As employees across the UK are urged to self-isolate, small businesses were relieved when the government announced it would refund the cost of statutory sick pay (SSP) for employees self-isolating according to government guidelines.

This article will explain who is eligible for the refund, what your eligible employees need to do, and how to apply. | To read full story, visit https://startuparound.com/read/1584637207.0881038/How-to-apply-for-a-coronavirus-statutory-sick-pay-refund?ref=audio_experience

BluWave-ai, an Ottawa, Canada-based cleantech startup, raised $3.9M in seed financing.

Since opening the seed round in Q2 2019, the company has landed utility and commercial customers on three continents.

In Summerside, PEI, Canada, BluWave-ai deployed the first AI-enabled optimal energy dispatch in the Canadian utility market.

In India, BluWave-ai partnered with Tata Power, accomplishing live operational AI-enabled day-ahead dispatch for the city of Mumbai.

Overall, by the close of the fiscal year October 31, 2019, BluWave-ai surpassed $1M of bookings. | To read full story, visit https://startuparound.com/read/1584635408.7363799/BluWave-ai-Closes-$3.9M-Seed-Funding?ref=audio_experience

During these uncertain times, Metavallon VC is pushing through to find ambitious tech founders that can apply for pre-seed funding from the safety and comfort of their own homes, by Sunday 29th March.

Metavallon VC is a venture capital firm that specializes in early-stage funding of disruptive B2B technology companies, with a functional market-tested prototype, committed founders and strong ties with Greece.

Metavallon VC is looking for first-time entrepreneurs that have a functional prototype initially tested in the market of a technology company.

They should also have some connection to Greece; startups don’t have to live there, but at least see the country as part of their target market, or with one founder having studied or lived there.

Just make sure that you match their Pre-Seed investment requirements, the Greece-connection focus of their investments, stay inside and submit your company by Sunday 29th March. | To read full story, visit https://startuparound.com/read/1584633608.6724238/Metavallon-VC-is-funding-tech-startups-with-pre-seed-funding-starting-at-€200K?ref=audio_experience

0 Shares EmailFacebookTwitterLinkedInHuman insights tech startup UserTesting has landed $100 million in a new round of funding, the company announced Thursday.

Subscribe to the Crunchbase DailyUserTesting’s Human Insight Platform lets companies get feedback from customers on-demand so they can learn more about how to improve customer experiences.

UserTesting, which is based in San Francisco, now has more than $148 million in total funding, according to Crunchbase.

Along with the new funding, UserTesting announced Thursday that it acquired Teston, a European startup that provides multilingual experience testing for customer feedback, according to a statement.

Teston, which is based in Oslo, Norway, had $2.8 million in seed funding, according to Crunchbase. | To read full story, visit https://startuparound.com/read/1584631912.2013085/UserTesting-Raises-$100M,-Acquires-Norway’s-Teston?ref=audio_experience

We’ve aggregated many of the world’s best growth marketers into one community.

Twice a month we ask them to share their most effective growth tactics, and we compile them into this growth report.

This is how you stay up-to-date on growth marketing tactics — with advice that’s hard to find elsewhere.

Our community consists of 1,000 startup founders and VPs of growth from later-stage companies.

You can participate in our community by joining Demand Curve’s marketing webinars, Slack group or marketing training program. | To read full story, visit https://startuparound.com/read/1584628249.1272743/Use-accelerated-retargeting-to-increase-conversions-–-TechCrunch?ref=audio_experience

However, robots can take on many forms and today, they are rapidly changing the way we humans operate our world.

Many now believe, like so many movies have predicted, that robots will drastically change our world forever.

Robots can take on difficult jobs with ease such as welding, assembly, painting, part transfers, and machine tending.

Robots are able to explore areas of our world that would otherwise be dangerous and impossible for humans to go.

Job creationWe all fear robots taking over jobs as is so often discussed when talking about the future of robots in the workplace. | To read full story, visit https://startuparound.com/read/1584626406.3318942/How-robots-will-change-the-world?ref=audio_experience

Instagram Ads is, in all respects, a setting available in Facebook Ads to deliver a vast type of campaign.

This means, without going too far, you can run your Instagram Ads campaign through Facebook.

An effective Instagram ad strategy not only creates good brand awareness but also help you to increase the number of new Instagram followers, as well as the actual sales.

If you want to know how to design an effective advertising strategy on Instagram, then you are on the right page.

Define your targetKnowing your customer is a small mantra that becomes the necessary condition to design any type of campaign on Instagram. | To read full story, visit https://startuparound.com/read/1584622809.4353848/Design-an-Effective-Advertising-Strategy-on-Instagram?ref=audio_experience

Here are some of the funding opportunities that are available to startups and SMEs.

R&D tax creditsResearch and development (R&D) tax credits are another government incentive designed to help businesses who are investing in innovation.

You can make a claim for R&D tax credits to receive either a cash payment and/or a reduction to your Corporation Tax.

Business loans are available for companies of all sizes and in all industries.

As you can see, there are quite a few options available for startups and small businesses to secure some essential funding. | To read full story, visit https://startuparound.com/read/1584621010.5870833/Funding-Opportunities-for-Startups-and-SMEs?ref=audio_experience

Startup Quit Genius has raised €10.1 million in a Series A round, led by Octopus Ventures with participation from Y Combinator, Startup Health and Triple Point Ventures.

Founded in 2017, Quit Genius is on a mission to empower people to quit their addictions and become the best version of themselves.

Its flagship all-in-one programme combines digital therapy, nicotine replacement therapy and wearable technology to deliver holistic support to smokers looking to quit.

Currently, Quit Genius is spread between offices in London, New York and San Francisco, employing around 30+ people.

Yusuf Sherwani, MD, CEO & co-founder, states: “Despite making significant progress, it’s still day one at Quit Genius! | To read full story, visit https://startuparound.com/read/1584619307.7788172/London-based-Quit-Genius-raises-€10.1-million-Series-A-to-help-100-million-kick-addiction?ref=audio_experience

Who/what is Native Vanilla?

Native Vanilla, the good stuff – at affordable prices!

Native Vanilla has a range of vanilla products vanilla beans, vanilla powder and even options for gifting.

For people who are interested in specifically incorporating more vanilla products into their daily diets, there is an amazing recipe section.

More information can be obtained on Native Vanilla by visiting their websiteUS and UK – where do they stand on the superfood revolution? | To read full story, visit https://startuparound.com/read/1584617408.5736597/The-superfood-start-up-which-is-changing-the-USA-and-UK?ref=audio_experience