Sasha Belova

Here are some UK VC Trends as We Enter H2 2025 🚀 👉1.2 trillion tech sector & #3 globally overall – UK remains a powerhouse with deep early-stage pipelines and thriving scale-ups. 👉VC up ~31% YoY (Jan–Apr), led by standout mega-rounds in AI, healthtech, biotech and deep tech. 👉UK AI startups raised $1.03 bn in Q1, the strongest Q1 in 3 years – but securing growth capital and talent remains a challenge. 👉Healthtech (/life sciences) took the lead with $1.8 bn in Q1 – more than fintech and software combined. 👉VC investment is becoming more focused: fewer but larger rounds into specialised verticals (AI, drug discovery, AI-infra). Why it matters: 👉Investors are favouring depth over spread – champions of specific verticals are winning funding . 👉UK’s mature ecosystem + policy reforms (e.g. pension and department-backed funds, NWF) offer momentum, but better exits and visa/tax clarity are still needed . 👉As someone in recruitment, I’m seeing strong demand for talent in AI, healthtech and deep tech—especially in roles requiring specialised expertise. Built-in Opportunity: Founders with technically rich propositions and evidence of focus continue to unlock deep pockets. The key for H2? Demonstrate real product-market fit in niche verticals—and the capital will follow. My Opinion: I believe the shift to quality over quantity in funding rounds is a healthy sign – it shows maturity in the UK ecosystem.🏅

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How we’re hitting a 3-week time-to-hire for senior software engineers without cutting corners. Here’s a breakdown of how we filled a high-context senior frontend role at Web3 scaleup Rarible using the same system that’s now delivering 3-week TTH across our portfolio. Hiring high-bar engineers in Web3 isn't just about reach. It’s about rigour. We created an AI-enabled, go-to-market hiring campaign: The process (built for speed + quality) Clear ICP We mapped must-haves, dealbreakers, and likely objections up front, not after wasting 2 weeks. → Must-haves: React, TypeScript, Rx.js → No consultancies. Remote, GMT ±2. Web3/consumer background. Calibration table Turned the JD into a decision-making framework for screening, scorecards and syncs. → “Must-have vs. nice-to-have” clarity → Evidence > vibes → Helped the hiring team say yes/no faster, with less debate. Market mapping We broke down the talent pool into Tier 1 & Tier 2 across Europe. → 2,200+ profiles analysed → 96 Tier 1 engineers in Eastern Europe alone → Gave the client hard numbers + sourcing strategy options Structured interview kit → 10 categories → Scoring guidance for strong vs. weak answers → Reduced noise + sped up decision making Email outreach (that engineers actually respond to) → 4-part drip sequence (value prop, re-engage, product context, final nudge) → Personalised via GPT-4, signed off by the hiring lead → Tone: casual, confident, clear AI-enabled workflows → Automated outreach via n8n → Our Talent Partner operated like a full-stack squad Notion sourcing tracker → Per region: LinkedIn links, tags, message history → Fast async syncs with the client. No crossed wires. Prepped FAQ answers → Role, team, onboarding, tech stack, roadmap → Helped candidates convert Boolean done properly → Targeted for Rx.js + Web3 → Excluded low-context profiles → Localised by region The result ✔️ Fast, high-quality close ✔️ Happy hiring manager ✔️ Clean, repeatable system we now run across clients Hiring engineers in SaaS, Web3, fintech, or AI? This is the level of precision that gets results. DM me or connect if you want support.

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Over the past few years, I’ve seen a steady rise in demand for backend developers with Node.js experience. The reasons are clear: It scales effectively for high-traffic applications Teams benefit from using JavaScript across frontend and backend The ecosystem is vast, enabling faster development It’s a natural fit for real-time apps like chat, streaming, and collaboration tools For developers, this creates opportunities to work on innovative projects. For businesses, it provides the flexibility and scalability needed to stay competitive. I’d be interested to hear your thoughts: is Node.js becoming the standard for backend development, or just one strong option among many?

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GPT-5 has landed. What does it mean for the UK market? OpenAI just raised the bar again. Better reasoning, better context, and a step toward multi-modal fluency. I'm expecting a fresh wave of AI-native tools hitting. The gap between “AI-enabled” and “AI-built” is about to widen. Talent strategy gets harder. You’ll need engineers who can fine-tune models, not just consume them. And with London becoming a magnet for frontier AI, those £2B+ infrastructure investments suddenly feel very well-timed. The UK has the compute, the capital, and the talent. The question is: who’s going to move first? #MethodAI #ChatGPT5 #LLM

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Following on from Stripe and Circle, Google Cloud are now building their own Layer 1! Circle’s Arc puts USDC at the centre as the gas token, Stripe’s Tempo is tailored for instant stablecoin payments, and now Google’s Universal Ledger (GCUL) is stepping in as a permissioned chain for global institutions. This isn’t just about launching another blockchain, it’s about owning the settlement layer, the rails that future payments will run on. The question now is, will crypto native chains, fintech giants, or global tech giants ultimately dominate the L1 wars? #layer1 #blockchain #web3 #google #stripe #circle #web3

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Companies ask for a sheep with 5 legs, but decline a candidate because it has no wings 🙄 Last week, one of my developers had an interview. A beautiful frontend role asking for React, Typescript and Next.js. Of course, we introduced a strong profile that matched the techniques. There was a cultural fit as well, salary checked out and he lived just 10 minutes away by bike. Done deal, right? Rejected! Why? “Too little backend and data management experience.” But, HUH? This was a frontend vacancy. So how is it possible that someone gets judged on something that wasn’t asked for or something they’re not specialised in? You don’t judge an elephant on how it climbs a tree either. But this happens way more often than you’d think! Companies say they’re looking for one thing, but judge based on something completely different. This is often a major recruitment problem (and red flag) An internal policy that’s unclear, even if it seems clear at first and they realise it too late. I see this especially in small to mid-sized companies, where a single hire has a much bigger impact than in larger organisations. And yet, these are the exact companies where time gets wasted the most. Not because they can’t choose, but because they’re afraid to. They want certainty, they want the sheep that can fly and end up with nothing. I’ve lost count of the number of developers who called me, completely baffled by what just happened. That’s why my advice to companies is: map out your needs, make sure everyone’s on the same page and go through your own process as if you were the candidate. If your own process would frustrate you as a candidate... time to change 😉

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🚀 Why Your Advert Won’t Get You the Best AI | ML | Software Talent Our last four IC placements: • 3 x Lead / Senior AI / ML Engineers (defence-tech, bio-tech, digital health) • 1 x Senior Typescript SaaS Engineer (clean-tech) Not one of these candidates was applying on Seek or job boards. What I hear from them is consistent: 1️⃣ 'I didn’t have enough clarity on the problems I’d be solving, the roadmap, or the team - so I didn’t bother applying.' 2️⃣ 'You caught me before I started looking. I’m not actively searching, but I’d be interested in this specific opportunity…' 3️⃣ 'Between work and family commitments, I don’t have the time to go through job ads.' 4️⃣ 'You’ve been recommended - I’d rather just speak with you, and you can bring me relevant positions.' 5️⃣ 'I didn’t want to be one of 100 applicants and risk getting overlooked.' These are conversations I have every week with passive and ‘hidden’ talent. Yet on the other side, I still hear: • “Let’s just put an advert out on Seek - it’s always worked before.” • “We can save the agency fee if we advertise direct.” The challenge is that while adverts bring volume, you are missing out on your ideal profile match especially in the competitive landscape of AI / ML and deep-tech. Meanwhile… • Teams burn time screening unsuitable CVs = interview fatigue = compromise hires. • The best people are missed - because they never applied in the first place. An advert alone can’t compete with the reach of a specialist recruiter who speaks daily with AI / ML and software professionals - including those not visible on job boards. That’s why high-growth companies focus on value over short-term 'cost': ✅ Hire the best person faster ✅ Avoid wasted internal time ✅ Raise the bar with every hire ✅ Speed up team velocity & solve complex roadmap problems Every hire is an opportunity to raise the bar. The companies that embrace this mindset are the ones building stronger teams and moving faster.

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PHP may not be the flashiest language, but it’s still powering essential infrastructure across high-growth sectors. Here are the top 3 industries I’ve noticed actively hiring PHP devs right now: 💳 Fintech – Recently boosted by significant private funding! They often offer the highest paying roles ($120K–$180K) for devs building secure, compliant financial systems. Plus, many legacy PHP systems need ongoing maintenance and upgrades. 🏥 Healthtech – Demand for PHP in patient portals, telehealth platforms, and EHR systems is rising fast. Post-COVID, more patients want remote consultations, driving the need for skilled software developers. 🛍️ E-commerce – Magento, WooCommerce, and custom platforms continue to drive steady demand, with many companies still opting for WordPress, Magento, and Shopify. Are there any industries I’ve missed? #PHP #WebDevelopment #TechHiring #Fintech #Healthtech #Ecommerce #Laravel #DeveloperJobs #2025Trends

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One month back at OpusRS – here’s what I’m seeing in the JavaScript contract market. It’s been great to get stuck back in, and I’ve already noticed some clear trends across the UK JavaScript contract space. 🏢 Hybrid working is shifting. Fully remote roles are becoming less common, with more contracts now asking for 2–3 days a week in the office. Collaboration and team presence are making a comeback. 💬 Contractors who know how to add value and communicate clearly with clients are being consistently extended. It’s not just about technical ability—commercial awareness and soft skills are making a real difference. 📉 Rates have taken a hit compared to a few years ago, but demand is still strong for those who can hit the ground running. ⚙️ Next.js is gaining serious traction. While React remains dominant with 39.5% of developers using it, Next.js is quickly rising with 17.9% adoption—thanks to its performance benefits and built-in features like server-side rendering and static site generation If you're a contractor looking for your next move, or a business needing top JavaScript talent, I’d love to connect. #JavaScript #NextJS #ReactJS #Contracting #TechRecruitment #OpusRS

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Remember when NFTs were all over the news 📰 in March 2021, and people were split on whether they’d be the next big thing or a fad that’d fizzle out in a month? Today, as someone constantly engaging in the digital health and crypto space, I’m seeing NFTs reshape employee benefits through tokenized 🪙wellness incentives. 💡 Imagine an employee completing a 30-day mindfulness challenge via a meditation app and earning an NFT, redeemable for a year-long subscription to premium features. Or they hit 10,000 steps daily 🏃‍♂️ for a month using a fitness tracker and trade their NFT for a $50 credit toward a gym membership. These blockchain-secured tokens 🔒 ensure transparency—no double-dipping—and fintech integrations make redemption seamless, much like modern payment solutions. With 73% of employees 📈 seeking personalized benefits (Marsh McLennan, 2025), this trend is boosting engagement in a big way. It’s exciting to see how NFTs can transform how we reward wellness 🎉. How do you think tokenized incentives could enhance benefits programs? #EmployeeBenefits #DAPPS #NFTs

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How long is it before Web3 becomes the standard? I've spoken to a few technical leaders in the Web3 space this week & we've all been discussing how quickly the space is evolving. What seems to have ben the biggest catalyst for this is how many established businesses are starting to embrace it more & more. Whether it's RWAs or BTC reserves, it's becoming more common with each passing day. Long gone are the days of cryptocurrencies being seen as some kind of dark underworld secret. What other advancements in the space have you spotted?

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Here are the highest-paying companies in the UK for Software Engineers! (based on 'all levels' from Levels.fyi): 🥇 Citadel – £274,692 🥈 Wintermute – £274,382 🥉 Meta – £242,189 I posted late last year about how US companies (especially HFT / quant firms) were dominating UK compensation. Back then, Wintermute (UK founded) weren’t even in the top 10. Now they’ve jumped to #2, ahead of HRT, Jane Street, Meta and other huge names. Every company in the top 10 is now averaging £200K+ total comp for engineering roles. That would have been unthinkable for London just a few years ago. For founders: if you want to attract top engineering talent, this is your benchmark. As an aside, if you compare the London top 10 with the San Francisco top 10 you see a completely different type of company. SF is tech dominated. UK is still very much finance dominated. I'd love to see more UK founded tech companies in this top list!

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React still rules - but for how much longer? I'm seeing a real shift in frontend strategy lately 👀 More teams are adopting #Svelte and #Astrojs - not just as experiments, but as serious alternatives to #React, #Angular, and #Vue 📈 Why? ⚡ Faster performance 🧠 Simpler developer experience 📦 Smaller bundles, leaner code It’s not just a tech choice - it’s impacting hiring, delivery, and velocity 🤩 If you're building high-performing frontends and feel like the old frameworks are slowing you down, you're not alone 🤗 Curious to hear from others seeing (or driving) this shift - and if you need engineers already working with this stack 🤔 I can help with that 🫡 #techrecruitment #amsterdamjobs #frontenddevelopers

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