry leaders in hospitality, industrials, investment management, professional services and other sectors. “ThreatSpike has the highest level of customer referral-driven growth and satisfaction that we have seen across the cybersecurity industry,” said Will Sheldon, Partner at Expedition Growth Capital. “The company has been growing rapidly and profitably without investment and we are proud to partner with Adam and Kate as they fuse software and services into a unique platform that delivers tangible cybersecurity outcomes for sophisticated customers globally.” “Adam and Kate are both impressive technology entrepreneurs,” said Emily Orton, Co-Founder of Darktrace. “I am excited to join them on ThreatSpike’s board and use my experience to help scale the business in this new phase of growth.” The funding will support ThreatSpike’s continued global expansion, including additional hires in engineering, security operations and go-to-market teams. The company will also accelerate its existing innovation roadmap across its platform offerings: ThreatSpike Blue (24/7 managed detection and response) and ThreatSpike Red (unlimited penetration testing). “Since our initial engagement with ThreatSpike in 2016, they have consistently demonstrated themselves to be not only highly competent but also deeply diligent partners in our cybersecurity efforts,” said Lee Scott, Head of Cyber Security at Inchcape Shipping Services. “From the very beginning, ThreatSpike has instilled a strong sense of trust and confidence within our team, enabling us to focus on our core business operations while knowing that our security posture is in expert hands. Over the course of our partnership, ThreatSpike has continually delivered on their promises, going above and beyond to provide innovative and reliable solutions tailored to our evolving needs.”](https://bmmagazine---co---uk.lsproxy.app/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Labrys-230x129.jpg)
Ex-military founders raise $20m to scale secure defence and disaster response platform
A tech startup founded by two British military veterans has raised $20 million to expand its secure coordination and payments platform for defence, humanitarian and disaster response teams.
Wordsmith AI becomes fastest Scottish startup to hit $100m valuation
Legal tech startup Wordsmith AI has reached a valuation of more than $100 million just 18 months after its launch — a milestone it claims is the fastest ever for a Scottish-founded technology company.
ThreatSpike raises $14M to simplify cybersecurity with unified platform
UK-based cybersecurity firm ThreatSpike has raised $14 million in Series A funding to expand its mission of simplifying enterprise security through a unified, end-to-end platform.
AI architecture scale-up NavLive scoops £4m of funding to transform construction industry
NavLive, which has newly developed an AI-powered, handheld scanning tool offering architects and construction professionals the ability to create high precision building site scans in real time, launches today with £3.3m in Seed funding.
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