Intelligent SME.tech Issue 56 | Page 9

// LATEST UPDATES //
Meta channels lead the pack as 97 % of SMEs now use social media for their business
Video platforms prove useful to many SMEs: Nearly two-thirds( 63 %) of businesses use YouTube, while short-form platform TikTok’ s adoption is slightly lower at 49 % on average.
TikTok’ s popularity varies by age of SME owner: Six in 10( 60 %) younger SME owners, aged 18 to 34 are on the platform, though that number drops to just 17 % among business leaders over 55.

New research from iwoca finds that the overwhelming majority( 97 %) of small and medium-sized firms use social media to boost business, with Facebook and Instagram proving most popular.

Nearly half( 49 %) of firm leaders hold a TikTok account for their business, though younger business owners are more likely to use the platform.
The survey of SME owners, conducted by iwoca – one of Europe’ s large SME lenders – shows Meta channels dominate the top four.
Facebook leads as the top SME platform with 69 % of SMEs on the network, while Instagram ranks second with 67 % and WhatsApp ranks fourth with 58 % of firms using the channel.
Oli Perron, Owner of catering company, Lunch’ d, said:“ We’ ve built our business on social media, these platforms account for around 90 % of our marketing strategy, while the other 10 % comes from in-person sampling of our product.
“ Social platforms are absolutely vital to building brand awareness and documenting our journey, which ultimately filters to leads and sales. Each platform serves its purpose.”
VivaTech reveals the first edition of the Top 100 Rising European Startups for 2025

Viva Technology publishes the first edition of the Top 100

Rising European Startups for 2025, a ranking highlighting the 100 most promising young companies in the European tech ecosystem.
Coming from a variety of sectors, they were selected for their potential to transform their industries and for their rapid growth dynamics.
• Germany( 36), France( 22) and the United Kingdom( 17) are the three countries with the largest pool of companies
• The three most represented sectors are AI( agents, models, middlewares and toolings), Developer Tooling and FinTech
• AI tops the list
François Bitouzet, Managing Director of Viva Technology, said:“ The Top 100 Rising European Startups reflects the degree of maturity reached by the European tech ecosystem. Artificial Intelligence, now at the heart of all industries – cybersecurity, defence, logistics and supply chain – demonstrates Europe’ s ability to innovate on technological and strategic issues, with a long-term vision.
“ This dynamic confirms that Europe is no longer just an area for growth, but a real laboratory for technological and societal transformation.”
Intelligent SME. tech
9