To assuage the (considerable) volatility from the news these days, we’ve rounded up some positive (promise!) stories from across our portfolio.

For our headline, we’re pleased to share the news of our investment into Blend, a video-based microlearning platform built for the deskless workforce. Read the full announcement below to learn more about the fast-growing company and why we think it’s high time for better training to come to sectors like hospitality, retail and care.

Then, we’re diving into the latest research from the Resolution Foundation, which highlights how choices beyond education can shape pay trajectories in the long term.

Lastly, our portfolio has been busy in March, read the latest from companies like Earlybird (AI-driven for employability services) and Valla (accessible legal support for workplace grievances, and beyond)

See you in April!

Aish

Our investment into Blend 

This month, we are so excited to announce our investment in Blend.

Blend is a microlearning platform that helps hospitality employers train staff through bespoke and engaging short-form (TikTok-style) video courses. Blend was built for the next generation of deskless workers and has helped brands like SushiDog and Brother Marcus engage staff, boost team confidence, and scale successfully.

The type of workers who use Blend power large parts of the economy through their work within hospitality and events. Yet, training in these sectors mirrors what is seen in offices. Largely computer-based, full of long text, and poorly adapted to the needs and work patterns of learners in those sectors.

This poor training has an effect on productivity, and for employers, the effects are seen in the low retention / high turnover rates that are commonplace within those industries. The long-term effects are seen in workers’ ability to progress in their roles, most remaining stuck in low-paid entry-level roles until their eventual exit, despite having motivations to stay and progress within the industry. And while there are several other issues (such as pay volatility and poor management) that negatively impact working lives in these sectors, training is significant, both in its impact and ability to improve work conditions.

We think that Blend can help workers acquire skills and confidence to perform and progress within their jobs at scale. Training delivered well has the potential to shift pay trajectories while also delivering a clear ROI to employers through reduced churn and faster onboarding. Blend aims to do just that.

Blend has seen strong growth over the last few months; they’ve brought on 6 new clients in just the last quarter and have added a range of certified Compliance and Soft Skill courses to their library

Blend work closely with each of their clients, acting as an enabler of their growth, having worked with large names such as Jenki Matcha, SushiDog, atis and recently, a contract for staff training at Wembley and Twickenham stadiums.

We’re pleased to join a group of aligned investors in their journey. Especially as Blend continues to expand this year, looking at sectors like social care, retail and early education, exploring partnerships with large industry players and launching their Seed raise.

If you would like to find out more about Blend, reach out via their website.

Other insights from the Resolution Foundation

The Long Shadow

The latest report from the Resolution Foundation has found that low pay is not a temporary stage for most workers, but a persistent condition shaped by a small number of decisive factors.

Tracking graduates from disadvantaged childhoods over a decade, the research shows that graduates who experienced deep poverty in childhood earn around 13% less than their better-off peers even a decade after graduation. Progression depends less on time served or generic upskilling and more on where people work, how they move between employers, and whether progression pathways are visible and accessible. This matters because higher education is seen as a key route to upward mobility, and while it remains that people from low-income backgrounds have the most to gain from attending university, a degree alone does not level the playing field.

Starting in the “right” role and with the “right” employer matters enormously: graduate workers who move into higher‑paying firms or occupations are far more likely to sustain pay progression, while those who remain in low‑paying firms often cycle in and out of low pay or get stuck altogether. Crucially, the research also shows that low pay can persist even within the same roles, pointing to barriers around progression, pay‑setting and advancement rather than skills alone.

From a ventures perspective, the implication is that the highest‑impact opportunities sit within work, not just at the point of labour market entry. Technologies that improve job matching, widen access to better employers, surface progression pathways, and support pay transparency and progression inside firms are solutions aligned with the factors shown to help workers climb (and stay on) the jobs ladder over time.

News from the WorkerTech Network

EarlyBird CEO Claudine shared how voice AI is reshaping frontline casework, reducing admin burden and enabling staff to spend more time on high‑value human interaction — a powerful example of AI augmenting, rather than replacing, frontline services. Red more here.

Blend showcased its work at UFI VocTech Week, highlighting how mobile‑first, video‑led training can better serve frontline workers across sectors like hospitality and social care. See more here.

Valla has published a practical guide to the major changes coming to UK employment law next month, helping workers understand their rights as new legislation comes into force. See the guide here.

Get involved

GoodTech Ventures launches Founderville – and we’re excited
GoodTech Ventures is looking for founders to share the raw behind-the-scenes experience of what it takes to build a company in 2026. This could be a masterclass, an open conversation, a fireside chat, or an informal AMA. If you’ve been through it, others will learn from it. While we are excited to learn more as investors, if you are interested in submitting a session idea, find more information here.

Coffee morning for impact founders
Our friends at Bethnal Green Ventures are hosting a coffee morning for Tech for Good founders. ​Attend to meet founders and people interested in building tech that creates positive social impact. This is a space to share challenges, exchange ideas, and build meaningful relationships with others who know what its like to build at the intersection of profit and purpose.
Register to join here.

Apply for direct investment from Resolution Ventures 
We accept applications from WorkerTech ventures on a rolling basis. You can book a slot in our office hours for an initial conversation