European tech leaders are pushing back against high-profile VCs urging founders to work seven days a week — slamming the grindset mentality as everything from “toxic” to “childish.”  “Calling on founders to work insane hours nonstop is just bad advice,” Suranga Chandratillake, general partner at Balderton Capital and former CEO of video search engine Blinkx, told TNW. “Even sprinters don’t sprint all the time — rest and reflection is just as important as putting in the work.” His comments follow a LinkedIn post on Saturday by Harry Stebbings, podcast host and 28-year-old founder of London-based venture firm 20VC. “What European…

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The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has certified a mixed reality (MR) headset for civil aviation training for the first time — potentially signalling a shift in how pilots are taught.  Built by Finnish startup Varjo, the headset — called XR-4 — replaces the screens in a flight training cockpit, which are smaller, cheaper versions of the full-flight simulators used in the final phases of pilot training.  The MR tech blends digital environments with the physical cockpit and the pilot’s real hands and body. Using a process known as “masking,” everything outside the cockpit is digitally rendered, while the…

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TNW Backstage this week peeks behind the petals of the flower business — but not as you know it. In the latest episode of our podcast, we dig beyond beautiful bouquets to unearth the digital trends, disruptive models, and market moves reshaping the industry. Guiding us through the changes is Aron Gelbard, co-founder and CEO of Bloom & Wild — the UK’s top-rated online flower delivery company. Founded in 2013, Bloom & Wild transformed the traditional flower industry by moving it online and pioneering its now-famous letterbox delivery model. Aron shared the scaleup’s story, business strategy, and tips for fellow…

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Britain’s new military tech strategy will fail unless startups are given clear pathways to adoption, experts have warned. Their concerns follow the government’s announcement that defence spending will increase to its highest level since the Cold War. Prime Minister Keir Starmer set out the aims in the new Strategic Defence Review (SDR), which includes plans to boost investment in technologies such as AI, drones, robots, laser weapons, and submarines.  The review outlines ambitious goals for military innovation, but defence tech insiders say the real challenge lies in translating funding into front-line deployment.  Tanya Suarez, who leads the dual-use accelerator Janus…

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War is being redefined by technology. Drones now swarm where soldiers once marched, AI can detect threats faster than spies, and cyberattacks are disrupting critical infrastructure without a single shot fired. To prepare for the battles of tomorrow, NATO is turning to startups.  In June 2023, the Alliance launched DIANA, an initiative that funds and facilitates defence innovations. Across a network of over 200 accelerator sites and test centres, DIANA brings together universities, industry, and governments to work with startups on new defence capabilities. At the helm is Jyoti Hirani-Driver. A former counter-terrorism policy advisor for the British government, Hirani-Driver…

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