Cofounder Dr Tim Mahoney compares it to a routine cochlear implant, with the potential to be more accessible to the broader population.

Telgea, an AI-native global telecom platform, has secured funding led by Founders Factory in partnership with Vodafone + Fastweb, signalling a broader shift in enterprise telecommunications from infrastructure to software. The company addresses a longstanding problem: multinational firms managing multiple telecom relationships across countries. Operating as a digital-first MVNO, Telgea automates approximately 90% of traditional telecom operations through an AI-native platform, partnering with local operators whilst centralising provisioning, billing and support. The investment reflects changing priorities in enterprise connectivity. Companies including SureSIM, Ubigi for Business and 1GLOBAL are similarly transforming mobile connectivity into programmable, software-defined services that integrate with enterprise systems. Telgea recently won Best B2B Mobile Operator at the MVNO Nation Global Awards 2025. The market remains competitive, with success dependent on eliminating operational complexity whilst maintaining coverage quality and compliance.

Coinbase and its partners have selected eight startups from over 800 applicants for the first cohort of R sidency, a UK-based Web3 and AI accelerator launched in April 2025. Each company received $300,000 in cash and up to £250,000 in funding, alongside mentoring and support. The programme, backed by Coinbase, Fabric Ventures, Animoca Brands and Founders Factory, focuses on infrastructure and practical applications rather than speculation. Selected startups include Auto, building an AI wallet; Kash, developing a prediction market protocol; and Unified, creating infrastructure for using crypto assets as collateral in traditional markets. The cohort spans fintech, legal software and consumer tools, reflecting a shift towards products appealing to both crypto-native users and mainstream finance as venture funding becomes more selective.