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LGBTQ+ businesses contribute over £106 billion to the UK economy despite huge challenges, report finds

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Based on largest-ever survey of UK LGBTQ+ entrepreneursSector focus on tech, fintech, biotech and sustainabilityChallenges include disclosure issues, discrimination and doubt

LONDON, Oct. 28, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — In partnership with OutBritain, the UK’s first LGBTQ+ chamber of commerce, Open Political Economy Network (OPEN), a leading think tank focusing on diversity and tech, has today launched its LGBTQ+ Businesses Count report, which examines the contribution, challenges and characteristics of LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs across the UK. In the absence of official UK data on LGBTQ+ businesses, this pioneering report presents the results of the largest-ever survey of LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs in the UK.

The report, sponsored by Accenture, Dow and Goldman Sachs, estimates that there are at least 250,000 LGBTQ+ businesses in the UK, which employ at least 750,000 people, many of them LGBTQ+, and have a combined turnover of at least £106 billion. The largest business founded by an LGBTQ+ entrepreneur that the report identifies is Global Media and Entertainment, which owns Heart, Capital, LBC and many other radio stations, whose founder and CEO Ashley Tabor-King is openly gay.

Most LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs in the report’s survey pointed to particular challenges that they have faced in business because of being LGBTQ+. The most prevalent was doubt, followed by disclosure issues, notably invasive or inappropriate questions and a lack of role models. Next were discrimination and disconnection from mainstream business networks.

At the same time, most entrepreneurs mentioned benefits to their business from being LGBTQ+. Some 68% said it made them more determined to succeed and overcome adversity and 67% that their diverse perspectives and experience yielded business benefits, while 42% gained from an LGBTQ+ customer base.

To mitigate some of the challenges faced by LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs, OPEN proposes three recommendations on collecting better data, providing distinct support and developing supplier diversity:

Better data. Good public policy, sound business decisions and broader public understanding all require solid data. Companies House therefore ought to ask (but not require) company directors to disclose their sexual orientation and gender identity.Distinct support. To ensure that LGBTQ+ businesses have a voice in government, an LGBTQ+ business envoy should be appointed. Mainstream business networks should also be more pro-active in attracting, including and representing LGBTQ+ businesses. OutBritain also has a crucial role to play.Supplier diversity. Both large corporates and public authorities ought to do more to enhance equality of opportunity for diverse businesses, notably LGBTQ+ ones, in their procurement decisions. This would help LGBTQ+ businesses overcome the entrenched disadvantages they face, while providing corporates with more diverse and resilient supply chains.

Philippe Legrain, Founder of OPEN and lead author of the report, said: “While the UK has made huge progress in tackling legal injustices and social prejudices against LGBTQ+ people, the past leaves scars. Moreover, business tends to lag behind society as a whole in its acceptance of LGBTQ+ people; among the chief executives of the FTSE 100 leading companies, only one is openly gay. So, it is hugely important to document both the contribution and the challenges of LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs in the UK, which is why we have produced this report as a call to action to the government, mainstream business organisations and large corporations.”

Matt Dabrowski, Founder of OutBritain, said: “OutBritain has become a beacon in the UK’s business landscape, demonstrating how diversity is not merely a tagline but a potent catalyst for unprecedented change. Supporting LGBTQ+ businesses and seamlessly integrating them into the global economic ecosystem is at the heart of our organisation. This report not only celebrates the vibrant and dynamic contributions our community make to the UK’s economy, but more importantly, it will allow us to focus and align our efforts in driving a fairer, more diverse UK economy where LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs and businesses are given fair representation and the opportunity to thrive.”

NOTES TO EDITORS

ABOUT THE REPORT #LGBTQBusinessesCount

The report is based on an online survey of 1,517 self-identified LGBTQ+ business founders and owners conducted between January and May 2024.

ABOUT OUTBRITAIN 

OutBritain, the UK’s first LGBTQ+ chamber of commerce, connects, supports and grows the UK LGBTQ+ business community, while connecting it with the rest of the world.

ABOUT OPEN @open2progress

OPEN is an international think tank that focuses on diversity and other openness issues. Its previous reports include Minority Businesses Matter: The Contribution and Challenges of Ethnic Minority Businesses in the UK.

DISCLAIMER

OPEN gratefully acknowledges the financial support of the sponsors of this report, Accenture, Dow and Goldman Sachs. At the same time, the content, words, opinions and views are solely its own and do not necessarily reflect the institutional views of said sponsors or any of their affiliates.

PRESS CONTACTS
info@opennetwork.net
matt@outbritain.co.uk 

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ATTACK SHARK Unveils RS6 ULTRA, a Flagship Esports Mouse Featuring Its Proprietary Magnetic Hot-Swappable Battery Technology

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NEW YORK , July 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Gaming peripheral brand ATTACK SHARK has announced the upcoming launch of the RS6 ULTRA, its most advanced wireless gaming mouse to date. Designed for competitive FPS players and the premium esports peripheral market, the new model combines a lightweight carbon fiber structure, flagship sensing technology, low-latency wireless performance, and a magnetic hot-swappable battery system.

The RS6 ULTRA’s magnetic hot-swappable battery system is designed to eliminate the compromises associated with conventional wireless gaming mice. Unlike integrated lithium battery designs that require wired charging and eventually suffer from battery aging, or conventional removable battery systems that depend on battery doors and latch mechanisms, the RS6 ULTRA features a proprietary magnetic alignment design with gold-plated contacts, enabling fast, tool-free battery replacement without disrupting wireless operation. Its dual-battery system further ensures uninterrupted gameplay by allowing one battery to power the mouse while the included 8K receiver simultaneously charges the spare, providing continuous wireless performance and a longer product lifecycle through easily replaceable batteries.

Another key feature is ATTACK SHARK’s patented adjustable sensor positioning system. Five mechanical adjustment positions allow players to customize sensor placement to suit hand size, grip style, and aiming preference. This personalized alignment is designed to support more consistent aiming and reduce tracking deviation during rapid movements.

The RS6 ULTRA is powered by a customized PixArt PAW3955MAX sensor and the latest Nordic nRF54L15 wireless MCU, delivering the performance demanded by today’s competitive FPS players. The sensor natively supports polling rates of up to 8,000Hz (8K), as well as 1-DPI incremental adjustment for precise sensitivity control. With up to 52,000 DPI, 850 IPS tracking speed, 75G acceleration, and five adjustable lift-off distance settings, it ensures exceptional tracking accuracy and responsiveness during rapid flick shots, precise target acquisition, and high-speed movement in fast-paced titles such as VALORANT, Counter-Strike 2, and Apex Legends.

Built on the Nordic nRF54L15 platform, the RS6 ULTRA delivers enhanced scanning performance, wireless stability, and power efficiency. At a 1,000Hz polling rate, it provides up to 800 hours of battery life, reducing charging interruptions during extended training and competition. The combination of stable wireless connectivity and long endurance allows players to stay focused on performance rather than power management.

Complementing the hardware, ATTACK SHARK’s proprietary wireless transmission technology delivers button latency of less than 0.168 milliseconds in 8K mode, helping ensure that every click is transmitted with exceptional speed and consistency. The shark fin-inspired 8K receiver features an extended antenna for improved signal strength, along with LED indicators for connection status, polling rate, and battery level. Together, these technologies make the RS6 ULTRA a wireless flagship solution for fast-paced competitive shooters, providing the responsiveness and reliability demanded by players of VALORANT, Counter-Strike 2, and Apex Legends.

The RS6 ULTRA features a carbon fiber hybrid injection-molded chassis with a ventilated hollow-shell design that balances low weight, structural strength, comfort, and heat dissipation during extended gaming sessions. A glass-like cooling surface treatment helps reduce discomfort caused by perspiration, while a CNC-machined metal scroll wheel and anodized components improve durability and wear resistance.

Built for serious FPS competitors and enthusiasts, the RS6 ULTRA delivers precision, responsiveness, customization, and endurance expected from a flagship esports mouse.

For more information, visit https://attackshark.com/ or connect with the brand on social media and Discord.

To place an order, visit ATTACK SHARK Amazon Store for the US, UK, Europe, AU, MX, SA and Japan.

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SOURCE ATTACK SHARK

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EnKash Introduces India’s First Meal Card with UPI Payments

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EnKash extends its UPI capabilities to meal card allowances, combining the convenience of UPI, the reach of RuPay, and tax-efficient employee benefits.

MUMBAI, India, July 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — EnKash, India’s leading business payments and spend management platform, today announced the launch of UPI-based payments on its Meal Card. With this addition, employees can make payments directly from their meal card balance by scanning eligible UPI QR codes at food and grocery merchants.

This makes EnKash the first provider in India to enable UPI payments directly from a meal benefit balance.

The new capability extends the UPI infrastructure that EnKash already offers across its Prepaid Payment Instrument portfolio. It brings the familiarity and convenience of UPI to structured meal benefits, allowing employees to use their meal allowance through a payment method that has become a part of everyday life in India.

The timing is also significant. Under the revised Income-tax reforms, eligible meal benefits of up to ₹200 per meal are available under both the old and new tax regimes, subject to prescribed conditions. Employees can receive up to ₹1,05,600 annually as a tax-free meal benefit. For HR teams, this makes meal benefits more inclusive, valuable and easier to offer across the workforce.

The solution combines:

UPI-based scan-and-pay convenienceLargest acceptance infrastructure of RuPayMerchant category-based spending controlsPhysical and virtual meal cardsReal-time transaction visibilityCentralised card issuance, loading and management for employers

Employers can issue cards, load meal balances, set spending controls and track transactions through a centralised platform. Merchant category controls help ensure that the meal balance is used only for eligible expenses.

“Employee benefits should be as seamless as everyday payments. By bringing UPI to meal benefits, we’re enabling employees to pay the way they already do while helping employers deliver a simpler and more digital-first experience,” said Priya Sharma, Head of Product at EnKash.

“This launch brings together the power of RuPay, the familiarity of UPI and the tax efficiency of meal benefits. It also reflects the strength of the payments stack EnKash has already built across its PPI products.”

The UPI-enabled Meal Card is supported by EnKash’s existing payments and prepaid infrastructure. The company already provides UPI-based payment capabilities across its prepaid products and also offers businesses a wider payments suite covering prepaid cards, employee benefits, expense management, petty cash, corporate payments, payment gateway, and rewards.

About EnKash

EnKash is India’s first full-stack payments and spend management platform, empowering 5,000+ businesses to automate payments, expenses, and employee benefits. Holding PA, PPI, and Bharat Connect (BBPOU) licenses, EnKash offers a unified financial orchestration suite backed by $23M in funding. By partnering with leading banks and networks like NPCI and Visa, EnKash delivers secure, scalable solutions that make enterprise financial operations faster, smarter, and fully compliant.

For media inquiries, email: marketing@enkash.com

 

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SunTec India Launches Proprietary eCommerce Price Monitoring Platform Delivering 99%+ Accuracy with Human-Verified Pricing Intelligence

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NEW DELHI, July 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — SunTec India today announced the launch of its proprietary, in-house-built eCommerce price monitoring platform, a purpose-built pricing intelligence solution that tracks competitor prices across multiple channels in real time and pairs automated data collection with human QA verification.

The platform supports pricing, sales, and marketplace teams by combining automated data collection, AI-powered product matching, anomaly detection, and analyst-led verification for quality assurance. It enables businesses to monitor competitor prices, promotional movements, Buy Box signals, and Minimum Advertised Price (MAP) violations across key marketplaces & retailer websites.

Unlike generic SaaS tools that hand back raw data for clients to clean and interpret, SunTec India controls its platform end-to-end, from data collection to matching rules, allowing continuous improvement based directly on client needs.

The platform’s core capabilities include:

Real-time, multi-channel monitoring across Amazon, eBay, Walmart, and other marketplaces, and custom URL tracking for any publicly accessible website.AI-powered product matching using EAN/GTIN identifiers for exact matches and ML models for comparable products, achieving 99%+ matching accuracy.MAP violation alerts delivered within agreed SLA windows, with violation logs formatted for legal, sales, and distributor review.Buy Box and dynamic repricing intelligence compatible with Repricer.com, Linnworks, ChannelAdvisor, and other major repricing platforms.Promotional and deal monitoring timed to peak events like Black Friday, Prime Day, and Q4, giving teams lead time to respond.

Built on a proprietary AI crawler, optimized for dynamic page rendering and anti-bot environments, the platform handles JavaScript-rendered pages and pricing overlays that defeat standard scrapers, while continuously learning from detection patterns to maintain collection reliability.

“Self-service tools give you a dashboard and leave the hard part to you,” said Mr. Ravi Kant, Vice President – eCommerce Division, SunTec India.

“What sets our platform apart is the human-in-the-loop layer. AI detects; our analysts verify. Every anomaly is reviewed by a QA analyst before it reaches the client. Our goal is to help clients identify pricing gaps, protect margins, track violations, and respond to competitor moves before they impact revenue,” he added.

About SunTec India

SunTec India is an IT and digital services company delivering technology-led, data-driven business solutions. Founded in 1999, the company has served 8,530+ clients across 50 countries, supported by 1,500+ full-time professionals and a 95%+ client retention rate. SunTec India combines human expertise with AI-enabled technologies to improve operational efficiency, strengthen competitiveness, and create long-term value for businesses worldwide.

Media Contact: 
Rohit
rohit@suntecindia.com  

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SOURCE SunTec India

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