# Government

Liz Kendall: ‘I’d love to stay as UK tech secretary’
Podcast
July 7, 2026
Liz Kendall: ‘I’d love to stay as UK tech secretary’
Liz Kendall sits down with John Thornhill on the latest episode of the Sifted podcast
John Thornhill and Maya Dharampal-Hornby
Exclusive: ETCI-backed VC firms split over plan to limit non-European investments
Pro
Exclusive
July 3, 2026
Exclusive: ETCI-backed VC firms split over plan to limit non-European investments
Some VCs believe being required to invest more into Europe could limit their appeal to private LPs
Daphné Leprince-Ringuet and Anne Sraders
Andy Burnham's plan to overhaul AI strategy sparks backlash
News
July 2, 2026
Andy Burnham's plan to overhaul AI strategy sparks backlash
Reports suggest the soon-to-be prime minister is sceptical of recent approaches to data centres and driverless vehicles
Martin Coulter
French bid to block UK from €5bn EU fund sparks backlash
Pro
Analysis
July 1, 2026
French bid to block UK from €5bn EU fund sparks backlash
Founders and investors divided over British involvement in Scaleup fund
Martin Coulter and Anne Sraders
Exclusive: DeepMind and Gensyn angels back Xylo in £2.8m raise
Pro
Exclusive
July 1, 2026
Exclusive: DeepMind and Gensyn angels back Xylo in £2.8m raise
Govtech is trendy now, say the team behind Xylo, which provides AI agents for planning officers
Freya Pratty
Startups and VCs divided over UK’s long-awaited defence investment plan
Pro
Analysis
July 1, 2026
Startups and VCs divided over UK’s long-awaited defence investment plan
Some of Europe's top drone startups are eagerly awaiting more UK defence spending
Anne Sraders and Tom Nugent
One simple and radical idea to transform Britain’s tech sector
Pro
Sifted View
June 29, 2026
One simple and radical idea to transform Britain’s tech sector
A popular, effective policy that would help boost Britain’s innovation economy and cost the Treasury nothing
John Thornhill
Andy Burnham was Manchester tech’s ‘hype man’. Will he be the same for Britain?
Pro
Analysis
June 23, 2026
Andy Burnham was Manchester tech’s ‘hype man’. Will he be the same for Britain?
Over the past decade, Andy Burnham has overseen one of Europe’s fastest-growing tech hubs as mayor of Greater Manchester
Tom Nugent and Martin Coulter
What would Andy Burnham do for UK startups?
Pro
Explainer
June 22, 2026
What would Andy Burnham do for UK startups?
The former Manchester mayor is widely expected to become the country's next prime minister
Maya Dharampal-Hornby and Freya Pratty
‘None of us will do it alone’: European solidarity takes over VivaTech
Pro
Analysis
June 19, 2026
‘None of us will do it alone’: European solidarity takes over VivaTech
The flagship event, taking place this week in Paris, saw a host of announcements to boost teamwork on digital sovereignty
Daphné Leprince-Ringuet
European sovereignty doesn't mean corporate welfare
Pro
Sifted View
May 25, 2026
European sovereignty doesn't mean corporate welfare
Some fear a protectionist mindset could lead to worse products for European businesses and consumers
John Thornhill
Exclusive: EQT wants to back UK startups with EU’s €5bn superfund
Pro
Exclusive
May 22, 2026
Exclusive: EQT wants to back UK startups with EU’s €5bn superfund
The fund currently does not have the mandate to invest in the UK
Maya Dharampal-Hornby, Freya Pratty and John Thornhill
Nearly €80bn of public money is flooding into European VCs and startups. Is it what the market needs?
Pro
Analysis
April 17, 2026
Nearly €80bn of public money is flooding into European VCs and startups. Is it what the market needs?
Some investors are cautious about the influx of public money, arguing other systemic changes are needed instead
Anne Sraders
After Orbán? Hungary's tech leaders celebrate with 'cautious optimism'
Pro
Analysis
April 14, 2026
After Orbán? Hungary's tech leaders celebrate with 'cautious optimism'
Removal of authoritarian PM after 16 years signals optimism for homegrown entrepreneurs
Freya Pratty
How many government AI initiatives is too many?
Opinion
April 2, 2026
How many government AI initiatives is too many?
British politician Ed Vaizey asks for a more joined-up AI investment strategy from the UK government
Ed Vaizey
Politicians are flirting with founders but need to commit
Pro
Sifted View
March 23, 2026
Politicians are flirting with founders but need to commit
Lawmakers across Europe still have a lot of convincing to do
John Thornhill
Iran war puts Europe’s air defence startups in the spotlight: ‘The gap is impossible to ignore’
Pro
Analysis
March 18, 2026
Iran war puts Europe’s air defence startups in the spotlight: ‘The gap is impossible to ignore’
A number of European startups like Tytan Technologies, Cambridge Aerospace and Frankenburg Technologies are aiming to build cheaper air defence systems
Anne Sraders
Denmark’s wealth tax plan would be a disaster for startups
Opinion
March 9, 2026
Denmark’s wealth tax plan would be a disaster for startups
If Denmark introduces additional structural friction for founders, we would find it difficult to recommend other founders start companies there.
Cecilie Jacobsen and Madeleine Bjørnestad Røed
EU faces scrutiny as €5bn Scaleup fund shortlist nears
Pro
Exclusive
March 4, 2026
EU faces scrutiny as €5bn Scaleup fund shortlist nears
Much of the speculation around who will steer the fund has centred around Swedish investment firm EQT
Anne Sraders and Freya Pratty
UK pledges £40m for frontier AI research lab
News
March 4, 2026
UK pledges £40m for frontier AI research lab
Applications open for ‘brilliant minds’ to win millions in state backing
Martin Coulter
Iran war underscores the ‘urgency’ for Europe to build its defence capabilities, VCs say
Pro
News
March 3, 2026
Iran war underscores the ‘urgency’ for Europe to build its defence capabilities, VCs say
“Iran, Israel and the US are using military technology that are still R&D-ing Series A startups in Europe,” says one VC
Anne Sraders
UK Sovereign AI Unit’s Joséphine Kant: ‘We should be just as fast as a private VC’
The big interview
February 25, 2026
UK Sovereign AI Unit’s Joséphine Kant: ‘We should be just as fast as a private VC’
The initiative must earn the right to invest in the very best companies, she says
Maya Dharampal-Hornby
Insiders report ‘very anti-US vibe’ at Europe’s top defence conference
Pro
Analysis
February 16, 2026
Insiders report ‘very anti-US vibe’ at Europe’s top defence conference
VC attendees say the Munich Security Conference ‘felt like Slush’
Anne Sraders
The European defence techs working with governments in 2026
Pro
List
February 2, 2026
The European defence techs working with governments in 2026
Defence startups have been winning contracts and wooing governments as billions flow into the sector
Anne Sraders

# Government

Liz Kendall: ‘I’d love to stay as UK tech secretary’

Exclusive: ETCI-backed VC firms split over plan to limit non-European investments

Andy Burnham's plan to overhaul AI strategy sparks backlash

French bid to block UK from €5bn EU fund sparks backlash

Exclusive: DeepMind and Gensyn angels back Xylo in £2.8m raise

Startups and VCs divided over UK’s long-awaited defence investment plan

One simple and radical idea to transform Britain’s tech sector

Andy Burnham was Manchester tech’s ‘hype man’. Will he be the same for Britain?

What would Andy Burnham do for UK startups?

‘None of us will do it alone’: European solidarity takes over VivaTech

European sovereignty doesn't mean corporate welfare

Exclusive: EQT wants to back UK startups with EU’s €5bn superfund

Nearly €80bn of public money is flooding into European VCs and startups. Is it what the market needs?

After Orbán? Hungary's tech leaders celebrate with 'cautious optimism'

How many government AI initiatives is too many?

Politicians are flirting with founders but need to commit

Iran war puts Europe’s air defence startups in the spotlight: ‘The gap is impossible to ignore’

Denmark’s wealth tax plan would be a disaster for startups

EU faces scrutiny as €5bn Scaleup fund shortlist nears

UK pledges £40m for frontier AI research lab

Iran war underscores the ‘urgency’ for Europe to build its defence capabilities, VCs say

UK Sovereign AI Unit’s Joséphine Kant: ‘We should be just as fast as a private VC’

Insiders report ‘very anti-US vibe’ at Europe’s top defence conference

The European defence techs working with governments in 2026