Anna Wood

Climatetech, an important sector in the startup ecosystem that is working to help improve the climate crisis

FuturePlus is a former Hustle Award winner, having been crowned with the Sustainability Award back in 2023.

Scotland pulled in a record 76 time-time investors in 2025, as the country’s early-stage funding market grew and diversified.

Ukrainian defence tech investment platform Resist.UA has launched Resist 2.0, a new European fund designed to connect international capital with Ukraine’s rapidly growing defence and dual-use technology sector, as well as support the scaling of battlefield-proven technologies. The fund targets up to €50 million in capital commitments.

Yokogawa Test & Measurement has launched the WT1500 precision power analyser, designed to meet the surging demand for high-voltage testing equipment in the electric vehicle and renewable energy sectors, as a new addition to its WT series.

British Business Bank has committed £10 million to Odyssey Ventures, the transatlantic venture capital firm investing in AI and deeptech. The commitment is to invest alongside its early-stage fund, Odyssey Discovery I, and is made through the Bank’s Regional Angels Programme.

In the wake of Andy Burnham’s welcome to Number 10 Downing Street, the small business community is eager to see how this new leadership team will back them. Burnham has already announced a 20% cut in business rates for pubs, clubs, and live music venues, so small businesses are hopeful to hear what support will be available.

TaskHer, a platform connecting homeowners with verified tradeswomen across London, has raised a £650,000 seed round to expand its platform. The round was co-led by Trust for London, Resolution Ventures, Ufi Ventures, and Second Century Ventures (as part of the REACH UK programme). The investment will support the next phase of TaskHer’s growth, including expansion…

Anna Wood, Editor at Electronic Specifier, picks her top 5 test & measurement products released in July 2026.

Europe’s technology sector pulled in $35.4 billion in the first half of 2026, a 46% jump from the $24.4 billion raised in the same period last year, according to a new report from Tracxn. While the number is huge, it masks the reality: the number of companies actually securing funding is shrinking, and investors are writing larger checks to an ever-narrower pool of winners.