Nara Communications

“Europe can’t afford to be left behind. With its current regulation-heavy approach, it’s at a risk of doing just that. Perhaps, to some degree, AI is the canary in the coalmine with regards to the EU’s propensity to regulate." It’s been amazing to help Serhiy Tokarev, Co-Founder and General Partner at Roosh, bring his thoughts to the team over at Barron's. Serhiy talked about how necessity drives innovation—and how Ukraine's unique position at the cutting edge of AI could serve as a blueprint for countries looking to stay competitive globally. Read the full piece in the comments to learn more about how Ukraine is paving the way for a more agile, tech-driven future, even amidst geopolitical uncertainty. 👇

It was fantastic to work with Outward VC recently to announce the first close of £51m for its second fund, backed by the British Business Bank, via Sifted. Outward VC cofounder Kevin Chong sat down with Tom Matsuda to explain how the London-based firm sidestepped the fintech funding slowdown by focusing on fintechs with crossover appeal. Kevin said: “Just look at the 21 companies in our portfolio–it doesn’t look like the fintech portfolio you’ll find with other fintech funds out there.” The fund was also covered by Axios, EU-Startups, Finextra, Tech Funding News and Tech.eu, to name just a few. Read the full exclusive in the comments section below.

The “anti-woke” movement has corporate America’s DEI programmes in its sights, and amid the crescendoing debate, businesses are coming under political pressure to roll back DEI initiatives. Nara placed OneTech CEO Emma Joy Obanye in the Financial Times to talk about the impact - or lack thereof - of right-wing activism on corporations. The types of initiatives that have been pushed back weren’t effective in the first place; and as Emma explained, “we’re seeing which companies have just paid lip service to these real issues”. In the face of increasing DEI criticism, it’s more important than ever for businesses to foster an inclusive environment using effective strategies. Read more about the DEI debate in the US at the link in the comments 👇

Nara recently announced in TNW that SportAI, the sport tech company using AI to analyse and help improve sports technique, has raised a $1.8M seed round. “Through a combination of machine learning and computer vision, the system interprets the biomechanical data. Insights are then delivered straight to users. The approach removes the need for manual tagging and specific hardware. Consequently, SportAI can cut the costs of advanced analytics.” This round was led by Skyfall Ventures, with participation from Dekel Valtzer (ex-pro tennis player and AI startup founder), Sverre Munck (ex-EVP at Schibsted) and Norwegian pension fund MP PENSJON PK. Magnus Carlsen, the highest-ranked chess player of all time, is a SportAI advisor and investor in their pre-seed round. Read the article here 🔗: https://lnkd.in/dhTuvKxN 

“Everything starts by getting the right data.” We're proud to share that Karolina Löfqvist, CEO and Founder of hormona was invited to appear on BBC News earlier this week! Karolina shared insights with Sally Bundock on hormonal health in the workplace, and how Hormona is leading the way in giving women the tools to better understand their hormonal health. Watch the full interview below to learn more about Hormona’s mission and why hormonal health – historically underfunded and under researched – is a pressing concern that demands action.

The other day marked six months since my co-founder, Drew, died. Unsurprisingly, it has been the toughest period of my life and many of the lives around me. We miss him every day and, honestly, his absence remains as shocking today as it was back in February. Reflecting on this strange milestone, I wanted to publicly thank my team for all their support. I’m a firm believer in the idea that it’s easy to be a good person when the sun is shining, and it’s only in brutal times that you get the real measure of people. I’m sorry I ever had to see it, but my team have been nothing short of brilliant in the face of such overwhelming adversity. This especially applies to our new Head of Media Ben Bunyard. Drew and I offered Ben a job at the end of last year, and I honestly don’t know how I would have made it through 2024 without him. As far as our business goes, there were two surreal landmark moments in July. Firstly, we had our best month ever revenue-wise which is a testament to how hard the team are working. It felt bittersweet for obvious reasons but I know it would make Drew stupidly proud. And secondly, we hired three new team members. They’ve been brilliant, somehow managing to find the right tone when joining our business at this strange time. It feels very odd to me that we have people working at Nara who will never meet Drew. But I’ve loved watching them get to know him through their interactions with the team and company; learning about the three-dimensional person he was rather than some staid, memorialised version. Finally, I just wanted to let people know that this October, nearly 100 of Drew’s friends, colleagues, and family will be taking part in a Victoria Park run in his honour. We’re raising money for Barts Health NHS Trust who looked after him (and us) in his final week. If you’re in London and are brave enough to join us for a 5k, 10k, or half marathon let me know. There’ll be some drinks afterwards too. If not, any sponsorship is really appreciated: https://lnkd.in/ePk97Nx7 Thank you in advance for reading, running or donating. And the sincerest of thanks to everyone who has helped us during this challenging period.

OneTech CEO and Co-Founder Emma Joy Obanye was up early for an interview on Bloomberg News’ Daybreak Europe programme to discuss diversity and the future of tech 💻 Emma focused on the need for accountability at all levels in the tech industry, which is crucial for fostering diversity and inclusion in organisations. In a sector that’s rapidly evolving, it’s essential to give underrepresented groups the necessary support to thrive, ensuring equity throughout an organisation. As Emma pointed out, the work doesn’t stop with policy—it's about creating an ecosystem where innovation and inclusivity go hand in hand. Her leadership is a testament to the transformative power of a more diverse and equitable tech landscape. Learn more about Emma's vision for the future of tech at the link in the comments 👇

Proud to share this impactful story from Daily Express featuring hormona co-founder Karolina Löfqvist. After years of misdiagnosis and frustration, Karolina's journey with hormone imbalance led her to create Hormona - an app designed to help women understand and manage their hormonal health. Read the full article below to learn more about Karolina's journey and Hormona's innovative approach to women's health. https://lnkd.in/di4BcPMR

“Exciting news! 🚀 Our fireside chat “Unlocking Untapped Talent: A Solution to Global Productivity Stagnation,” featuring Charles Sekwalor, Co-founder and CEO of Movemeback and our close friend Robert Rooks, CEO of REFORM Alliance, is in the running to be featured at SXSW 2025! We'll explore innovative ways to empower marginalized groups and unlock hidden talent pools to boost economic growth. This isn't just a discussion—it's about redefining the future of work! But we need YOUR help! Vote for our fireside chat and join the movement to bring these ideas to life. 👉 Vote Here; https://lnkd.in/dZQy7unM Please spread the word, tag your friends, and let’s make this happen! #SXSW #ReimagineWork #Innovation #EconomicGrowth #Inclusion #HiddenTalent #GlobalWorkforce #Movemeback #CharlesSekwalor #RobertRooks