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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UK risks losing Gen Z talent to higher-paying global competitors

Four-in-five (81%) Gen Z workers in the UK would consider working remotely for a company outside of the UK if that meant greater salary opportunities, according to new research commissioned by global HR and payroll firm Deel.

UNA Watch launches Kickstarter to fund repairable sports smartwatch

UNA Watch, the tech startup taking on global tech industry giants like Apple and Garmin, has launched a Kickstarter campaign to fund the world’s first modular, repairable GPS sports watch.

NI hikes a significant challenge putting pressure on employee benefits

As employers brace themselves for hikes in National Insurance contributions (NICs) on 6 April 2025 and the reduction in the threshold at which they are due, GRiD has found that over a quarter (28%) of senior HR decision-makers believe that increased costs imposed by government such as higher employer NI contributions will present a significant challenge to their business in the next 12 months. Broken down by size of company, 30% of SMEs see this as a challenge, compared to 25% of large corporates.

Plexal develops scaling initiative to empower SMEs and deliver on growth mission

Plexal has opened a new Growth Partnership division to directly empower the country’s SMEs, which account for 99.8% of companies nationwide.

48% of companies offsetting National Insurance costs with salary sacrifice

With increases in National Insurance contributions due to take effect from 6 April, businesses and employees are both likely to feel the pinch. Towergate Employee Benefits’ annual research shows that less than half (48%) of UK companies offer salary sacrifice on their pension provision and they and their employees are therefore missing out on offsetting the costs.

Deborah Meaden urges business leaders to prioritise mental fitness

Entrepreneurs and business leaders must prioritise their mental fitness just as athletes do, ensuring they are rested and ready to perform at their best, says Deborah Meaden.

ProFuse launches drug discovery platform for the prevention of muscle loss

Startup ProFuse Technology, which specialises in the cultivation of muscle tissue in laboratory conditions, has launched a new technology and programme for discovering drugs that prevent muscle mass loss caused by the growing use of GLP-1 weight-loss injections, aging, and cancer.

BOW unveils ‘Mission Control’ to make deployment of robot security patrols simple

BOW, the universal robotics software company, has launched a compelling new robotics application for security patrols at Hannover Messe (31 Mar – 4 Apr). Built on BOW’s software development kit (SDK) and Universal Controller platform, the new Mission Control application allows operators to easily set up, define and orchestrate robots for security patrols, opening up the benefits of robotics-enhanced security to millions of businesses.

What is a Chief of Staff and do you need one?

Scaling a startup and building out an executive team can be a daunting process. As a business grows, so does the complexity and pressure, and this is where a Chief of Staff can make a significant impact. So, what is a Chief of Staff? What do they do? And how do you know if your startup needs one?

Return to office looms as CEO economic confidence declines

Vistage has released its quarterly CEO Confidence Index for Q1 2025, revealing a notable decline in economic confidence across the UK and Ireland.

Over half of organisations cut expenses in light of rising government costs

Over half (52%) of organisations are cutting expenses in light of rising government costs. That’s according to a survey by AccountsIQ, a provider of advanced financial management software, and ExpenseIn, who joined the AccountsIQ Group earlier this year.

Money, Money, Money: ABBA star’s investment firm secures €1.2Bn

Pophouse, the global entertainment and music investment firm co-founded by ABBA star Bjorn Ulvaeus, has hit a high note with the closure of its debut fund, Pophouse Fund I, securing over €1 billion. This achievement saw the firm reach its hard cap, positioning it among the largest first-time private equity funds raised in Europe in the past decade.

Fiberdom secures €3.5M to drive plastic-free, circular material innovations

Fiberdom, a pioneer in wood fibre material innovation, has secured €3.5 million in funding to accelerate the development and scaling of its patented technology and its high-performance, 100% plastic-free material. Fiberdom’s mission is to replace non-essential plastics with scalable, circular solutions.

PhotonDelta and Silicon Catalyst partner to drive innovation for photonic startups

Photonic chip accelerator PhotonDelta has established a strategic collaboration with Silicon Catalyst, the world’s only incubator and accelerator focused on the global semiconductor industry. Over the last five years, PhotonDelta has raised close to $1.5 billion to accelerate the commercialisation of the photonics industry.

WeeFin announces €25M financing round to accelerate international growth

WeeFin, the sustainable fintech that helps financial institutions manage their sustainability strategies, has announced a new round of financing totalling €25 million.

Isomorphic Labs secures $600M to develop next-gen AI drug engine

Isomorphic Labs, an AI-first drug design and development company, has raised $600 million in its first external funding round. The financing round is led by Thrive Capital, with participation from GV, and follow-on capital from existing investor, Alphabet.

Marvel Fusion extends series B to €113 million

Marvel Fusion, the European fusion energy company, has announced the extension of its Series B funding round by €50 million, bringing the total round to €113 million. The extension includes new investments from EQT Ventures, Siemens Energy Ventures, and the European Innovation Council (EIC) Fund, marking their first fusion energy equity investment.

TidalSense’s breakthrough in respiratory diagnostics set to transform NHS lung care

A breakthrough in respiratory diagnostics is set to transform the way serious lung conditions, such as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), are detected and managed in the UK.

Q5D to debut wiring harness automation robot to take money off car costs

Q5D Technology, pioneers of hardware and software tools for robotic wiring harness manufacture, has taken delivery of the core structure of frame and drives for its latest and largest to date wire harness automation robot at its Bristol headquarters in the UK.

Value of UK stocks and shares ISAs increased by £209Bn over past decade

Confidence in retail investing is on the up, with the value of funds in UK stocks and shares ISAs increasing by £209 billion in the last decade, according to analysis from investment platform Lightyear.