Anna Wood

Alison Imbert shares with Startups Magazine what makes a winning team, how her team is shifting strategies in an unpredictable market, and why she thinks being considerate isn't incompatible with being a top VC.

Technology is constantly evolving, and some trends, like AI, have been dominant players over the last few years. While AI isn’t going anywhere, there are other themes and trends that will be taking the world by storm next year.

NatWest has announced partnerships with four UK universities to strengthen the UK’s innovation and startup ecosystem, driving growth, business productivity, and creating high-value jobs across all regions of the country.

UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves has announced targeted investment in industrial strategy sectors across the UK with the introduction of two AI growth zones in Wales, creating more than 8,000 jobs and £17 million in Northern Ireland to strengthen UK external markets.

As organisations strengthen their data foundations, chief data officers (CDOs) are increasingly driving technology innovation, according to a new Deloitte report which shows, CDOs overwhelmingly agree that a well-defined data strategy is essential.

On the 26th November, the long-anticipated Autumn Budget was delivered by Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves has been urged to use the opportunity afforded by AI to ‘Make Britain Great Again’.

New research from Xeinadin shows small businesses are adjusting their plans ahead of the Autumn Budget. With many expecting further tax pressure, a large number are reviewing pricing strategies or reducing costs in 2026. The findings reflect how SMEs are being proactive and taking early action in response to an uncertain policy outlook.

The upcoming Autumn Budget is a vital moment for the government with all eyes on the Chancellor’s efforts to drive sustainable growth and encourage UK investment. Chancellor Rachel Reeves has pledged for a ‘budget for growth with fairness at its heart’. But the question remains: what will that actually look like?

UK businesses are adopting AI at a rapid pace, but poor implementation is exacerbating “AI workslop”. The rise of low-quality, AI-generated material flooding workplaces is frustrating workers and undermining the £2.9 billion that the UK’s AI sector attracted in 2024.

The global fintech Revolut has announced the completion of a share sale, which values the company at $75 billion.

The government has announced a comprehensive package of AI-focused reforms and investments to accelerate national renewal, boost economic growth, and cement the UK’s position as a global leader in artificial intelligence.

Snowball, the award-winning disability accessibility app that made headlines with a rare full-house offer from all five Dragons on BBC’s Dragons’ Den, has been officially signed up by Google for Startups, accelerating its mission to make accessibility accessible around the world.

Trovr, a recycling technology startup transforming how the world manages single-use drink containers, has launched the QUBE in the UK – a smart recycling unit designed to offer independent retailers support with the upcoming Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) without the cost, complexity, or footprint of supermarket-scale systems.

A new survey of UK startup founders by the Angel Investment Network (AIN) challenges the pervasive stereotype of the twenty-something entrepreneur working from their parents’ garage, revealing that the median founder is now middle aged, often relying on external employment to keep their ventures afloat.

Deeptech and life sciences startups that have spun out of Europe’s universities have a combined value of $398 billion and an increasingly influential position in the region’s technology ecosystem, according to a major new report.

Emm, the UK-based pioneer in biowearable technology, has raised £6.8 million in an oversubscribed seed funding round, to bring the world’s first smart menstrual cup and connected app to market. Creating a new category of “smart menstrual care”, Emm will equip users to understand their individual menstrual baseline and track key metrics for personalised, actionable insights into their menstrual health.  

In 2024, Black Friday was forecasted to boost the UK economy with £7.1 billion in sales. And with three in five adults predicted to be heading to the shops for the Black Friday weekend in 2025 – that's 31.9 million potential customers for UK SMBs.

Kilo Health, the global health and wellness company, has rebranded to Kilo, to reflect the company’s expansion into new business opportunities in longevity, anti-ageing, beauty, and personal development. This change also demonstrates Kilo’s growing focus on co-founding, venture building, and early-stage startup investments.

A new report from reputation management consultancy Infinite reveals that UK media are up to five times more likely to frame tech unicorns through the lens of failure compared to their US counterparts – a trend that reflects, and may be contributing to, the UK’s struggle to support startups in scaling.