UK scale-ups face crisis as growth capital hits seven-year low Business Growth capital has hit a seven-year low on both volume and value with the UK start-up to scale-up pipeline “broken”, a fresh report has warned. Figures seen by City AM revealed Series A funding – investments of £2m to £10m for startups looking to grow – had slumped to £2.4bn in the 12 months to [...]
Private capital investment into UK business jumps 44 per cent Investing The volume of private equity and venture capital cash flowing into UK businesses jumped by 44 per cent last year as investors increasingly look outside of London for opportunities. Private capital firms invested £29.4bn into UK businesses over 2024, compared to £20.4bn in 2023, research from the British Private Equity and Venture Capital Association revealed. [...]
London startups bag £2.69bn in VC funding in 2025 so far Investing London-based startups attracted £2.69bn in venture capital (VC) in the first three months of the year, marking a robust start of the year despite a fall in deal volumes. According to KPMG’s latest venture pulse report, while deal count dropped from the previous quarter, the overall value of funding reached nearly 90 per cent of [...]
UK surges ahead of France and Germany as Europe’s ‘innovation powerhouse’ April 14, 2025 HSBC Innovation Banking, a subsidiary of Europe’s biggest lender, hailed the UK’s enterprise value in its latest innovation report. UK innovation firms raised £3.2bn of venture capital in the first three months of the year – an eight per cent increase from the first quarter of 2024. The quarter attracted higher amounts of funding, with [...]
Exclusive: Channel 4 Ventures backs cocktail machine maker Bartesian March 19, 2025 City AM can reveal that Channel 4 Ventures has partnered with Bartesian as the drinks firm looks to accelerate its expansion in the UK. Bartesian, which produces cocktail-making machines, will benefit from the broadcaster’s advertising reach, and Channel 4 Ventures will receive an equity stake in the business in exchange. “This investment enables us to [...]
Pembroke VCT boss Andrew Wolfson: ‘New founders aren’t blaming Brexit’ January 30, 2025 Pembroke VCT boss Andrew Wolfson has backed brands like TALA and Pasta Evangelists. He tells us the wisdom he's picked up along his career.
Venture capital prospects are a bright spot for the UK economy January 29, 2025 Despite fears about the Budget and Donald Trump, venture capital rebounded strongly in 2024 and the view is looking optimistic for the years ahead, says Nicole Lowe It is fair to say that 2024 was a rollercoaster year when it came to venture capital (VC) investment. Major elections and political shifts on both sides of [...]
VCT fundraising push continues as Baronsmead launches £50m raise January 13, 2025 Two Baronsmead venture capital trusts (VCTs) have launched a £50m funding drive today as a boom in fundraising for the vehicles continues. The VCTs, which are managed by Gresham House, are targeting a £30m share offer with an over-allotment option of £20m, meaning they are able to issue new shares if there is demand from [...]
AI investor FOMO: Has AI supply outstripped demand? December 8, 2024 Investors are pouring billions into AI, but has supply now outstripped demand? Mike Smeed looks at how AI funding has become misbalanced.
30th anniversary of VCTs celebrated as 2024 raise approaches £240m December 1, 2024 The total amount of money raised through venture capital trusts (VCTs) this tax year is approaching £240m, 20 per cent higher than last year, as the investment industry celebrates the vehicle’s 30th birthday. The VCT was unveiled in the 1994 Budget, where Chancellor Ken Clarke launched the scheme, and have since raised £12.5bn, funnelling money [...]