UK launches £500m Sovereign AI fund as Kendall backs ‘British winners’ Tech The UK government has unveiled a £500m push to scale domestic AI firms, as ministers step up efforts to anchor the next wave of tech firms on home soil amid growing competition. Tech secretary Liz Kendall is set to launch the new Sovereign AI Unit in London on Thursday, casting it as a central pillar [...]
China ties force co-founder exit at UK AI startup Fractile Tech Co-founder of British AI chip startup Fractile left the company after concerns were raised internally about his links to China amid growing scrutiny of national security risks across the UK’s strategic tech sector. Yuhang Song, Fractile’s former chief technology officer, departed the business in May 2024 following questions over his academic background and earlier ties [...]
UK veterans drive defence tech boom Tech Defence tech startups are booming across Europe, powered by an influx of UK military veterans and record levels of VC investment. Yet, a new report found critical gaps in space tech and AI chips could leave the country exposed. The State of Defence Tech 2025 report has revealed that defence startups have secured $1.5bn (£1.12bn) [...]
Michael Vaughan issues Autumn Budget plea to Rachel Reeves September 18, 2025 Cricket legend Michael Vaughan has issued a plea to Chancellor Rachel Reeves to help out start-ups and small-to-medium-sized (SMEs) businesses in her Autumn Budget on 26 November. Vaughan, who has recently invested in health and wellness supplement start-up Uthful, hit out at the employers’ National Insurance increase included in last year’s Autumn Budget for causing [...]
UK tech leaders back home turf for growth as AI drives investment August 28, 2025 The UK is increasingly being viewed by its own tech entrepreneurs as the most attractive country in which to build and scale a technology company, according to a new report. Barclays Bank’s latest Business Prosperity Index revealed that a majority of tech leaders now view Britain as offering stronger growth prospects than its international rivals [...]
Relief for startups as government U-turns on onerous Companies House rules July 3, 2025 Small businesses are breathing a sigh of relief after it emerged the government is set to U-turn on the introduction of new onerous Companies House rules. The new rules, which were due to come into effect in April 2027, would have required small and micro companies to disclose their profit and loss statements for the [...]
Lord Mayor: The unicorns are galloping away June 30, 2025 As capital dries up and unicorns flee, the UK must act now or accept its fate as an incubator economy, writes Alastair King.
Motorway CEO: How I built my $1bn empire after a huge failure June 16, 2025 The co-founder and chief executive of used car marketplace Motorway has opened up about how he helped to build a $1bn empire from scratch following the biggest failure of his career. On an up-coming episode of Morning Wire’s Boardroom Uncovered show, Tom Leathes also revealed how he and his fellow founders landed on the car [...]
London SXSW in review: Where was the vibe? June 10, 2025 A lot to love, but a lot to improve. Was the first year of London SXSW a success? Paul Armstrong gives his verdict.
After angels, before VCs: UK consumer startups are stranded in £1m-£5m no man’s land May 14, 2025 Britain's brilliant consumer startups are finding themselves stranded in a funding no man’s land, writes Joe Benn.