Capital gap belies long-term growth in agritech Following rapid growth driven by increased awareness of environmental impact and food security concerns, agritech startups experienced a funding drought in 2023. Last year, global investments halved compared to the previous year, hitting a six-year low of $15.6 billion.  With the agricultural sector facing challenges and capital becoming scarcer, businesses are at a defining … Read More

Cybersecurity, reporting and SMEs By Carlos Morales; Central America Regional Leader at HLB Digital, member of the HLB Brighter Futures Community With technology woven through core operations, cybersecurity extends beyond mere IT department concerns in today’s businesses. Contrary to widespread belief, cyberattacks affect organisations of all sizes. SMEs, often perceived as weaker links in value chains due to limited resources, are … Read More

Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive formally adopted By Richard Singleton; Finance & Sustainability Director, HLB UK The Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) will become EU law following the European Parliament’s vote on the final text earlier this year and later approval by EU governments in the Council on 24 May. Although some consider this new law a watered-down version of the original draft, … Read More

How can organisations embody the spirit of Pride and become more human centric? By Stephanie Rix; HLB Chief People Officer Pride celebrations typically take place throughout June, with much focus on the LGBTQ+ community during that time with the objective of raising awareness, education and creating a sense of belonging. Businesses may be heavily involved in the celebration, but leaders … Read More

North America: Preparing for an AI-led growth cycle

HLB Latin American and Caribbean Regional Meeting 2024 Between May 8th and 11th, we participated in the “HLB Latin American and Caribbean Regional Meeting 2024” in Puebla, Mexico. From HLB PMA, we were part of this valuable experience by presenting and sharing “How to Monetize Technology”. This presentation aimed to promote the synergy needed to bring digital transformation to the entire region, … Read More

Utilising artificial intelligence and integrating cloud-based services to save money and time in NFPs In today’s landscape, Not-for-Profit organisations (NFPs) often face obstacles in fulfilling community needs as they navigate a highly competitive environment with limited resources and soaring demand for their services. They compete for time, attention, and funds, operating on lean budgets and often understaffed and overstretched. In … Read More

What is FRS 101? FRS 101 is a framework that allows qualifying subsidiaries to benefit from a reduced disclosure requirement in their individual financial statements. This means that these entities can provide less information in their financial statements, while still complying with accounting standards. The reduced disclosure framework is available to subsidiaries that meet certain criteria, and it can help … Read More

Leaders in APAC: Adopting AI to prosperHLB Survey of Business Leaders 2024 Resilient growth amidst varied confidence The APAC region has delivered a strong recovery post-pandemic, with rapid economic expansion of domestic products and services consumption after lifting COVID restrictions. 82% of APAC leaders feel confident in their own ability to grow their revenues this year. However, confidence levels have … Read More

A global perspective on the economic responses to the pandemic By Tom Reck; Partner, Withum (HLB USA) The COVID-19 pandemic shook the world with unprecedented force, leading to immediate but varying damage across countries. Unfolding as an economic, social, and health crisis with severe ramifications, it has plunged the world towards a global recession. Four years later, businesses are seeking … Read More