Despite a buzzing technological scene and the relentless progress in artificial intelligence, funding into UK startups witnessed a nearly 25% drop in the first half of 2025 from the previous year. According to data by Sifted, a formidable €6.7bn was invested in UK startups until June, compared to an impressive €8.7bn over the same period in 2024. The count of deals also plummeted from 615 to 570. However, the UK continued to hold the mantle of the best-funded startup ecosystem in Europe, while Germany began closing the gap with a striking 15% rise in funding to €4.3bn. France, in contrast, saw a precipitous 30% plunge in startup funding to €3bn.
Tesla finally opened the doors to its first showroom in India, but the joyous occasion was marred slightly when longtime supporters showed noticeable disillusionment. Vishal Gondal, a fitness-tech startup CEO and early fan of Elon Musk and Tesla, pre-booked a Model 3 as soon as reservations kicked off in April 2016. Despite making the effort to show up on the showroom’s opening day, Gondal’s excitement had significantly waned, meaning he currently plans to hold off on purchasing a Tesla. This change of heart was reportedly due to a lackluster refund process after failing to receive his pre-booked Model 3, combined with the disappointing buzz generated by Tesla’s showroom launch compared to Apple’s store launch in the same location.