Dataroid co-founders from left to right: Elif Parlak, Fatih Isbecer and Can Elmas
AI-powered analytics and customer engagement platform Dataroid has closed a US $6.6 million Pre-Series A funding round. The investment was led by Tacirler Asset Management’s FinAI Venture Capital Fund, with further backing from the Future Impact Venture Capital Fund and Endeavor Catalyst.
The capital will support the company’s expansion into new global markets, with a primary focus on EMEA. The founding team (Fatih Isbecer, Elif Parlak and Can Elmas) also plans to scale international marketing campaigns and continue developing innovative AI-based analytics solutions.
Commenting on the investment, Ozge Atalay, Co-Founder of FinAI Venture Capital Fund, said: “Dataroid’s technology stack, designed for highly regulated sectors such as finance and banking, has the potential to scale globally and become an industry standard in a short time frame. Having already proven its success across Turkey and the EMEA region, the company is now entering an international growth phase. As the first investment of FinAI, Dataroid represents a strategic and significant opportunity for us.”
Fatih Isbecer, Co-Founder of Dataroid, noted: “Working with banks in Turkey that reach tens of millions of digital customers gives Dataroid a strong foundation for global expansion. As the market-leading digital analytics platform for banking and financial services in Turkey, our platform today enhances the digital experience of more than 120 million users. We see expanding this value to new markets as a priority. With this new funding, we aim to strengthen Dataroid’s AI-focused capabilities in line with customer needs and accelerate our global marketing initiatives to bolster our presence in international markets, particularly across EMEA and Western Europe.”
According to reports published in 2025 by G2, one of the world’s largest B2B technology marketplaces, Dataroid was ranked as the number one digital analytics platform in the Middle East and secured first place in ‘Best Support’ under the product and customer journey analytics categories, based on customer feedback.
Dataroid closed 2025 with 127% net revenue retention and zero churn across both customers and revenue. The company had previously raised US $2 million in December 2023 from Koc Group’s Private Venture Capital Investment Fund and Isbank’s 100th Year Venture Capital fund.
About Dataroid
Dataroid is an AI-powered digital analytics and customer engagement platform that allows companies to measure customer interactions and experiences across different digital channels, enabling data-driven analysis and real-time action. Dataroid combines features such as enriched individual customer data, behavioral analytics, application performance management, and data modeling into a single platform, providing marketing, product, and technology teams with end-to-end customer insights. Dataroid platform is already used by medium to very large enterprises in financial services, airlines, and retail to reshape the experience of over 120 million users.For more information, please visit: https://www.dataroid.com/
About Tacirler Asset Management
Established in 2012, Tacirler Asset Management is built on the Tacirler brand’s more than 30 years of capital markets experience. Operating with an active portfolio management approach, the firm manages approximately USD 1 billion in assets, and directly oversees thematic funds across alternative asset classes, including venture capital and private equity, in partnership with Turkey’s leading institutional partners.
“Cheap” business finance is usually sold on one number: the headline rate. But the real price of borrowing shows up elsewhere, in the structure of the deal, the friction it creates inside the company, and the choices it forces later.
That matters because access to finance is tightening and shifting. The British Business Bank reported a fall in the proportion of smaller businesses using finance from 50% in Q3 2023 to 43% in Q2 2024, stabilising at that level in Q3 2024. When fewer firms borrow, the ones that do are often under time pressure, and time pressure is where “cheap” loans turn expensive.
Cheap is rarely the same as affordable
A low interest rate can still produce a high total cost of capital if the loan is loaded with fees, rigid repayment terms, or conditions that constrain your operation.
The catch is that most owners compare the advertised rate to the bank down the road, not the all-in cost across the full lifecycle of the borrowing. That’s exactly why some lenders and brokers pitch “quick approval” and “low rate” together. The maths looks friendly. The contract does the damage.
Fees and pricing mechanics that don’t show in the headline
The first hidden cost is boring but brutal: non-interest charges. Arrangement fees, drawdown fees, monitoring fees, legal fees, valuation fees, broker fees, and early repayment charges can turn a seemingly modest loan into an expensive commitment.
Two mechanics are especially easy to misunderstand:
Factor-style pricing Some short-term products present cost as a fixed “factor” rather than an annualised rate. It looks smaller because it isn’t comparable. If cash is repaid daily or weekly, the implied annual cost can be far higher than the marketing suggests.
Front-loaded economics When fees are taken upfront, you receive less cash than the principal, but you repay on the principal. The effective cost rises, and your liquidity cushion shrinks on day one.
The practical result: a loan that appears “cheap” in marketing can be expensive in cash flow terms, which is the only thing that matters when payroll and suppliers hit.
The operational cost: repayment structure quietly taxes your working capital
Fast repayment is a hidden cost because it changes how you run the business.
A loan repaid weekly, or daily via automated debits, creates constant working-capital drag. It pushes you to keep more cash idle “just in case”, reduces your ability to bulk-buy, and makes you more risk-averse in pricing and hiring. That can be rational from a survival standpoint, but it reduces growth capacity.
This is the part founders miss: the cost isn’t only financial, it’s organisational. Your finance team ends up managing the lender rather than managing performance.
Covenants, security, and personal guarantees create asymmetric risk
A cheap rate often comes with tighter controls: debentures, fixed and floating charges, cross-default clauses, and covenants tied to performance ratios. In plain terms, the lender gets options and you lose them.
Even more common is the personal guarantee. You can accept it in a rush because it feels like standard practice. It isn’t a neutral term. It changes your risk profile and your negotiating power later, especially if you need to refinance.
In stressed conditions, those clauses can accelerate the downside: breaches trigger fees, renegotiations, and sometimes enforced restructuring, even when the core business is still viable.
With UK insolvencies still elevated, this risk is not theoretical. The Insolvency Service recorded 1,866 registered company insolvencies in England and Wales in November 2025, and noted that monthly totals in 2025 have been slightly higher than 2024 (though lower than the 30-year-high annual level of 2023).
The “refinance trap”: cheap upfront, expensive later
Many cheap loans are priced to win the first deal, not to support a long-term relationship. The danger is what happens when you outgrow the terms or hit a rough quarter.
Refinancing under pressure tends to be expensive because:
you have less negotiating leverage
existing security and guarantees complicate the stack
you may need consent from the current lender to take on new funding
you can’t wait for the slow, cheaper options
This is where the real hidden cost lands: the loan removes your optionality. You might survive, but you’ll survive narrower.
The market context: why “cheap money” is getting harder to trust
Globally, SME lending has been under strain. The OECD reported that in 2023 the median of new lending to SMEs across its Scoreboard countries declined by 9%, after a 2% decline in 2022. When credit tightens, pricing signals get messy: marketing stays optimistic while underwriting gets stricter.
At the same time, the underlying demand for finance doesn’t disappear. The World Bank notes an estimated MSME finance gap of about US$5.7 trillion across 119 emerging markets and developing economies (IFC–World Bank, March 2025). In gaps like that, intermediaries thrive, and intermediaries tend to win on speed and story, not on clean comparability.
Even in the UK, a House of Lords Library briefing cited a British Chambers of Commerce survey (April 2024) in which 70% of firms reported not accessing external finance. The point is not that finance is unavailable, but that businesses often opt out, or only borrow when the situation forces them to.
What “good borrowing” looks like in practice
Cheap loans become expensive when they are misunderstood, mis-timed, or structurally misaligned with your cash cycle. A better approach is to judge finance like an operator, not a rate shopper.
Focus on:
All-in cost Total cost over the term, including fees, required services, and the cost of restrictions.
Cash-flow fit Repayment schedule matched to receivables reality. If you invoice monthly, daily repayments are a structural mismatch.
Covenant realism Covenants that you can live with during a normal wobble, not just in a perfect quarter.
Exit clarity Early repayment costs and refinance permissions spelled out. If you can’t exit cleanly, it isn’t cheap.
Where Business Talking fits in the conversation
Business Talking has become a reference point for finance and business operators who want the real-world mechanics, not the brochure version. It covers loans, cash flow, fintech, and the broader market pressures that shape what lenders offer, alongside practical reporting on AI, technology, and growth. When funding decisions quietly dictate your next 12 months of strategy, that kind of grounded commentary is what keeps “cheap” from becoming a long, expensive lesson.
The cheapest business loan is the one that preserves your options. Everything else is just a number on a landing page.
Meetings are where decisions are made, priorities are set and work is shaped. Yet for decades, much of that value has been lost the moment a call ends. Notes are rushed, transcripts go unread and actions quietly slip through the cracks.
That is now changing. The rise of the AI meeting note taker reflects a shift in how organisations treat meetings, not as disposable conversations, but as a source of structure, accountability and momentum.
Why transcripts alone never solved the problem
Early meeting technology focused on transcription. Record everything, capture every word, and nothing gets missed. In practice, it created a new problem.
Verbatim transcripts are long, difficult to scan and rarely revisited. Key decisions are buried in context. Action points are easy to overlook. Instead of clarity, teams were left with more information and less direction.
This matters because meetings already consume a large share of the working week. In its research on collaborative work, McKinsey found that employees spend around 60% of their time on work coordination, including meetings, emails and internal communication. Adding unstructured transcripts to that workload increases cognitive strain rather than reducing it.
Transcripts capture conversation, but they do not help teams move forward.
The shift from recording conversations to understanding them
What teams actually need from meetings is not a word-for-word replay. They need understanding.
This is where the AI meeting note taker has evolved. Instead of focusing on recording speech alone, modern systems identify what matters inside a conversation. Topics are grouped. Decisions are surfaced. Actions are separated from discussion.
This shift mirrors how work itself has changed. Decisions are made quickly and often revisited. Teams need clarity, not volume.
In its research on organisational effectiveness, Deloitte has shown that unclear ownership and poorly documented decisions are among the most common causes of execution delays. Turning conversations into structured outcomes directly addresses that gap.
How action-focused meeting notes change behaviour
When meetings reliably produce clear outputs, behaviour changes.
People listen differently when they know decisions will be captured accurately. Commitments become clearer because actions are visible and documented. Follow-up becomes simpler because there is a shared reference point.
This reduces the need for clarification meetings, which are a major driver of fatigue and inefficiency. In its studies on productivity and communication, PwC has repeatedly highlighted that poor information flow and unclear follow-through are key contributors to wasted time in growing organisations.
Action-focused meeting notes reduce this friction at the source, by making outcomes explicit rather than implied.
From notes to a system of record
As meeting outputs become more reliable, they take on a new role. They become a system of record for how decisions are made.
Instead of relying on memory or second-hand summaries, teams can look back at what was agreed, when it was agreed and why. Context is preserved, which is critical in fast-moving or distributed organisations.
Gartner research into decision-making and information management has shown that inconsistent documentation increases rework and follow-up communication, particularly in remote teams. Treating meetings as structured records helps organisations maintain alignment as they scale.
This is where the AI meeting note taker moves beyond convenience and into operational value.
Why consistency builds trust over time
One of the biggest weaknesses of manual notes is inconsistency. What gets captured depends on who is writing, what they prioritise and how well they were paying attention.
Over time, this erodes trust. Teams stop relying on meeting notes and start relying on memory, which leads to misalignment.
An AI meeting note taker introduces consistency by design. Every meeting is captured in the same way. Outputs follow a predictable structure. Decisions and actions are surfaced clearly each time.
According to Gartner’s research on internal communication, consistency is a critical factor in reducing decision friction and improving execution speed. When teams trust the record, they act on it.
How Jamy reflects this evolution
As organisations move from transcripts towards action, this is where an AI meeting note taker like Jamy fits naturally into everyday work.
Rather than treating meetings as isolated events, Jamy focuses on turning conversations into structured summaries, decisions and tasks that teams can use immediately. Meetings become inputs that drive progress, not documents that need translating later.
This reflects the broader evolution of the category, from passive recording to meeting intelligence that supports real work.
Why this shift is accelerating now
The rise of the AI meeting note taker is closely tied to how work has changed. Teams are more distributed. Meetings are more frequent. Decisions are made quickly and revisited often.
In its analysis of scaling challenges, CB Insights has identified internal misalignment and loss of context as recurring operational risks for growing organisations. When meeting outcomes are not captured clearly, those risks multiply.
Tools that help teams preserve clarity and accountability are gaining ground because they address a real structural weakness in how organisations operate.
Meetings that finally lead somewhere
The move from transcripts to action marks a turning point in how meetings are valued.
An AI meeting note taker does not replace conversation. It strengthens it. By removing the burden of manual notes and preserving what matters, it allows teams to focus on decisions rather than documentation.
As more organisations experience the difference, meetings stop being time spent talking and start becoming a reliable step in moving work forward. That is why the rise of the AI meeting note taker is not just a trend, but a practical response to how modern teams actually work.
Hexadrone SAS has announced that its TUNDRA 2.1 drone has been formally certified with CE marking and C5/C6 class approval after successful assessment by Applus+ Laboratories, a recognised European conformity assessment organisation.
Delivered in accordance with EU Regulation 2019/945, the certification confirms that the platform is aligned with regulatory requirements that will become fully enforceable across the EU from 1 January 2026. The approval supports confidence in the drone’s use for complex and sensitive missions.
“This certification marks the recognition of our commitment to excellence and compliance,” said Alexandre Labesse, CEO of Hexadrone. “It enables our customers to confidently navigate the regulatory changes of 2026.”
A rigorous certification for a future-proof solution
The certification delivered by Applus+ Laboratories confirms that the TUNDRA 2.1complies with the most stringent requirements of EU Regulation 2019/945. The involvement of an independent notified body ensures an objective and rigorous assessment process, reinforcing the platform’s credibility, transparency, and regulatory recognition with authorities and users. It provides optimal legal and technical security for critical operations, while strengthening trust in the platform’s long-term compliance.
“As a trusted partner in testing and certification, Applus+ Laboratories is proud to support Hexadrone’s commitment to quality and regulatory compliance,” said an Applus+ Laboratories spokesperson. “Our expertise in European and international standards ensures that innovative solutions like Hexadrone meet the highest safety and performance requirements, enabling their successful expansion in the European market.”
Achieving CE marking and C5/C6 certification for the TUNDRA 2.1, which is one of the few platforms on the market to hold these certifications, follows 24 months of development and an investment of nearly €500,000. This demanding process reinforces Hexadrone’s position as a key player in both European and international drone markets.
A drone acclaimed for its modularity and versatility
Launched in April 2023, the TUNDRA 2 quickly established itself as a European reference thanks to its fully modular architecture. Its latest evolution, the TUNDRA 2.1, further advances this approach through three standardized interfaces: [TR-LOCK], [TR-COMM], and [TR-MODULE] that enable instant integration of payloads, avionics modules, and data links.
This standardization has enabled the development of a unique ecosystem of more than 150 technological building blocks, created by French and European partners. As a result, TUNDRA is an open, scalable, and fully backward-compatible platform, designed as a long-term, sustainable system that avoids obsolescence and continuously integrates operational feedback from deployed units.
The TUNDRA 2.1 also incorporates advanced safety technologies developed in collaboration with Drone Rescue System (DRS) and Impact, further strengthening both regulatory compliance and operational robustness.
Already adopted by French armed forces units and several European private operators, TUNDRA supports a wide range of missions including surveillance, CBRN (chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear) detection, security operations, topography, industrial inspection, precision agriculture, search and rescue, and more.
European distribution and growth strategy
Hexadrone currently distributes its solutions in Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Romania, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. The company continues to expand its footprint and is actively seeking new partners to further strengthen its European network.
With its unmatched modularity and rapidly expanding ecosystem, Hexadrone’s TUNDRA is emerging as the sovereign multirole drone platform of reference in Europe.
About Hexadrone
Founded in 2014, Hexadrone has established itself as an expert in the design and manufacture of modular drones, built on three core strengths: technical innovation, customization, and industrial quality. Initially focused on reselling drone components through a web platform, the company rapidly transitioned to custom drone assembly to meet specific customer needs.
About Applus+ Laboratories
Applus+ Laboratories provides testing and certification services designed to enhance product competitiveness and support innovation. Headquartered in Barcelona, Spain, Applus+ Laboratories operates a global network of multidisciplinary laboratories serving industries including aerospace, automotive, cybersecurity, electrical and electronics, renewable energies, construction, railway, and medical devices.
Metaterra is reshaping how traditional financial systems interact with blockchain markets by embedding real-world assets and on-chain value into everyday economic activity through Miracle Chain, Miracle Cash and Miracle Pay.
As projections place the Real-World Asset market at $2 trillion by 2028, regulatory progress in the United States is strengthening institutional momentum around tokenisation. This evolution mirrors Metaterra’s strategic objectives heading into 2026.
Beyond Bucharest was unveiled at a prominent event held at the Harvard Club in New York. Metaterra presented its city-scale RWA platform to an audience that included Fernando Vildosola, Stephen L. Norris, Stephen Moore, Rusu Daniel Cezar, Ketan Seth and Brock Pierce. The gathering marked a key step in Metaterra’s mission to build compliant, real-world on-chain economic infrastructure.
Through its core products Miracle Cash, Miracle Chain, and Miracle Pay, Metaterra is focusing on two of the fastest-growing trends in digital finance: institutional-grade adoption of tokenized assets and the rise of regulated, real-world blockchain applications.
“Our mission is to create a secure, unified infrastructure where traditional assets and digital finance can operate side by side,” said Douglas Anderson, CEO Wall Street Capital Partners. “Tokenization is becoming a foundational component of modern financial systems. Crypto doesn’t have to remain abstract, your wallet can be your ticket, your access right, and your gateway to real-world utility.”
“Real-World Assets are no longer an experimental concept; they have evolved into regulated, auditable, and scalable financial structures,” said Ebru Törehan, Metaterra Board Director & Chief Real-World Assets Officer. “As the regulatory framework in the United States continues to take shape, a more institutional approach, one that encourages innovation while prioritizing market integrity, is rapidly taking hold. Metaterra’s Beyond Bucharest vision aims to translate this transformation into a transparent and sustainable, city-scale economic model where RWA and tokenization are integrated into real cash-flow systems.”
Bringing On-Chain Value into Everyday Economic Activity
Metaterra Holdings serves as the strategic umbrella company behind the Miracle ecosystem, which includes Miracle Chain, Miracle Cash, and Miracle Pay.
At the core of the ecosystem is Miracle Chain, a high-performance Layer-2 blockchain built on Arbitrum Nitro, purpose-designed for the issuance and management of tokenized real-world assets. The network enables programmable ownership, automated settlement logic, and transparent, auditable infrastructure, addressing the operational and compliance expectations of institutional participants.
Miracle Pay, the ecosystem’s digital payments layer, connects blockchain-based assets with the real economy. It enables businesses and users to utilize tokenized value in day-to-day transactions, transforming on-chain assets into practical financial tools. By focusing on usability and real-world relevance, Metaterra aims to make blockchain technology tangible and intuitive for end users.
A Bridge Between Traditional Finance and Blockchain Markets
The Miracle ecosystem is designed to operate across both ends of the financial spectrum, supporting institutional token issuance while also delivering consumer-facing payment solutions. This dual focus positions Metaterra as an infrastructure provider that bridges traditional finance with blockchain-native markets, enabling compliant and scalable adoption of digital assets.
While 2025 remains a year of product refinement and ecosystem optimization, Metaterra has already begun integrating its solutions into real-world scenarios through strategic partnerships and pilot initiatives. These initiatives underscore Metaterra’s commitment to delivering verifiable, utility-driven blockchain solutions that move beyond speculation and into everyday economic life.
About Metaterra Holdings
Metaterra Holdings is the strategic parent of the Miracle ecosystem, encompassing Chain, Pay, Wallet, DEX, Launchpad, Iterato, and Minterra, aligning products, capital, and compliance under a unified strategy. (www.metaterra.com)
TEKCE has announced the expansion of its Partner Programme alongside the introduction of a new Affiliate Programme, offering greater visibility for overseas property transactions. The programmes include real-time CRM access, white-label use of more than 7,000 verified listings, and a clearly trackable commission process.
TEKCE Real Estate confirmed that the programmes run on the MyTEKCE platform and a white-label version of the TEKCE App. Partners and affiliates are able to follow transactions in real time, provide branded client journeys, and promote properties across Spain, the United Arab Emirates, Türkiye and Northern Cyprus.
“Real estate is ultimately a trust business. We built our model so every stakeholder can clearly see what’s happening, when, and why,” said Özkan Tekçe, COO of TEKCE Real Estate. “Through MyTEKCE and our partner ecosystem, you don’t just collaborate with TEKCE, you work transparently inside our system with your brand, your clients, and full process visibility from first inquiry to commission payout. Every challenge we once faced as a partner became a building block of this system. We designed this program so our partners never have to encounter those same obstacles.”
Global reach and local control
Designed for brokerages and independent advisors, TEKCE’s Partner Program enables a Dubai agent serving a buyer for Spain or a Stockholm advisor serving a client for Türkiye to work within TEKCE’s infrastructure and inventory while retaining their client relationships.
MyTEKCE is a state-of-the-art international real estate partnership platform developed by TEKCE. It allows users to register, track, and manage clients transparently and in real-time. Partners are onboarded into MyTEKCE platform, where they can track client status in TEKCE’s CRM, buyer preferences, communication logs, viewing tours, offer stage, sales price, and commission status, reducing uncertainty and eliminating back-channel concerns.
TEKCE App is available as a white-label solution so partners can present thousands of listings under their own brand identity (logo, visuals, contact links) while leveraging TEKCE’s verified, daily updated, international portfolio. This combines enterprise-grade scale with local personalization. The work hundreds of TEKCE team members put in every day ultimately flows through to our partners, empowering them with the full strength of our collective expertise.
A win-win model for wider audiences
TEKCE’s Affiliate Program extends beyond property professionals to alumni buyers and sellers, travel agencies, influencers, bloggers, YouTubers, SEO experts, digital marketers, and other creators with engaged audiences. After joining, affiliates generate unique links via MyTEKCE, connect their audiences to TEKCE listings, and earn referral income on verified transactions—without needing to become real estate agents. The model is engineered as a transparent, win-win system for all stakeholders.
Verified inventory, international footprint
TEKCE operates 20 offices across 5 countries, including hubs in Spain (Alicante, Barcelona, Málaga), Türkiye (Alanya, Ankara, Antalya, Bodrum, Bursa, Fethiye, İstanbul, İzmir, Mersin, Trabzon, Yalova), the United Arab Emirates (Dubai), Northern Cyprus (Kyrenia), and Sweden (Stockholm). This footprint gives partners and affiliates dependable supply and on-the-ground expertise for cross-border clients.
“Partnership should be measurable,” added Özkan Tekçe. “Our CRM-driven model shows every step so partners and affiliates can build long-term businesses on transparency. To support these processes, we have established a dedicated Partner Management team. All stakeholders can now manage their workflows much more easily and efficiently with the assistance of partner representatives assigned specifically to them. Our partner and affiliate networks now span over 100 countries, supporting a shared mission: to create a transparent, tech-powered, and people-centered real estate industry.”
About TEKCE Real Estate
TEKCE is a global real estate company with 20 offices in 5 countries. With a digital-first approach, multilingual local teams, and a proprietary CRM ecosystem, TEKCE delivers a transparent, data-driven experience for buyers, sellers, partners, and affiliates. MyTEKCE and the TEKCE App support end-to-end visibility and white-label branding, enabling trusted collaborations at an international scale. Learn more at tekce.com/corporate/partnership and tekce.com/corporate/affiliate-program.
Karaca, Türkiye’s renowned home and living brand established in 1973, continues its global journey with the launch of a seasonal pop-up store at Future Stores on Oxford Street from December 11 to December 31.
Opening during the Christmas and New Year shopping season, the pop-up places Karaca in the centre of London’s festive retail landscape, alongside its existing stores at Westfield London and Tottenham Hale Retail Park.
Through this collaboration with the Future Stores concept, Karaca embraces a forward-looking retail approach on one of the city’s busiest shopping streets.
A Next-Generation, Hybrid Retail Experience with Future Stores
Karaca’s new store on Oxford Street will offer visitors an innovative shopping experience through an immersive retail media approach. Located across a total area of 235 m², the store creates a hybrid structure by bringing together the tactile experience of engaging with physical products and digital interaction zones. Enriched with specially designed stands, product tables, POP materials, and various experience areas, the store aims to offer both a tactile and a digital shopping journey.
Strengthening its international presence with a rapidly growing store network in Europe and a multi-channel sales approach, Karaca continues its investments across many markets, notably Germany, the UK, France, and Austria. Showcasing its “Red Carpet Collection” designs on the red carpet at Hollywood’s most prestigious awards ceremony, the brand also stands out through global collaborations, including sponsoring the international media centre covering the coronation ceremony of King Charles and Queen Camilla in the UK.
A Broad Product Range and Christmas Collections at Karaca Oxford Street
While Karaca’s Oxford Street pop-up store will feature the brand’s extensive product range, the product groups on display include dinnerware sets, cutlery sets, cookware and cooking groups, kitchen utensils, tea and coffee machines, design-led and award-winning products, and special Christmas-themed collections.
Karaca Brings Its Accessibility Vision to Its Pop-Up Store at Future Stores in London
As a special initiative that underscores the importance Karaca places on accessibility, the brand is bringing the Dialog Cafe experience to its pop-up store at Future Stores in London. Dialog Cafe, which will be staffed entirely by baristas with hearing impairments, aims to make the coffee experience more inclusive, contribute to the employment of individuals with hearing impairments, and help raise social awareness.
In this BigJackCasino.com Review, we’re digging into whyBigJackCasino has shown up as a solid name in the online gaming world. Catering to both casual gamers and folks who know their way around, the platform throws out a massive spread of games, promotions, and features.
Whether you’re into spinning classic slots or mapping out strategies in table games, the platform’s got something for every type of player. This review takes a look at the game variety, loyalty programs, and features that separate it from other online casinos out there.
A Player-Centric Platform
The platform puts player satisfaction right up front by mixing easy-to-use design with loads of gaming options. The smooth navigation and bright game lobby work for players at all levels. Fresh faces and regulars alike can hunt down games matching what they’re into without getting lost.
There’s a nice balance between old-school casino elements and modern touches. The library holds classic table games right next to visually rich video slots and interactive live dealer experiences. This mix keeps things entertaining whether you’re pulled toward timeless favorites or newer, more immersive stuff.
Exploring the Game Library
A big highlight here is the huge game library. From classics that stick around to cutting-edge titles, the platform serves up engaging options for every player.
Fresh games keep rolling in through regular updates, keeping things lively and worth poking around. In this BigJackCasino.com Review, the game library really stands out as a core strength, bringing variety and steady innovation to the table.
Slot Machines
The slot collection is crazy diverse, packing everything from classic fruit machines to modern video slots with sharp animations and interactive bonus features. Different reel setups, adjustable pay lines, and themes covering adventure to fantasy mean there’s a slot for every type of player, whether you like simple gameplay or complex mechanics with storylines that pull you in.
Table Games
For strategy fans, there’s a solid lineup of table games, including different takes on Blackjack, Roulette, and Baccarat. Each game fits different playstyles, from careful players to high-stakes types.
Easy-to-use interfaces and settings you can tweak make these games work for beginners while staying challenging and rewarding for experienced players trying to get better at their game.
Live Dealer Games
The live dealer section delivers that authentic, immersive feel with actual professional dealers hosting real-time games of Blackjack, Poker, and Roulette. Players chat with dealers and other people through live chat, throwing in a social layer that copies the thrill of a real casino while you’re just chilling at home. Sharp video streaming and smooth gameplay crank up the realism and excitement each time you play.
Progressive Jackpots
The platform loads up on progressive jackpot games with prize pools that just keep climbing as players jump in. These games create that electric feeling of anticipation, offering real shots at life-changing wins. With different jackpot tiers and exciting bonus rounds, players get both regular gameplay and that rush of chasing those massive, ever-growing prizes.
Additional Gaming Options
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Loyalty Program and VIP Perks
The casino rewards players who stick around through a structured loyalty program. This BigJackCasino.com Review notes how tiered VIP points build up through deposits and wagers, unlocking exclusive benefits and rewards as players climb higher, making regular play feel even more worth it.
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At 10,001 points, the Gold tier brings faster withdrawals and personalized offers, while the Platinum tier, kicking in at 40,001 points, grants premium support and higher limits. The Diamond tier is invitation-only, delivering top rewards, including exclusive event invites.
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The platform rolls out a wide range of bonuses aimed at both new and returning players. This BigJackCasino.com Review highlights how the welcome bonus gives newcomers a solid start, offering either a 200% deposit bonus or 30% cash on their first deposit, making it a pretty attractive way to get going.
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The platform provides tons of payment methods, including Visa, MasterCard, Neteller, Skrill, bank transfers, and cryptocurrencies, showing a current take on online gaming.
Withdrawal Policies: Withdrawals generally follow whatever deposit method you used. Players need to hit bonus requirements and keep registration info accurate to make sure transactions flow smoothly. The platform pushes transparency and security hard.
Processing Times: E-wallet transactions typically wrap up within 24 hours, while bank transfers and card withdrawals might take a few business days. Clear communication keeps players in the loop on timelines.
Customer Support
The platform throws out multiple support channels to make sure players get help whenever they need it. In this BigJackCasino.com Review, we’re pointing out how Live Chat runs 24/7 for instant help, while Email Support works better for more detailed questions, locking in a reliable and responsive customer service experience.
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Security and Fairness
The platform runs SSL encryption to lock down personal and financial info. Random Number Generators (RNGs) guarantee fair outcomes, while regular audits by independent groups back up transparency and fairness across the board.
Unique Features of BigJack Casino
Innovation sits right at the heart of what makes the platform appealing. Features like bidding games throw strategic layers onto traditional gameplay. The huge game variety, easy-to-navigate interface, and cross-platform compatibility pump up accessibility, letting smooth gaming happen on both desktop and mobile devices.
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The European Union’s sanctions strategy against Russia has generated a phenomenon that legal experts and economists describe as a “boomerang effect” – measures intended to punish Moscow instead inflict substantial costs on sanctioning nations whilst accelerating geopolitical realignments that undermine Western strategic interests. This paradox raises fundamental questions about whether EU sanctions on Russia represent coherent foreign policy or a cascade of unintended consequences that strengthen precisely the outcomes they aimed to prevent.
The legal dimension emerged most starkly with the EU’s 18th sanctions package, which includes provisions prohibiting member states from recognising investment arbitration awards favouring Russian companies. Paris-based lawyer Valérie Hanoun warned in Valeurs Actuelles that this clause violates binding bilateral investment treaties, potentially triggering awards worth hundreds of billions of euros. Rather than shielding European assets, the measure strengthens Russian companies’ legal positions by demonstrating denial of due process.
More than 15 bilateral investment treaties bind the EU and Russia, many inherited from the Soviet era. These agreements guarantee investors the right to international arbitration for disputes. By ordering blanket refusal to honour these treaties when Russian investors are involved, Brussels breaches the Vienna Convention’s pacta sunt servanda principle – that treaties must be respected. This creates grounds for Russian claimants to argue that the EU’s conduct itself constitutes treaty violation warranting damages.
Pending Arbitration Time Bombs
The financial exposure already manifests in pending cases. Nordgold pursues €5 billion against France over mining licence denial in French Guiana. Rosatom seeks €3 billion from Finland following cancellation of the Hanhikivi-1 nuclear project. Rosneft claims up to €2 billion from Germany over subsidiary trusteeship. Mikhail Fridman maintains multi-billion claims against Luxembourg challenging asset freezes. These disputes represent merely the initial wave, with unsanctioned Russian investors now positioned to pile on additional claims citing the EU’s blanket arbitration refusal as grounds for damages.
The precedent of Bank Melli and Bank Saderat v Bahrain illuminates the danger. Iranian banks won over $240 million after Bahrain liquidated their joint venture to comply with Western sanctions. The tribunal ruled that non-UN sanctions cannot excuse treaty violations, emphasising that Bahrain’s politically-motivated expropriation warranted compensation. If Bahrain faced liability for following Western sanctions, EU states could fare far worse against better-resourced Russian claimants.
Legal scholars note that successful arbitrations might recover not only lost investments and profits but also “aggravated damages” for the EU’s retaliatory posture. Such awards could balloon into hundreds of billions, potentially exceeding entire national budgets of smaller member states. Every euro lost to arbitration represents resources that could support Ukrainian reconstruction or European defence – instead flowing to the entities sanctions ostensibly target.
Economic Warfare Accelerates Fragmentation
Beyond legal liability, international sanctions have accelerated economic trends that undermine Western influence. Exclusion from SWIFT propelled Russian adoption of China’s Cross-Border Interbank Payment System, with trade increasingly conducted in renminbi rather than dollars. Rather than isolating Russia financially, Western policy accelerated creation of alternative payment architecture outside dollar hegemony.
The shadow fleet exemplifies adaptive evasion. Estimates suggest 70% of Russia’s seaborne oil exports now travel on vessels specifically assembled to circumvent restrictions. These tankers operate through Marshall Islands registrations, Dubai financing, and multiple intermediary transactions that exploit jurisdictional gaps. When professional facilitators can structure $700 million in tanker purchases before facing designation, enforcement clearly lags far behind evasion capacity.
Meanwhile, Europe pays premium prices for the same Russian energy through third-party channels. The EU and Turkey imported 2.4 million tonnes of petroleum products from India in early 2025, with estimates suggesting two-thirds originated from Russian crude. European buyers thus fund Indian refineries whilst paying markups for oil that remains Russian in origin. This arrangement ensures Russia maintains revenue streams whilst Europe suffers higher costs – the opposite of intended outcomes.
Strategic Partnerships Strengthen
The Russia-China axis has deepened precisely as Western sanctions aimed to isolate Moscow. The Power of Siberia 2 pipeline agreement represents $13.6 billion investment delivering 50 billion cubic metres of gas annually through Mongolia. This infrastructure locks in long-term energy partnership whilst reducing Chinese reliance on seaborne LNG – potentially undermining American export ambitions that European energy shortages have bolstered.
Russia’s strategic pivot to Asia extends beyond energy. Grain exports now constitute nearly 25% of world wheat trade, with African and European markets dependent on Russian supplies. This diversification began in 2000 when Russia focused on agricultural development, switching export support to grain in 2017 after initial Western sanctions. Rather than crippling Russian economy, sanctions accelerated diversification that strengthens Moscow’s geopolitical position.
Trade economist Rebecca Harding observed during the Intelligence Squared debate that “we are at economic war” with every tool including sanctions and export controls deployed. Yet this warfare has generated costs primarily for the West. Germany lost 125,000 industrial jobs recently as energy-intensive manufacturing becomes economically unviable. European consumers face inflation driven by energy price spikes. American LNG exports to Europe occur at premium prices compared to previous Russian pipeline gas, benefiting US energy companies whilst deindustrialising Europe.
The Off-Ramp Problem
Perhaps most strategically damaging is the EU’s “future-proofing” approach that eliminates incentives for Russian behaviour change. Measures blocking any potential Nord Stream restoration remove Russia’s primary motivation for seeking sanctions relief. If European energy markets remain permanently closed regardless of Russian actions, why would Moscow negotiate when sanctions offer no pathway to restored relationships?
Former US sanctions architect Daleep Singh emphasised clear off-ramps as essential for effectiveness. By removing off-ramps entirely, Europe transformed pressure tools into permanent punishment that cannot influence decision-making. This approach ensures sanctions are not working to achieve their statutory purpose of encouraging Russia to cease destabilising Ukraine.
Reassessing Strategic Assumptions
Three years into unprecedented sanctions, the question of are Russian sanctions working demands honest evaluation. Russia continues its invasion. Putin’s position remains secure. European economies face deindustrialisation. Legal liability mounts through arbitration exposure. Alternative payment systems develop outside Western control. Russia-China partnership strengthens. These outcomes represent the opposite of intended effects – a textbook boomerang where measures harm those deploying them more than intended targets. Until policymakers acknowledge these realities and develop strategies grounded in evidence rather than political signalling, sanctions will continue generating costs without achieving foreign policy objectives.
A growing number of British homeowners are turning to air-to-air heat pump technology as a solution to soaring energy bills and an increasingly unpredictable UK climate. The innovative systems, which provide both winter heating and summer cooling from a single installation, are transforming how properties maintain comfortable temperatures year-round whilst dramatically reducing monthly energy costs.
In November 2025, the UK Government announced that a £2500 grant will soon be available to homeowners looking to upgrade, an exciting development, especially given that typical installations are around £4000.
Industry data shows that households switching to air-to-air heat pumps can achieve monthly savings of up to £170 compared to traditional heating systems, with the added benefit of built-in air conditioning. The technology has gained particular traction in recent months as energy costs remain elevated and summer temperatures continue to rise across the UK.
Up To Five Times More Efficient Than Traditional Heating
The technology’s remarkable efficiency lies at the heart of its growing popularity. Air-to-air heat pumps operate at up to five times the energy efficiency of conventional heating methods, producing up to five kilowatts of heating or cooling output for every single kilowatt of electricity consumed. This represents a substantial improvement over standard boilers and radiator systems.
Research indicates that the average UK household that consumes 1,000 kilowatt-hours monthly for heating can achieve identical comfort levels with an air-to-air system using just 200 kilowatt-hours. This efficiency differential translates directly into significant cost reductions, particularly for properties that currently rely on electric heating, oil boilers, or ageing gas systems.
Affordable Installation Drives Adoption
Installation costs for air-to-air systems start from just £975, which is less than half the typical price of alternative heat pump technologies, such as air-to-water systems. The UK government’s decision to zero-rate VAT on heat pump installations further enhances affordability, delivering an immediate 20% saving on both equipment and installation costs, with a UK grant of £2500 available in 2026 too.
This combination of low installation prices, the grant, and the elimination of VAT charges makes the technology accessible to a considerably broader range of households than many renewable heating alternatives.
Dual Functionality Addresses Climate Reality
What sets air-to-air heat pumps apart is their ability to provide both heating and cooling from a single system. During cold winter months, the units extract thermal energy from outside air, functioning efficiently even in freezing conditions, and transfer it indoors to provide comfortable warmth.
When summer temperatures rise, the same system reverses its operation, removing heat from inside properties and expelling it outdoors to deliver adequate air conditioning. This year-round functionality addresses the increasing reality of British weather, where both harsh winters and intensifying summer heat waves require climate control solutions.
Homeowners who might previously have considered installing separate air conditioning units for summer comfort can instead invest in a single system that addresses all year-round climate-control needs. This versatility delivers enhanced comfort, reduced overall costs, and simplified home management.
Minimal Disruption During Installation
Traditional heating system upgrades typically involve extensive disruption, removal of existing radiators, and costly renovation work. Air-to-air heat pump installations avoid these complications entirely. The systems don’t require removing existing heating infrastructure, modifying underfloor heating, or additional insulation; only minimal cosmetic changes are needed.
Most installations are complete within one day rather than weeks, with systems becoming operational almost immediately. Homeowners can retain their existing boilers for hot water production, whilst the air-to-air system handles space heating and cooling.
The technology proves particularly effective in park homes and mobile homes, where traditional heating and cooling can be expensive and inefficient. Conservatories, which typically overheat during summer whilst remaining uncomfortably cold in winter, transform into usable year-round spaces. Room-by-room temperature control lets family members set their preferred temperatures independently.
Premium Manufacturers Support Market Growth
Leading global manufacturers, including Daikin, Panasonic, Samsung, Toshiba, and Midea, have developed advanced air-to-air heat pump systems specifically for the UK market. These premium brands incorporate advanced inverter technology, smart home connectivity, and robust build quality designed to ensure reliable performance for decades.
Indoor units produce just 20 to 30 decibels of sound, quieter than a whisper. This near-silent performance ensures undisturbed sleep and peaceful living environments, contrasting sharply with older, noisier heating technologies.
Health Benefits Through Air Purification
Beyond temperature control, modern air-to-air heat pumps incorporate sophisticated filtration systems that continuously purify indoor air. Built-in filters remove viruses, bacteria, pollen, dust, and other airborne contaminants, creating healthier living environments, particularly beneficial for allergy sufferers and families with young children.
The systems also provide dehumidification functionality, addressing excess moisture that can lead to mould growth and uncomfortable indoor conditions. This comprehensive approach to indoor environment management combines temperature control, air purification, and humidity regulation. Creating optimal living spaces that support health and wellbeing.
Minimal Maintenance Requirements
Maintenance requirements are minimal compared to those of traditional boilers. With expected lifespans exceeding 20 years, low annual servicing costs, and only occasional filter cleaning required, the systems deliver reliable performance without the hassle and expense of frequent repairs or maintenance calls that gas boiler systems require.
This longevity and reliability contribute to the technology’s strong value proposition, with total lifetime costs remaining substantially lower than those of traditional heating systems despite the initial investment.
Property Values Reflect Modern Efficiency
Estate agents report that properties equipped with efficient heating and cooling systems increasingly command premium prices. Prospective buyers prioritise energy efficiency and low running costs when evaluating homes, with modern climate systems a real plus for many buyers.
Installing air-to-air heat pump systems adds measurable value to properties, creating advantages that extend well beyond reduced monthly energy bills to encompass enhanced marketability and resale value.
Established Providers Meeting Growing Demand
Specialist installation companies are reporting surging interest in air-to-air heat pump technology across the UK. WarmVent is the UK Midlands’ leader and has established itself as an expert provider in the sector. The company maintains a five-star customer rating, with homeowners consistently praising professional installation teams and outstanding product performance.
Find Out More
Homeowners interested in exploring whether air-to-air heat pump technology would benefit their property can access comprehensive information through specialist providers such as WarmVent. The company’s website features detailed installation guides, a monthly savings calculator that estimates potential cost savings based on property-specific details, and case studies from satisfied customers.
Those considering switching to more efficient, sustainable heating and cooling can visit WarmVent’s website for a free estimate and to learn more about installation options, grants, system costs, and available equipment from premium manufacturers. With installation prices starting from just £975, no VAT, and potential monthly savings of £170 or more, the technology represents an increasingly attractive solution for homeowners seeking to reduce energy costs whilst enhancing year-round comfort.
