Anna Wood

Anna Wood is the Editor of Startups Magazine. She joined the team in June 2023 as Deputy Editor, and has since been promoted to Editor of the publication. When it comes to the startup sector, Anna has a keen interest in spacetech, biotech, medtech, anything that flies, and shining a light on the gender and diversity funding gap. Outside of work hours, you can find Anna tucking into a book, a nice meal, and playing her Switch!

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AI’s mixed impact on work

The Adecco Group has announced the release of its sixth annual Global Workforce of the Future report, titled Humanity at work: How to thrive in the AI era. The report uncovers how AI, purpose, and human connection are reshaping work – and what leaders should do to keep pace amid workforce transformation.

Sol Rashidi announced as keynote at ISE 2026

In an exciting move for attendees of the world’s most innovative pro AV and systems integration event, Integrated Systems Europe (ISE) has secured Sol Rashidi as a Keynote Speaker for ISE 2026. Sol will take the stage at 13:00 on Wednesday, 4 February. Her participation perfectly mirrors ISE’s 2026 theme, ‘Push Beyond,’ inviting the industry to explore every opportunity and redefine what’s possible.

Jukebox launches $15M fund to back innovation across music, tech, and culture

Jukebox is expanding its global creative footprint with the launch of Jukebox Ventures, announcing the launch of their Fund I which is raising up to $15 million dedicated to backing the next generation of startups at the convergence of music, technology, and culture.

Call for innovations in public space that can promote healthier lifestyles

Connected Places Catapult, the UK’s innovation accelerator for transport, the built environment, cities, and local growth, has announced the first project under the new Public Realm Innovation Lab.

Wild Bioscience raises $60M Series A to advance agriculture resilience

Wild Bioscience (Wild Bio), the Oxford University spinout that develops improved crop varieties using AI and precision breeding, has raised a $60 million Series A investment. This significant funding round was led by the Ellison Institute of Technology (EIT), with participation from existing investors Oxford Science Enterprises (OSE), Braavos Capital, and the University of Oxford.

Deel secures $300M at a valuation of $17.3Bn

Deel has announced a $300 million strategic investment, bringing its valuation up to $17.3 billion.

Nila closes oversubscribed $2.4M to simplify cross-border elderly care

Nila, the healthcare management startup helping expatriates care for elderly relatives back home, has closed an oversubscribed $2.4 million (£1.8 million) pre-seed round led by LocalGlobe. The investment enables Nila to scale its revolutionary care management platform which addresses the stress and challenges that accompany overseeing the health and wellbeing of older family members across borders.

Jack & Jill secures $20M Seed funding to take AI recruiters global

Jack & Jill, the AI recruitment company, has raised $20 million in seed investment to build and expand in Europe and the United States. The round was backed by leading European early-stage firm, Creandum, as well as prominent VCs including Dig Ventures, Entrepreneur First, Ada Ventures, Firedrop, Repeat.vc, Episode1, Playfair, and over 75 high-profile angel investors, including Nico Rosberg, and from companies such as Lovable, Anthropic, and ElevenLabs.

Government measures falling short, SMEs in survival mode

UK SMEs say specific Government initiatives designed to help them survive and grow don’t go far enough, according to new research from Bibby Financial Services (BFS).

New trading framework to boost supply chain access for disabled founders

A new Disability Trading Framework has launched to improve access to supply chains for disabled entrepreneurs and ensure that trading processes are fair and accessible to all.

Deep Rack Venture Studio to tackle bottlenecks in data centres

Cambridge Future Tech (CFT), the scientific venture builder, and global built environment consultancy Arup, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on the creation of the Deep Rack Venture Studio – an initiative targeting the creation of 16 new startups addressing critical challenges in global data centre infrastructure.

Caracol raises $40M to accelerate scaling advanced manufacturing tech

Caracol, one of Europe’s fastest growing deeptech companies and a pioneer in large-format robotic manufacturing, has announced the closing of its $40 million Series B round, co-led by Omnes Capital, Move Capital Fund I, alongside CDP Venture Capital – Large Ventures Fund, which played a key role as a catalyst for international investors.

Ploy raises £2.5M as businesses suffer multiple identity breaches annually

UK cybersecurity startup Ploy has raised £2.5 million to address a growing security threat, with 93% of organisations suffering two or more identity-related breaches per year.

Maia Ventures launches €55M fund to back agrifoodtech entrepreneurs

Maia Ventures, an early-stage AgriFoodTech fund, has launched its first fund of €55 million. It will back 20 to 25 companies, with initial ticket sizes ranging from €0.5 to 1.5 million. The fund is fully operational with six investments to date and is targeting a final closing in the coming months.

UK losing £3.5 billion a year as women exit tech sector

Between 40,000 and 60,000 women leave the tech industry each year, costing the economy an estimated £2 to £3.5 billion annually, according to The 2025 Lovelace Report: Unlocking £2–3.5 billion.

Strawberry raises $6M and launches agentic AI-powered browser

Strawberry, the agentic browser with built-in, personalised AI companions, has announced that it has raised $6 million in funding, led by General Catalyst and EQT Ventures, with participation from founders of Lovable, Supabase, and Hugging Face.

Mirror by Aide Health ensures medical advice isn’t forgotten after appointments

Aide Health, a UK healthtech startup, has launched the country’s first AI-powered “medical memory” designed entirely for patients – promising to end the age-old problem of forgetting what the doctor said.

€30M committed to healthtech fund to accelerate global innovation

Spex Capital, an early-stage investor tackling global healthcare challenges through innovative healthtech solutions, has announced the first €30 million commitment to its flagship €100 million Venture HealthTech Fund. The fund will invest globally in early-stage healthtech startups, from Seed to Series A/B, with investments of up to €5 million.

UK organisations ready for widespread AI adoption but limitations threaten ambition

Red Hat has announced new survey results highlighting the prominence of AI for UK organisations’ IT strategies. The findings reveal UK organisations surveyed anticipate boosting AI investment by an average of 32% by 2026.

Registration for ISE 2026 is now open

Prepare for the unforgettable. Integrated Systems Europe (ISE), the world-renowned annual tech show for the audiovisual and systems integration industry, is back – and registration for ISE 2026 is officially open.