Startup Coalition Wrapped
Our Roundup of the Year
2025 has brought a lot of change to not only the UK and its startup ecosystem, but also at Startup Coalition, so we wanted to take a moment to reflect on our biggest hits.
As we think back on the year, we would be remiss if we didn’t give a huge thank you to you: the founders, investors, policymakers and officials who work alongside us, making the UK the best place in the world to build a startup.
Without your support, both for our work and in everything else you do, the UK would not have a world-leading startup ecosystem.
Don’t worry - there is so much more to do, and we’re already excited to get started in 2026 (and you can see more below about how you can get involved).
As always, get in touch with any questions or comments - and I hope you have a brilliant Christmas and New Year.
Best wishes,
Dom
Dom Hallas
Executive Director, Startup Coalition
2025 Highlights
In March we held our first Pitch in Parliament event with a great set of entrepreneurs pitching their startups to a panel of policymakers, VCs and founders. Our next Pitch in Parliament event is taking place in February, this time concentrating on HealthTech - apply to pitch here.
In July we also hosted our first Progressive Tech Summit with Arden Strategies. We saw over 100 tech policy professionals descend on County Hall for a day of roundtables and discussions, including SoS for Business and Trade Peter Kyle, Ai Minister Kanishka Narayan, Claire Hughes MP and Mayor of West Yorkshire Tracey Brabin. Thanks to everyone who came along!
Conference season saw another year of the Tech Hub in Liverpool - and for the first time we were represented at four(!) party conferences. Amidst great food and some spicy margaritas we actually managed to discuss some tech policy as well. If you’re thinking about next conference season get in touch with Leah to discuss potential collabs.
In October and November we ran a campaign to stop the introduction of an Exit Tax, which had been floated by the Government ahead of the Budget. Over 1,500 of you signed our open letter - we couldn’t have done it without you. Full credit though to the Government for listening to the ecosystem.
Speaking of the Budget - we were pleased to see a number of measures we’ve been campaigning on make it into the Budget, and the accompanying Entrepreneur’s Prospectus released on the same day. We saw an expansion to EMI, a doubling of EIS and VCT thresholds (though a reduction in the generosity of relief for the latter), and new announcements from the British Business Bank. The Government also launched a new call for evidence on support for entrepreneurs - get in touch with Jordan if you want to discuss further.
18 Reports, Pamphlets and Publications
We’re an organisation focused on policy change. But as well as working at the coalface engaging with policymakers that means policy ideas - and we’re not short of them.
Here’s everything we released in 2025 (just one short of our 2023 and 2024 total combined!):
AI and Regulation:
Data:
Our Funding the Underfunded Project:
Girls Just Wanna Have Funding - Addressing the Barriers to Finance for Female Founders - February
The Diversity Deficit - Unlocking the Potential of Ethnically Diverse Founders - December
Fintech
Fed Up of Complaining - a Plan to Reform the Financial Ombudsman Service - April
All About the Gains - Democratising Access to Wealthbuilding Through UK Fintechs - October
Crypto and Web3
Climatetech
And More:
The Healthtech Index - Taking the Temperature of the Healthtech Sector - May
Getting a Move On - How Startups Can Innovate Within the Rail Ticketing Sector - October
If anyone was short of things to read over Christmas - you’re welcome!
Our Events
Panels, roundtables, private dinners, parties and receptions - Startup Coalition has been busy!
This year we hosted:
Over 75 events
Joined by over 50 Ministers, Shadow Ministers, policymakers and Officials
Attended by over 1,000 founders, investors, policymakers, officials, policy wonks, journalists and friends of the tech ecosystem
And the event stats that really matter:
200 litres of coffee
142 litres of tea
136 litres of wine
92 litres of beer
142 litres of soft drinks
We look forward to even more food, drinks and good times with you all in 2026.
New Workstreams, and a New Substack
We launched our HealthTech Vertical this year - get in touch with Vinous to find out more. This sits alongside verticals for:
Click the links to get in touch and get involved.
We also launched this Substack, moved from a monthly to a biweekly newsletter, and began using more video content - send any comms feedback Marcus’ way.
Team Shakeup
In 2025, we said goodbye to a few of our beloved colleagues - thank you to Luke Kosky, Kir Nuthi and Bella Rhodes for all of your hard work. We also welcomed a few more!
Vinous Ali joined us as our Deputy Executive Director
Martha Dacombe joined as our Emerging Technologies Policy Lead
Vira Veselukha joined us as our Climatetech Policy Lead
We are so lucky to work with such a close-knit team that consistently raises the bar for our work.
If you fancy joining us, we’re looking for a Fintech Policy Lead - you can find out more and apply here.
Looking Forward
We are already looking forward to 2026!
AI Opportunities Action Summit
We are planning to host our AI Opportunities Action Summit on January 8th with exciting panels including Matt Clifford, Jade Leung and AI Minister, Kanishka Narayan MP.
Join us as we sit down and discuss how the world of AI has changed one year from the launch of the AI Opportunities Action Plan and what is to come in the year ahead.
Please register your interest here.
Pitch in Parliament 2026
In February, we’re holding our 2026 Pitch in Parliament event - this time focusing on Healthtech.
If you’re a founder with a startup helping to transform healthcare, or the NHS more widely, you have the opportunity to pitch your startup in front of a panel of investors, policymakers and founders, as well as an audience of over 100!