Vinnova Innovative Startups 2026 opens Oct 12: up to SEK 500,000
Vinnova's Innovative Startups 2026 call opens for applications on 12 October 2026 and closes 12 January 2027 at 14:00, with decisions on 23 March 2027. It provides up to SEK 500,00…
Founders News
News for Consumer App founders.
Updates relevant to Consumer App, plus broadly-applicable ones. 431 in total.
IndiaAI Mission puts 38,000+ subsidised GPUs within reach of DPIIT startups
MeitY's official update (page last updated 16 September 2026) confirms that more than 38,000 GPUs for the common compute facility have been onboarded through the AI Compute Portal…
OpenAI tests Sponsored Agents in ChatGPT, adds Shopify and HubSpot ad tools
On September 16, 2026, OpenAI began piloting Sponsored Agents, clearly labeled advertiser-run chats, inside ChatGPT with US brands like Angi and Wayfair, and shipped its first ecom…
Anthropic merges Cowork into one Claude, adds Claude Docs and Slides in beta
On September 16, 2026, Anthropic folded its Cowork agent and Claude chat into a single 'one Claude' experience where the model picks the tool automatically, and launched Claude Doc…
Google opens Home MCP so AI agents can control smart-home devices
On September 16, 2026, Google launched early access to Home MCP, a Model Context Protocol server that lets any MCP-capable agent (Antigravity, Claude, and others) monitor devices,…
Apple opens English public beta of rebuilt, Gemini-powered Siri
On September 15, 2026 Apple opened the English public beta of its rebuilt Siri, powered by custom models built with Google Gemini and split between on-device and Apple's Private Cl…
Treasury opens $5B New Markets Tax Credit CY2026 round, apps due Nov 10
Treasury's CDFI Fund published its Notice of Allocation Availability on Sept 15, 2026, making $5 billion in New Markets Tax Credit authority available for the CY2026 round, authori…
TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 runs Oct 13 to 15 in San Francisco
TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 takes place October 13 to 15 at Moscone West in San Francisco, drawing about 10,000 founders, investors and operators across 200-plus sessions and the Start…
Web Summit returns to Lisbon November 9 to 12, 2026
Web Summit 2026 runs November 9 to 12 at the MEO Arena and FIL in Lisbon, Portugal. Organizers expect more than 70,000 attendees from over 160 countries, 900-plus speakers and 2,00…
Off-peak dining app First Table raises A$10M to expand across Australian cities
First Table, the discount off-peak restaurant booking platform now live in 22 Australian cities, raised A$10 million on 11 September 2026. Backers included existing investors Alter…
Copenhagen's Seed Capital closes EUR 130M Fund V for Nordic seed to Series A
Seed Capital closed its EUR 130 million Fund V on September 11, 2026 to back Nordic startups from seed through Series A. The new fund expands one of the region's most active early-…
NZ tax bill lets founders keep the favourable FIF method after diluting below 10 percent
New Zealand's Taxation (Annual Rates for 2026-27, FBT Simplification, Foreign Investment Funds, and Remedial Measures) Bill was introduced to Parliament on 10 September 2026. It le…
Slush 2026 returns to Helsinki on November 18 to 19 with 13,000+ founders
Slush 2026, the founder-focused startup event, takes place November 18 to 19, 2026 in Helsinki and draws more than 13,000 founders, VCs, and executives for curated matchmaking, key…
India's Swish raises $24M Series B for 10-minute food delivery
Swish, an India-based startup delivering prepared food in about ten minutes, raised a $24 million Series B on September 10, 2026, backed by Bertelsmann India Investments. The round…
EU unveils Public Procurement Act to simplify bids and widen SME access
The European Commission published its Public Procurement Act on September 9, 2026, replacing the three 2014 procurement directives with one directly applicable Regulation for publi…
RBC launches $1.4B CAD RBCx growth fund for scaling Canadian tech firms
On September 9, 2026, Royal Bank of Canada unveiled a new $1-billion USD (about $1.4-billion CAD) RBCx growth fund to make direct equity investments in growth-stage Canadian tech c…
Singapore launches AI-powered BizSG portal to simplify grant and government access
Singapore's whole-of-government BizSG portal, unveiled by Senior Minister of State Low Yen Ling at the SME Centre Conference on 9 Sep 2026, launches on 30 Sep 2026 as a single entr…
Meta launches Muse, a US only personal AI agent that books travel and sends email
Meta debuted Muse on September 8, 2026, a personal AI agent for users 18+ that opens a browser, fills forms and executes multi step tasks like booking travel or drafting a business…
OpenAI launches GPT Image 2.5 with faster Flare and Sunburst APIs
On September 8, 2026 OpenAI released GPT Image 2.5, exposing two developer APIs: Flare, its fastest model generating high-quality images at two to four times the speed of GPT-Image…
British Business Bank plans new £150m Northern scale-up fund for high-growth firms
On 7 September 2026 the British Business Bank revealed plans to commit up to £150m to a new fund backing high-growth scale-up businesses across the North of England, including univ…
Region Stockholm affarsutvecklingscheckar open Sept 7 to 27, 2026: up to SEK 200,000
Region Stockholm's 2026 business development checks (affarsutvecklingscheckar) are open for applications from 7 to 27 September 2026. SMEs can apply for SEK 50,000 to SEK 200,000,…
NZ Active Investor Plus visa pipeline hits NZ$4.9b; Growth path stays NZ$5m
As of Immigration NZ's 4 September 2026 update, the revamped Active Investor Plus (AIP) visa has drawn 904 applications (467 approved) since the April 2025 changes, with about NZ$4…
China's MIIT launches AI SME plan, targets 10,000+ new AI startups by 2028
On 4 September 2026, China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) issued the 'AI SME Entrepreneurship Support Plan (2026-2028),' structured as 4 areas and 15 key…
MIIT launches AI SME Entrepreneurship Support Plan 2026-2028
On September 4, 2026, China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) issued the 'AI SME Entrepreneurship Support Plan (2026-2028),' targeting over 10,000 new sci-te…
China issues 2026 to 2030 SME plan; targets 22,000 little giant firms, phase 2 national fund
On September 3, 2026, ten Chinese government departments led by MIIT jointly issued a plan for high-quality SME development over 2026 to 2030. It targets 22,000 national little gia…
China issues 15th Five-Year Plan for SMEs, targets 22,000 'little giant' firms by 2030
On Sept 3, 2026, ten government departments led by MIIT jointly issued China's 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030) for SME development. It targets 22,000 specialized 'little giant' fir…
Sydney fintech Pearler raises $16M Series A led by Portage
Sydney investing platform Pearler closed a $16 million Series A on 3 September 2026, led by existing backer Portage with TEN13, Altered Capital, No Brand, Chris Cuffe's Partners Ho…
Google adds Gemini voice 'Live' features to Gmail, Docs and Keep
On September 3, 2026 Google rolled out Gmail Live, Docs Live and Keep Live, letting users query their inbox, draft documents (pulling from Gmail, Drive, Chat and the web) and take…
Cradlewise raises $12M Series A for an AI-powered smart crib
Cradlewise, based in San Francisco and Pune, announced a $12M Series A on Sept 3, 2026 led by 3one4 Capital and Prudent Investment Management. Its connected crib uses AI-based slee…
Ultrahuman raises $70M to turn its smart ring into a computer
Bengaluru-based Ultrahuman raised $70 million ($65M equity, $5M debt) on Sept 3, 2026 at a $365 million valuation, led by Qualcomm Ventures with Labcorp, Alpha Wave, Blume Ventures…
Anthropic ships Claude Fable 5.1 and Mythos 5.1, cutting agent costs ~45%
On September 2, 2026 Anthropic released Claude Fable 5.1 (broadly available) and Mythos 5.1 (restricted to vetted organizations), citing about 45% lower costs for agentic workloads…
Receita Federal sets Sept-Dec 2026 grace period to fix tax-benefit irregularities
Instrucao Normativa RFB no 2.341 (dated Aug 31, 2026, effective Sept 1, 2026, published Sept 2) amends IN RFB no 2.332/2026 on monitoring companies' use of tax benefits. It creates…
TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 runs Oct 13-15 in San Francisco with Startup Battlefield
TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 takes place October 13-15 at Moscone West in San Francisco, drawing 10,000+ founders, investors and operators. Its Startup Battlefield features 200 pre-Seri…
China ends foreign individuals' tax-free dividend exemption; 20% IIT now applies
MOF and the State Taxation Administration issued Announcement 2026 No. 27, repealing the 32-year-old exemption (Caishuizi 1994 No. 20) that let foreign individuals receive dividend…
John Ternus becomes Apple CEO as Tim Cook moves to executive chairman
John Ternus, 50, officially became Apple CEO on Sept 1, 2026, ending Tim Cook's roughly 15-year run; Cook becomes executive chairman focused on policy and board matters. Ternus, wh…
How to Web returns to Bucharest October 6 to 8, 2026 with OpenAI and Stripe
How to Web Conference 2026 runs October 6 to 8 at Face Convention Center in Bucharest, with an Investors Summit and satellite events opening October 6. Organizers expect 500+ found…
3D-AI maker Tripo (VAST) raises ~$446M Series B for foundation models
On 1 September 2026 VAST, developer of Tripo AI, announced roughly 3 billion yuan (~$446 million) across Series B and Series B+ rounds led by MPCi, with backers including Perfect W…
WhatsApp remittance startup Felix raises $200M to expand into finance
Miami-based Felix, a WhatsApp- and stablecoin-based remittance platform for Latino immigrants, announced a $200 million Series C co-led by a16z ($87M equity) and General Catalyst's…
Simples Nacional firms get Sept 2026 window to choose hybrid IBS/CBS regime for 2027
On 1 September 2026 Receita Federal opened an exceptional window running 1-30 September 2026 for Simples Nacional companies to decide how they will collect the new IBS and CBS taxe…
Y Combinator Winter 2027 batch: apply by Nov 2, program runs Jan-Mar in SF
Applications for Y Combinator's Winter 2027 batch are due November 2, 2026 at 8pm PT, with decisions by December 11; the batch runs January to March 2027 in person at YC's San Fran…
Singapore S Pass minimum salary rises to S$3,300 (S$3,800 finance) from 1 Sept 2026
From 1 September 2026, Singapore's S Pass qualifying salary rose to S$3,300 a month for most sectors (up from S$3,150) and S$3,800 for financial services, both increasing progressi…
Amber Grant: three $10,000 awards for women founders, Sept 30 deadline
WomensNet awards three $10,000 Amber Grants to women-owned businesses every month, and monthly winners compete for one of three $50,000 year-end grants. The current cycle's applica…
SF Tech Week returns October 5-11, 2026 with hundreds of a16z-backed sessions
SF Tech Week, presented by a16z, runs October 5-11, 2026, followed by LA Tech Week October 12-18. It is made up of hundreds of independently hosted sessions: some are free with RSV…
Antler residency applications close September 30, 2026 for pre-team founders
Antler is accepting free applications through September 30, 2026 for its global residency, which backs pre-team founders at the earliest possible stage across 30+ locations. Reside…
Singapore captured 78% of Southeast Asia's startup funding in 2025 (US$4.2B)
A DealStreetAsia-Kickstart Ventures report covered by e27 found Singapore took 78.1% of Southeast Asia's equity funding value in 2025, about US$4.2 billion, and 61.4% of the region…
Texas StartUP Grant offers up to $10,000, applications close Sept 23
Texas Woman's University's StartUP Grant is accepting applications through 5:00 p.m. Central on September 23, 2026, awarding between $1,000 and $10,000. Eligible businesses must be…
Web Summit returns to Lisbon Nov 9-12, 2026, one of tech's largest gatherings
Web Summit 2026 runs November 9-12 at the MEO Arena in Lisbon, Portugal, historically drawing 70,000+ attendees including founders, investors and press. The 2026 speaker lineup inc…
Slush 2026 gathers 12,000 founders and investors in Helsinki on Nov 18-19
Slush 2026 takes place November 18-19 (Day 0 on Nov 17) at Messukeskus in Helsinki, expecting 12,000+ attendees, roughly 76% of whom are startups or investors, with over 25,000 sch…
DeepSeek ships experimental V4-Flash-Vision multimodal model on Hugging Face
On August 31, 2026 DeepSeek published V4-Flash-Vision-Exp, a roughly 305B-parameter experimental multimodal model, on Hugging Face under the permissive MIT license. It shows substa…
ChatGPT advertising crosses $1B annualized run rate under 200 days after launch
OpenAI's ChatGPT advertising business crossed a $1 billion annualized revenue run rate as of August 31, 2026, fewer than 200 days after its February 2026 pilot launch. It marks the…
EU designates ChatGPT under the Digital Services Act, first standalone AI service
On August 31, 2026 the European Commission designated OpenAI's ChatGPT as a Very Large Online Search Engine under the Digital Services Act (alongside Reddit and Roblox as VLOPs), c…
FTC and 22 states sue Amazon over hidden ad-auction surcharges topping $20B
On 31 August 2026 the FTC and 22 state attorneys general sued Amazon in the Western District of Washington, alleging it secretly manipulated Sponsored Products, Sponsored Brands, a…
IRAS EIS guide adds 400% tax deduction on AI spend for YA 2027 and 2028
IRAS published its updated Enterprise Innovation Scheme e-Tax Guide on 31 Aug 2026, formalising a Budget 2026 change that grants a 400% tax deduction on up to S$50,000 of qualifyin…
US office vacancy holds at 17.7% as listing rents hit $33.58 per sq ft
The national office vacancy rate was 17.7% in July 2026, down 130 basis points year-over-year, per Yardi Matrix data in the monthly national office report. Average listing rates re…
SF Tech Week 2026 runs Oct 5-11, presented by a16z
San Francisco Tech Week 2026 takes place Oct 5-11, an a16z-presented, decentralized series of independently hosted founder dinners, pitch nights, workshops and investor panels acro…
All-In Summit 2026 set for Sept 13-15 in Los Angeles
The All-In Summit returns Sept 13-15, 2026 at the Shrine Auditorium and Expo Hall in Los Angeles, hosted by the All-In Podcast (Jason Calacanis, Chamath Palihapitiya, David Sacks,…
Tencent open-sources Hy4, a 770B model with 1M context under Apache 2.0
On August 28, 2026 Tencent released and open-sourced its Hunyuan Hy4 preview: a 770B-parameter Mixture-of-Experts model activating 49B parameters per token, with a 1-million-token…
Photo-sharing app Retro raises over $21M Series A led by Field Ventures and Thrive
Lone Palm Labs, maker of friend-focused photo app Retro, raised more than $21M in Series A on Aug 28, 2026, led by Field Ventures (Dylan Field) and Thrive Capital. Built by ex-Inst…
China adds 1-point interest subsidy on new small-business working-capital loans
On Aug 27, 2026, Xinhua reported that China's six major state-owned banks plus roughly 400 total institutions (21 nationwide banks and qualified local lenders) began implementing a…
OpenAI, Anthropic, Google and 100+ firms urge joint defense against AI cyberattacks
On Aug 27, 2026 more than 100 companies including OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, Microsoft, CrowdStrike, Okta and Fortinet signed an open letter warning that AI-enabled cyberattacks wi…
US apartment rents post first positive August since 2022, median $1,390
The national median apartment rent rose 0.1% from July to August 2026, the first positive August reading since 2022, reaching $1,390, per Apartment List (reported by CNBC on Aug 27…
Instinct raises $250M Series B led by Index and Benchmark for a consumer AI assistant
On Aug 27, 2026 Instinct announced a $250M Series B co-led by Index Ventures and Benchmark to build a consumer AI assistant that automates tasks across apps and devices. The size o…
Z.ai ships GLM-5.3-Flash: 1M-context multimodal coding model at ~1/10 the price
On Aug 26, 2026 China's Z.ai released GLM-5.3-Flash, a 320B-parameter (18B active) mixture-of-experts model with a 1M-token context and native image/video input, under an MIT licen…
Vinnova's Innovativa Startups 2026 grant raised to max SEK 500,000, opens Oct 12
Vinnova's revamped Innovativa Startups 2026 call offers grants of up to SEK 500,000 (up from SEK 300,000 in the 2025 Phase 1) to test customer needs, business concept and willingne…
Sebrae and Bossa Invest open Inova Startups 6th edition, up to R$800k per startup
At Startup Summit 2026 (Aug 26), Sebrae/SC and Bossa Invest launched the 6th edition of the Inova Startups program, with gross capital of R$20 million and up to R$800 thousand inve…
Ottawa invests nearly $15M for Black entrepreneurs across southern Ontario
On August 26, 2026, FedDev Ontario announced nearly $15 million in non-repayable funding for nine organizations supporting Black entrepreneurs across southern Ontario, with funding…
Inova Startups 6th edition opens: up to R$800k equity per Brazilian startup
Registrations for the 6th edition of Inova Startups opened on August 26, 2026 during Startup Summit in Florianopolis and run through November 30, 2026, with results on February 28,…
Australia makes the $20,000 instant asset write-off permanent from 1 July 2026
The Treasury Laws Amendment (Tax Reform No. 2) Act 2026 received Royal Assent on 26 August 2026, permanently setting the small-business instant asset write-off at $20,000 per asset…
South Korea's WRTN Technologies hits unicorn scale with ~$72M Series C
On Aug 26, 2026 South Korean AI startup WRTN Technologies raised about $72.2 million in Series C funding at a valuation above 1 trillion won (~$722M), reaching unicorn scale. The c…
India's Purple Style Labs raises $40M Series E to scale luxury fashion
Indian luxury-fashion company Purple Style Labs, parent of Pernia's Pop-Up Shop, raised a $40M Series E on August 26, 2026 with participation from SageOne, Alchemy Capital and Baja…
Blackbird raises AUD $1.05 billion for the largest ANZ venture fund
On 25 August 2026 Blackbird closed its sixth fund at AUD $1.05 billion, the largest VC raise in Australia and New Zealand, lifting total assets under management above AUD $12.5 bil…
Blackbird closes record A$1.05B sixth fund to back ANZ pre-seed and seed founders
Blackbird announced on 25 August 2026 the final close of its sixth venture fund at A$1.05 billion, the largest venture capital fund in Australia and New Zealand. LPs include the Fu…
Apple opens Mac Mini M6 pre-orders at $899 with on-device AI focus
Apple opened pre-orders on Aug 25, 2026 for a new Mac Mini with the 2nm M6 chip starting at $899 (16GB/256GB), plus an M5 Pro option at $1,699, shipping Sept 22. Apple highlights a…
Stability AI raises $76M with Universal, Sony, Warner and EA backing
Stability AI, maker of Stable Diffusion, raised $76M in fresh funding announced Aug 25, 2026, with participation from Universal Music Group, Sony Music Group, Warner Music Group, a…
Perplexity in talks to raise at $30B+ as revenue tops $750M annualized
As of August 24, 2026 Perplexity is discussing a new equity round valuing it above $30B, up from roughly $20B a year earlier. Its annualized revenue climbed from under $250M at the…
Alibaba launches Wan3.0 AI model that turns documents into 30-second videos
On August 24, 2026 Alibaba unveiled Wan3.0, an AI video model that generates roughly 30-second videos directly from documents and spreadsheets. Alibaba paired the launch with a rep…
Startup Summit 2026 runs Aug 26-28 in Florianopolis with 250 funds
Startup Summit 2026, Brazil's largest startup event organized by Sebrae Startups and ACATE, runs Aug 26-28, 2026 at CentroSul in Florianopolis (SC), drawing about 10,000 people, 1,…
September 2026 Visa Bulletin warns key EB categories may run out before Sept 30
The Department of State's September 2026 Visa Bulletin, the final one of FY2026, warns that EB-1 India, EB-2 (all countries except China) and EB-5 unreserved may become unavailable…
China raises small-business loan interest-subsidy cap to 75m yuan, from Aug 1, 2026
On Aug 21, 2026 the Ministry of Finance (with the PBOC and financial regulator) announced expanded fiscal interest subsidies, effective Aug 1, 2026. The subsidized-loan ceiling for…
China lifts SME loan interest-subsidy cap to 75M yuan, quadruples participating banks
In a notice issued August 21, 2026 (effective August 1, 2026), China's Ministry of Finance, PBOC and National Financial Regulatory Administration raised the per-borrower loan cap u…
China raises SME subsidized loan cap to 75 million yuan, widens interest subsidy
On August 21, 2026 the Ministry of Finance, PBOC, and National Financial Regulatory Administration expanded the fiscal interest-subsidy program, effective August 1, 2026. The per-b…
TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 set for Oct 13-15 at Moscone West, San Francisco
TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 runs October 13-15 at Moscone West in San Francisco, with organizers expecting 10,000+ attendees plus the Startup Battlefield 200 pitch competition. Early-b…
TechCrunch reveals 2026 Startup Battlefield 200; Disrupt runs Oct 13-15 in SF
On Aug 20, 2026 TechCrunch published its handpicked Startup Battlefield 200 list of early-stage startups across AI, climate, health, fintech and robotics. The top 20 finalists are…
SBA proposes biggest size-standards overhaul in decades, expanding 'small' status
On August 20, 2026, the SBA published two proposed rules that would consolidate nearly 1,000 industry size standards into 338 and raise thresholds, newly classifying roughly 110,00…
SBA proposes size-standard overhaul that would add 110,000+ eligible small businesses
On Aug 20, 2026 the SBA proposed simplifying its size standards from ~1,000 NAICS codes into 338 broader categories and raising many thresholds (e.g., semiconductor makers 1,250 to…
Ontario cuts small business corporate tax rate to 2.2% as of July 1, 2026
Effective July 1, 2026, Ontario dropped its small business corporate income tax rate from 3.2% to 2.2% on the first $500,000 of active business income for qualifying CCPCs, lowerin…
US office vacancy falls to 17.7%, 130 bps lower year over year
The US national office vacancy rate was 17.7% in July 2026, down 130 basis points year over year, with the average listing rate at $33.58 per square foot. Vacancy fell in 19 of the…
Receita Federal: window to opt into Simples Nacional moves to Sept 2026
In an official note published on August 19, 2026, Receita Federal confirmed that under Resolução CGSN nº 186/2026 the enrollment window for the Simples Nacional tax regime has shif…
$20,000 instant asset write-off made permanent from 1 July 2026
Parliament passed the Treasury Laws Amendment (Tax Reform No. 2) Bill 2026 in August 2026, permanently extending the $20,000 instant asset write-off from 1 July 2026. Up to 4.1 mil…
Simples Nacional 2027 opt-in moves to September 2026, not January
Receita Federal confirmed (news published 19 August 2026) that under Resolution CGSN No. 186 any company wanting to be taxed under Simples Nacional in 2027 must file its opt-in req…
US asking rents near $2,000, rising at fastest annual pace in over a year
Zillow reported the typical US asking rent climbed to $1,962 in July 2026, up 2.3% year over year, the fastest annual pace in more than a year. Single-family rents rose 3% to $2,31…
Step San Francisco 2026 AI & tech startup festival runs Aug 26-27 at The Midway
Step San Francisco returns Aug 26-27, 2026, with Day 1 kickoff events across the Bay Area and the main conference Aug 27 at The Midway (900 Marin St). It draws founders, investors,…
BNDES-Finep get 19 bids to run R$250M FIP Conexoes Startups fund
The public call to select a manager for the FIP Conexoes Startups closed on Aug 12, 2026 with 19 proposals from fund managers. The vehicle will mobilize up to R$250 million for ear…
China deploys 800 billion yuan policy finance tool to back private SME investment
On Aug 14, 2026 the NDRC convened banks and provincial DRCs to speed rollout of a new-type policy finance tool of 800 billion yuan for 2026 (up 300 billion from 2025's 500 billion)…
BNDES-Finep FIP Conexões Startups draws 19 managers for R$250M early-stage fund
The FIP Conexões Startups venture fund from BNDES and Finep closed its manager-selection call on Aug 12, 2026, drawing 19 proposals; BNDESPAR commits up to R$100M and Finep R$50M t…
NZ R&D Career Grants reopen 31 Aug 2026: up to $35k to hire a masters/PhD grad
Innovation Services (administered by MBIE) reopens R&D Career Grant applications at 9am on Monday 31 August 2026. The grant funds six months' salary for an R&D hire — up to $30,000…
NZ Active Investor Plus visa hits NZ$4.8b pipeline; managed funds dominate
As of 16 August 2026, New Zealand's revamped Active Investor Plus (AIP) investor visa had drawn 872 applications and 434 approvals, adding roughly NZ$4.8 billion to the investment…
SBA's SOP 50 10 8.1 takes effect Oct 1, tightening 7(a) acquisition loan rules
SBA issued SOP 50 10 8.1 on August 14, 2026, governing any 7(a) or 504 application that receives a loan number on or after October 1, 2026. Key changes: outside investors can fund…
Simples Nacional firms must choose IBS/CBS hybrid vs unified model in Sept 2026
Sebrae is urging Simples Nacional small businesses to decide, between September 1-30, 2026, whether to keep the new IBS and CBS taxes inside the unified DAS payment (integral model…
Delaware opens free Business on Main Street Accelerator; apply by Aug 31, 2026
Announced Aug 13, 2026, Delaware's Division of Small Business and partner Launcher opened applications (deadline Aug 31, 2026) for the free 8-week Business on Main Street Accelerat…
Startup Summit 2026 lands in Florianopolis Aug 26-28 with 250 VC funds
Sebrae and ACATE hold Startup Summit 2026 at CentroSul in Florianopolis on Aug 26-28, expecting 10,000+ attendees, ~200 speakers across 17 tracks, ~1,000 startups and ~250 investme…
Apartments.com raises US rent-growth forecast as multifamily vacancy falls to 4.3%
On Aug 12, 2026 Apartments.com raised its US apartment rent-growth forecast, now expecting 1.4% in Q3 2026, a 70-basis-point upward revision. CBRE pegged Q2 2026 multifamily vacanc…
FinCEN permanently ends beneficial-ownership reporting for US companies and persons
On Aug 11, 2026, FinCEN issued a final rule permanently removing the Corporate Transparency Act beneficial-ownership (BOI) reporting requirement for US-formed companies and US pers…
FinCEN permanently ends beneficial-ownership (BOI) reporting for US companies
On Aug 11, 2026 FinCEN issued a final rule permanently removing the Corporate Transparency Act requirement for US companies and US persons to file beneficial-ownership information,…
IndiaAI Mission crosses 38,000 GPUs, offers subsidised AI compute to startups
In an official update dated August 11, 2026, MeitY confirmed the Rs 10,372 crore IndiaAI Mission has onboarded more than 38,000 GPUs for its common compute facility - over three ti…
CGSN adds CBS and IBS to Simples Nacional; hybrid option opens Sept 2026
CGSN Resolutions No. 190 and No. 191 of 2026 (published Aug 11, 2026) fold the new CBS and IBS taxes into Simples Nacional's collection and dispute rules from Jan 1, 2027, replacin…
New 9/11 biometric fee adds $4,000 to many H-1B extensions from September 9, 2026
A DHS final rule published August 10, 2026 and effective September 9, 2026 extends the 9/11 Response and Biometric Entry-Exit Fee to H-1B and L-1 extension petitions, not just init…
Brazil excludes Simples Nacional firms from automatic IBS/CBS split-payment in 2027
Resolution CGSN No. 190/2026 (published 10 August 2026) and Decree No. 12,955/2026 confirm that when split payment begins in 2027 its first stage reaches only buyers under the regu…
9-11 biometric fee hits H-1B and L-1 same-employer extensions from Sept 9, 2026
A DHS final rule published August 10, 2026 and effective September 9, 2026 requires covered employers (50+ US staff, more than 50% in H-1B or L-1 status) to pay the statutory 9-11…
$4,000 H-1B and $4,500 L-1 fee now hits extension petitions from Sept 9, 2026
A DHS final rule published in the Federal Register on August 10, 2026 expands the 9-11 Response and Biometric fee so covered employers, those with 50 or more US employees and more…
DPIIT signs 5 MoUs giving startups cloud credits, payments and mentorship
On August 8, 2026, DPIIT (Startup India) signed five strategic MoUs with Cashfree Payments, Vultr India, Darwin Dynamics, Cars24 Services and the Council for Startup India to expan…
DPIIT signs 5 MoUs giving DPIIT-recognised startups payments, cloud and investment perks
On August 8, 2026, DPIIT signed five strategic MoUs with Cashfree Payments, Vultr India, Cars24, Darwin Dynamics and the Council for Startup India. DPIIT-recognised startups get pr…
DPIIT signs 5 MoUs giving recognised startups cloud credits and payments perks
On 8 August 2026 India's DPIIT signed five strategic MoUs with Cashfree Payments, Vultr India, Cars24, Darwin Dynamics and the Council for Startup India. DPIIT-recognised startups…
DPIIT signs 5 MoUs to give recognised startups payments, cloud and mentorship
On August 8, 2026, DPIIT signed strategic MoUs with five partners: Cashfree Payments, Vultr India, Cars24, Darwin Dynamics and the Council for Startup India. DPIIT-recognised start…
Step San Francisco 2026 AI startup conference set for Aug 26-27
Step San Francisco 2026 runs August 26-27, with Day 1 kickoff events across the Bay Area and the main conference Aug 27 at The Midway in San Francisco. Billed for 'the people build…
UK deploys £100m to launch 10 new VC microfunds backing early-stage startups
On 7 August 2026, HM Treasury and the British Business Bank announced a £100m deployment under the Investor Pathways Capital initiative to launch up to 10 new UK venture capital fu…
UK commits £100m to launch up to 10 new regional VC funds via Investor Pathways
On 7 August 2026, the government announced a £100m next phase of the £400m British Business Bank Investor Pathways Capital initiative, backing as many as 10 new venture capital fun…
Innovate UK names largest-ever Women in Innovation cohort: GBP 75k each
On 7 August 2026 Innovate UK announced its largest-ever Women in Innovation cohort, recognising 100 UK female founders. 61 of them receive a GBP 75,000 grant plus 12 months of tail…
DGFT opens 'Source from India' export platform to DPIIT-recognised startups
Via Trade Notice No. 16 dated August 6, 2026, DGFT expanded its 'Source from India' feature on the Trade Connect ePlatform to DPIIT-recognised startups. Qualifying startups can bui…
IRS updates overtime-deduction rules: report qualified OT in W-2 Box 12 Code TT
On Aug 6, 2026 the IRS issued Fact Sheet FS-2026-13, replacing its January guidance on OBBBA's new deduction for qualified overtime compensation. Employers must now separately repo…
IRS expands Business Tax Account: digital notices, payments and account access online
On Aug 6, 2026 the IRS announced new and expanded features for its Business Tax Account (BTA), letting eligible businesses view digital notices, make payments, and access and manag…
Yardi Matrix: US apartment rents up just ~1% in H1 2026 as supply floods
Yardi Matrix's Aug 5, 2026 report shows US multifamily asking rents grew about 1% year-over-year through mid-2026 (0.7% in Q2), with a full-year 2026 forecast of just 1.4%—down fro…
USCIS can again deny incomplete petitions without an RFE or NOID
A USCIS policy alert effective Aug 5, 2026 lets officers deny a benefit request without first issuing a Request for Evidence (RFE) or Notice of Intent to Deny (NOID) when required…
Biggest AIM rules overhaul since 1995 takes effect, allowing founder dual-class shares
On 5 August 2026 the London Stock Exchange's most comprehensive AIM rule changes since 1995 took effect. AIM now permits special (dual-class) voting shares at admission so founders…
IRS Notice 2026-28: permanent paid-leave credit adds a premium method for 2026
On Aug 5, 2026 Treasury and the IRS issued Notice 2026-28 implementing OBBBA's permanent Section 45S employer credit for paid family and medical leave. The credit runs 12.5% to 25%…
USCIS can now deny visa filings without an RFE, effective Aug 5, 2026
A USCIS policy alert effective August 5, 2026 restores officers' discretion to deny an immigration benefit request without first issuing a Request for Evidence (RFE) or Notice of I…
Australia cuts National Innovation Visa to 3,500 places for 2026-27
Australia's 2026-27 migration year allocates 3,500 places to the invitation-only National Innovation Visa (subclass 858), down from a combined 5,300 across the two prior years. In…
USCIS can deny visa filings without an RFE for missing evidence from Aug 5, 2026
Effective August 5, 2026, USCIS gives officers discretion to deny an immigration benefit request without first issuing a Request for Evidence or Notice of Intent to Deny when requi…
ASIC launches free Small Business Director Essentials hub for founders
In media release 26-181MR (August 2026), ASIC launched the Small Business Director Essentials hub, a free digital resource with a director roadmap, obligation guidance, and online…
Venture for Canada launches Solopreneurship program for independent founders
On 5 August 2026 national charity Venture for Canada launched Solopreneurship, a six-week hybrid program helping Canadians build a business around a single skill or service without…
IRS issues Notice 2026-28 on the permanently expanded paid-leave tax credit
On Aug 5, 2026 Treasury and the IRS released Notice 2026-28, interim guidance on the OBBBA's permanent Section 45S paid family and medical leave credit for tax year 2026. Employers…
CBRE: US office vacancy to fall to 18% as tech drives leasing
In its Aug 4, 2026 midyear outlook, CBRE projects the US office vacancy rate will decline to 18% by year-end, 10 bps better than its prior forecast. Technology firms drove 21% of f…
US office vacancy drops to 18.3% in Q2 2026, biggest fall since 2015
CBRE reports US office vacancy fell 30 basis points to 18.3% in Q2 2026 — the largest quarterly drop since 2015 — while leasing volume rose 16% year-over-year to 62.4 million sq ft…
Delaware opens Fall 2026 EDGE Grant: $1.15M for early-stage firms, apply by Sept 11
Delaware's Division of Small Business opens its Fall 2026 EDGE Grant competition on Aug 11, 2026, with $1.15 million available split between an Entrepreneur track ($400,000) and a…
IBS/CBS fields become mandatory on NF-e/NFC-e invoices from Aug 3, 2026
Under Nota Técnica 2025.002 (and 2026.002), from August 3, 2026 all companies outside Simples Nacional (Regime Normal / CRT 3) must fill the new IBS and CBS tax groups, plus cClass…
From Aug 3, 2026 Brazilian e-invoices must carry new IBS/CBS tax fields or be rejected
Starting August 3, 2026, companies in the normal tax regime must include the new IBS and CBS tax reform fields (rates, 3-digit CST situation code, and cClassTrib classification cod…
State Dept makes visa bond pilot permanent for some B-1/B-2 applicants Aug 3
Effective Aug 3, 2026, the Department of State finalized regulations making the Visa Bond Pilot Program a permanent requirement for certain B-1 (business visitor) and B-2 (tourist)…
EU AI Act transparency rules now enforceable, fines up to 3% of global turnover
From 2 August 2026 the EU Commission's AI Office and national authorities began enforcing the AI Act's transparency duties: chatbots must disclose they are AI, deepfakes and AI-gen…
California's AI Transparency Act (SB 942) takes effect Aug 2, 2026
California's SB 942 became operative Aug 2, 2026, requiring large generative-AI providers (over 1 million monthly users) to offer a free AI-detection tool and attach both visible a…
EU AI Act's main obligations now apply as of Aug 2, 2026
On August 2, 2026 the bulk of the EU AI Act became applicable, including Article 50 transparency duties (disclosing chatbots and labeling AI-generated content, the latter deferred…
EU AI Act enforcement against general-purpose AI providers goes live
As of August 2, 2026 the European Commission can actively investigate and fine providers of general-purpose AI models under the EU AI Act. Duties include technical documentation, d…
State Dept moves US visa services in 24 African posts to 20 regional hubs Aug 1
Effective Aug 1, 2026, the U.S. Department of State realigned routine visa services from 24 embassies/consulates (including Abuja, Harare, Lusaka, Maputo, Windhoek) to 20 regional…
The AI Conference returns to San Francisco Sept 29-Oct 1, 2026; tickets open
The AI Conference 2026 takes place Sept 29-Oct 1 at Pier 48 in San Francisco, gathering 5,500+ builders, researchers and leaders across tracks on agentic AI, LLMs, infrastructure a…
US apartment rents keep creeping up; median hits $1,388 as vacancy finally dips
Apartment List's July 2026 report puts the national median rent at $1,388, up 0.2% month-over-month for a sixth straight monthly increase but still down about 1.1% year-over-year.…
The AI Conference 2026 returns to San Francisco's Pier 48, Sept 29–Oct 1
The vendor-neutral AI Conference 2026 runs September 29–October 1 at Pier 48 in San Francisco's Mission Rock, expecting 5,500+ builders and 120+ speakers across five tracks (AGI, L…
August 2026 Visa Bulletin: EB-2 India unavailable, EB-1 India at risk
The Department of State's August 2026 Visa Bulletin lists EB-2 India as 'unavailable' for the rest of FY2026 after annual limits were reached, while EB-1 India's final action date…
AI transparency rules now enforced in Sweden: label chatbots and AI content
From 2 August 2026 the EU AI Act's transparency obligations (Article 50) are enforced and apply directly in Sweden: businesses must tell users when they are interacting with a chat…
China issues new Exit-Entry Administration rules, effective Sept 15, 2026
On July 31, 2026, China's State Council issued new Regulations on Exit and Entry Administration that take effect September 15, 2026. Foreign nationals who submit false materials in…
Hunan raises graduate startup guarantee loan cap to 500,000 yuan
On July 31, 2026, Hunan's Human Resources and Social Security Department, jointly with the Provincial Finance Department and PBOC Hunan Branch, issued a notice optimizing the entre…
SEBI's GARUDA framework fast-tracks AIF/VC fund launches to 10 working days
On 30 July 2026 SEBI operationalised the 'Green-Channel: AIF Rollout Upon Document Acknowledgement' (GARUDA) mechanism, following the AIF (Second Amendment) Regulations notified 14…
New BCB Pix antifraud rules phase in Aug 10 and Sep 1, 2026; MED window jumps to 80 days
Via Instrução Normativa BCB nº 766, the Banco Central rolls out Pix security changes in two phases: layered fund tracing plus new infraction-notification and value-recovery procedu…
SEC advisory committee reconvenes Aug 6 to push IPOs and small-company capital access
The SEC announced on July 30, 2026 that its Small Business Capital Formation Advisory Committee will reconvene August 6, 2026 at 1 p.m. ET (virtual) to continue work on modernizing…
CBRE posts best-ever Q2 office leasing; data-center revenue up 30%
CBRE reported its highest-ever second-quarter U.S. office leasing revenue in Q2 2026, with combined office and industrial leasing revenue up 24% year-over-year. Its data-center sol…
Start BSB 3rd cycle opens: up to R$200k economic subsidy for DF startups
Brasilia's Start BSB program opened its 3rd cycle on July 29, 2026, offering non-reimbursable economic subsidy across three tracks: up to R$53,000 (ideation/Eixo I), up to R$110,00…
Singapore raises EFS loan risk-share to 70% for SMEs from Sept 2026
On 29 July 2026, Singapore's MOF announced a second support package raising the government's risk-share from 50% to 70% on the Enterprise Financing Scheme SME Working Capital Loan…
Singapore lifts SME Working Capital Loan risk-share to 70% for Sept 2026-Mar 2027
On 29 July 2026, Singapore's Ministry of Finance announced that the Enterprise Financing Scheme - SME Working Capital Loan's government risk-share rises to 70% for all enterprises…
Start BSB 3rd cycle opens: up to R$200k non-refundable grants for DF startups
FAPDF's Start BSB 3rd cycle offers non-refundable economic subsidy (subvencao economica) of up to R$53,000 for ideation, R$110,000 for incubation/pre-acceleration and R$200,000 for…
Singapore raises EFS Working Capital Loan risk-share to 70% from 1 Sep 2026
The Ministry of Finance announced on 29 July 2026 that the Enterprise Financing Scheme (EFS) SME Working Capital Loan and Project Loan will be enhanced from 1 September 2026 to 31…
New £2,000 grant for non-levy SMEs hiring 16-24 apprentices from Oct 2026
From 1 October 2026, non-levy-paying employers (those with a paybill under £3m) can claim up to £2,000 for hiring an apprentice aged 16-24, provided the apprentice's practical star…
China's NMPA cuts cosmetics registration burden, drops overseas-sales proof
In Announcement No. 70 of 2026, effective on its July 29, 2026 publication date, China's National Medical Products Administration lets brands launching first (or simultaneously) in…
Brazil Pix rule IN BCB 766: 80-day MED dispute window, layered fraud tracing
Instrucao Normativa BCB no 766 (published in the DOU on 29 July 2026) upgrades Pix fraud handling in phases. From 10 August 2026 a layered tracking system (a new transaction-depth…
Maine requires pay ranges in job postings starting July 29, 2026
Maine's pay-transparency law takes effect July 29, 2026, requiring employers to include a good-faith range of pay in job postings. Separately, Maine set its 2026 paid family and me…
US office vacancy drops to 18.3% in Q2 2026 as rents rise fastest in 6 years
CBRE's Q2 2026 report shows US office vacancy fell 30 basis points to 18.3%, the largest quarterly decline since 2015, while average asking rent rose 2.6% year over year to $37.58…
China streamlines High-Tech Enterprise recognition to speed startup tax perks
On July 27, 2026, China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) and seven other departments launched a special action to streamline the recognition process for hig…
CSIRO ON Accelerate 11 opens: up to A$80k non-dilutive, apply by 31 Aug 2026
CSIRO opened applications for ON Accelerate 11, its national deep-tech accelerator, running 27 July to 31 August 2026. Selected teams receive a three-month program valued at over A…
NC IDEA MICRO opens Fall 2026 cycle: $10K grants for North Carolina founders
NC IDEA opened its Fall 2026 MICRO grant cycle on Jul 27, 2026, awarding $10,000 (75% at signing, 25% two months later) plus an eight-week customer-discovery and launch program. Ap…
US office leasing hits a post-pandemic high as availability tightens
JLL's Q2 2026 US office report (July 27, 2026) shows leasing volume set a new post-pandemic high and is up 27% over the trailing 12 months versus the prior 5-year average, with ove…
MIIT issues 'Xiao-Kuai-Qing-Zhun' 2026 guide to curate cheap digital tools for SMEs
On July 27, 2026, China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (工业和信息化部) issued the 'Xiao-Kuai-Qing-Zhun' (小快轻准) Digital Products and Services Cultivation Guide (2026 Ed…
Court strikes down $100,000 H-1B fee; First Circuit lets ruling stand (July 2026)
A September 19, 2025 presidential proclamation imposed a one-time $100,000 fee on new H-1B petitions for beneficiaries processed abroad. On June 8, 2026 a federal judge vacated the…
Appeals court keeps $100,000 H-1B fee blocked while appeal proceeds
On July 24, 2026 the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit denied the government's request to stay a district-court ruling that vacated the $100,000 H-1B entry fee. As a resu…
China imposes 20% income tax on offshore trusts, 90-day filing for 2023-25 back liabilities
On July 24, 2026, China's MOF and State Taxation Administration issued Announcement No. 21 of 2026 (plus STA Announcement No. 15), creating the first individual income tax framewor…
China's new offshore trust tax hits founders: 20% PIT, back taxes due in 90 days
China's tax authorities announced on July 24, 2026 a framework imposing a 20% personal income tax across the lifecycle of offshore trusts, with back taxes payable within 90 days of…
China cuts data-compliance load for small processors, effective Sept 1, 2026
The CAC and Ministry of Public Security jointly issued the Simplified Personal Information Protection Measures for Small-Scale Processors, published July 24, 2026 and effective Sep…
MTD for Income Tax now live: sole traders over £50k must file quarterly
From 6 April 2026, Making Tax Digital for Income Tax is mandatory for around 864,000 sole traders and landlords with gross self-employment/property income over £50,000. The first q…
US coworking inventory hits 9,384 locations, up 248 in Q2 2026
US flex-office inventory reached 9,384 locations by the end of Q2 2026, a net gain of 248 spaces (up 2.7%) from 9,136 the prior quarter, per CoworkingCafe's national report publish…
Making Tax Digital live: 864k UK sole traders hit first quarterly deadline
Making Tax Digital for Income Tax became mandatory from 6 April 2026 for sole traders and landlords with qualifying self-employment or property income above £50,000. Over 864,000 p…
US coworking hits 9,384 locations; median membership now $219/month
CoworkingCafe's Q2 2026 report (published Jul 23, 2026) counts 9,384 US coworking spaces across 166.36M sq ft, up 2.7% in locations and 1.5% in square footage quarter-over-quarter,…
China eases data-privacy compliance for small processors under 100,000 users
On 22 July 2026 the Cyberspace Administration of China and the Ministry of Public Security released Simplified Measures for 'small processors' that handle the personal information…
SBA opens $6M competition to modernize Women's Business Centers in 8 states
On July 21, 2026 the SBA announced a national competition for $6 million to fund a Women's Business Center Modernization Initiative, creating State Lead Centers and local Service C…
SBA opens $6M Women's Business Center modernization grant; Aug 10 deadline
The SBA announced on July 21, 2026 a $6M national competition to modernize Women's Business Centers, limited to eight states/territories where funding lagged fast-growing women-own…
MBIE refreshes Founder & Startup Support Programme with 14 providers from 1 July 2026
On 21 July 2026 MBIE announced a refreshed Founder & Startup Support Programme, appointing 14 providers under new contracts that began 1 July 2026 with an initial two-year term. It…
MBIE names 14 providers for refreshed Founder & Startup Support Programme
On 21 July 2026, MBIE announced a refreshed Founder & Startup Support Programme delivered by 14 appointed providers under contracts that began 1 July 2026 (two-year initial term wi…
NZ relaunches Founder & Startup Support Programme with 14 providers from 1 July 2026
MBIE has appointed a refreshed network of 14 providers to deliver the Founder & Startup Support Programme, with new contracts commencing 1 July 2026 for an initial two-year term. T…
NZ refreshes Founder & Startup Support Programme with 14 providers from 1 July 2026
On 21 July 2026 MBIE confirmed a refreshed Founder & Startup Support Programme (FSSP) with a network of 14 providers on new contracts that began 1 July 2026 for an initial two-year…
NZ launches refreshed Founder and Startup Support Programme with 14 providers
MBIE launched the refreshed Founder and Startup Support Programme (FSSP) on 21 July 2026, with new contracts that commenced 1 July 2026 for an initial two-year term. It appoints 14…
SBA opens $6M to modernize Women's Business Centers in 8 states
Announced July 21, 2026, the SBA's $6M Women's Business Center Modernization Initiative funds new State Lead and Service Centers delivering free counseling and training to women en…
US office vacancy falls to 17.7% in June 2026 as leasing recovers
The U.S. national office vacancy rate fell to 17.7% in June 2026, down 170 basis points year-over-year, while the average asking listing rate slipped 2.4% to $33.67 per square foot…
Y Combinator: 4 batches/year, $500K standard deal, check for the next open batch
ARTICLE (founderbriefs) Y Combinator runs four batches a year (Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall). Its standard deal is $500,000 plus an approximately three month in person program…
Antler pre-team founder program applications close September 30, 2026
Antler's US residency programs in Austin, New York City, and San Francisco review applications year-round. Antler specializes in pre-team, pre-seed founders, helping individuals fi…
Startup Boston Week returns Sept 14-18 with 100+ free founder sessions
Startup Boston Week runs Sept 14-18, 2026, with 100+ free panels, workshops and networking events—Monday-Wednesday at Boston University and Thursday-Friday in Downtown Crossing. Re…
DHS ends 'duration of status,' caps F-1/J-1 admission at 4 years
A DHS final rule published July 17, 2026 replaces the ~50-year 'duration of status' framework with fixed admission periods of up to four years for F-1 students, J-1 exchange visito…
TechCrunch x Stripe debut Startup Battlefield Australia; 8 startups pitch Aug 19 in Sydney
TechCrunch and Stripe are running the first Startup Battlefield Australia, with eight selected startups pitching live at Stripe Tour Sydney on 19 August 2026. It is free to enter a…
Federal Industry Growth Program paused — no new startup grant applications
The Industry Growth Program — offering free advisory support plus early-stage commercialisation grants of $50,000–$250,000 and commercialisation/growth grants up to $5 million — ha…
Delhi approves Rs 400 crore Startup & Incubation Policy over 5 years
The Delhi Cabinet approved the Start-up and Incubation Policy on July 16-17, 2026, committing more than Rs 400 crore over five years. It funds incubation centres across 11 state un…
China's first AI companion rules take effect, curbing addiction and barring minors
On July 16, 2026, China's Cyberspace Administration (CAC) and four other agencies enacted the country's first dedicated rules for AI companion services. Providers must show a usage…
Delhi Cabinet clears Rs 400 crore Start-up and Incubation Policy
On July 16, 2026, the Delhi Cabinet approved a Start-up and Incubation Policy committing over Rs 400 crore (~$46.5M) over five years. Phase one covers 11 state universities, 13 gov…
Sweden expands vaxa-stod hiring relief to two employees, SEK 35,000/mo ceiling
From the January 2026 reporting period, Sweden's vaxa-stod employer-contribution relief for small firms now covers up to two employees instead of one, and the qualifying monthly sa…
IRS raises business mileage rate to 76 cents from July 1, 2026
The IRS made a rare mid-year adjustment, raising the optional standard business mileage rate to 76 cents per mile for travel on or after July 1, 2026, up from 72.5 cents January 1…
US office vacancy eases to 17.7% in June 2026 as conversions accelerate
CommercialCafe's national office report (July 2026) put the US office vacancy rate at 17.7% in June, down 170 basis points year-over-year, with average asking rent of $33.67/sq ft…
Techstars Founder Catalyst Fall 2026: free, equity-free virtual pre-accelerator
Techstars is running its Founder Catalyst Global Fall 2026 pre-accelerator, a 10-week, fully virtual, non-equity and free program from Sept 22 to Nov 27, 2026. Applications close A…
SEBI waives first-scheme filing fee, cuts AIF launch timeline to 10 working days
SEBI notified the AIF (Second Amendment) Regulations, 2026 on 14 July 2026, exempting an Alternative Investment Fund's first scheme from scheme filing fees and cutting the advance…
August 2026 Visa Bulletin: EB-2 and EB-5 India stay unavailable, EB-1 India near cutoff
The State Department's August 2026 Visa Bulletin keeps EB-2 India and EB-5 (unreserved) India 'Unavailable' for the rest of the fiscal year, with EB-1 India warned it may become un…
NSW MVP Ventures backs 22 startups with $1M; Round 3 now in assessment
On 14 July 2026 the NSW Government announced 22 startups and small businesses would share more than $1 million under Round 2 of the 2025-26 MVP Ventures Program. The program offers…
Australia sets up Office of AI in PM&C to build a national AI framework
On 14 July 2026, PM Anthony Albanese announced a new Office of AI inside the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet to coordinate 'Australian standards' for AI and end the go…
Y Combinator opens Winter 2027 batch applications, deadline Nov 2
Y Combinator is accepting applications for its Winter 2027 batch, with a deadline of November 2, 2026 at 8pm PT and decisions returned by December 11, 2026. The batch runs January…
Missouri enacts Angel Investor Tax Credit: 40% (50% rural) on startup investments
Gov. Mike Kehoe signed Missouri's Angel Investor Tax Credit into law on July 13, 2026. For tax years starting Jan 1, 2027, investors earn a credit worth 40% of a qualified investme…
IRS raises business mileage rate to 76 cents/mile from July 1, 2026
The IRS (announced July 13, 2026) increased the standard business mileage rate to 76 cents per mile effective July 1, 2026, up from 72.5 cents at the start of the year; medical/mov…
UK expands Growth Guarantee Scheme: £2bn more SME lending a year, terms up to 10 years
On 13 July 2026 HM Treasury announced an expansion of the British Business Bank's Growth Guarantee Scheme, adding £2bn of supported SME lending a year by 2028/29 to reach £3.35bn a…
NZ Health & Safety Amendment Act lets small firms (<20 workers) focus on critical risks
The Health and Safety at Work Amendment Act 2026 received Royal Assent on 13 July 2026, with the main changes taking effect 1 April 2027. It creates a new 'small PCBU' category for…
UK expands Growth Guarantee Scheme: £6.5bn more SME lending, turnover cap up to £54m
On 12 July 2026 the Chancellor announced a major expansion of the British Business Bank's Growth Guarantee Scheme, unlocking a further £6.5bn of lending over four years and lifting…
StartupCE 2026 opens: up to 60 startups get 6-month acceleration + BIT grants
Sebrae/CE, in partnership with Funcap, opened applications for the StartupCE 2026 program from July 7 to August 14, 2026, selecting up to 60 startups. Selected companies receive a…
Payday Super now in effect: employers must pay super every payday from 1 July 2026
From 1 July 2026, Australian employers must pay the 12% super guarantee on the same day they pay wages, instead of quarterly, and contributions must reach each employee's fund with…
China eases M&A tax-deferral rules: 50% shareholder consent, not unanimous
State Taxation Administration Announcement No. 13 of 2026, issued 8 July 2026 and applicable to restructurings dated from 1 January 2026, lets a merger or demerger qualify for 'spe…
SBA doubles combined 7(a)+504 loan cap to $10M
Effective July 4, 2026, the SBA raised the cumulative cap a borrower can hold across its two flagship loan programs from $5 million to $10 million: up to $5 million through the 7(a…
SBA doubles combined 7(a) and 504 loan cap to $10 million
Effective July 4, 2026, the SBA doubled the cumulative borrowing limit for businesses using both loan programs from $5 million to $10 million. Qualified borrowers can now access up…
NZ Business Investor Work Visa widened to franchises and gifted funds from 6 July 2026
From 6 July 2026, Immigration New Zealand relaxed the Business Investor Work Visa: applicants can now invest in eligible franchise businesses, purchase businesses through a New Zea…
Canada launches Small Business Procurement Program to open $37B federal market to SMEs
On July 6, 2026, Public Services and Procurement Canada launched the Small Business Procurement Program (SBPP) to help small firms win a share of the government's $37 billion in an…
Uttar Pradesh approves Startup Policy 2026 with Rs 1,000 crore startup fund
The Uttar Pradesh cabinet approved the Startup Policy 2026 on 6 July 2026, creating a Rs 1,000 crore startup fund. Eligible startups can get seed funding up to Rs 15 lakh (up to Rs…
Canada launches Small Business Procurement Program to open federal contracts to SMEs
On July 6, 2026, Public Services and Procurement Canada and ISED launched new Small Business Procurement Program (SBPP) measures, backed by $79.9M over five years for Innovative So…
NZ eases Business Investor Work Visa: franchises, NZ entities, gifted capital
On 6 July 2026, Immigration New Zealand widened the Business Investor Work Visa: applicants can now invest in eligible franchise businesses, purchase a business through a New Zeala…
NZ eases Business Investor Work Visa: franchises and gifted capital now allowed
From 6 July 2026, Immigration New Zealand made three rule changes to the Business Investor Work Visa: applicants can now invest in qualifying franchise businesses, purchase a busin…
Uttar Pradesh Startup Policy 2026 sets up Rs 1,000 crore fund, doubles seed grants
The UP Cabinet cleared the Uttar Pradesh Startup Policy 2026 on 6 July 2026, creating a dedicated Rs 1,000 crore startup fund. Standard seed funding doubles to Rs 15 lakh (up to Rs…
China unveils draft E-Commerce Law overhaul: 20 articles, feedback open to Aug 4
On July 4, 2026, the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) and the Ministry of Commerce jointly released a 20-article draft amendment to China's E-Commerce Law for publ…
China extends jobless-insurance refunds and youth-hiring subsidies through end-2026
On July 2, 2026, China's Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security and three other departments jointly issued a circular extending unemployment-insurance support through Dece…
ConvergeSouth returns Aug 27-28, 2026 in Winston-Salem for founders
ConvergeSouth 2026, now in its 10th year, runs August 27-28 at Biotech Place and downtown venues in Winston-Salem, NC. It convenes 500+ founders, investors, and ecosystem leaders a…
Tennessee bans noncompetes for workers earning under $70,000 from July 1, 2026
A new Tennessee law effective July 1, 2026 voids noncompete agreements for employees who earn less than $70,000 per year. It joins a broader 2026 wave of state limits on low-wage n…
TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 runs Oct 13-15 at Moscone West, San Francisco
TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 takes place October 13-15 at Moscone West in San Francisco, drawing 10,000+ founders, VCs and operators and featuring the Startup Battlefield pitch competit…
IRS interest rate climbs to 7% for Q3 2026 underpayments and refunds
The IRS underpayment and overpayment interest rate for individuals rose to 7% for the quarter beginning July 1, 2026, up from 6% in Q2 2026. For corporations, the overpayment rate…
TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 set for Oct 13-15 in San Francisco
TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 runs October 13-15 at Moscone West in San Francisco, expecting 10,000+ attendees across 200+ sessions and the Startup Battlefield competition, whose alumni…
FTC proposes policy targeting AI systems steered away from accuracy
On July 1, 2026, the FTC sought public comment on a proposed policy statement warning that companies which distort their AI systems' outputs to serve undisclosed goals may be decei…
Connecticut broadens Angel Investor Tax Credit; new approvals resume July 1, 2026
Connecticut's 2026 budget expanded its Angel Investor Tax Credit (25% of a $25k+ investment, up to $500k, $5M annual cap): the in-state employee-residency bar for qualifying busine…
Ontario cuts small-business corporate tax rate to 2.2% on July 1, 2026
Ontario's 2026 budget lowers the small-business corporate income tax rate for Canadian-controlled private corporations (CCPCs) from 3.2% to 2.2%, effective July 1, 2026, prorated f…
FTC pivots to case-by-case noncompete enforcement; states pass their own bans
There is no federal FTC noncompete ban in effect. The 2024 rule was blocked, and the FTC dropped its Fifth Circuit appeal on September 5, 2025. Instead, the FTC is enforcing noncom…
O-1A stays the top founder visa; Entrepreneur Parole thresholds and fees rise
A January 2025 USCIS policy update confirmed that a founder-owned company may petition for an O-1 visa on behalf of its founder. USCIS data show an O-1A approval rate of approximat…
Sweden softens personal tax liability for founders from July 1, 2026
From July 1, 2026, Sweden's rules on 'företrädaransvar' (personal payment liability for company representatives) were eased: a director can now be relieved of personal responsibili…
From July 1, 2026 Skatteverket can deny or revoke VAT registration
Effective July 1, 2026, Sweden's Tax Agency (Skatteverket) gained four new anti-fraud powers: it can require in-person identity checks during VAT registration, deny or cancel a VAT…
Web Summit returns to Lisbon Nov 9-12, 2026 with 70,000+ attendees
Web Summit 2026 runs November 9-12 in Lisbon (Nov 9 is a pre-conference registration/mentorship day), gathering 70,000+ founders, investors and operators. Early registration is run…
Ontario cuts small business corporate tax rate from 3.2% to 2.2%, effective July 1, 2026
Ontario's 2026 Budget cuts the provincial small business corporate income tax rate from 3.2% to 2.2%, effective July 1, 2026. The reduced rate applies to Canadian-controlled privat…
Opportunity Zones made permanent; new rolling cycle starts for 2026-27 investors
Under the OBBBA, Opportunity Zones are now a permanent program with zones redesignated every 10 years; the first new cycle begins July 1, 2026 (designations effective Jan 1, 2027).…
Victoria merges LaunchVic and Breakthrough Victoria into Innovation Victoria
From 1 July 2026, Victoria folded startup agency LaunchVic and the state's ~$2 billion Breakthrough Victoria investment fund into a single new body, Innovation Victoria, pitched as…
Virginia now requires pay ranges in all job postings as of July 1, 2026
Effective July 1, 2026, Virginia requires all employers — with no minimum employee count — to include a good-faith wage or salary range in every job posting. The same law expanded…
FTC drops nationwide noncompete ban; enforcement is now state-by-state
The FTC's 2024 rule to ban most noncompetes is not in effect (blocked by a court in Aug 2024), and in early 2026 the agency formally shifted to case-by-case enforcement instead of…
New Swedish anti-VAT-fraud rules from July 1, 2026: registration can be denied or voided
From July 1, 2026, Skatteverket can deny or revoke a company's VAT registration where there is a risk of tax evasion, require in-person identity verification for some VAT applicati…
IRS bumps 2026 business mileage rate to 76 cents from July 1
The IRS raised the optional standard business mileage rate to 76 cents per mile effective July 1, 2026, up from 72.5 cents for the first half of the year. The medical and moving ra…
Singapore EP salary now S$5,600; COMPASS benchmarks hit renewals from 1 July 2026
Singapore's Employment Pass minimum qualifying salary is S$5,600/month for general sectors and S$6,200 for financial services in 2026, rising to S$6,000 and S$6,600 for new applica…
Ontario cuts small business corporate tax rate to 2.2%, effective July 1, 2026
Ontario's small business corporate income tax rate dropped from 3.2% to 2.2% on July 1, 2026, applying to Canadian-controlled private corporations on their first $500,000 of active…
NZ passes biggest health & safety overhaul in a decade; lighter duties for small PCBUs
The Health and Safety at Work Amendment Bill passed its final reading on 1 July 2026, the largest overhaul of NZ's H&S system in a decade. It defines a 'small PCBU' with limited, p…
Award wages up 4.75%, national minimum wage now $26.44/hr from 1 July 2026
The Fair Work Commission's 2026 Annual Wage Review (handed down early June 2026) raised modern award minimum wages by 4.75% and set the National Minimum Wage at $26.44 per hour ($1…
Sweden arms Skatteverket to deny or revoke VAT registration from July 1, 2026
Under Prop. 2025/26:128 (Atgarder mot mervardesskattebedragerier), rules in force since July 1, 2026 let Skatteverket run tighter checks at VAT registration, deny or deregister a c…
Web Summit Lisbon returns Nov 9-12, 2026 with a startup program
Web Summit 2026 runs November 9-12 at the MEO/Altice Arena and FIL in Lisbon, expecting 70,000+ attendees from 160+ countries, 2,300+ startups, and 1,200+ investors. Attendee ticke…
Payday Super now live: employers must pay super within 7 business days of payday
Australia's Payday Super regime commenced 1 July 2026, replacing the 30-year quarterly super system. Employers must now ensure the 12% superannuation guarantee reaches each worker'…
New Income Tax Act 2025 extends startup ESOP tax deferral from 48 to 60 months
Under the Income-tax Act, 2025 (effective 1 April 2026), the perquisite-tax deferral window for eligible startup employees on ESOPs is extended from 48 to 60 months, now governed b…
China's new rule gives veteran founders tax breaks and financing from Aug 1, 2026
On June 30, 2026, Premier Li Qiang signed a State Council decree issuing a regulation to promote employment and business start-ups among ex-service personnel, taking effect August…
From July 1, 2026 Skatteverket gains new powers over VAT registration
From July 1, 2026, Sweden's Tax Agency (Skatteverket) gains expanded authority when a company registers for VAT (moms): it can require the owner to appear at a tax office to identi…
Govt bill PLP 186/2026 would raise MEI revenue ceiling to R$140k, allow 2 staff
On June 29-30, 2026, Brazil's federal Executive sent Congress bill PLP 186/2026, which would raise the MEI (Microempreendedor Individual) annual revenue ceiling from the current R$…
Sweden softens director tax liability: 2-month grace period from June 30, 2026
New rules on skatterättsligt företrädaransvar (tax representative liability) entered into force on June 30, 2026, after Riksdagen approved prop. 2025/26 on May 6, 2026. A company r…
Canada pauses Start-Up Visa program; final PR applications closed June 30, 2026
IRCC announced on December 19, 2025 that the federal Start-Up Visa (SUV) program is paused: it stopped accepting new commitment certificates after December 31, 2025, and applicants…
China passes revised Trademark Law, effective Jan 1, 2027
On June 26, 2026, the NPC Standing Committee passed China's revised Trademark Law, taking effect January 1, 2027. It bars applications lacking genuine intent to use, penalizes bad-…
China's revised Trademark Law adopted, takes effect Jan 1, 2027
China's National People's Congress adopted the revised Trademark Law on June 26, 2026, effective January 1, 2027. It cracks down on bad-faith and squatting filings: applications fi…
Australia reintroduces company loss carry back for years from 1 July 2026
The Treasury Laws Amendment (Tax Reform No. 2) Bill 2026, introduced to Parliament on 25 June 2026, lets companies with annual global income under $1 billion carry back a revenue t…
Innovate UK opens £10m 'Next Wave: Breakthrough' createch grant, up to £350k
Innovate UK opened its 'Next Wave: Breakthrough Wave 1' competition on 23 June 2026, sharing £10 million for creative-technology (createch) research projects in England. UK-registe…
British Business Bank readies GBP 350m East and South East England funds for summer 2026
The British Business Bank is standing up two Nations and Regions Investment Funds for launch in summer 2026: GBP 210m for the South East (SEIF) and GBP 140m for the East of England…
SXSW Pitch application window open; final deadline Nov 13, 2026
SXSW Pitch, the Austin showcase for early-stage startups, opened applications June 23, 2026, with regular entry running Sept 14 through the final deadline of Nov 13, 2026. Selected…
SXSW 2027 set for March 15-21 in Austin; early-bird badge sign-up open
SXSW announced on June 23, 2026 that its 2027 conference and festivals run March 15-21 in Austin, with badges priced roughly $820-$1,995 by access level. Signing up early locks a 1…
Ontario adds $6M to Futurpreneur to back nearly 1,000 young founders
On June 22, 2026, Ontario announced an additional $6 million for Futurpreneur Canada, expected to help nearly 1,000 entrepreneurs aged 18-39 launch and grow businesses and support…
Canada adds $173.7M to Women Entrepreneurship Strategy, incl. microloans up to $50K
On June 22, 2026, ISED Minister Rechie Valdez announced $173.7 million over five years for the Women Entrepreneurship Strategy, split across the Women Entrepreneurship Loan Fund ($…
DPIIT publishes 107-page Startup Playbook mapping 65+ government schemes
In June 2026 DPIIT released the 'Playbook of Government Schemes and Initiatives for Startups', a 107-page official guide (dated 22 June 2026) that consolidates 65+ Central Governme…
Google for Startups Accelerator opens to NZ founders for the first time in 2026
Google announced on 21 June 2026 that its Google for Startups Accelerator: Australia and New Zealand includes Kiwi startups for the first time. The equity-free 10-week hybrid progr…
Australia proposes 50% CGT startup concession, new equity from 1 July 2027
On 18 June 2026 the Albanese government released a consultation paper for an 'innovative business CGT concession' that preserves a 50% capital gains discount for founders, employee…
China's Network Data Security Risk Assessment Measures take effect Aug 20, 2026
China's Cyberspace Administration (CAC), MIIT and Ministry of Public Security jointly issued the Measures for Network Data Security Risk Assessment on June 18, 2026, effective Augu…
Australia unveils 50% CGT discount for startup founders, employees and early investors
In its 18 June 2026 tax-reform package, the Albanese Government proposed a new 'Innovative Business' CGT concession giving founders, employee share scheme participants and early-st…
BNDES and Finep launch FIP Conexoes Startups fund targeting up to R$250M
On June 18, 2026, BNDESPAR and Finep opened a public call to select the manager of the FIP Conexoes Startups, a private-equity fund with a target capital of R$250 million (minimum…
BNDES and Finep launch FIP Conexões Startups, a R$250M startup fund
On June 16, 2026, Brazil's BNDES and Finep opened a public call to select the manager of FIP Conexões Startups, a fund targeting R$250 million (BNDESPAR contributing R$40-100M; Fin…
BNDES and Finep launch FIP Conexoes Startups: R$250M VC fund for Brazilian startups
On June 16, 2026, BNDES and Finep announced the FIP Conexoes Startups, a venture capital fund with target capital of R$250 million. BNDESPAR commits R$40-100 million and Finep up t…
Sweden lifts work permit salary floor to SEK 34,470/month from June 2026
As of 16 June 2026 the Swedish Migration Agency set the national median salary at SEK 38,300, so a first-time work permit now requires a monthly salary of at least SEK 34,470 (90%…
Sweden mandates a consumer "withdrawal button" on online sales from June 19, 2026
From 19 June 2026, Swedish law requires any trader concluding distance contracts with consumers via a website or app to provide a clear, easily accessible "withdrawal button" that…
Brazil requires IBS/CBS fields on all electronic invoices from August 3, 2026
Per the Comite Gestor do IBS (CGIBS), from August 3, 2026 regular-regime companies must populate the new IBS and CBS fields on electronic fiscal documents (NF-e) or the system auto…
~$875B commercial real estate 'maturity wall' comes due in 2026
The Mortgage Bankers Association estimates roughly $875 billion in commercial and multifamily mortgage debt matures in 2026, with some tallies topping $1.2 trillion once extended l…
NZ govt funds AI tools for small business: $400k AcceleratorNZ, $82k AI mentor
On 11 June 2026, Small Business Minister Cameron Brewer announced Government funding for AI-powered SME support: $400,000 to Business South to expand its AcceleratorNZ programme to…
Sweden's June 2026 bill boosts R&D deduction and expert tax relief (25% to 30%)
On 11 June 2026 the Swedish Government submitted a draft bill expanding the R&D tax deduction (FoU-avdrag) and the expert tax relief, with changes proposed to take effect 1 January…
China rolls out national action plan to boost startup founders and sci-tech spinouts
On June 11, 2026, four Chinese government departments led by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security released an action plan promoting 'specialized entrepreneurship' bu…
Delaware's 2026 corporate-law amendments take effect August 1, 2026
Governor Matt Meyer signed the 2026 amendments to Delaware's General Corporation Law, LLC Act, and LP Act on June 10, 2026, effective August 1, 2026. Changes clarify the procedure…
UK Commercial Payments Bill: 60-day cap on payment terms for small suppliers
The government's Commercial Payments Bill, described as the largest late-payment crackdown in over 25 years, imposes a mandatory 60-day cap on the payment terms large firms can set…
Payday Super now law: super must be paid within 7 days of each payday from 1 July 2026
From 1 July 2026, Australian employers must pay employees' superannuation at the same time as wages instead of quarterly, with contributions generally needing to reach the employee…
Payday Super: employers must pay super with every pay run from 1 July 2026
From the first full pay period starting on or after 1 July 2026, all Australian employers must pay employees' superannuation on each pay run, and contributions must reach the emplo…
SMS Sender ID Register now mandatory: register brand names or texts show 'Unverified'
From 1 July 2026 Australia's SMS Sender ID Register (run by ACMA) is mandatory: businesses must register the branded/alphanumeric sender IDs they use in texts via an ACMA-approved…
$100,000 H-1B fee still applies in 2026 despite court striking it down
A federal court ruled the $100,000 H-1B entry fee (from the Sept 2025 proclamation) unlawful on June 8, 2026, but the judge paused the decision and the government sought a First Ci…
NZ Budget 2026 doubles FIF de minimis to $100k, eases offshore-share tax for founders
In Budget 2026 (announced 5 June 2026), the Government doubled the Foreign Investment Fund (FIF) de minimis threshold from NZD 50,000 to NZD 100,000 for the first time since 2000,…
TELUS #StandWithOwners 2026 grants open: 3x$125K prizes, Sept 2 deadline
TELUS relaunched its StandWithOwners contest on June 2, 2026, offering three Grand Prize awards of $125,000 each (in funding, technology and exposure, backed by Samsung, Scotiabank…
Sifted Summit 2026 gathers 3,000+ founders in London Sept 30-Oct 1
Sifted Summit 2026 takes place September 30-October 1 at Magazine London, convening 3,000+ founders, operators, and investors with programming built for Series A+ companies. Ticket…
Government Start Up Loans: £500, £25,000 personal loan at 7.5% fixed plus 12 months free mentoring
Start Up Loans Now Charge 7.5% Interest New loans have a fixed interest rate of 7.5%. Loans taken before 6 April 2026 retain the 6% rate. Eligible businesses must have been trading…
Sweden's new work permit salary rule now in force: 90% of median wage
From 1 June 2026, a non-EU/EEA worker's salary must equal at least 90% of Sweden's median salary (up from the previous 80%), which secondary sources put at roughly SEK 33,390/month…
Bits & Pretzels founders festival returns to Munich Sept 28-30, 2026
Europe's leading founders festival runs September 28-30 at Munich's ICM, hosting 7,500 curated attendees including 1,500+ VCs, 300+ LPs, and 600+ executives across 10+ content stag…
Connecticut's AI employment law (CART Act) starts phasing in Oct 1, 2026
Connecticut's AI Responsibility and Transparency Act begins phasing in Oct 1, 2026: employers filing WARN layoff notices must disclose whether AI drove the cuts, and using an autom…
China issues first State Council regulation on outbound investment, effective July 1, 2026
On June 1, 2026, China's State Council released the Regulation on Outbound Investment, signed by Premier Li Qiang and effective July 1, 2026. Its 34 articles establish a unified fr…
New Sweden work permit rules in force: 90% median salary floor for foreign hires
From 1 June 2026, first-time work permit applicants in Sweden must earn at least 90% of the national median salary (a minimum of about SEK 34,470/month), up from the previous 80% l…
China's first State Council Outbound Investment Regulation takes effect 1 July 2026
Chinese Premier Li Qiang signed a State Council decree (Order No. 837) issuing the Regulations on Outbound Investment, a 34-article rule approved 17 April 2026 and effective 1 July…
Budget 2026 FIF change lets diluted founders keep the AFI tax method
Budget 2026 (announced 28 May 2026) proposes that founders and active investors who once held at least a 10% stake in a foreign-domiciled company can keep using the Attributable FI…
Budget 2026: $10m Emerging Managers' Programme via NZGCP to back new startup VCs
Budget 2026 (delivered 28 May 2026) allocated NZ$10 million in capital to a new Startup Support Package - Emerging Managers' Programme, delivered by NZ Growth Capital Partners (NZG…
NZ founders keep favourable FIF tax method as their stake dilutes below 10%
Under Budget 2026 changes applying from 1 April 2026, a founder or active investor who once held at least a 10% interest in a foreign investment fund can keep using the attributabl…
NZ Budget 2026: unpaid shareholder loans taxed as income after a company winds up
Under Budget 2026 (announced 28 May 2026 by Revenue Minister Simon Watts), six months after a company is liquidated or removed from the Companies Register, any outstanding loans it…
NZ doubles FIF de minimis threshold to NZ$100,000 from 2026-27 tax year
Budget 2026 (announced 28 May 2026) doubles the Foreign Investment Fund (FIF) de minimis threshold from NZ$50,000 to NZ$100,000 of cost in offshore shares. The change takes effect…
Vinnova Innovative Startups 2026: up to SEK 500,000, applications Oct 12-Jan 12
Vinnova's Innovative Startups 2026 call funds knowledge-intensive Swedish startups with up to SEK 500,000 to test customer needs, business idea and willingness to pay. The applicat…
Google for Startups Accelerator: SEA opens, equity-free AI cohort starts Aug 2026
Google Cloud launched the equity-free Google for Startups Accelerator: Southeast Asia, a three-month program for 25 seed-to-Series B AI startups from Singapore and five other ASEAN…
NZ Active Investor Plus visa Growth category adds 20% philanthropy option from 1 June 2026
From 1 June 2026, new applicants in the Active Investor Plus (AIP) visa Growth category can direct up to 20% of their total investment (up to NZD $1m of the NZD $5m minimum) to eli…
Google Cloud & EnterpriseSG launch AI Startup Innovation Corridor via Singapore
On 25 May 2026, Google Cloud launched an AI Startup Innovation Corridor linking Southeast Asia to Silicon Valley through Singapore, backed by EnterpriseSG and regional partners. Th…
Google Cloud & EnterpriseSG launch AI startup corridor; SEA cohort begins Aug 2026
On 25 May 2026, Google Cloud and Enterprise Singapore (with government partners in Indonesia and Vietnam) launched a Southeast Asia-to-Silicon Valley AI startup corridor routed thr…
Google for Startups Accelerator: Southeast Asia opens with EnterpriseSG, starts Aug 2026
On 25 May 2026 Google Cloud, with Enterprise Singapore, launched the Google for Startups Accelerator: Southeast Asia, an equity-free three-month program for an inaugural cohort of…
US coworking footprint hits 164M sq ft, up 16.5% YoY as flex space grows
The US coworking sector's total footprint expanded 16.5% year-over-year as of March 2026, reaching 164 million square feet nationally and 2.3% of total office inventory. Growth cam…
British Business Bank puts £25m into Antler UK Fund II to back founders from day one
On 21 May 2026 the government-owned British Business Bank made a £25m cornerstone commitment to Antler's UK Fund II — its first backing of Antler. The fund invests in founders from…
Delaware raises business filing fees under HB 400, effective Aug 1, 2026
Delaware HB 400 (signed May 21, 2026) raised Division of Corporations filing fees effective Aug 1, 2026: foreign corporation annual reports now $250, banking/preclearance $350, ele…
CanExport SMEs 2026-27: up to $50K export grant, tighter eligibility, Aug 31 deadline
For 2026-27, Canada's CanExport SMEs program offers up to $50,000 per project to help SMEs enter new international markets, with roughly $31 million available and only about $3.1 m…
CanExport SMEs 2026-27 raises eligibility bar; deadline Aug 31, 2026
For fiscal 2026-27, CanExport SMEs raised its minimum eligibility to 3 full-time employees and $300,000 in annual revenue (up from 1 FTE and $100,000). Of the roughly $31M pool, on…
SEC proposes scrapping the $75M float rule, opening shelf/ATM offerings to more issuers
On May 19, 2026, the SEC proposed 'registered offering reform' that would eliminate Form S-3's $75M public-float threshold and its 12-month reporting-history requirement, letting f…
Connecticut will require wage range and benefits in job postings from Oct 1, 2026
Under Connecticut H.B. 5003, from Oct 1, 2026 employers must include the wage range and a general description of benefits in every internal and public job posting, shifting from th…
CFPB narrows small-business lending data-collection rule (1071)
In May 2026 the CFPB finalized a rule narrowing the Dodd-Frank Section 1071 small-business lending data-collection requirements, cutting near-term compliance burden for community b…
Colorado delays its landmark AI Act to January 1, 2027
On May 14, 2026, Governor Polis signed SB 189, delaying Colorado's AI Act effective date from June 30, 2026 to January 1, 2027 and substantially narrowing employer obligations. The…
DOL restores pre-2024 overtime salary thresholds effective May 15, 2026
The U.S. Department of Labor rescinded the 2024 overtime rule effective May 15, 2026, republishing the 2019 FLSA regulations. The salary threshold for exempt employees returns to $…
$20,000 instant asset write-off to become permanent from 1 July 2026
In the 2026-27 Budget (announced 12 May 2026) the Australian Government said it will permanently set the small business instant asset write-off at $20,000 from 1 July 2026. Small b…
$20k instant asset write-off made permanent for small business from 1 July 2026
In the 2026-27 Budget (announced 12 May 2026), the Government committed to permanently set the instant asset write-off at $20,000 for small businesses with aggregated turnover unde…
Australia reintroduces company loss carry-back from 2026-27: refund tax paid in prior 2 years
The 2026-27 Federal Budget (handed down 12 May 2026) reintroduces loss carry-back: from the 2026-27 income year, companies with turnover up to $1 billion that make a tax loss can c…
Sweden scraps EUR 150 duty-free import limit; EUR 3-per-item duty from July 1, 2026
Under Council Regulation (EU) 2026/382, the EUR 150 (about SEK 1,655) customs duty-free threshold for goods imported into Sweden from outside the EU is abolished as of July 1, 2026…
DPIIT releases Tax Playbook consolidating all startup tax benefits into one guide
In May 2026 DPIIT published a 'Tax Playbook for the Startup Ecosystem' on startupindia.gov.in, pulling every startup tax break into one guide as India's recognised startup base cro…
India operationalizes Rs 10,000 crore Startup Fund of Funds 2.0 through SIDBI
DPIIT issued operational guidelines on April 27, 2026 for the Startup India Fund of Funds 2.0, a Rs 10,000 crore (about US$1.08 billion) corpus run initially by SIDBI. The fund com…
Sweden delays EU Pay Transparency Directive, missing June 7 2026 deadline
Sweden confirmed it will not transpose the EU Pay Transparency Directive by the EU-wide deadline of June 7, 2026, and is instead pushing to postpone and renegotiate the text. Its i…
Sweden work permit pay floor rises to 90% of median wage from June 1 2026
From 1 June 2026 a first-time Swedish work permit requires a salary of at least 90% of the national median wage, up from the old 80% level (which was SEK 29,680/month); press pegs…
Singapore CALA 2025 in force: director-duty fines quadruple to S$20,000
Key provisions of Singapore's Corporate and Accounting Laws (Amendment) Act 2025 (CALA) took effect on 6 May 2026. The maximum fine for directors who breach their duties rose from…
Virginia SB170 restricts noncompetes for terminated staff from July 1, 2026
Virginia's SB170, effective July 1, 2026, bars enforcing a noncompete against an employee fired without cause unless the employer pays severance or other monetary consideration tha…
Washington employers must notify workers of I-9 audits from Oct 1, 2026
Under Washington's Immigrant Worker Protection Act, effective October 1, 2026, employers must promptly notify affected workers and their representatives when they receive a federal…
SBIR and STTR extended through 2031, up to $2.15M non-dilutive per project
The Small Business Innovation and Economic Security Act, signed April 13, 2026, reauthorized the SBIR and STTR programs through September 30, 2031. The programs distribute over $4…
Govt notifies Startup India Fund of Funds 2.0 with Rs 10,000 cr corpus
The Central Government notified 'Startup India Fund of Funds 2.0' on 13 April 2026 with a Rs 10,000 crore corpus to mobilize venture capital for DPIIT-recognised startups. SIDBI is…
Budget 2026 gives Singapore companies a 50% CIT rebate plus S$2,000 cash grant
Budget 2026: 50% CIT Rebate and S$2,000 Cash Grant The enhanced Budget 2026 support announced on 7 April 2026 provides a 50% corporate income tax rebate for YA 2026 and a S$2,000 c…
EIS annual raise limit doubled to GBP 10m, in effect from 6 April 2026
From 6 April 2026 the Enterprise Investment Scheme annual company raise limit rose from GBP 5m to GBP 10m (GBP 20m for knowledge-intensive companies), the lifetime limit doubled to…
UK EMI share option limits expanded from 6 April 2026: up to 500 staff, £120m assets
From 6 April 2026, the UK's Enterprise Management Incentives (EMI) tax-advantaged share scheme qualifying limits were widened: companies can now have up to 500 full-time-equivalent…
UK Start Up Loans: rate rises to 7.5%, eligibility extended to 5 years trading
From 6 April 2026 the British Business Bank's government-backed Start Up Loans scheme raised its fixed interest rate to 7.5% (up from the 6% set at launch in 2012). Eligibility was…
UK expands EMI share-option scheme: 500 staff, £120m assets, £6m cap from Apr 2026
From 6 April 2026, HMRC's Enterprise Management Incentives (EMI) rules loosened significantly: the employee cap rose from 250 to under 500 full-time-equivalent staff, the gross-ass…
Making Tax Digital for Income Tax now mandatory for sole traders over GBP 50,000
From 6 April 2026, Making Tax Digital (MTD) for Income Tax is mandatory for sole traders and landlords whose combined gross income from self-employment and property exceeds GBP 50,…
UK Start Up Loans now cover businesses trading up to 5 years; rate rises to 7.5%
From 6 April 2026 the government-backed Start Up Loans programme (delivered via the British Business Bank) extended eligibility to businesses trading for up to 5 years (60 months),…
UK expands EMI share option scheme limits from 6 April 2026
For EMI options granted on or after 6 April 2026, the qualifying company gross assets limit rises from GBP 30m to GBP 120m and the employee cap from 250 to 500 full-time equivalent…
Making Tax Digital for Income Tax now mandatory over GBP 50,000 from April 2026
From 6 April 2026, sole traders and landlords with qualifying self-employment or property income over GBP 50,000 must keep digital records and send quarterly updates to HMRC using…
UK employer NIC stays 15% on a £5,000 threshold for 2026/27; Employment Allowance £10,500
For the 2026/27 tax year (from 6 April 2026), employer Class 1 National Insurance remains at 15% and the secondary threshold at which it becomes payable stays at £5,000 per year, c…
Provisional tax kicks in above $5,000 RIT; UOMI at 8.97% for 2026-27
Founders: The current UOMI rate is 8.97% The taxpayer paying rate for underpayment use of money interest (UOMI) is currently 8.97% per annum, effective 16 January 2026, down from 9…
AEWV minimum pay rises to NZD $23.95/hr from 1 April 2026
Dependent-child sponsorship threshold rose to ~NZ$58,240/yr from 9 March 2026 (80% of the new $35.00/hr median wage), not NZ$55,844 (which held only 10 Mar 2025-8 Mar 2026).
NZ startups can defer employee share scheme tax until a liquidity event from 1 April 2026
From 1 April 2026, unlisted NZ companies can elect to designate ESS shares as 'employee deferred shares', deferring an employee's tax until the earliest liquidity event (company li…
FTC abandons national noncompete ban for case-by-case enforcement
The FTC's 2024 nationwide noncompete ban never took effect after a Texas court blocked it in Aug 2024, and in 2026 new FTC leadership dropped its appeals, leaving the rule dead. In…
From 1 Apr 2026 all voluntary GST registrants must adopt InvoiceNow e-invoicing
From 1 April 2026, every business applying for voluntary GST registration in Singapore must be on the InvoiceNow (Peppol) e-invoicing network before IRAS will approve the registrat…
CanExport SMEs revamped for 2026-27: US or global focus, higher bar
For fiscal 2026-27, Canada's CanExport SMEs program has about $31M for international market activities (roughly $3.1M earmarked for US-focused projects), still reimbursing 50% of e…
Singapore raises Market Readiness Assistance grant to 70% for SMEs going overseas
From 1 April 2026 Enterprise Singapore enhanced Market Readiness Assistance (MRA) support for SMEs to up to 70% (from 50%), with the S$100,000 grant cap extended until 31 March 202…
Sweden cuts employer contributions for young workers to 20.81% from April 1, 2026
From April 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027, Swedish employers pay reduced social-security contributions of 20.81% (instead of the standard 31.42%) on monthly wages up to SEK 25,…
Sweden cuts employer contributions for young hires to 20.81% for 2026 to 2027
From 1 April 2026 through 30 September 2027, Swedish employers pay a reduced payroll tax of 20.81% (vs the ordinary 31.42%) on wages up to SEK 25,000 per month for employees aged 1…
Australia bans card-payment surcharges for all merchants from 1 October 2026
On 31 March 2026 the RBA's Payments System Board concluded that surcharging on eftpos, Mastercard and Visa debit, prepaid and credit cards will be removed from 1 October 2026, with…
Finep opens 13 calls worth R$3.3bn for company innovation under Nova Indústria Brasil
In 2026 Finep opened 13 public calls totalling R$3.3 billion to fund innovation projects aligned with the Nova Indústria Brasil strategy, presented at a Goiânia event on 17 March 2…
Singapore's EIS adds AI expenditure: 400% tax deduction on up to S$50k
Budget 2026 added qualifying AI expenditure as a new category under the Enterprise Innovation Scheme (EIS): companies can claim a 400% tax deduction on up to S$50,000 of qualifying…
FTC revives 'Click-to-Cancel' subscription rulemaking (March 2026)
After the Eighth Circuit vacated the amended Negative Option Rule on July 2, 2025, the FTC issued an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on March 11, 2026 seeking comment on revi…
SBA bars foreign-national-owned businesses from SBA loans
In a March 9, 2026 policy notice, the SBA banned businesses with any foreign-national ownership from all SBA-guaranteed programs, including 7(a), 504, Microloan, and Surety Bond. A…
NZ employment law changes live: contractor gateway test, $200k grievance cap
New employment settings took effect on 21 February 2026 under the Employment Relations Amendment Act 2026. A new contractor 'gateway test' gives upfront certainty on whether a work…
Singapore to merge EDG, PSG and MRA into single EDGE grant in H2 2026
EnterpriseSG is consolidating the Enterprise Development Grant (EDG), Productivity Solutions Grant (PSG) and Market Readiness Assistance (MRA) into one unified EDGE scheme launchin…
NZ adds work-experience & trades pathways to Skilled Migrant residence, 24 Aug 2026
From 24 August 2026, Immigration NZ adds two new Skilled Migrant Category residence pathways alongside the existing points system. The Skilled Work Experience pathway needs 5 years…
Singapore closes Tech.Pass to new applications from 28 Jan 2027, ONE Pass to replace it
EDB's official Tech.Pass page states it will no longer accept new or renewal Tech.Pass applications from 28 January 2027 (last submission 27 Jan 2027, 2359h). A new ONE Pass (AI an…
JTC's LaunchPad masterplan adds Kampong AI, a live-work precinct for AI startups
On 2 March 2026 JTC unveiled a refreshed masterplan for LaunchPad @ one-north, headlined by Kampong AI — Singapore's first integrated startup community pairing ~14,500 sqm of busin…
Finep opens R$3.3bn Mais Inovação Brasil grants; calls close Aug–Sep 2026
Finep launched a series of 13 calls under the Mais Inovação Brasil program offering R$3.3 billion in non-reimbursable economic subsidy (subvenção econômica) for innovation projects…
EB-2 NIW green card: founder self-petition path tightens as approvals fall
The EB-2 National Interest Waiver lets a founder self-petition for a green card with no job offer and no PERM labor certification. Approval rates dropped from 90%-plus (FY2018 to F…
Delaware C-corps must file the annual report and franchise tax by March 1, 2026
Every non-exempt Delaware domestic corporation must file its annual report and pay franchise tax by March 1 each year (March 1, 2026 for the 2025 report), whether or not it did bus…
Payday Super starts 1 July 2026: employers must pay super with every pay run
From 1 July 2026, Australian employers must remit Superannuation Guarantee contributions so they reach employees' funds within 7 business days of each payday, replacing the old qua…
Sweden cuts employer contributions for hiring 18 to 22 year olds from April 1, 2026
From 1 April 2026 to 30 September 2027, Swedish employers pay a reduced social security contribution of about 20.81% instead of the standard 31.42% on monthly pay up to SEK 25,000…
SEC issues five new Reg CF interpretations clarifying crowdfunding limits
On Feb 17, 2026 the SEC published five new Compliance and Disclosure Interpretations for Regulation Crowdfunding. They clarify that the $5M rolling 12-month raise cap is measured f…
Digital iXBRL annual reports become mandatory for all Swedish ABs from FY2026
For financial years starting after 31 December 2025, all Swedish limited companies (aktiebolag) must file their annual report digitally in iXBRL format via Bolagsverket; paper and…
Singapore merges PSG, EDG and MRA grants into one new EDGE scheme launching H2 2026
At Budget 2026 (announced 12 Feb 2026), Singapore confirmed it will consolidate the Productivity Solutions Grant, Enterprise Development Grant and Market Readiness Assistance into…
Singapore merges EDG, PSG & MRA into one EDGE grant, launching H2 2026
Budget 2026 (delivered 12 Feb 2026) consolidates the Enterprise Development Grant, Productivity Solutions Grant and Market Readiness Assistance into a single EDGE scheme launching…
Singapore to launch EDGE grant in H2 2026, merging EDG, PSG and MRA
Announced in Budget 2026 (delivered 12 Feb 2026), EnterpriseSG will consolidate the Enterprise Development Grant (EDG), Productivity Solutions Grant (PSG) and Market Readiness Assi…
Singapore adds AI spend to Enterprise Innovation Scheme: 400% tax deduction for YA 2027-2028
In Budget 2026 (delivered 12 Feb 2026), Singapore added AI-related expenditure as a qualifying activity under the Enterprise Innovation Scheme, giving businesses a 400% tax deducti…
Singapore Employment Pass floor rises to S$6,000 (S$6,600 finance) from 1 Jan 2027
At Budget 2026 (delivered 12 February 2026), the government confirmed the Employment Pass qualifying salary floor will rise from S$5,600 to S$6,000/month for most sectors, and from…
Qatar launches 10-year golden visa pathways for entrepreneurs and executives
Qatar unveiled two new long-term residency pathways—one for entrepreneurs and one for executives—offering five-year permits renewable up to 10 years without a real-estate investmen…
DPIIT revamps startup recognition: new Deep Tech category, 20-year window
On 5 February 2026 DPIIT revised its startup recognition framework, raising the general turnover ceiling from Rs 100 crore to Rs 200 crore and creating a dedicated Deep Tech Startu…
DPIIT redefines 'startup': turnover cap raised to Rs 200 cr, new 20-year Deep Tech class
DPIIT's Gazette Notification G.S.R. 108(E) dated 4 February 2026 superseded the 2019 framework, raising the standard startup turnover ceiling from Rs 100 crore to Rs 200 crore whil…
DPIIT doubles startup turnover cap to Rs 200 cr, adds new deep-tech class
DPIIT's Gazette Notification G.S.R. 108(E), issued 4 February 2026, replaced the 2019 framework, raising the turnover ceiling for recognised startups from Rs 100 crore to Rs 200 cr…
DPIIT redefines startups: turnover cap doubled to Rs 200 crore, new deep tech class
DPIIT Gazette Notification G.S.R. 108(E) dated 4 February 2026 supersedes the 2019 framework, raising the annual turnover ceiling for recognised startups from Rs 100 crore to Rs 20…
SBA rewrite bars green-card holders from 7(a)/504 loans, drops credit-score prescreen
SBA's revised SOP 50 10 8, effective March 1, 2026, requires 100% of a borrower's direct and indirect owners to be US citizens or nationals residing in the US—excluding lawful perm…
China's new VAT Law makes RMB 100k/month sales tax exemption permanent for small firms
Under China's new VAT Law effective January 1, 2026 (implemented via MOF/State Taxation Administration Announcement 2026 No. 10, issued January 30, 2026), small-scale taxpayers wit…
Greece adds startup investment route to Golden Visa from EUR 250,000
Greece has operationalized a new Golden Visa pathway granting five-year residency to non-EU investors who put at least EUR 250,000 into a startup registered on the Elevate Greece n…
2026: 100% bonus depreciation permanent, Section 179 cap $2.56M
For 2026, the Section 179 expensing limit is $2,560,000, with the phaseout beginning at $4,090,000 of qualifying property placed in service. Separately, the One Big Beautiful Bill…
International Entrepreneur Rule 2026: $311K investment bar, new parole fee
The International Entrepreneur Rule remains active for 2026, letting qualifying foreign founders with at least a 10% stake obtain up to 30 months of parole (extendable to five year…
100% bonus depreciation is permanent for 2026; Section 179 cap now $2.5M
Under the OBBBA, 100% first-year bonus depreciation is permanent for qualified property placed in service on or after Jan 20, 2025, with IRS Notice 2026-11 (released Jan 14, 2026)…
Shenzhen launches AI 'One Person Company' startup plan with compute and data vouchers
On 14 January 2026, Shenzhen's Bureau of Industry and Information Technology issued the AI 'OPC' (One Person Company) Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Action Plan (2026–2027), targeting…
USCIS premium processing fees rise to $2,965 on March 1, 2026
USCIS premium processing fees for Form I-129 (O-1 and other classifications) and Form I-140 (EB-1/EB-2 immigrant petitions) increase from $2,805 to $2,965 — a $160 jump — for any r…
USCIS premium processing fee rises to $2,965 for I-129 and I-140 on March 1, 2026
USCIS raised the premium processing fee to $2,965 for Form I-129 (H-1B, L-1, O-1, E-3, TN) and Form I-140 petitions, applying to any I-907 postmarked on or after March 1, 2026. The…
IRS 1099 reporting threshold jumps from $600 to $2,000 for 2026 payments
Under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, the Form 1099-NEC and 1099-MISC reporting threshold rises from $600 to $2,000 for payments made in 2026, its first change since the 1950s, and…
QBI pass-through deduction made permanent at 20% with new $400 minimum for 2026
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act makes the 20% qualified business income (QBI) deduction permanent starting in 2026, ending its scheduled 2025 expiration. It also widens the phase-ou…
1099-NEC and 1099-MISC reporting threshold jumps from $600 to $2,000 for 2026
Under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, the Form 1099-NEC and 1099-MISC reporting threshold rises from $600 to $2,000 for payments made in 2026, with annual inflation adjustments beg…
New York minimum wage hits $17 downstate / $16 upstate on Jan 1, 2026
New York's minimum wage is $17 per hour downstate and $16 per hour upstate. The salary threshold for the executive and administrative exemptions is $1,275.00 per week, or $66,300 p…
Singapore raises Employment Pass minimum salary to S$5,600 from Jan 2026
Existing EP Salary Floors Began Applying to Renewals in January 2026 The S$5,600 general salary floor and S$6,200 finance salary floor have applied to new EP applications since 1 J…
California SDI payroll withholding rises to 1.3% in 2026, still no wage cap
For 2026 California's State Disability Insurance (SDI) employee withholding rate increases to 1.3%, up from 1.2% in 2025, per the EDD (form DE 3395). Since January 1, 2024 there is…
Sweden's new 3:12 rules take effect: simpler dividend tax, SEK 322,400 standard amount
From 1 January 2026 Sweden's reformed 3:12 rules for owners of closely held companies (fåmansföretag) replace the old choice between the simplification rule and main rule with a si…
New $400 minimum QBI deduction guaranteed for small businesses in 2026
Starting in 2026, OBBBA guarantees a minimum Qualified Business Income deduction of $400 to any taxpayer with at least $1,000 of QBI, even if the standard calculation would otherwi…
Most US small businesses now exempt from Corporate Transparency Act BOI filing
In March 2025 FinCEN flipped the Corporate Transparency Act rules: entities formerly treated as "domestic reporting companies" are exempt from beneficial ownership information (BOI…
Texas franchise-tax no-tax-due threshold rises to $2.65M for 2026 reports
The Texas Comptroller set the 2026 franchise-tax no-tax-due threshold at $2,650,000 in annualized total revenue, up from $2,470,000 for 2024 and 2025. Entities at or below the thre…
Indiana, Kentucky, Rhode Island consumer privacy laws now in force
As of January 1, 2026, comprehensive consumer privacy laws in Indiana, Kentucky, and Rhode Island took effect, bringing 20 US states with active privacy statutes. They require clea…
Texas Responsible AI Governance Act (TRAIGA) in effect Jan 1, 2026
TRAIGA (HB 149), effective January 1, 2026, amends the Texas Data Privacy and Security Act with AI-specific duties and prohibits AI systems used for behavioral manipulation, unlawf…
Employer childcare tax credit jumps to 40% of costs, capped at $500,000 for 2026
Effective January 1, 2026, OBBBA raises the employer-provided childcare credit from 25% to 40% of eligible costs and lifts the annual cap from $150,000 to $500,000. Qualifying smal…
Employer-provided meals become 100% nondeductible from January 1, 2026
Under new IRC Section 274(o), employer-convenience meals, including office snacks, coffee, overtime meals, and company cafeterias, are 100% disallowed starting January 1, 2026, dow…
2026 raises 1099-NEC/MISC threshold to $2,000 and restores $20,000 1099-K rule
Under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, the Form 1099-NEC and 1099-MISC reporting threshold rises from $600 to $2,000 starting in 2026 (indexed for inflation thereafter). Separately,…
Form 1099-K reporting threshold returns to $20,000 for 2026
For 2026 the Form 1099-K reporting threshold reverts to $20,000 in payments (and 200 transactions), reversing the prior lower thresholds. The change mainly affects businesses and g…
OBBBA raises the QBI pass-through deduction to 23% for 2026
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act made the Qualified Business Income (QBI) deduction permanent and raised it from 20% to 23% for tax years beginning after Dec 31, 2025. It also guaran…
New ACCC mandatory merger-approval regime now in force for Australian deals
From 1 January 2026, Australia's new mandatory and suspensory merger regime requires ACCC clearance before completing acquisitions that hit set thresholds - e.g. combined Australia…
50+ new state workplace laws hit in 2026: 19+ minimum-wage hikes, new paid leave
More than 50 new state workplace laws took effect around January 1, 2026, including minimum-wage increases in at least 19 states and newly launched paid family and medical leave pr…
Minnesota Paid Leave Act takes effect, covering employers of all sizes
Minnesota's Paid Leave Act took effect January 1, 2026, providing paid family and medical leave with job protection to nearly all Minnesota employees. Unlike many state programs, i…
New simplified 3:12 rules for closely held companies take effect Jan 1 2026
Sweden's overhauled 3:12 rules entered into force on January 1, 2026, merging the old simplified and main rules into one model. The tax-free-style dividend threshold now combines a…
OBBBA raises employer childcare tax credit to 40% and $500K cap in 2026
Effective January 1, 2026, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act increases the employer-provided childcare credit to 40% of childcare costs with a maximum credit of $500,000, up from $150…
Vaxa-stod now requires monthly retroactive claim from Jan 2026 reporting period
From the January 2026 reporting period, employers using vaxa-stod (reduced employer contributions for the first two hires) must first report and pay the full 31.42% contribution, t…
Sweden 2026: companies can claim tax reduction for charity gifts, up to SEK 164,800
From calendar year 2026, Swedish legal persons (companies) can claim a tax reduction of 20.6% on cash gifts to Skatteverket-approved non-profits working in social assistance or sci…
Section 179 expensing cap rises to $2.56M for the 2026 tax year under OBBBA
For tax year 2026 the Section 179 immediate-expensing limit increases to $2,560,000, up from $2.5 million in 2025, with a raised phase-out threshold, per the One Big Beautiful Bill…
SECURE 2.0 credits cover up to 100% of new retirement-plan startup costs
For 2026, small employers with 50 or fewer employees can claim a credit for 100% of qualified retirement-plan startup costs (up to $5,000/year for three years), 50% for 51-100 empl…
Sweden's new 3:12 rules for closely held companies take effect Jan 1, 2026
From 1 January 2026 the 3:12 rules for owners of Swedish famansforetag are reformed (SFS 2025:1361). A single unified grundbelopp of SEK 322,400 (4x inkomstbasbelopp) replaces the…
IRS standard mileage rate rises to 72.5 cents per mile for 2026
The IRS standard mileage rate for business use increases to 72.5 cents per mile in 2026, up from 70 cents in 2025. The rate is used to deduct the cost of operating a vehicle for bu…
Corporate charitable gifts get a new 1% floor before they are deductible in 2026
From January 1, 2026, corporate charitable contributions are deductible only to the extent they exceed 1% of taxable income, with the existing 10% ceiling still applying. Gifts bel…
H-1B cap lottery goes wage-weighted for FY2027 registration in March 2026
DHS published a final rule on Dec 29, 2025 replacing the random H-1B cap lottery with a wage-weighted selection: a registration gets 4 entries at OEWS Level IV, 3 at Level III, 2 a…
H-1B cap lottery shifts to wage weighted selection starting February 27, 2026
DHS finalized a rule on December 29, 2025, effective February 27, 2026, replacing the random H-1B cap lottery with a wage weighted process for the FY2027 cap season. Registrations…
Canada pauses Start-Up Visa intake Jan 1, 2026; new targeted pilot coming
As of January 1, 2026, IRCC no longer accepts new applications under the Start-Up Visa (SUV) and Self-Employed Persons programs, and new optional SUV work permits are halted immedi…
Canada closes Start-Up Visa to new applicants; high-impact pilot due 2026
In a December 19, 2025 notice, IRCC stopped accepting new Start-Up Visa (SUV) applications as of 11:59 p.m. on December 31, 2025, except for applicants holding a valid 2025 commitm…
Canada pauses Start-Up Visa; new applications closed as of Dec 31, 2025
In a December 19, 2025 notice, IRCC announced it stopped accepting Start-Up Visa (SUV) applications at 11:59 p.m. on December 31, 2025, with a narrow exception for applicants holdi…
Sweden's new 3:12 rules take effect Jan 1, 2026 with SEK 322,400 base allowance
From 1 January 2026, Sweden's reformed 3:12 rules for closely held companies replace the old simplified/main-rule split with one unified model. The low-taxed dividend allowance (ta…
Sweden's new 3:12 rules take effect Jan 1 2026, cutting tax for closely held firms
As of 1 January 2026 Sweden's reformed 3:12 rules replace the dual-track model with a unified calculation: a basic dividend allowance of four income base amounts (SEK 322,400 for 2…
US coworking hits ~8,420 locations and 152M sq ft heading into 2026
The US now has roughly 8,420 coworking locations (up from about 7,041 in mid-2024) totaling around 152 million sq ft, still only about 2% of national office inventory. Median membe…
Companies House director ID verification now mandatory ahead of Nov 2026 deadline
Identity verification at Companies House became a legal requirement on 18 November 2025 for all new directors and Persons with Significant Control (PSCs). Existing directors and PS…
Companies House ID verification now law; directors must verify by Nov 2026
From 18 November 2025, identity verification at Companies House became a legal requirement, starting a 12-month transition period. All existing company directors and people with si…
UK directors must verify identity at Companies House by 18 November 2026
Identity verification became a legal requirement on 18 November 2025 for new incorporations and director/PSC appointments. Existing directors and persons with significant control h…
IRS 1099-K threshold reverts to $20,000 and 200 transactions; the $600 rule is repealed
Under OBBBA the Form 1099-K reporting threshold for third-party payment platforms (Stripe, PayPal, Square, marketplaces) reverts to more than $20,000 in gross payments AND more tha…
International Entrepreneur Rule now needs $311,071 investment plus a $1,000 fee
Under the International Entrepreneur Rule in 2026, foreign founders need at least $311,071 in qualified U.S. investor funding (or $124,429 in government grants) and a 10% ownership…
Employer childcare tax credit jumps to $500K for 2026
Under the One Big Beautiful Bill, for tax year 2026 the IRS increased the maximum employer-provided childcare tax credit (Section 45F) from $150,000 to $500,000, and to $600,000 if…
Växa-stöd hiring relief switches to pay-first, refund-later from Jan 2026
From the January 2026 reporting period, Skatteverket removes the Växa-stöd checkbox in the employer declaration: small firms must now pay the full 31.42% employer contribution up f…
SEBI angel funds must onboard only accredited investors by Sept 8, 2026
Under SEBI's revised AIF framework, angel funds registered before September 10, 2025 have until September 8, 2026 to onboard only Accredited Investors, and may keep at most 200 non…