Reeves’ VCT changes ‘could put start up funding at risk’ January 12, 2026 Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ shake-up of venture capital tax rules could leave UK start-ups facing a shortfall of millions in funding, a leading investment platform has warned. According to Wealth Club, the chancellor’s changes to venture capital trust tax relief in last year’s Autumn Budget could see British start-ups and scale-ups face a funding deficit of [...]
Former F1 champion Nico Rosberg raises $100m for VC fund January 12, 2026 Former Formula 1 world champion Nico Rosberg has raised $100m for his venture capital firm as the German expands his business portfolio. Lewis Hamilton’s ex-teammate saw Rosberg Ventures, for which he is founder, close its third round this month in a process he described as “oversubscribed with unprecedented demand”. It leaves the organisation with more [...]
Relief for fintech startups as government plans new short-term FCA licences December 4, 2025 Fintech startups could be about to start trading much sooner after the government signalled plans to issue temporary licences in advance of getting full accreditation. Startups often suffer delays of months or even over a year as they wait for regulators at the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to grant them authorisation, during which they burn [...]
AI Security Institute chair moves investment firm away from UK November 11, 2025 The chair of the AI Security Institute has moved an investment firm he co-founded away from the UK, City AM can reveal, as concerns grow over an exodus of tech investors from Britain. Serial entrepreneur Ian Hogarth, who set up Plural with Wise co-founder Taavet Hinrikus in 2021, has restructured the company, moving its headquarters [...]
US VC pulls out of Oxford Union event over incoming president’s comments September 12, 2025 A top US venture capitalist has pulled out of an event at the debating society Oxford Union after its president-elect appeared to have cheered the death of Charlie Kirk, a rightwing US free speech activist. Josh Wolfe, co-founder of VC firm Lux Capital, said he had withdrawn from the event after the Oxford Union’s next [...]
Chancellor concedes higher taxes could hit economic growth September 10, 2025 Chancellor Rachel Reeves has acknowledged higher taxes could impact economic growth as she seeks to increase private investment in the UK. Speaking at the British Private Equity and Venture Capital Association summit, the chancellor told investors she had to hike taxes in her maiden budget in order to place finances on a “firm footing and [...]
Competition is key to turning British scale-ups into global firms September 10, 2025 As other countries reap the benefits of home-grown UK talent, the CMA is committed to cracking the UK's scale-up challenge, writes Sarah Cardell.
HSBC lands £333m in dividends from takeover of Silicon Valley Bank UK September 9, 2025 HSBC Innovation Banking has handed a £333m in dividends to its parent company amid a surge in profitability after completing its first full year as a subsidiary of HSBC Group. The lender, which had been the UK subsidiary of Silicon Valley Bank until the latter’s demise in 2023, paid HSBC a special dividend of £198m [...]
Exclusive: Octopus Investments appoints new CEO September 2, 2025 Retail asset management platform Octopus Investments has appointed Erin Platts, former chief executive of HSBC Innovation Banking, as its new CEO. Octopus Investments, the UK’s largest investor in AIM listed companies, is a branch of the financial services company, Octopus Group. It holds £9.9bn in funds under management. Platts will succeed Octopus Group co-founder and [...]
UK defence tech pivots from taboo to City darling August 28, 2025 The UK’s deep tech sector is navigating a seismic shift in investor sentiment toward defence technology. Once a frowned-upon sector, defence is now shedding its taboo, driven primarily by global instability and recent geopolitical headwinds. This transformation, while opening the doors to new investment opportunities, also reveals underlying issues in the UK’s approach to technology [...]