Former Google and Y Combinator executive Joséphine Kant has swapped the accelerator for Whitehall, leading the UK government's new Sovereign AI Unit. The unit, backed by up to £500m, aims to invest in early-stage AI startups across four years, starting in April 2026. Kant insists the unit must operate like a private venture capital firm, writing cheques of up to £10m to companies in priority areas like biotech and fintech.

This public-private approach seeks to leverage government access for startups, offering advantages beyond typical VC funding, such as procurement opportunities and regulatory navigation. Kant argues the government isn't just a regulator but a potential customer, aiming to anchor innovative companies in Britain.