‘Devastating decision’: Women Founders Backed by LaunchVic’s Alice Anderson Fund React to Merger Uncertainty
Women founders supported by LaunchVic’s Alice Anderson Fund have expressed deep concern and disappointment following the announcement of a proposed merger involving the state-backed startup body, calling the decision “devastating” and warning of growing uncertainty across the ecosystem.
The Alice Anderson Fund was created to address the persistent gender funding gap by providing targeted investment and tailored support to women-led startups. For many founders, the fund represented not just capital, but long-term stability and confidence in an industry where women remain underrepresented and underfunded.
The merger announcement has raised fears that the fund’s gender-specific focus could be diluted or lost altogether. Founders say the lack of clear communication has left them unsure about future funding commitments, program continuity, and governance. Several entrepreneurs noted that they were informed late in the process, with limited opportunity to provide feedback or prepare for potential changes.
“This was meant to be a safe and supportive structure for women building companies,” said one founder backed by the fund. “Instead, we’re now facing uncertainty at a critical stage of growth.”
Beyond symbolism, founders are worried about practical consequences. Unclear timelines and shifting structures can disrupt hiring plans, delay product development, and complicate investor conversations. For early-stage startups, even short-term instability can have lasting effects.
There is also concern that folding the Alice Anderson Fund into a broader entity could weaken accountability around gender equity. Founders argue that dedicated programs exist for a reason, as general innovation funding has historically failed to adequately support women entrepreneurs.
LaunchVic has said existing commitments will be honoured and that diversity remains a priority, but founders are calling for greater transparency and direct consultation. Many are urging the government to clearly outline how the fund will operate after the merger.
As discussions continue, women founders say clarity and reassurance are urgently needed to restore trust and ensure hard-won progress toward gender equity in the startup ecosystem is not undone.
Latvian-Rooted Nodu Raises $1.45M to Build Europe’s Answer to Zerohash and Bridge in Stablecoin Infrastructure
Latvian-rooted fintech startup Nodu has raised $1.45 million in a pre-seed funding round as it sets out to build a regulated stablecoin infrastructure platform designed specifically for the European market. The company aims to become Europe’s answer to U.S.-based infrastructure providers such as Zerohash and Bridge, which power stablecoin payments and settlement for fintechs and institutions.
As stablecoins gain traction as a faster and cheaper alternative for cross-border payments, European banks and fintechs face a familiar obstacle: regulatory complexity. Nodu is positioning itself as a compliance-first infrastructure layer that allows institutions to adopt stablecoins without having to build or manage blockchain systems internally.
The startup is developing a suite of APIs that enable businesses to send, receive, hold, and convert stablecoins while embedding key compliance features such as identity verification, transaction monitoring, and reporting. By combining blockchain rails with fiat on- and off-ramps, Nodu aims to make stablecoin settlement feel as seamless as traditional payments, while remaining suitable for regulated environments.
A key differentiator for Nodu is its focus on Europe’s regulatory landscape, particularly the Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) framework. While many global stablecoin infrastructure providers were built for less regulated markets, Nodu is designing its platform from the ground up to meet European compliance standards. The company believes this approach will appeal to financial institutions that want exposure to digital assets without regulatory risk.
The newly raised capital will be used to expand Nodu’s engineering and compliance teams, deepen partnerships with banks and fintechs, and scale operations across Europe. The company also plans to broaden its network of payment corridors, supporting multi-currency settlement and international transfers.
As stablecoins move closer to mainstream financial adoption, infrastructure providers are emerging as a critical layer of the ecosystem. With this funding, Nodu is betting that Europe needs its own regulation-first stablecoin backbone—and that demand for compliant digital money infrastructure is accelerating.
UK Climate Tech Raised £400M+ in 2025 as EV Infrastructure and AI Materials Lead the Way
The UK climate technology sector raised more than £400 million in 2025, underscoring continued investor confidence in solutions that tackle decarbonisation while offering strong commercial potential. Despite wider economic uncertainty, climate tech remained a resilient investment category, with funding flowing into startups addressing some of the most urgent challenges of the energy transition.
Electric vehicle infrastructure emerged as one of the strongest areas of investment during the year. As EV adoption accelerated across consumer and commercial markets, startups building charging networks, energy management software and grid-optimisation tools attracted significant backing. Investors focused on companies solving systemic challenges such as grid capacity, peak demand and scalable deployment, rather than just hardware installation. Solutions aimed at fleet charging and integrated renewable energy use were particularly attractive, reflecting the growing complexity of electrification at scale.
Alongside EV infrastructure, artificial intelligence–driven materials innovation became a major funding theme. Startups using AI to design and optimise low-carbon materials drew strong interest for their potential to transform high-emission industries such as construction, manufacturing and chemicals. By reducing the time and cost of research and development, these companies aim to bring sustainable alternatives to market faster, offering a compelling mix of climate impact and technological defensibility.
Beyond these leading sectors, investment was spread across energy storage, carbon management, sustainable manufacturing and climate-focused food and agriculture technologies. Energy storage startups working on long-duration and grid-support solutions continued to raise capital, while carbon-focused companies benefited from growing recognition that emissions removal and management will be essential alongside reduction efforts.
The strong funding performance highlights the UK’s position as a leading climate tech hub, supported by deep research talent, an active venture ecosystem and increasing policy alignment. As 2026 approaches, investors and founders alike are looking to translate this capital into scaled deployment, real-world impact and long-term emissions reductions.
After a Quiet 2025, ECI Sees UK Private Equity Rebound Driven by AI Value Creation
After a subdued 2025, the UK private equity market is expected to regain momentum, with artificial intelligence playing a central role in driving the next phase of growth. According to ECI, the sector is moving beyond a period of caution and repositioning itself around technology-led value creation rather than traditional financial engineering.
Deal activity slowed significantly in 2025 as high interest rates, valuation gaps and economic uncertainty weighed on investor confidence. Many firms focused on supporting existing portfolio companies, delaying exits and new acquisitions while prioritising operational stability. Fundraising also became more selective, with investors favouring managers that could demonstrate clear pathways to value creation.
ECI believes conditions are now shifting. As inflation eases and market confidence improves, private equity firms are preparing for increased deal flow, particularly in the mid-market. Rather than relying on leverage, investors are increasingly focused on how AI can unlock growth within portfolio companies.
AI adoption is becoming a key differentiator across sectors. Businesses are using AI to automate processes, improve decision-making and gain deeper insight into customers and operations. In areas such as business services, healthcare, manufacturing and financial services, these capabilities are helping companies boost productivity, protect margins and identify new revenue opportunities.
For private equity investors, this creates a powerful value creation lever after acquisition. Companies that can successfully embed AI into their core operations are better positioned to scale and adapt, making them more attractive exit candidates. ECI expects this to support a gradual recovery in exit activity after a prolonged slowdown.
While challenges remain, including execution risks and varying levels of digital maturity, ECI argues that AI is no longer optional for private equity-backed businesses. As the market rebounds, technology-led transformation is set to define how value is created, sustained and realised in the UK private equity landscape.
