Bite-size news and insight from UK business and tech – including funding, deals and appointments
Published: November 13, 2025 at 10:17 am
Monika Liikamaa likes to swear.
She’s the co-founder and co-CEO of Finnish FinTech Enfuce, the leading European card issuer processor.
As we sat down for our interview at Lisbon’s Web Summit the first clue about her love of swearing was the ‘Get shit done’ message on her T-shirt.
Liikamaa is a seriously talented and likeable entrepreneur.
Her aim is to build Europe’s number one issuer processor in Europe by 2035, with a bold goal of hitting €10bn in ARR.
The company’s last investment round was in 2022 and brought the total funds raised to date to €73.5m.
“I’m going into the next phase now and, of course, I’m seeking a unicorn valuation,” she said.
Liikamaa has strong views on pretty much everything and she isn’t shy about sharing them.
From the lack of VC funding going to female founders to why her own children can’t expect to inherit any future fortune, no topic is off limits.
Published: November 13, 2025 at 10:00 am
Pulse Finance, a specialist provider of funding solutions to UK small and medium-sized enterprises, has secured an additional funding line from Wells Fargo.
The additional funding complements Pulse’s existing credit facilities, providing the company with substantial new resources to meet rising demand from SMEs seeking tailored financial support.
The firm says the move “underscores its commitment to helping British businesses unlock growth, manage cash flow, and navigate an increasingly challenging economic landscape”.
Published: November 13, 2025 at 9:35 am
Manchester-based eCommerce agency PushON has announced the formation of a new parent group, PushON Commerce, created to accelerate growth and expand its full-service eCommerce capabilities.
It has also welcomed the web development and creative marketing brand Pixel Kicks into its portfolio, integrating its expertise in Shopify, WordPress, content marketing, and product photography with the group’s existing eCommerce development and digital marketing strengths.
Published: November 13, 2025 at 8:52 am
Zilch has raised £135 million in debt and equity funding to accelerate the growth of its consumer payments platform.
Europe’s fastest-growing unicorn has expanded its credit facility with Deutsche Bank after announcing a £100m debt financing deal last year.
Led by KKCG, the equity round includes participation from BNF Capital and several other strategic investors.
Published: November 13, 2025 at 7:50 am
DSW Capital has reported a rise in half-year adjusted EBITDA to £700,000 from £100,000.
The challenger professional services platform, owner of the Dow Schofield Watts and the DR Solicitors brands, said network revenue increased by 32% to £10.3m, driven by the acquisition of the latter in November 2024. Total income was £2.8m, up from £1.1m.
Cash at 30th September 2025 was £2.2m after a £1m loan repayment.
“The group’s financial results are typically weighted towards the second half of the year. Whilst the business is currently trading well, the board is mindful of the well documented geo-political and economic uncertainties, particularly in relation to the Autumn Budget,” it said.
Published: November 13, 2025 at 7:36 am
OSB Group CEO Andy Golding is to retire from the role and the bank’s board before 31st December 2026.
The board has commenced the search, with assistance of a third party, for his successor.
OneSavings Bank operates in the private rented sector buy-to-let, commercial and semi-commercial mortgages, residential development finance, bespoke and specialist residential lending and asset finance.
It originates mortgages via specialist brokers and independent financial advisers through its specialist brands including Kent Reliance for Intermediaries and InterBay Commercial.
OSBG is on track to meet 2025 guidance.
Published: November 13, 2025 at 7:32 am
ASOS has refinanced its loan facility into a £150m secured term loan and £87.5m delayed draw term loan with a new syndicate of private lenders, lasting until 2030.
The online fashion firm said the refinancing brings materially improved financial terms, including £87.5m additional liquidity headroom, and will cost it £5m less in annual interest.
Now entering what it calls the final phase of a multi-year turnaround, it said the improved financial terms “reflect the enhanced profitability and significant strategic progress of the company”.
Natasja Laheij, the company’s senior independent director and a former Big Tech exec, is set to succeed Jørgen Lindemann as chair with the release of the FY25 results on 21st November 2025.
Published: November 12, 2025 at 6:22 pm
Guest WiFi leader Purple has merged with Splash Access, a WiFi provider to the shared residential and education markets.
Purple, headquartered in Oldham, Greater Manchester, serves nearly 500 million users across 80,000 venues worldwide. It provides automatic, secure access to over five million hotspots through the ConneX app.
Splash Access, based in Leyland, Lancashire, has built a specialised Cisco platform which enables clients to benefit from advanced features such as multi-factor authentication and secure visitor management.
All Splash Access staff members will remain with the company in their current roles. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
Published: November 12, 2025 at 3:32 pm
Rhinoflux founder and CEO Alex Mazawa wins the KPMG Global Tech Innovator for 2025.
The Japanese EnviroTech is victorious in Lisbon!
Published: November 12, 2025 at 3:30 pm
Selection Lab of The Netherlands wins the plaudits of the audience!
Published: November 12, 2025 at 3:30 pm
Akara Robotics – Niamh brings home first runner-up for Ireland!
Published: November 12, 2025 at 3:29 pm
Step Out!
Published: November 12, 2025 at 3:26 pm
There will be a People’ Choice Winner, a First Runner-Up, Second Runner-Up and the overall winner.
Conor Moore is on stage to announce the winners now.
Published: November 12, 2025 at 3:09 pm
CARPL.ai CEO Vidur Mahajan is the final entrepreneur to take to the stage.
The company which he founded is an AI platform helping doctors to integrate AI into their work to improve healthcare.
Published: November 12, 2025 at 3:06 pm
Niamh Donnelly takes to the stage to represent Ireland’s Akara Robotics.
The Trinity College spinout builds smart robots to help hospitals clean and manage spaces more efficiently.
Akara also develops software that tracks cleaning schedules and room usage, helping hospitals run more smoothly.
Published: November 12, 2025 at 3:02 pm
CEO of Traceless, Jakob Roskamp, is pitching to the audience now.
The Germany-founded firm is developing a bio-based alternative to conventional plastic that is made from agricultural waste.
’BE PART OF THE SOLUTION, NOT PART OF THE POLLUTION’ – is a standout.
Published: November 12, 2025 at 2:58 pm
The UK is being represented by Rachel Curtis’ inicio.ai and she clearly has a few fans in the crowd!
The company’s AI-powered platform – Budgie – helps users complete income and expenditure assessments.
It has 25 signed clients already and has doubled revenues.
A GP Bullhoud innovation award, investment from Morgan Stanley and the UK’s largest award for a pitching competition at £1.35 million are among the company’s accolades.
Published: November 12, 2025 at 2:54 pm
Alfredo Saenger is pitching his UAE-founded firm Electrogenos.
It develops and manufactures next-generation alkaline electrolysers for green hydrogen production.
It’s team is composed of scientists, engineers and manufacturing experts.
Published: November 12, 2025 at 2:50 pm
Balca Yilmaz, who co-founded Werover, is next to present to the audience and the judges.
The company produces and develops AI, IoT and robotic solutions for early damage detection, health monitoring, risk planning and digitalisation of renewable energy assets.
It has customers across Europe and has a subscription-based model.
It’s raised over $2 million in under two years.
Published: November 12, 2025 at 2:44 pm
Sweden’s Rebaba creates circular battery energy storage systems by repurposing used electric vehicle (EV) batteries.
Paula Runsten co-founded the firm in 2023 and is pitching on stage.
The company has helped its clients cut energy costs by 40%.
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