9th July 2026
Lots of new funding for ambitious Brits, with an explicit carve-out for people from disadvantaged and under-represented backgrounds.
Arts & Culture
Charles Stewart, boss of Sotheby’s, attributes the resurgence of interest in Old Masters – which includes works by Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, and Rembrandt – to the proliferation of computer-generated art. “Older things feel more artisinal and human”, he surmised. [Economist]
Technology
Andrew Bennett announced the launch of the UK Dynamism Fund. Grants of up to £50,000 (c. $67,000) will be made available to successful applicants. The fund is anchored by XTX Markets and supported by Renaissance Philanthropy (co-founded by Tom Kalil, ex-Chief Innovation Officer at Schmidt Futures).
Last month, Common Ventures (fka Social Mobility Ventures) announced Fund I, anchored by an investment from the British Business Bank. David Houghton, co-founder at Common Ventures, also announced the launch of Common Path, a programme “built for state-educated graduates” that want to break into the start-up ecosystem.
Waymo has started testing its autonomous vehicle technology in 5 more (US) cities. Things are happening on the other side of the Atlantic, too. Last month, London-based Wayve announced that its fleet would soon be made available to members of the general public.