Andy Aitken, CEO and Co-Founder at Honest

“Last year we tripled in size and we plan to double that again this year. Whilst we’re growing at pace and are set for a big 2024, we’re committed to keeping our focus on what’s most important to us at Honest - and that’s our customers, our planet and our team.

Sustainability is a non-negotiable for us - this year and every year. Impact is our currency and we're raising the stakes when it comes to our environmental commitments. We're not just aiming to recertify as a B Corp, we're setting our sights on our highest-ever score by looking into our supply chain to see how we can continue to make greener choices.Our impact also goes beyond the realms of sustainability. As a startup we have the power to do business right, so as we head into 2024 we plan to utilise our voice and be a champion for our customers by calling out some of the inequalities within our industry.”

Noel Mckenna, CEO at Neuranics, part of the portfolio of Edinburgh-based venture capital firm, Par Equity

"At Neuranics, we are a pioneering deeptech company specialising in producing magnetic sensing technology for next-generation wearable systems.

Our main New Year’s resolution will be to expand on our presence at CES and reach as many new people with our latest, magnetic solutions. We want to educate the market on the benefits of using magnetic sensors for interacting with computers and digital experiences, and plan to do this by showcasing our technology at multiple global trade shows in 2024. 

This year, we are set on getting more companies involved in using magnetic sensors and our next generation devices. We want to meet potential partners in digital health, sports and fitness, gaming and Metaverse, and get them experimenting with the technology via their health monitoring devices, metaverse controllers and smartwatches.

Our final New Year’s resolution is to create an ecosystem for tech providers in the UK market. We would love to create a space for knowledge sharing on the market, to support one another."

Ben MacDonald, CEO and Founder of Nodum

“1. Complete beta testing and get to market with an MVP.

2. Develop nationwide installer partnerships.

3. Strengthening the team.

4. A cheeky little raise along the way!”

Babs Ogundeyi, Group CEO and Founder of Kuda

“In 2024, my goal is to balance Kuda’s need for growth with the preservation of a positive and empowering company culture. Additionally, I will prioritise continuous learning and social responsibility in shaping the year ahead. These are: 1. Ensuring that as we expand and grow, the welcoming and warm culture at Kuda remains intact. 2. Fostering a culture of continuous learning and a commitment to knowledge sharing. 3. Integrating sustainability practices and social responsibility into the company's DNA.”

Volodymyr Levykin, CEO and Founder, Skyrora

“Keeping costs low is central to making orbital and suborbital launch possible for us next year. Spacetech is a capital-intensive industry, which is why we have a highly skilled and streamlined team that are bringing us closer to being the first British company to launch from UK soil. Having a localised supply chain not only benefits us financially but also from a sustainability perspective as it enables us to minimise costs and the wider impact on the environment. With this in mind, our team can work to achieve our aim of launching a rocket every month in the near future.”

Conor Sheridan, CEO and Founder of Nory

“As cliche as it may sound, time is precious, which is why time management is my top priority for next year. As a team, we’re blocking more time for cross team planning and problem solving at the start of each quarter. While Nory is mostly remote, these sessions are face to face, which enables the team to bond and also to step off the treadmill to look at the bigger picture goals for the business and how they are influencing them. On a personal level, as a startup CEO, my days are full of context switching and zooming in and out. Due to the stressful and time intensive nature of the job, I plan to tailor my calendar to be as consistent as possible outside of work - whether that’s eating or working out at the same time everyday - to provide some semblance of routine and stability. As boring as it sounds, it’ll work to bring balance!”

Andriy Dovbenko, Founder and Principal, UK-Ukraine TechExchange

“Like almost every founder and investor, time management is an issue. It's easy to be distracted by the daily demands and short term requests, but we must not lose sight of the bigger picture or be too rash with our decisions. My resolution for 2024 is to be more selective and decisive with my time, streamlining my activities around a cause which is close to my heart. With the war in Ukraine still raging on, my focus is on finding the very best DefenceTech and AgriTech startups that have the potential to turn the tide of the war today and make a positive impact for the future.”

Ariana Alexander-Sefre, CEO and Co-Founder of SPOKE

“At SPOKE we try to stay as true to the natural seasons as possible. The way our society is disconnected from nature contributes to the poor and worsening mental health we see. Mental health is not isolated from the rest of our body or environment, so it's important to take that holistic view. Saying this, January is not the natural new year - it is in March when the flowers bloom and the days get longer and lighter. Forcing ourselves to get up and move fast, and start all these resolutions in January can be unhealthy, as it is the dead of winter and a time we should be resting more. This is part of why so many resolutions fail. A startup is an extension of the team that runs it so we believe it is important to care for ourselves to care for SPOKE. We celebrate the new year in March, and with this, we also set our visions and resolutions in March. But one resolution we do have in January is a call to reflect on recent learnings, analyse data, build relationships and start to poke our arms through cracks in the shell of winter.”

Farley Thomas, Co-Founder and CEO of Manageable

“For 2024, we’re looking at everything we do through the lens of 4x the impact. For example we grew our revenue 3x last year and are aiming for 4x this year. With respect to how we help managers develop coaching skills, we’re already highly distinctive with our expert-led masterclasses and real-world coaching challenges that managers engage with. What we’re excited to do on this front in 2024 is 4x the effectiveness of our learning experiences. This kind of ambition will require us all to be very focused and intentional about what we do and don’t do. Watch this space!”

Stephanie Downs, CEO and Co-Founder of UNCAGED Innovations

“In 2024, I am focused on launching our sustainable leather alternative to the marketplace with our first fashion brand partners. The fashion industry, while trying to improve, is a major contributor to the climate crisis and being able to provide alternatives that are truly sustainable solutions can help the industry take a step in the right direction. We are also targeting to complete an equity seed round and produce the interiors for a concept car with one of our automotive partners.”