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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Bluebook raises $3M to build AI Agents for accounting firms

Bluebook, the AI-powered software specifically designed for savvy accounting firms eager to embrace AI innovation and transform traditional accounting practices, has announced it has raised $3 million in funding including $2.5 million pre-seed round led by EQT Ventures and a separate capital injection from Y Combinator. Angel investors in the pre-seed round include Huey Lin (Founding COO of Affirm), Laura Modiano (OpenAI) and Carles Reina (Eleven Labs).

The BIG Cornish Tech Showcase: powering innovation, inspiring the future

Tech Cornwall’s flagship event, the BIG Cornish Tech Showcase, is returning on February 27, 2025, at The Atlantic Hotel, Newquay, from 10am to 5pm. This free-to-attend event is the biggest opportunity of the year to connect with Cornwall’s thriving tech community, meet innovative suppliers, and gain insight from some of the most exciting names in technology.

UK graduates take off with $1.5M in funding and Etihad Airways as first client

A couple of Manchester-based graduates have successfully launched the B2B travel-tech platform Arcube, with Etihad Airways as its first customer. In conjunction with the launch, Arcube is announcing a $1.5 million seed round to further develop the platform and its services, co-led by Fuel Ventures and Oxford Capital.

AI self-learning B2B sales messaging platform raises $600k pre-seed

Breakthrough, an AI self-learning B2B sales messaging startup that launched at the end of 2024, has already secured $600,000 in a pre-seed round, and secured customers including Fortune 500 companies.

72% of executives to embrace AI in 2025, a quarter targeting specialised tasks like translation

DeepL, a global Language AI company, has unveiled its latest whitepaper, “The language revolution: how AI improves the way businesses communicate.” Based on findings from a new DeepL survey of EMEA and US business leaders, as well as external sources, the report explores the intersection of language and AI in business, covering critical topics ranging from global corporate AI adoption trends, to the financial impact of poor communication on international businesses, and the real-world impact and value of Language AI tools.

AI skills gap reaches critical levels, UK businesses ask Government to address IR35 and National Insurance barriers

Gigged.AI, has released a 36-page report entitled ‘The AI Talent Crisis: How Skills-Powered Organisations Can Unlock the UK’s Potential’ which has raised concerns over the deepening AI skills gap in the workforce, with an overwhelming 92% of companies prioritising upskilling in Generative AI. However, the report which surveyed UK businesses, also highlights a major concern: Government policies, particularly IR35 and rising

CUTISS reports positive Phase 2 trial results for denovoSkin in reconstructive and burn surgery

CUTISS AG, a life sciences company at the forefront of tissue engineering therapy and regenerative medicine, has announced positive long-term efficacy and safety readout in the Phase 2 clinical trials of denovoSkin in reconstructive surgery as well as in burns treatment.

DSIT launches AI Playbook to drive public sector efficiency

The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology has launched a new AI playbook, guiding the ‘safe and effective’ use of AI in the public sector.

Leap Venture Studio launches cohort of accelerator for pet care startups

Leap Venture Studio & Academy, the pet care startup accelerator, has announced the launch of its ninth accelerator programme. The studio offers pet care startup founders a highly customised, hybrid programme tailored to support and provide resources to early-stage startups, in addition to $200,000 in funding. The newest cohort kicks off in Nashville on February 24, and will culminate with a Demo Day in London on May 16.

MarketLeap raises $8M to facilitate “seller-obsessed” D2C ecommerce

MarketLeap, the fully integrated AI-driven platform to simplify and scale D2C ecommerce, has announced an $8 million Series A funding round led by Smedvig Ventures, with participation from Expon Capital, Motier Ventures, and prominent business angels including former executives from Amazon, SoftBank, and Unilever. This capital injection will allow the company to accelerate platform development and invest in top talent to support its rapid growth trajectory.

Nina Capital launches €50M Fund III to drive healthtech innovation

Nina Capital, a venture capital firm dedicated to healthcare transformation through technology, has announced the first close of its €50 million Fund III. The new fund will propel Nina Capital’s total assets under management to over €100 million, reinforcing its position as a leading international investor driving impactful healthcare innovation.

Government should embrace creativity and ambition of high potential businesses to grow economy

The UK government should draw on the creativity and insights of Britain’s ambitious small business community if it is to achieve its “number one mission” to grow the economy, says a new report published by Goldman Sachs.

Workspace of the issue: MyWorkSpot

MyWorkSpot is a flexible office and co-working provider based in Maidenhead, Berkshire. Currently operating three locations in the area, MyWorkSpot is “a home for startups, established local businesses, and even large international corporations, where we provide satellite offices or desks for employees who want to work closer to home,” explained David Johnston, Co-Founder of MyWorkSpot.

Where are they now?: SumUp

SumUp has become a recognisable name in the point-of-sale (PoS) space. Since its inception in 2012, the company has become a global fintech, supporting more than 3.5 million merchants in over 30 markets across the world.

UBS Global Entrepreneur Report 2025

UBS has published its first Global Entrepreneur Report, based on a survey of 156 UBS entrepreneur clients and network members across a full range of economic sectors. Their businesses account for approximately $19.1 billion in combined annual revenue, which equates to an average of $123 million each.

Mental wellness device, Pulsetto, tackles mental health issues & relieves stress

Nearly half of the global population is projected to experience a mental health disorder by age 75. It shows that there is an urgent need for more effective mental wellness solutions as relying on traditional medication, and even therapy hasn’t slowed the mental health pandemic.

MOSTLY AI launches industry-grade open source toolkit for synthetic data creation

Austrian synthetic data startup MOSTLY AI has announced the release of the world’s first industry-grade open source toolkit for producing synthetic data from real customer data. The open source toolkit is freely available now.

VISARUN.AI secures $700K to automate visa application process with its AI platform

VISARUN.AI, an AI-powered visa-as-a-service platform, has raised $700,000 in pre-seed funding from Swiss and UAE-based angel investors with extensive experience in e-commerce and trading. The investment will fuel the company’s platform development, sales team expansion, and strategic market penetration initiatives.

1 in 4 businesses have no data strategy, creating an ‘AI Paradox’

Over one in four (26%) organisations have no formal data strategy in the UK and the US, despite increasing AI usage, creating an ‘AI Paradox’ for businesses, research has found.

Mindstone and Gamma partner in enterprise AI tools initiative

Mindstone, a global training platform and community focused on the practical use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) for non-technical staff, and Gamma, the San Francisco-based provider of an AI-powered presentation platform, have announced a strategic partnership to accelerate the adoption of AI presentation tools among non-technical professionals.