UK launches $675 million sovereign AI fund to invest in domestic startups
Image: Primary The United Kingdom has launched a $675 million venture fund to invest in domestic artificial intelligence startups, aiming to reduce dependence on foreign technology.
The Sovereign AI fund will target companies working in model development, agentic AI, and drug discovery. Portfolio startups will receive access to the UK's supercomputer network, free visas for international hires, government procurement opportunities, and expert advice.
The fund is led by James Wise of Balterdon Capital and Joséphine Kant, formerly of Dogwood Ventures and Y Combinator. Its first investment is in Callosum, which develops software for coordinating different processor classes.
Six additional startups. Prima Mente, Cosine, Cursive, Doubleword, Twig Bio, and Odyssey. have been awarded up to 1 million GPU hours each on UK supercomputers for model training and simulations.
UK Technology Secretary Liz Kendall said the fund represents a unique government approach to breaking down barriers for British innovation. The initiative is part of a broader plan to position the UK as an "AI maker, not an AI taker."
Experts note the funding is modest compared to investments by major AI companies but could help bridge research concepts into viable businesses when combined with private venture capital.
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