• Belgian biotech incubator and early-stage investor announces fifth and latest cohort of startups embarking on a tailored support programme

• Selected startups to become seed stage ready in 18 months

• Startups will benefit from €250K cash investment as well as state-of-the-art laboratory and greenhouse facilities

• Biotope’s sixth cohort is open for applications from 15th September to 16th October 2024

Biotopeby VIB, a leading biotech startup incubator and early-stage investor, has announced its fifth cohort of innovative startups. 

Selected from 11 promising teams participating in the three-week basecamp, the winners receive a €250K investment, dedicated support, and access to state-of-the-art laboratory and greenhouse facilities, scientific facilities at VIB and pilot facilities through its partner network.

Launched in 2022 by the Vlaams Instituut voor Biotechnologie (VIB), biotope nurtures early-stage biotech startups in agrifood, bringing them to seed stage readiness within 18 months. For investors, biotope de-risks ventures by ensuring that startups in its programme are scientifically and financially sound, scalable, and equipped with a solid understanding of their regulatory and IP pathway.

The startups chosen for the 2024 Fall cohort are the following:

• Corium Biotech (Portugal) – Corium Biotech develops exotic leather in laboratory via cellular agriculture
• I-Challenge (Belgium) – I-Challenge is developing ways to more accurately and easily predict food shelf life, thereby aiding in food waste reduction.
• Lantana Bio (France) – Lantana Bio produces natural colorants through precision fermentation

Each of the startups presented a strong biotech solution to a demonstrable problem that had significant business and growth potential and aligned well with biotope’s capability to nurture and support. In keeping with biotope’s commitment to supporting diverse founding teams, two of the three selected startups are led by strong female CEOs.

During the 18-month journey, each startup in the cohort receives bespoke, skilled support, tailored to their individual needs, from biotope’s team of scientists, business experts and corporate partners as well as legal, financial and IP experts. The startups also have access to VIB’s cutting-edge R&D facilities including greenhouses, labs and co-working spaces. 

The new cohort will join a portfolio that has thus far secured a total of €20m in external funding permitting them to hire 20 new full-time employees. To date, biotope has aided 13 startups across 7 countries, with biosurfactant manufacturer Amphistar, part of the second cohort, successfully raising €6m in pre-series A earlier this year.

Commenting on the new cohort, Head of Biotope Annick Verween, said: “biotope focuses on potentially impactful solutions which can benefit from a dedicated biotech ecosystem to support them. Our new, fifth, cohort is a perfect reflection of this mission – all of the startups represented are passionate entrepreneurs with groundbreaking biotech solutions that have the power to create lasting change for people and the planet.”

“By combining our high-quality incubation support with targeted investment, we provide the startups with the resources and expertise to develop their proposition and scale rapidly. We’re thrilled to support these visionary founders as they embark on their journeys.”

To drive innovation and sustainability in the biotech space, biotope strives to attract the best entrepreneurs around the world by derisking biotechnology investment through the provision of both scientific expertise and financial security to startups.

Mounir Benkoulouche, CEO of Lantana Bio, said: “Our journey with biotope has been an invaluable learning experience, especially in areas like business development or regulatory challenges. The open and direct dialogue with experts and discussing challenges with peers provided insights we couldn’t have gained from research alone. As a biotope portfolio company, we’re excited to tap into biotope’s network for crucial guidance on regulatory matters and market access, and we look forward to finding the right partners to bring our product to market.”

Sharing Mr. Benkouloche’s enthusiasm, Wendy Ossieur, CEO of I-Challenge commented: “We’re honoured to share that I-Challenge is joining the biotope family! This opportunity will enable us to advance our solutions, helping food companies to better determine shelf-life and fight food waste. We’re looking forward to collaborating with biotope’s passionate team and leveraging their extensive network of experts.”

Maria Maia, CEO of Corium Biotech adds: “We’re delighted to have been selected for the biotope program. The experience so far has been invaluable and the support from biotope is already helping us strengthen our company foundations. We’re confident that this opportunity will play a pivotal role in preparing us for future growth and innovation in the biotech industry.”

The basecamp for cohort six will also take place in Belgium and online from November 26th to December 13th, with applications running from 15th September to 16th October 2024.

Last week the Mayor of Kempston visited a brand-new retirement community on Manor Drive in Kempston.

The Newells, which offers 60 stylish, age-exclusive one, two and three-bedroomed apartments, hosted the mayor’s visit with refreshments and light bites in the beautifully appointed restaurant and lounge.

The Mayor of Kempston, Councillor Nawaz, who received a tour of The Newells, commented: “I enjoyed meeting a group of homeowners who have moved into The Newells, and can see that there’s already a real sense of community with plenty of social events and activities taking place. Socialising as part of a community is critical to combating isolation and loneliness. I was particularly impressed with the quality of the facilities too from the restaurant, the coffee lounge and the landscaped gardens, to the beautiful apartments. I’ve never seen a retirement community with a hair salon and an activities studio on site. It’s such a good idea.”

Phil Holyoak, Senior Sales Manager for Adlington Retirement Living, said: “It was a pleasure to welcome the Mayor of Kempston to meet some of our homeowners and to find out more about retirement living. Our retirement communities are designed to empower the older generation to live a long, happy and healthy life in a safe and secure environment with activities, communal facilities and beautiful private gardens.

“Health and well-being are at the heart of everything we do. We want our homeowners to thrive and feel their best, whilst spending more time doing the things they love. We focus on creating positive experiences for all our homeowners, and that goes way beyond the bricks and mortar of our apartments. We know that the most important things that make our homeowners really feel at home are having a good circle of friends, connections with like-minded neighbours and a sense of belonging.”

The Newells offers the best of both worlds. Homeowners can enjoy the privacy of their own peaceful and spacious apartment and use the communal facilities as an extension of their own home. They can spend time in the leafy gardens (maintained by an expert team of gardeners), relax in the hair salon and therapy suite, catch up with friends and neighbours in the coffee lounge and homeowners’ lounge, and enjoy a daily menu of freshly cooked dishes in the restaurant.

Lesley, who moved to The Newells in November, said: “I’ve spoken to my friends here and we all started to sleep better after we moved in. It’s the security and the fact that there’s a duty manager on site 24 hours a day. I’ve already made good friends with the other homeowners. We laugh a lot. I have a much better social life since I moved here.

“There are plenty of things to join if you want to. It’s entirely your choice. We have a chair yoga group on Thursday mornings, games evenings, quizzes, movie nights and we all tend to get together for Sunday lunch. Every time I bring a friend round, they say, ‘Oh, this is like a lovely hotel.’ And if I ask them where they’d like to go for lunch, they always prefer to come to the restaurant here.”

The coffee lounge also houses a beautiful bar so homeowners can enjoy a glass of wine or beer with friends in the evening, and there’s a guest suite, with en-suite, for visiting friends and family who wish to stay overnight.

The 24-hour on-site support team provide added peace of mind and, if needed, optional personal care packages are available. In addition to this, there is a sophisticated emergency call system and a security video entry system to manage access.

All apartments include quality, fully fitted kitchens with integrated appliances. Many feature en-suite shower rooms as well as separate bathrooms, and most have a private patio area or walk-out balconies overlooking the beautifully landscaped gardens.

Two Adlington Retirement Living communities have been crowned Scheme of the Year at the HealthInvestor Seniors Housing Awards, and the business was named Developer of the Year 2022.

Four of Adlington’s communities have also won Gold, Silver and Bronze Awards for the Best Retirement Development at the WhatHouse? Awards, the UK housebuilding’s most prestigious event.

Legal & General’s survey, involving 2,000 UK adults aged 55 and over, has shed light on the travel habits and aspirations of retirees across the country. The findings reveal a mix of plans, dreams, and challenges faced by those embarking on post-work travel adventures.

The survey shows that only 55% of adults have the confidence to travel solo in retirement, highlighting potential apprehensions- particularly among women. Whilst 68% of men feel confident to solo travel in retirement, just 43% of women do.

Among those who have already entered retirement, 65% said they were able to spend more time with loved ones, while 60% had the chance to relax from their regular routines. Just over half (52%) noted that they had created meaningful experiences and memories during their retirement travels, underscoring the emotional value of such journeys.

In terms of financial planning, 62% of retirees have put aside funds specifically for travel during their retirement years, ensuring they can fulfil their travel ambitions. When it comes to choosing a destination, cost is the most important consideration, with 61% of respondents prioritising overall expenses over factors such as warm weather (55%) or affordable accommodation (50%).

The survey also highlights that financial cautiousness plays a major role in retirement travel planning, with 59% of those intending to travel carefully managing their finances. This is most pronounced in Belfast, where 67% of respondents reported financial caution, compared to only 50% in Leeds.

When examining travel personas, the survey found that women were more likely to identify as ‘budgeters,’ with 18% of female retirees falling into this category, compared to just 13% of their male counterparts.

The findings reflect the balancing act many retirees face as they navigate both financial constraints and the desire to make the most of their post-work years.

Lorna Shah, Managing Director, Legal & General Retail Retirement and CEO of Legal & General Home Finance: 

“Planning for retirement is crucial not only for maintaining financial stability but also for enabling a fulfilling and enjoyable post-work life.

“As people phase into retirement, having a well-thought-out financial plan can make a significant difference. It provides the freedom to pursue long-held dreams, such as travelling to new destinations or engaging in much loved hobbies.

“At Legal & General, we have a range of different planning tools to help you financially prepare for your retirement such as the Retirement and Pension Income Calculator and a downloadable budget planner to see if your retirement plans are on track.”

As the new school term kicked off, Stockport County Community Trust distributed free PE kits to Stockport’s primary schools as part of its Kits By County initiative.

The project aims to help the borough’s children become more active and engaged in sport by removing the cost of PE kits from families without disposable income. Over the next 12 months Kits By County aims to provide 12,500 kits for pupils in Stockport who are deemed most in need, with Stockport County’s owner Mark Stott funding the initial distribution of 3,000.

The first PE kits were delivered by County players in two Mercedes-Benz eVito vans, provided by LSH Auto to support the charity’s projects and programmes across the county.

Stefan Bowett, Dealer Principal, said: “We’re committed to giving back to the communities that support us, so we’re really pleased to be providing County Community Trust with two Mercedes-Benz eVito vans. We look forward to supporting the Trust with the fantastic work that they’re doing across the county and seeing our vehicles put to such good use.”

Lewis Bate, Louie Barry, Ethan Pye and Lewis Fiorini lent their support at Edgeley Park, helping the Community Trust team to sort and pack the 3,000 kits in readiness for delivery into local primary schools with each individual kitbag including a polo shirt, a pair of shorts, a pair of joggers and a sweatshirt.

Jay Mingi and Lewis Bate also supported Kits By County by visiting Cheadle Heath Primary School to hand out the kitbags to pupils and to talk to them about the importance of PE lessons as a means to keep active.

Alison Warwood, Stockport County Community Trust CEO said: “PE is a crucial part of a child’s education. It is not just about games and exercise; it is about instilling a lifetime commitment to health, determination and resilience. Pupils shouldn’t be prevented from taking part in sport and activity simply because they have no kit, and Kits By County aims to remedy that.

“Our thanks go to Trutex, the market-leading school-wear manufacturer, who provided the kits at a significant discount and helped to deliver around 500 boxes to Edgeley Park in order for the packing and delivery process to run smoothly and to LSH Auto for providing us with our Mercedes-Benz electric vans.

“We were also delighted that County’s players got on board with the campaign so enthusiastically, and very much appreciated their help and support during what was a very busy but fulfilling week.”

Christine Meekley, Headteacher of Cheadle Heath Primary School added: “The commitment Stockport County have shown to ensuring no one gets left behind in PE, irrespective of background, is amazing and will ultimately improve life chances. We are proud to be associated with such an inclusive club who has put community at its heart.

“The children were thrilled to meet Jay and Lewis and will be wearing their new kits with pride and a real sense of belonging.”

The Community Trust aims to raise enough funds to provide 12,500 PE kits for primary school children by 2025. To help reach this ambitious goal, any individuals or businesses who wish to pledge their support can contribute via Stockport County Community Trust’s Just Giving page: https://www.justgiving.com/StockportCountyCommunityTrust

Channel partners key to meeting strong customer demand for independent advice and services for Oracle Java discovery, license management and open-source alternatives

 Azul, the only company 100% focused on Java, today announced a significant expansion of its global channel programme, highlighting substantial year-over-year growth in partner engagement and revenue contribution. This growth is due in large part to the demand for licensing and pricing expertise aligned to IT Asset Management services, and specific migration advisory engagements as customers seek alternatives to Oracle Java. Azul’s channel partners contributed 44% of the company’s new and upsell bookings for the first half of its fiscal year 2025 and were responsible for a 50% increase in inbound opportunities.

Programme Expansion to Meet Strong Demand

In the last year, Azul’s channel expansion gained traction globally with 15 new strategic partnerships, including key distributors in Australia, Middle East, South Africa and India. Azul also expanded its own presence in Paris to oversee partnerships in France, Greece, Italy, Portugal and Spain.

This past year has been pivotal in the Java licensing world due to the surge in businesses seeking cost-effective and flexible alternatives to Oracle Java SE. Customers have turned to independent channel partners to provide Oracle Java discovery and inventory services, license analysis and recommendations for OpenJDK alternatives, such as Azul Platform Core. Per Azul’s recent report, Oracle Java Usage, Pricing & Migration Survey and Report, the shift away from Oracle Java is driven by escalating licensing fees, unpredictable cost structures and greater demand for open-source solutions. Enterprises across industries are prioritising cost containment, vendor independence and long-term support, making OpenJDK-based offerings a compelling choice.

By partnering with Azul, channel resellers and distributors can tap into the strong momentum behind the use of OpenJDK distributions and offer customers trusted Java solutions that meet their performance, scalability and compliance needs. In turn, Azul’s channel partners benefit from strong margins and the opportunity to expand their strategic portfolio of client services with a range of competitive advisory and service offerings, including Java application and infrastructure security managed services.

As it eyes further expansion of the programme, Azul expects to quadruple the number of currently certified sales professionals, migration advisory and delivery partners, and partner engineers to better scale to meet this growing demand for Oracle Java alternatives.

“Going forward, we’re focused on bringing migration partners into our own service engagements as well as collaborating with partners early in their advisory license engagements to provide pivotal recommendations, all through a more aggressive channel-centric sales model,” said Simon Taylor, vice president of global channel sales at Azul. “Typically, it takes up to 5 years to convert from a direct –to channel approach. We’ve done this in two years because we recognised that resellers are keen to expand their differentiation into high value service revenue streams due to pressure on traditional license margins. By empowering our partners with flexible terms, attractive margins, type specific rewards structures and comprehensive training, we are building an ecosystem that delivers exceptional value to Java users worldwide.”

Programme Milestones and Future Growth Initiatives

Additional channel programme highlights include a 13.5% improvement in pipeline conversion year-over-year for the first half of fiscal year 2025, and since the launch of Azul’s PartnerConnect certification programme in May, 300 individuals are already certified or are in progress, with another 1,200 individuals registered to take the training.

Azul’s updated channel programme is targeting 60% revenue contribution from partners in its fiscal 2025, highlighting the company’s commitment to its channel-first strategy. The company is also focusing on operational improvements to enhance scalability for partners and exploring synergies with managed service SaaS offerings and cloud service providers like AWS and Google.

Companies interested in partnering with Azul can go to www.azul.com/partners and learn more about Azul PartnerConnect and schedule time to meet with an Azul channel account manager.

Fivetran, the global leader in data movement, has announced it has surpassed $300 million in annual recurring revenue (ARR), up from $200 million in 2023.

Fivetran has consistently driven elevated ARR growth and recently reaccelerated year-over-year gains over the past two consecutive quarters. As the leading data movement platform trusted by businesses from startups to Fortune 500 enterprises, Fivetran empowers organisations to move data securely and efficiently, powering Gen AI applications, real-time decision-making and optimised business operations.

“Our rapid growth to $300 million ARR this year shows the urgent demand for reliable, automated data movement as businesses embrace AI-driven decision-making,” said George Fraser, CEO of Fivetran. “Through our global partnerships, work with industry leaders like OpenAI, and innovative products, we’re helping organisations unlock the full potential of their data, ensuring they can scale efficiently while maintaining governance and control.”

AI-driven growth and expanding global partnerships
Fivetran’s growth continues to accelerate as industries increasingly adopt AI, solidifying its role as the preferred data movement platform for enterprises.

Fivetran has deepened its partnership with Snowflake by supporting Iceberg Tables, enabling customers to build fully automated, scalable lakehouse architectures within the Snowflake AI Data Cloud using Apache Iceberg. This integration ensures data quality, robust governance and ease of use, optimising data lakes for maximum performance and value. Fivetran is also developing Native Connectors for Snowflake, simplifying data replication via the Snowflake Marketplace.

At the same time, Fivetran is enhancing its collaboration with Databricks by focusing on seamless integrations with Unity Catalog and serverless support, improving downstream data usability for both Databricks and data lake environments. Fivetran will also support open-source Unity Catalog for Fivetran data lake destinations, allowing customers to register metadata with Databricks’ Unity Catalog.

Simplifying data lake management

In 2024, Fivetran achieved two major milestones. In March, the company expanded its offering to over 600 pre-built connectors, the largest of any data movement platform. This enables seamless integration from a wide range of sources, including SaaS applications, cloud or on-premises databases, ERPs, event streams, and structured, semi-structured or unstructured data, supporting advanced analytics and AI.

In June, Fivetran launched the Managed Data Lake Service, automating the secure landing of clean, organised data from over 600 sources into data lakes. Using open table formats like Apache Iceberg and Delta Lake, this service simplifies data governance by offering the ease of a data warehouse with the flexibility and scale of a data lake. Available on Amazon S3, Azure Data Lake Storage and Microsoft OneLake, Fivetran automatically converts data into query-ready formats for easier management and insight generation.

Powering the future of AI and data movement

As global AI adoption continues to rise, Fivetran leads the way in helping organisations manage the increasing complexity of data management, governance and compliance. From handling OpenAI’s massive data volumes to providing automated solutions for enterprises, Fivetran continues to set the standard for enterprise-grade data integration.