What is leadership? Is it a gift or a skill you can develop? Can you learn how to be a leader, or is it a natural way of working? These are the questions I asked myself when I stepped into a managerial position for the first time. But after working with different types of people, I realised that the title of the position has nothing to do with leadership. I met brilliant leaders who were engineers or designers, and I also came across terrible managers at the C-level who had no idea how to build or inspire a team.
At CES 2025, Startups Magazine’s Managing Editor, Paige West, interviewed Nicole Terry, Social Media Manager of Pelagion. The pair discussed the HydroBlade, the stand-up electric hydrofoil with steering capabilities, the inspiration behind the product, and the company’s goals for its CES appearance.
In a significant milestone for scalable quantum computing, Quantum Motion, a UK-based quantum computing scaleup founded by academics from University College London and Oxford University, has demonstrated rapid, large-scale characterisation of quantum devices fabricated using commercial semiconductor processes.
Superhero Capital, a Helsinki-based venture capital firm dedicated to investing in early-stage software startups across Finland and the Baltics, has announced the launch of its fourth fund. With a target of €50 million, this new fund signifies a leap in its commitment to supporting founders in creating meaningful change.
With 801,006 new startups registered between 2022 and 2023 – a 6.4% increase – competition for skilled talent remains fierce. To stand out, startups must provide more than competitive salaries and one area gaining attention is employee benefits, which can accelerate growth and enhance competitiveness.
The workplace has undergone significant transformations in recent years. If we think back to 2020, the pandemic’s impact on remote working disrupted traditional norms forever. Now, its impact lives on, through hybrid working models and the popularisation of work life balance. Now in 2025 approaches, workplaces will continue to evolve, leading organisations to rethink how they balance employee expectations with business priorities.
Very few founders go into business wanting to learn more about legislation. And yet, understanding your legal commitments is a huge part of the role, particularly in the early days. Whether it’s employment law or regulatory considerations, knowing where to start to stay ahead – or even meet compliant standards – can be a challenge.
As the UK’s startup ecosystem continues to thrive, 2025 brings a new set of HR challenges for budding businesses. From navigating hybrid working, the fierce competition for skilled talent to staying ahead of regulatory changes, and fostering inclusive company cultures, startups are finding themselves in a place where they need to combine operational excellence with their innovation.
Towergate Employee Benefits predicts that ensuring ‘everybody benefits’ from health and wellbeing support must be a major and essential HR focus for 2025. All employees, at all levels and, crucially, the business itself must gain full advantage of employee benefits if businesses are to thrive in the coming year.










