Every week, Maddyness brings you the latest investment news from the UK startup ecosystem. Here's a recap of this week's investments.

Jane Fisher and her cofounder Alexandra Miltsin have built the social impact startup imii. Jane and Alexandra built this pocket companion app for immigrants due to a global demand for improved services for immigrants. Today we interview Jane and hear her firsthand experience as an immigrant and first time founder building the next generation app for immigration services.

Each year, companies miss out on some of the brightest, most inventive minds because they’re just not set up to welcome neurodivergent talent. About 1 in 7 people are neurodivergent – from those with autism and ADHD to dyslexia and dyspraxia – each bringing fresh, often invaluable perspectives.

For many founders, the dream is to exit, but no one tells you how things may take a turn for the worse when you’re no longer in the driver’s seat. After selling my startup to Private Equity (PE) in an earn out agreement that involved its own challenges, I found myself being made redundant. This also came with the news that I would not receive the previously agreed upon performance bonus, nor over a million pounds worth of company shares which were set to vest the week after my redundancy.

High-growth tech investments often seem reserved for the elite, but Tioex is turning heads with its latest strategic manoeuvre. The member-based investment platform has just announced a significant expansion of its AI portfolio, acquiring stakes in two of the most talked-about names in tech: OpenAI and Databricks.

As part of our quick founder questions series – or QFQs – we spoke to Richard Rusling and Andy Farnworth, the cofounders of Zen Running Club about elite performance innovation, sustainability and joining the Amazon Sustainability Accelerator.

Maddyness teams up with Net Zero Insights to uncover the latest trends in climate tech, showcasing 5 startups transforming our approach to carbon capture, removal and mitigation.

We interact with brilliant design every day, often without even realising it. From the sleek storage solutions in our homes, to the bicycles we ride and the software that powers our work, great design quietly shapes how we move through the world.

As part of our quick founder questions series – or QFQs – we spoke to Michael Smith, CEO of Sagittal AI about automating software development with Neo, the need to complete tasks quickly and getting hooked on constant learning.

As a Venture Capitalist, I encounter various investors, founders gravitating to this privileged and yet very exciting ecosystem. In this story, Let’s zoom on Don't Quit Venture’s newest LP, Alexander Vasilievich Chukunov, straight out of Russia's harshest land: The Siberian Tundra.

If your business is struggling to exit, or to raise capital, you are not alone. Rising interest rates have led to a considerable slowdown in deal-making for private equity-backed businesses over the last two years; testing the nerves of many leaders.

The landscape of retail has undergone a seismic shift in recent years, with ecommerce emerging as a dominant force in the global marketplace. As more consumers turn to online shopping for convenience, variety, and competitive pricing, businesses must adapt their marketing strategies to thrive in this digital ecosystem.

Every week, Maddyness brings you the latest investment news from the UK startup ecosystem. Here's a recap of this week's investments.