The UK has one of the most exciting startup economies in the world.
But in recent years, founders have had to battle high inflation, increasing salaries and economic uncertainty. As Rachel Reeves strives to fill the UK’s ‘black hole’ of debt, so far, taxes and business costs have been in the firing line.
And now, with just less than one month to go until the Autumn Budget, startup founders are hoping to see some better growth policies.
What Is Rumoured To Be In The Upcoming Budget?
Whilst speculation always flies around upcoming Budgets, there are a few areas that seem to be drawing in a lot of attention, including:
- Reforming property taxes by replacing Stamp Duty with an annual home tax.
- Wealth taxes on the country’s highest earners.
- A reduction in the tax-free pension allowance.
- A change to ISA tax-free allowances, shifting savers away from cash ISAs and towards stocks and shares.
- Lowering the VAT tax threshold.
Whilst many of these changes might not affect startups, higher taxes could affect investor cashflow or customers’ ability to spend on products.
As a whole, the Budget strongly affects UK economic growth. A bad budget could leave many small business owners tackling even more economic headwinds after a difficult few years.
To understand what founders are looking to see in the upcoming budget, we asked them.
Here’s what they had to say:
Our Experts
- Justyna Strzeszynska, Founder and CEO at Joii
- Helen Lewis, Founder of Literally PR and Co-Founder of Hashtag Press
- Andy Bowker, Co-Founder at Wedissimo
- Mat Westergreen‑Thorne, CEO at Grantify
- Jessica Matthias, Founder at Vianova Collective
- Clare Marsh, Founder at Her Business Counts
- JP Cerda, CEO at Renewabl
- Seb Robert, CEO and Founder at Gophr
- Dr. Sebastian Weidt, Founder & CEO at Universal Quantum
- Paul Evans McCallum, PJ Staffing in Leeds
- Jules Brim, Co‑Founder at New Street Properties
- Ismael Dainehine, Co‑Founder and CEO at EverGive
- James McCarthy, Co‑Founder at Flipdish
- Charlie Martin, Founder at truMRK
- Leo Labeis, Founder & CEO at REGnosys
- Jake Rickhuss, MD Commercial & Co‑Founder of Journi
For any questions, comments or features, please contact us directly.
Justyna Strzeszynska, Founder and CEO at Joii
“The Government’s Autumn Budget should recognise that innovation doesn’t just come from deep-pocketed corporates, but it comes from small, research-driven startups tackling real health challenges. Early-stage funding mechanisms need to be faster and more accessible, especially for regulated sectors like femtech and medtech, where validation cycles are longer and investor appetite is thinner.
“The support for startups needs to be more tangible. Too often we see funding and awards going to projects that never move beyond the press release stage, while companies that are genuinely making progress struggle to access meaningful resources.
“A smarter approach would be to direct government support towards startups that demonstrate real-world traction and validated impact, rather than simply strong narratives.
“Better alignment between Innovate UK, NHS innovation units and tax relief schemes like EIS/SEIS would make a huge difference. EIS and SEIS are an incredible strength of the UK ecosystem, and they give us a real competitive advantage. We need to see more funds created and encouragement to use these mechanisms to back early-stage founders who are solving real problems.”
Helen Lewis, Founder of Literally PR and Co-Founder of Hashtag Press
“If the government wants to future-proof the UK economy, it needs to stop treating startups like side hustles. Founders don’t need more red tape, they need breathing space. That means real tax relief for small businesses, faster access to grants, and funding that recognises innovation beyond tech. Creative entrepreneurs are driving growth and culture; the Autumn Budget should finally invest in them like it means it.”
Andy Bowker, Co-Founder at Wedissimo
“We have a thriving start-up ecosystem in the UK, but access to finance is really difficult. This budget is an opportunity to finally fix the absurd delays and prior-investor requirements for advanced assurance for EIS and SEIS. Both schemes offer generous tax efficiencies for angel investors and are the backbone of start-up funding, but the need to delay taking on new funds for several weeks whilst HMRC considers if your investors are appropriate and you meet the criteria simply adds delays and obstacles to accessing funding. By allowing start-ups to self-certify, Rachel Reeves would unlock early stage funding and breathe life into early stage businesses where every day counts.”
For any questions, comments or features, please contact us directly.
Mat Westergreen-Thorne, CEO at Grantify
“The UK’s tech startup scene is critical for the economy, but it has been hit hard by recent fiscal pressures, including the unexpected rise in employers’ National Insurance contributions. Working closely with early-stage tech companies across the country, we see first-hand how these costs limit their ability to invest and scale. The Autumn Budget offers a chance to recognise this and provide meaningful support to the sector through improved access to innovation grants and early-stage funding. Such measures would directly help founders focus on building businesses, creating jobs, and strengthening the UK’s position as a global tech leader.”
Jessica Matthias, Founder at Vianova Collective
“If the Autumn Budget wants to future-proof the UK economy, it must stop starving its startup ecosystem. Founders aren’t just building businesses – we’re designing the systems that shape how people move, connect, and experience the world. In sectors like mine (sustainable travel), where innovation meets infrastructure, we need targeted R&D incentives that reflect the complexity and potential of what we’re building.
“Faster access to innovation grants is critical. I know several early-stage founders that are stuck in bureaucratic limbo, waiting months for decisions that could unlock growth today. Streamlining these pathways – especially for emerging industries – would accelerate progress and attract global talent.
“The tax framework also needs a rethink. Rewarding late-stage profit while penalising early-stage risk sends the wrong signal. We need relief mechanisms that support experimentation, not just scale.
“Let’s also not forget the resilience it takes to build in this climate. Founders who’ve managed to navigate through recent chaos deserve more than applause; they deserve policy that backs their boldness. The Autumn Budget must clear the runway for those still daring to build. Support startups properly, and you stimulate growth, while investing in the architecture of a more resilient and future-ready UK.”
Clare Marsh, Founder at Her Business Counts
“What I’d like to see in the upcoming budget is meaningful, practical support for tech-led start-ups. Too many founders are held back by cash flow pressures, often self-funding in the early stages and outsourcing overseas instead of employing UK talent.
“Simplifying grant funding and R&D tax credits, and making them truly accessible, would make a huge difference. I’d also welcome targeted investment in skills and training to grow the UK talent pool.
“And it’s time to act on the Women and Equalities Committee’s call for a Female Enterprise Investment Scheme. This isn’t just a passion issue, closing the gender funding gap could unlock over £250 billion for the UK economy.”
For any questions, comments or features, please contact us directly.
JP Cerda, CEO at Renewabl
“Startups like ours thrive on consistency and access – not one-off funding. The autumn budget could make a real difference by de-risking investment in grid, data and digital infrastructure, and by opening up procurement and market data so smaller innovators can participate. Just as importantly, stability in the UK’s net-zero policy signals would help startups plan 3–5 years ahead instead of firefighting each funding cycle.
“If the UK wants to lead in climate and energy tech, we need continuity, not more resets.”
Seb Robert, CEO and Founder at Gophr
“This Budget needs to draw a line between extraction and creation. Too much support has gone to financial engineering and property, while the businesses actually creating jobs and innovation have been left to get on with it. Which many have.
“Now is the time to back builders, not extractors. That means fewer subsidies for idle capital and more targeted incentives for the companies developing products, services, and jobs on the ground. SMEs across the country, from delivery tech firms to regional manufacturers, need stability and clarity on tax policy, not constant tinkering. A clear, multi-year roadmap for Corporation Tax, NI, and R&D reliefs would give founders the confidence to plan and invest.
“The R&D tax credit system also needs reform: faster, simpler, and focused on firms actually doing the work. Cash flow kills innovation faster than competition. That’s how you unlock productivity – by backing those who are building businesses, not just looking to balance the spreadsheets.”
Dr. Sebastian Weidt, Founder & CEO at Universal Quantum
“This Budget is an opportunity to move from ambition to action – to translate the UK’s scientific strength into sovereign capability and long-term economic advantage. The UK has the science, the talent and the entrepreneurial drive to lead the quantum era. What it now needs is clear national direction and decisive follow-through. Other nations are moving quickly with strong procurement strategies, dedicated infrastructure, and anchor customers. The UK has the capability to do the same, but it must act with purpose.
“The quantum industry is not asking for money alone, but for the strategic focus and coordination needed to turn research excellence into deployable systems, commercial contracts and global leadership. Even modest public investment, delivered with clarity and consistency, would unlock significant private capital and signal that Britain intends to lead in this field.”
For any questions, comments or features, please contact us directly.
Paul Evans McCallum of PJ Staffing in Leeds
“Budgets cannot be another round of soundbites. If the government is serious about growth, it must tackle the skills gap and back the recruiters who keep Britain’s workforce moving. Nowhere is this more urgent than in catering and hospitality, where startups and small firms are crying out for skilled, reliable people just to keep the doors open.
“The fix is not radical, it is common sense. Reward businesses that invest in training and upskilling. Cut National Insurance for small employers. Strip the faff out of apprenticeships. Make flexible contracts easier to manage.
“Recruiters like us see the reality every day. Red tape, rising costs and mixed messages are choking opportunity. It is a common factor across our clients, and costs are only going to keep rising. With the cost of living biting, people are being more careful about where they spend their money, which makes efficiency and staffing stability even more critical for hospitality operators.
“Let’s be blunt. Without skilled people, even the brightest ideas will stall. If ministers are serious about supporting startups, they must strengthen the ecosystem that connects talent to opportunity. A budget that helps employers hire and train without fear will spark growth across every sector. That is levelling up in action.”
Jules Brim, Co-Founder at New Street Properties
“As someone working in the property investment space, I think the Autumn Budget could do a lot more to support startups by encouraging investment in local communities and infrastructure. When small businesses thrive, so do our high streets and local economies, and that’s good news for everyone, including property investors.
“It would be great to see incentives for businesses to occupy and revitalise commercial spaces, alongside tax breaks or grants that make it easier for startups to get off the ground and for investors to back regeneration projects. Sustainable growth starts with confidence, and that means a Budget that rewards those willing to invest in the UK’s future.”
For any questions, comments or features, please contact us directly.
Ismael Dainehine, Co-Founder and CEO at EverGive
“The Autumn Budget must recognise that immigrant founders are not a footnote in Britain’s startup story. From small businesses to world-leading tech firms, immigrants have built much of the innovation and resilience that defines the UK and global economy. Yet barriers to talent and funding are growing, and the dangerous rhetoric around immigration risks undoing decades of progress.
“If the Government truly wants to support startups, it must start by backing the people who build them. Most of the entrepreneurs I know are not asking for handouts, they’re asking for headroom. That means things like reforming the Global Talent Visa to make it easier for skilled founders to come here, stay here, and scale here, without being trapped in red tape.
“Beyond immigration, startups need a financial environment that rewards long-term thinking. At EverGive, we’re using Bitcoin to create perpetual funding for charities – a model that replaces fragility with resilience in a sector that desperately needs it. But that same principle applies to the wider economy. The Government should skate to where the puck is going and enable those innovating in the Bitcoin and digital asset space to grow and build companies for a future based on financial resilience. This will both empower people and ensure that the UK doesn’t lose its position as a home for financial innovation.”
James McCarthy, Co-Founder at Flipdish
“Having built Flipdish from a startup into an international tech unicorn, I’ve seen what truly helps and what hinders entrepreneurship. The UK has wonderful people and enormous potential, but it’s losing the environment that once made it the best country in the world in which to build, grow and prosper.
“This year alone, the UK is forecast to lose around 16,500 millionaires, which is more than any other country, as wealth creators move to more stable, lower-tax jurisdictions like Dubai. This should be a warning sign for the entire British startup ecosystem. These people are generally the investors, mentors and employers that young founders and people joining startups for the first time rely on.
“The Autumn Budget must stop treating success as something to penalise. Competitive capital gains tax, stronger entrepreneurs’ relief and predictable R&D and EMI schemes are essential if Britain wants to remain a home for innovation. Entrepreneurs need policy stability, not constant shifts and higher burdens.
“And beyond tax, the country needs to tackle basics like crime, public safety and quality of life. People won’t build, hire, or spend in a place that feels unstable.
Charlie Martin, Founder at truMRK
“I think the autumn budget could do a lot to help startups, not only through funding or tax breaks but by building more confidence and clarity in the system around them.
“Startups grow faster when they can trust the information they rely on. That means clear guidance on sustainability rules, open reporting on public funding, and honesty about what different investors and programmes can deliver. At the moment, many founders are dealing with mixed messages and complex requirements. Simplifying that would make a big difference.
“When people understand what is expected, where support is going, and which opportunities are real, they can make better decisions. That saves time, builds trust, and helps innovation move forward.
“So for me, the most important thing this budget can do is make the environment for startups more transparent and reliable. Confidence comes from clarity, not just capital. If we get that right, it will help young businesses and strengthen the wider economy.”
For any questions, comments or features, please contact us directly.
Leo Labeis, Founder & CEO at REGnosys
“The UK has long been a leading global financial hub, and the autumn budget provides an opportunity for the government to strengthen the UK’s startup ecosystem, particularly in high-growth sectors like fintech and regtech, with the latter helping to address rising compliance costs and regulatory complexity.
“The UK is uniquely positioned to lead in this field, with sophisticated regulatory frameworks, a world-class financial services sector, and alignment between government, regulators, and industry. Startups need targeted support to scale, innovate, and compete globally. Policy incentives, dedicated funding, and collaboration across industry and academia can help achieve this.
“Supporting sectors like RegTech now not only reinforces the UK’s position as a fintech hub but also drives high-quality job creation, strengthens the resilience of the financial system, and equips UK companies with the tools to thrive in a rapidly evolving global market. By focusing on areas of strategic advantage, the government can help ensure the UK remains a destination of choice for innovation, investment, and high-growth startups.”
Jake Rickhuss MD Commercial & Co-Founder of Journi
“The autumn budget provides an opportunity to boost tech growth and further support creative innovation in the UK. To achieve this, it’s important to focus on areas that matter most to innovative SMEs. For the majority of smaller tech consultancies, R&D is a key part of their growth. However, the current tax relief system carries a lot of uncertainty and unnecessary complexity.
“It leaves businesses questioning what is and isn’t applicable and ultimately what actually qualifies as an R&D activity. This naturally has a knock-on effect, which in turn delays investments and projects. Providing clarity and a simpler system would give companies the confidence to innovate, scale new digital products and grow without having to second-guess the process.
“Another area of equal importance is the procurement process. As it stands, high-quality, smaller tech providers are unfortunately often overlooked in favour of bigger suppliers that can “tick” compliance boxes but aren’t necessarily best placed to deliver a better quality of service. While accountability and process are absolutely essential, the procurement process should also recognise and level the playing field based on the quality of technical resources provided, proven verified results, and value for money.
“By simplifying and improving access to the R&D system and creating fairer opportunities within procurement, the government could have a meaningful positive impact on the tech innovation within the UK and further encourage and reward exceptional providers that are often overlooked.”
For any questions, comments or features, please contact us directly.
