With the pandemic wreaking havoc amongst early years education amid school lockdowns, it’s no wonder edtech startups have piled into the space. But it has also served to highlight the abysmal nature of early years teaching: Some 40 million teachers across the globe are leaving the sector, according to the World Bank. Of the 1.5 […]
Rapyd raises $300M on $8.75B valuation as fintech-as-a-service continues to boom
Neobanks, other financial startups, and the basic concept of “finance anywhere” are seeing huge gains at the moment, and today one of the key companies building the infrastructure that powers services like these is announcing a major growth round of funding to double down on the opportunity. Rapyd — which provides a range of financial […]
‘Now it’s continuous noise’: Italy’s Crusoe adjusts to life off his island
It is more than three months since Mauro Morandi left Budelli after living alone there for 32 yearsEvery morning, Mauro Morandi woke up to the uninterrupted sea view that only he was privy to. Immersed in nature, he was intimately in tune with the dawn…
Gapsquare, a pioneer of machine learning into gender pay disparity, is acquired by XpertHR
Inequalities between women and men in the workplace have been exacerbated during the COVID-19 pandemic and are likely to persist in the near future, according to the International Labour Organization (ILO). The World Economic Forum estimates globally it will take 267.6 years to close the gender gap in economic participation and opportunity. So it’s even […]
Belarus exile group leader Vitaly Shishov found dead in Kyiv, police say
Police open murder investigation after activist discovered in park after failing to return from a run The head of a Kyiv-based non-profit organisation that helps Belarusians fleeing persecution has been found dead in a park in the Ukrainian capital, po…
Independent retailer platform Creoate raises $5M Seed led by Fuel Ventures
Creoate is a startup, which lets independent retailers buy sustainable products from brands and wholesalers, has raised a $5m Seed round led by Fuel Ventures with participation from Vinted founder, Justas Janauskas. Its competitors include traditional wholesalers who’ve supplied independent retailers for decades, and other startups such as Faire (US, raised $696M) and Ankorstore (FR, […]
Health and wellness apps maker Palta raises $100M Series B led by VNV Global
Health and wellness apps startup Palta, has raised $100 million in a Series B round led by Per Brillioth at VNV Global, with the participation of Target Global and other existing and new investors. The cash will be used to generate more products, such its existing products Flo.Health, Simple Fasting, Zing Fitness Coach, and others. […]
IOC gives Belarus deadline to explain why sprinter refused to go home
International Olympic Committee is waiting for a report from Belarusian counterparts on the incident involving Krystsina TsimanouskayaThe International Olympic Committee (IOC) has launched an investigation into the case of sprinter Krystsina Tsimanousk…
Success of far-right Brothers of Italy raises fears of fascist revival
Political party has overtaken Matteo Salvini’s far-right League as Italy’s biggest party in opinion pollsSpartaco Perini spoke overwhelmingly about his time as a second world war resistance fighter in the days before he died. The founder of one of Ital…
Planted raises another $21M to expand its growing plant-based meat empire (and add schnitzel)
Swiss alternative protein company Planted has raised its second round of the year, a CHF 19M (about $21M at present) “pre-B” fundraise that will help it continue its growth and debut new products. A U.S. launch is in the cards eventually but for now Planted’s exclusively European customers will be able to give its new […]