Latest news with #PoppyGustafsson
Bloomberg
a day ago
- Business
- Bloomberg
Nvidia's Jensen Huang Talks Up UK's AI Talent at London Tech Week
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has said that the UK's AI talent is the envy of the world. Huang appeared alongside UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and UK Investment Minister and former Darktrace CEO, Poppy Gustafsson, at London Tech Week. The conversation follows an agreement in which Nvidia helps the UK train more people in AI and expands research at universities and at the company's own AI lab in Bristol, west England. Starmer is keen to emphasize a positive vision for technology and growth at the start of a crucial week that will see the Labour government promote its plans to spend hundreds of billions of pounds over the course of the parliament. Today's guests: Vasiliki Pachatouridi, BlackRock Head of EMEA iShares Fixed Income Strategy, Parash Jain, HSBC Global Head of Transport & Logistics Research. (Source: Bloomberg)
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Ex-darktrace chief reboots UK investment strategy
Darktrace's former boss will this week attempt to relaunch the Government's investment strategy. Poppy Gustafsson, appointed as Labour's investment minister in October last year, is set to open London Tech Week today in Kensington, alongside Nvidia chief executive Jensen Huang . Her appearance follows the relaunch of the Office for Investment last week – eight months after Sir Keir Starmer promised to beef up the hub, though ministers have insisted the office had 'remained operational throughout this period'. Gustafsson, 42, left cybersecurity firm Darktrace in September last year ahead of its £4.3billion sale to US private equity firm Thoma Bravo.
Forbes
01-04-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Fintech Is One Of The Most Funded Sectors For Women Founders
Despite persistent challenges, women founders in fintech continue to make their mark—and secure the funding to prove it. According to new data from Tracxn, fintech was one of the top-funded sectors for women-led startups in 2024. Globally, women-led tech companies raised $29.6 billion last year—a decline of 11% from 2023—but fintech held steady among the top-performing sectors, alongside enterprise applications and life sciences. Let's be clear: the numbers still reflect a massive gender funding gap. In 2024, women-founded companies received just 11.7% of total global tech funding. In fintech specifically, female-led companies secured $3.4 billion—a small fraction of the broader funding landscape. According to data from Anthemis Group, only 3.4% of fintech venture capital dollars in 2023 went to companies founded solely by women. Despite progress, the capital still isn't flowing equitably. Still, that $29.6 billion speaks volumes. Amid macroeconomic headwinds and shifting investor appetites, fintech is still where women are finding traction—and thriving. Fintech is, at its core, about access. It's about rewriting the rules of financial services and creating more inclusive systems. That's why so many women are finding their footing in this space: because they've lived the inequity—and they're building better from that experience. Investors are starting to notice, too. Venture-backed companies with diverse leadership teams see a 30% increase in returns on invested capital, according to McKinsey. World Economic Forum data adds that companies with above-average diversity generate 45% of revenue from innovation—nearly double that of less-diverse peers. And let's not forget: women-led businesses deliver. Women founders generate more than twice as much revenue per dollar invested than their male counterparts, according to Boston Consulting Group. While the funding headline might feel promising, it's still worth digging deeper. Late-stage funding for women-led tech companies fell 21% in 2024, while early-stage funding rose 10%—a signal that investors may be more willing to bet early, but cautious to follow through in later rounds. Seed-stage funding? Down 19% from last year. Fourteen women-led unicorns emerged in 2024, more than double the six minted in 2023. Exit activity also increased by 10%, with companies like UK-based Darktrace (co-founded by CEO Poppy Gustafsson) and China-based Biotheus (co-founded by Joanne Sun) commanding multi-million and billion-dollar exits, respectively. In New York, which ranked second globally for women-led tech funding in 2024, raising $1.9 billion—just behind San Francisco and ahead of London. It's no surprise: New York is a unique blend of startup energy and institutional power, and it remains one of the most diverse entrepreneurial ecosystems in the world. This April, over 6,000 members of the fintech community will come together for New York Fintech Week, running April 21–25. 'Fintech has the potential to provide access to financial services to a broader range of people than ever before,' Amy Nauiokas, founder and CEO of Anthemis Group, told me during last year's New York Fintech Week. 'But we still need more diverse perspectives at the helm to fully realize that potential.' Here's the bottom line: while just 2% of venture capital goes to all-women founding teams across sectors, closer to 20% goes to companies with at least one woman co-founder. And even that figure is misleading. According to research from Anthemis, a portfolio where 50% of companies have at least one female founder doesn't mean 50% of founders are women. In fact, achieving gender parity would mean 70% of a venture capital firm's portfolio should have a woman on the founding team. That's the real benchmark. If we want to see real change, venture capitalists must do more than celebrate a few stats—they must shift who they fund, how they fund, and the structures they build around that capital. And women founders? We're already showing the way forward. When women lead startups, they hire 2.5x more women. If there's a woman in both the founder and executive seat, that number jumps to 6x. That ripple effect is what drives systemic change. It's also why women are so well positioned for the next frontier of fintech: embedded finance. As more sectors integrate financial services—from healthcare to education to social platforms—there's a huge opportunity to innovate beyond traditional products. Women, especially those with intersectional lived experience, are uniquely equipped to build for those underserved by legacy systems. Research by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) reinforces this opportunity. The study found that fintech companies that understand gender differences can unlock a $31 trillion global female market—while also advancing financial inclusion. Leadership is key here: when company leaders recognize the commercial and social value of serving women, they're far more likely to prioritize them in strategy. According to the IFC, 58% of fintech firms with gender-forward leadership have added targeted marketing and research initiatives focused specifically on women. The result? A competitive edge that goes beyond inclusion—it's just smart business. Fintech remains one of the best bets for women founders. While the funding landscape is far from equitable, the momentum is building. And the women leading this charge are not just closing the gap—they're opening new doors. So whether you're a fintech founder pitching your first round or building your second unicorn, here's the message: you belong in fintech. And this industry will be better because of you. Let's build.
Bloomberg
26-02-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
UK in ‘Open Dialogue' on Rich Foreigner Taxes, Minister Says
The UK is in ongoing discussions with wealthy foreigners about the taxes they pay in Britain, following a backlash against a fresh crackdown on the so-called non-dom regime introduced by Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves at last year's budget. 'There's been a really open dialogue with Indian investors and the Chancellor about these schemes,' Investment Minister Poppy Gustafsson said in an interview with Bloomberg in New Delhi Wednesday, when asked if the government is preparing to make any changes to its tax plans.
The Guardian
25-02-2025
- Business
- The Guardian
Women hold almost 45% of seats on FTSE 100 boards, report says
Women occupy more than two in five seats on the boards of Britain's biggest listed companies after further progress was made last year, but the number of female FTSE 100 chief executives dipped for a time to fewer than 10, according to a report. The proportion of board positions held by women at FTSE 350 companies rose to a new all-time high of 43.4% last year, up from 42.1% in 2023, according to the government-backed annual FTSE Women Leaders Review. Among the 100 biggest listed companies, the proportion of women in the boardroom was even higher, at 44.7% versus 42.6% in 2023. The report, sponsored by Lloyds Banking Group and the consultancy KPMG, shows that women occupied 1,275 of roles on company boards and 6,743 (35%) of leadership roles at the 350 FTSE companies last year. This means the UK ranks in second place internationally for women in the boardroom, behind France in G7 countries. France has 45.4% female representation on company boards and has used quotas, along with other countries, while the UK target of 40% female boardroom representation by the end of this year is voluntary. 'Today's report shows that while the momentum is with us, we have so much further to go,' said Poppy Gustafsson, the minister for investment. 'I know from founding my own business how strong female voices inspire positive change throughout an organisation, bringing new ideas and adding greater value.' However, the number of women in top positions in the FTSE 350 fell slightly, to 19 female chief executives compared with 20 in 2023. The female FTSE 100 CEOs are Emma Walmsley at GSK, Jennie Daly at Taylor Wimpey, Amanda Blanc at Aviva, Debra Crew at Diageo, Liv Garfield at Severn Trent, Louise Beardmore at United Utilities, Margherita Della Valle at Vodafone, Milena Mondini at Admiral Group and Allison Kirkby at BT. The Entain chair, Stella David, has also stepped in as the interim chief executive of Britain's biggest bookmaker, to replace Gavin Isaacs after his surprise departure a fortnight ago. She had also led the company, which owns Ladbrokes, Gala, Foxy Bingo and PartyPoker, on an interim basis before Isaacs became CEO in September. At an event in London on Tuesday evening, business leaders, ministers and the leaders of the review will meet to reflect upon the progress made and the 'contribution it is making to creating a stronger, more dynamic economy'. The government wants to work with business to bring more women into key roles such as company chairs, CEOs and other executive roles. Sign up to Business Today Get set for the working day – we'll point you to all the business news and analysis you need every morning after newsletter promotion Rachel Reeves, the chancellor, said: 'The UK is leading the charge for gender equality in boardrooms, but we cannot rest on our laurels. We must break down the barriers that stop many women being represented in decision-making roles, so that top talent reaches the highest levels of leadership in businesses driving economic growth across Britain.'
