Macmillan Ventures Launches to Back Innovations in Cancer Care
Macmillan Cancer Support has launched Macmillan Ventures, a venture‑capital arm dedicated to funding cancer‑care innovations. Backed by philanthropists, the new fund builds on more than £3.5 million (≈ $4.5 million) of health‑tech investments made since 2023, including participation in an £8.7 million (≈ $11 million) round for Cambridge‑based Lucida Medical. The initiative aims to act as a trusted partner for startups, the NHS and corporate allies, accelerating the development of next‑generation treatments. The launch was announced at the Revolutionising Cancer Care event in London, with former chancellor Lord Philip Hammond serving as ambassador.
EXCLUSIVE: British Business Bank Backs New UK-Dedicated VC Fund
British Business Bank has pledged a £25 million cornerstone investment—about $32 million—to Antler’s UK Fund II, the venture firm’s largest single‑location fund to date. The fund will back UK founders from inception, allocating up to £500k (≈$635k) per startup and may continue supporting...
Governments Are Backing Agentic AI
Governments, led by the UK, are rapidly embracing AI, with a particular focus on agentic AI—autonomous tools that can perform tasks without constant human oversight. A Dell Technologies and IDC study shows 71% of public‑sector decision‑makers view agentic AI as...
Spinout Scores Funding for Clean Data Centre Energy Tech
H2CHP, a Durham University spinout, has secured a £1.5 million (~$1.9 million) investment round backed by Innovate UK, Blackfinch Ventures and Northstar Ventures – the first Durham spinout funded by the £22.5 million (~$28.8 million) North East Spinout Inspire Fund. The company’s free‑piston linear...
How Entry-Level Jobs Can Work in the Age of AI
AI is already displacing thousands of entry‑level positions in research, note‑taking and admin functions, prompting concerns that the traditional talent pipeline could erode. Experts like Nikolas Kairinos argue junior roles must evolve into AI‑co‑pilot positions, where new hires learn to...
Embedd Founder: Be Intentional About Testing
Michael Lazarenko, co‑founder of Embedd—a platform that uses AI to turn semiconductor datasheets into structured, machine‑readable models—emphasizes the need for intentional hypothesis testing, warning that unchecked assumptions can waste months of development. He advises founders to raise significantly more capital...
Road Quality Firm Highway Data Systems Raises £1.25m
Highway Data Systems, a Glasgow‑based provider of automated quality‑assurance technology for road construction, secured £1.25 million (approximately $1.55 million) from the Investment Fund for Scotland, managed by Maven Capital Partners and the British Business Bank. The financing, the first through the Greater...
FCA Approves Vestd as a PISCES Operator
Vestd has received FCA approval to operate under the Private Intermittent Securities and Capital Exchange System (PISCES), placing it alongside the London Stock Exchange and JP Jenkins. The PISCES framework, launched in June 2025, enables private companies to auction shares to professional...
The Brave New World of AI Marketing – Rebecca Sykes, Brandtech
Brandtech partner Rebecca Sykes discussed on the UKTN podcast how artificial intelligence is reshaping marketing. The firm’s AI platform acts as a “nervous system,” linking cultural signals, media performance and sales data to generate content at scale. While AI‑generated creative...
Scotland Women in Technology to Fund AI Leadership Training
Scotland Women in Technology (SWiT) will sponsor two cohorts of The Data Lab’s Data and AI Leadership Programme, covering 40 women over 2026‑2027. The hybrid 10‑hour course teaches AI readiness, strategy development and responsible data leadership. In parallel, SWiT will...
GOODFOLIO Founder: Always Think in Systems
GOODFOLIO founder Omid Pakseresht emphasizes that founders must think in systems, linking hiring, product features, and strategy to drive scalable growth. He credits an early T‑shaped branding and marketing hire for expanding the company’s pipeline and partnerships roughly twentyfold. Pakseresht...
Tech Funding Thrives Outside of London, Report Reveals
A new HSBC Innovation Banking report shows that more than half of UK venture capital now flows to firms outside London, with regional deals accounting for just over 50% of all term sheets across life‑stage categories. Early‑stage activity is especially...
Growth in UK Tech Surges Despite Geopolitical Uncertainty
RSM UK reports a record 16,887 new tech company incorporations in Q1 2026, a 39% rise year‑on‑year and 15% versus Q4 2025. London leads with 8,236 firms, up 19%, while Scotland shows the fastest quarterly growth at 37%. All UK regions outperformed...
Naturbeads Secures £3.6m to Set up Italy Production Plant
Naturbeads, a University of Bath spin‑out, secured €4.1 million (£3.6 million) in EU funding—roughly $4.5 million—to build a production plant in Puglia, southern Italy. The grant, part of the European Structural Fund, will subsidise construction and R&D for its biodegradable, cellulose‑based microspheres that...
UK Regulators Crack Down on Illegal Crypto Trading
The UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) launched its first operation to dismantle illegal peer‑to‑peer crypto trading, targeting eight suspected sites across London. Working with HM Revenue & Customs and the South West Regional Organised Crime Unit, regulators seized locations where...