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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Two-thirds of UK workers have quit or considered quitting due to poor management

New research highlights a disconnect between UK managers’ self-assessments and the experiences of those they manage, with over two-thirds (67%) of UK employees having left or considered leaving their job due to poor management.

Preventive health takes backseat as mental wellbeing dominates support

A recent study by GRiD, the group risk industry body, reveals that only 9% of employers prioritise preventive health and wellbeing support aimed at keeping staff from falling ill in the first place. In contrast, 57% of employers offer such support only after employees have been absent for a set number of weeks, while 33% provide it from day one.

UK business owners have concerns about implementing Labour’s HR reforms

New research from BrightHR reveals significant uncertainty among UK business owners regarding Labour’s proposed employment law reforms.

Digital Catapult launches global accelerator to transform supply chains with deeptech

Digital Catapult has unveiled its first International Supply Chain Accelerator, aimed at revolutionising global supply chains through cutting-edge deeptech solutions. The programme introduces two key initiatives: Seamless Trade Across Borders and Product Carbon Footprint Measurement, both designed to enhance supply chain resilience and promote international industrial sustainability.

Small business confidence rebounds with 68% eyeing new growth initiatives

New research suggests a rise in small business confidence following the formation of the new Government. A study by Novuna Business Finance, surveying 1,000 small business owners and senior managers, found that 68% of companies are now considering new projects to drive growth, up from 66% earlier this year.

Herbert Smith Freehills and Carbon13 partner to accelerate net zero startups

Herbert Smith Freehills has teamed up with Carbon13 to support the development of high-impact climatetech startups aimed at reducing global greenhouse gas emissions.

Reonic raises €13m Series A to help deploy sustainable energy solutions across Europe

Reonic, a climatetech SaaS startup dedicated to advancing sustainable energy solutions across Europe, has secured €13 million in a Series A funding round. Northzone led the investment, with support from existing backers Point Nine and Puzzle Ventures.

Stylus secures investment to take the ‘work’ out of ‘paperwork’ in schools

Stylus, a startup aiming to transform teacher workloads through AI-powered marking and feedback, has raised £500,000 in a funding round led by Sure Valley Ventures, a venture capital firm focused on AI-driven innovation.

Root Signals secures $2.8M to boost GenAI adoption by having AI watch AI

Helsinki- and Palo Alto-based startup Root Signals has secured $2.8 million in funding to advance its generative AI (GenAI) measurement platform, which employs LLM-as-a-judge techniques.

Retrograde raises €1.8M to empower content creators with AI

Retrograde, the AI talent agency for content creators co-founded by Grace Beverley, has raised €1.8 million in pre-seed funding.

How PolyAI is revolutionising contact centres with voice assistants

PolyAI is a startup that builds customer-led voice assistants that can carry natural conversations with customers to solve their problems.

How eCommerce platforms can become fintech hubs in 2024

The fast-paced advancements in fintech are reshaping industries by making financial services more accessible, intuitive, and customised to meet consumer demands. This surge in innovation is reaching beyond the realm of traditional finance, offering eCommerce platforms the chance to integrate fintech solutions that not only elevate customer experience but also boost revenue, streamline operations, and unlock substantial cost savings.

41 international startups in Switzerland to make deals in the coming weeks

Over a six-week period, a panel of more than 170 experts selected 41 international startups to participate in the 11-week Kickstart Innovation programme in Switzerland. These startups now have the chance to connect with key decision-makers, test and scale their business models, and secure significant deals.

Custocy partners with Enea for AI-based network threat detection and response

Custocy is set to enhance its AI-powered network detection and response (NDR) platform by integrating Enea Qosmos’ deep packet inspection (DPI) and intrusion detection (IDS) software libraries. This collaboration aims to boost the platform’s accuracy, performance, and product differentiation through enhanced traffic visibility and efficient data inspection.

Leo Capital Establishes Nordic HQ in Helsinki, Launches €25M Fund

Helsinki’s tech scene continues to draw the attention of global investors, with Singapore-based venture capital firm Leo Capital setting up its Nordic headquarters in the Finnish capital. This strategic expansion coincides with the launch of a €25 million fund dedicated to supporting B2B startups in the Nordic region, marking Leo Capital’s first fund specifically focused on Europe.

70% of managers struggle with managing Gen Z, but their creativity is valued

Recent research from HiBob has highlighted a significant challenge for businesses: seven in ten managers believe that companies struggle to effectively manage younger employees. This generational tension is further underscored by nearly a quarter of Brits expressing a desire to replace younger workers with their older counterparts if given the chance.

Real estate startup Placy raises €1M in pre-seed funding

Cypriot startup Placy has secured €1 million in pre-seed funding to advance its AI-driven platform. Placy, founded just 10 months ago in Limassol by former CIAN and Wargaming colleagues, aims to streamline and automate the often cumbersome processes involved in property transactions.

Innovate UK U-turns after female funding faux pas

Innovate UK, Britain’s national innovation agency, has U-turned on its decision to award only half of the 50 grants in its ‘Women In Innovation’ funding competition for female entrepreneurs.

Hidden fees cost UK businesses £2.6 billion annually for renewable energy

Despite the new Labour government’s commitment to a greener UK energy system, recent data has uncovered that hidden transaction fees are inflating costs for businesses transitioning to renewable energy. A comprehensive analysis has shown that these hidden fees are costing UK businesses a staggering £2.6 billion annually, translating to an additional monthly expense of £216 million.

OceanScore closes €5m funding round to expand maritime compliance solutions

OceanScore, a provider of data and compliance management solutions for the maritime industry, has secured a €5 million in an oversubscribed Series A funding round. This fresh capital injection will enable OceanScore to enhance its product offerings and broaden its global reach.