The United Kingdom remains strong as Europe's startup powerhouse. With all the right ingredients to make for a world-class hub, there is no questioning that the UK is a great destination for any startup. The country's abundant accelerators and incubators, numerous tech events, thriving communities, high concentration of funds, hotspot for international talent, and supportive government create one of the most dynamic and ideal startup landscapes. Beyond London, the overall UK's tech scene is thriving - valued at USD 1 trillion. Floods of investment are still coming on strong in the United Kingdom, so get your pitch ready and read this article as we will share with you a comprehensive list of VC funds and angel investors in the United Kingdom.
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Venture Capitalist Funds in the United Kingdom
The venture capitalist funds below are actively looking for investments in promising companies throughout various stages and sectors. The stages stated do not limit the possibility of getting funding if your company is at any stage other than what is listed.
Year of Inception: 2015
Stage: Pre Seed, Seed
Focus: Technology
Notable Portfolio: LabGenius, Vault, Globechain, Acurable
Year of Inception: 2015
Stage: Pre Seed, Seed
Focus: Enterprise Software, Deep Tech
Notable Portfolio: H2O.ai, Silverflow, Tessian, Mailchain, Veratrak
Year of Inception: 2010
Stage: Pre Seed, Seed
Focus: Gaming, Interactive Entertainment, Studios, Content, Technology, Platforms, Services
Notable Portfolio: FuturePlay, Klang, Playfish, Unity, Supercell
Year of Inception: 2013
Stage: Pre Seed, Seed
Focus: Hardware, FinTech, Blockchain, Future of Work, Deep Tech
Notable Portfolio: Qbot, Lemonade, Nanotech Industrial Solutions, PointGrab
Year of Inception: 2011
Stage: Pre Seed, Seed, Series A
Focus: SaaS, Fintech, Consumer, Digital Health, Web3.0
Notable Portfolio: Typeform, Truelayer, Lifebit, Oyster, Citymapper
Year of Inception: 2013
Stage: Pre Seed, Seed, Series A
Focus: Technology
Notable Portfolio: Airsupply, Ably, Snaptrip!, Ahauz
Year of Inception: 2007
Stage: Pre Seed, Seed, Series A, Series B
Focus: FinTech, Health, Deep Tech, Consumer, B2B Software
Notable Portfolio: Secret Escapes, Cazoo, Wave Optics, Depop, Graze
Year of Inception: 2010
Stage: Pre Seed, Seed, Series A, Series B, Series C
Focus: Financial Services
Notable Portfolio: Alt.bank, Atom, Carta, Tide, Sydecar
Year of Inception: 2001
Stage: Seed
Focus: Technology, Impact
Notable Portfolio: Wagestream, Lick, HeyGo, WeGift, zeroheight, Credit Kudos
Year of Inception: 2013
Stage: Seed
Focus: Technology
Notable Portfolio: Cauldron, Omnipresent, Orca AI, appear [here]
Year of Inception: 2007
Stage: Seed
Focus: Sector Agnostic
Notable Portfolio: Revolut, Wise, Vinterior, Sorare
Year of Inception: 2012
Stage: Seed
Focus: Internet, Mobile
Notable Portfolio: Cytox, Tessian, Audio Analytic, Joint Academy
Year of Inception: 2012
Stage: Seed
Focus: B2B
Notable Portfolio: Pointy, Logentries, Evervault, Lob
Year of Inception: 2012
Stage: Seed, Series A
Focus: Food & Drink, Life Sciences, Media & Entertainment, Mobile & Online Solutions, Online Platforms & Marketplaces, Products, Sci & Tech Innovations, Services, Manufacturing
Notable Portfolio: Cognism, Onfido, Transcend Packaging, Nossa Data
Year of Inception: 2009
Stage: Seed, Series A
Focus: SaaS, Cloud, Cloud Computing, Modern Enterprise, Industry OS, Future Finance
Notable Portfolio: Upvest, GoCardless, Mews, Furtli
Year of Inception: 2011
Stage: Seed, Series A
Focus: Technology
Notable Portfolio: Adzuna, Focalpoint, Tide, Swipe
Episode 1 Ventures
Year of Inception: 2013
Stage: Seed, Series A
Focus: B2B Software
Notable Portfolio: Auquan, Pickr, Carwow, Klydo, CloudNC
Year of Inception: 2000
Stage: Seed, Series A
Focus: Technology
Notable Portfolio: Gousto, Peak, Current, Signal AI
Year of Inception: 2014
Stage: Seed, Series A
Focus: Technology
Notable Portfolio: ContentCal, Capdesk, Pluto, Volt
Year of Inception: 1996
Stage: Seed, Series A
Focus: B2B Software, Healthcare
Notable Portfolio: Orchard Therapeutics, Bloomsbury AI, Grapeshot
Year of Inception: 2018
Stage: Seed, Series A
Focus: Technology
Notable Portfolio: Deliveroo, Linktree, Daily Motion, Zoopla
Year of Inception: 2018
Stage: Seed, Series A
Focus: Technology
Notable Portfolio: Citymapper, Improbable, Lovefilm, Moo, Wise, Zoopla
Year of Inception: 2012
Stage: Seed, Series A
Focus: Enterprise Tech
Notable Portfolio: Lifebit, Epignosis, Humanising Autonomy
Year of Inception: 2001
Stage: Seed, Series A
Focus: Software
Notable Portfolio: FloodFlash, Stacker, Casualy, nPlan
Year of Inception: 2009
Stage: Seed, Series A
Focus: Technology
Notable Portfolio: Get Your Guide, Surrogate, Splash, Busuu
Year of Inception: 2010
Stage: Seed, Series A
Focus: Games, Consumer Services, Technology
Notable Portfolio: Supersocial, Zebedee, Resolution Games, Playpulse
Year of Inception: 2008
Stage: Seed, Series A
Focus: Technology
Notable Portfolio: Current Health, VERT Rotors, Mallzee
Year of Inception: 2011
Stage: Seed, Series A
Focus: Technology
Notable Portfolio: Depop, Sendbird, Tapdaq, Appear Here
Year of Inception: 2013
Stage: Seed, Series A
Focus: Consumer Tech
Notable Portfolio: Oatly, Deliveroo, BrickLane, Sleepio
Year of Inception: 2011
Stage: Seed, Series A
Focus: Deep Tech, Life Science
Notable Portfolio: Audio Analytic, Vantage Power, Kalium Health
Year of Inception: 1998
Stage: Seed, Series A
Focus: Deep Tech, Enterprise Software
Notable Portfolio: Endomag, Phase Focus, PhosphonicS, Skimlinks
Year of Inception: 2011
Stage: Seed, Series A
Focus: Engineering, Health
Notable Portfolio: Acunu, Cobalt, Lightcast, Biofidelity
Year of Inception: 2014
Stage: Seed, Series A
Focus: Machine Intelligence, Future of Money, Edge Applications, Work OS, Human Empowerment, Open Bazaars
Notable Portfolio: Clue, Centrifuge, Hokodo, Vector
Year of Inception: 1994
Stage: Seed, Series A
Focus: Information Technology, Communications, Healthcare
Notable Portfolio: Gigable, Clever Cards, Offr, FoodMarble
Year of Inception: 2014
Stage: Seed, Series A
Focus: Digital Commerce, Creative Culture, Connected Life
Notable Portfolio: Business of Fashion, Farfetch, Goop, Lassie, Deliveroo
Year of Inception: 2011
Stage: Seed, Series A
Focus: Deep Tech, Fintech, Health, Industrial Tech, Marketplaces & Consumer, SaaS & Infra
Notable Portfolio: Packhelp, bitpanda, CoachHub, Tour Radar, GoStudent
Year of Inception: 2004
Stage: Seed, Series A
Focus: B2B SaaS, Enterprise Tech, Deeptech Applications
Notable Portfolio: Stockagile, Loyal Guru, nhost, Gophr
Year of Inception: 1996
Stage: Seed, Series A, Series B, Series C
Focus: Technology
Notable Portfolio: Adyen, Datadog, Discord, Farfetch, Figma, Robinhood
Year of Inception: 2013
Stage: Seed, Series A, Series B, Series C
Focus: Technology
Notable Portfolio: Epic Games, Deliveroo, Babylon, Dark Trace
Year of Inception: 2000
Stage: Seed, Series A, Series B, Series C
Focus: Technology
Notable Portfolio: Flywire, Kaia, Citymapper, Truecaller, Thread
Year of Inception: 1996
Stage: Seed, Series A, Series B, Series C
Focus: Consumer, Crypto, Web 3.0, Enterprise, FinTech, Gaming, Healthcare
Notable Portfolio: Spotify, Trustpilot, Klarna, Kahoot!
Year of Inception: 1986
Stage: Seed, Series A, Series B, Series C
Focus: Technology, Deep Tech, Enterprise, Healthcare
Notable Portfolio: Cydar Medical, Closed Loop Medicine, Congenica
Year of Inception: 1996
Stage: Seed, Series A, Series B, Series C
Focus: Technology
Notable Portfolio: Airly, Park Circus, Opera, Ocado, Shazam
Year of Inception: 1997
Stage: Seed, Series A, Series B, Series C
Focus: AI and Machine Learning, Consumer Services, Cyber Security, Digital Health and Medical Technology, Digital Media, Enterprise Software, FinTech, InsurTech and RegTech, Semiconductors and Displays, Telecoms Infrastructure
Notable Portfolio: Altana, Octo, Edgeware, Secondmind, Zilingo
Year of Inception: 2004
Stage: Seed, Series A, Series B, Series C
Focus: Crypto & Blockchain, Cybersecurity, DeepTech, DevOps & Data, E-Commerce & Consumer Tech, FinTech & InsurTech, FoodTech & AgTech, Games & Social, Health & Life Sciences, Logistics & Industry 4.0, PropTech, SaaS
Notable Portfolio: Cazoo, Coupang, Monday, SeatGeek
Year of Inception: 2015
Stage: Seed, Series A, Series B, Series C
Focus: Climate Change, Education, Health, Sustainable Growth, Security
Notable Portfolio: Crescendo Biologics, CellCentric, 23andMe, Igloo
Year of Inception: 2006
Stage: Series A
Focus: Technology
Notable Portfolio: Ledger, Vaultree, CoachHub, Worldr
Year of Inception: 1988
Stage: Series A, Series B
Focus: Advanced Manufacturing, B2B Marketplace, Business Services, CleanTech, Consumer, Healthcare, Media, Retail, SaaS
Notable Portfolio: Papier, Authenticx, Genomenon, Creative X
Year of Inception: 2007
Stage: Series A, Series B
Focus: Technology
Notable Portfolio: Freshly, Tier Mobility, Aire, Butternut Box, Fractal
Year of Inception: 2006
Stage: Series A, Series B, Series C
Focus: Digital Work, Enterprise Data & Automation, Internet Infrastructure, Future Finance, Mobility, Industrial Automation, Frontier Tech, Planet Positive, Engaged Consumer, Future of Food, Digital Life & Play, Improving Health, Empowered Individuals
Notable Portfolio: Klarna, Lilium, Hinge Health, Messagebird
Year of Inception: 1911
Stage: Series A, Series B, Series C
Focus: Enterprise, Consumer, Healthcare
Notable Portfolio: Pinterest, Shopify, Twilio, LinkedIn, Yelp, Wix
Year of Inception: 2012
Stage: Series A, Series B, Series C
Focus: Technology
Notable Portfolio: Artisio, ZappedSkin, Studeo
Year of Inception: 1995
Stage: Series A, Series B, Series C
Focus: Information Technology, Life Sciences, Manufacturing
Notable Portfolio: Right Revenue, Go Report, Modern Democracy
Year of Inception: 2001
Stage: Series A, Series B, Series C
Focus: Energy Decarbonization, Hydrogen, Water Risks, Food Security, AI-driven Solutions, Digital and Sustainability
Notable Portfolio: SFC Energy, Ballard, Blue World, RTI Exploration
Year of Inception: 2009
Stage: Seed, Series A, Series B, Series C
Focus: Consumer, Enterprise, Life Science, Frontier Tech
Notable Portfolio: Uber, GitLab, Slack, Zipline, Verve Therapeutics
Year of Inception: 2018
Stage: Seed, Series A
Focus: AI/ML, Cybersecurity, FinTech, Enterprise Software
Notable Portfolio: Monese, Double, Passbase, Tessian
Angel Investors in the United Kingdom
The Angel investors listed below are part of an Angel community located throughout the United Kingdom. They may act as an individual or as a syndicate to fund projects of their preference, so these networks are the best opportunity for you to find a potential Angel with an aligned vision and interests.
Stage: Pre Seed, Seed, Series A
Focus: HardTech, DeepTech, Life Sciences, Advanced Materials, MedTech, Digital Health
Notable Portfolio: Zentraxa, MitoRx Therapeutics, Muddy Machines, WASE
Stage: Pre Seed, Seed, Series A
Focus: Deep Tech, Biotech, Life Sciences, Enterprise/IoT
Notable Portfolio: Gigl
Stage: Seed
Focus: Technology
Notable Portfolio: TC Biopharm, ScotBio, FINDRA, Mallzee
Stage: Seed, Series A
Focus: Technology, Marketing Technology, Advertising Technology, Data and Analytics
Notable Portfolio: Phrasee, Adimo, FocalData, Aquila Insight
Stage: Seed, Series A
Focus: Climate Tech
Notable Portfolio: Naked Energy, Oceanium, Powervault, Thrift+
Stage: Seed, Series A
Focus: Technology, Life Science
Notable Portfolio: Fios Genomics, Reactec, NC Tech, Sentient Medical
Stage: Seed, Series A
Focus: CleanTech, Consumer Product, FinTech, Food and Beverage, Gaming, Industrial, Energy, Mobile, Enterprise & SaaS
Notable Portfolio: Ghold, MiAlgae, PneumoWave, Insignia Technologies
Stage: Seed, Series A
Focus: Sector Agnostic
Notable Portfolio: Aurum Biosciences, Actual Analytics, My1Login, Fios Genomics
Stage: Seed, Series A
Focus: Agri Tech, Clean Tech, Electronics, Enabling Technologies, Environmental, Industrial Technology, Life Sciences, Manufacturing Software
Notable Portfolio: KultraLab, Pyreos, Biotangents, Scottish Bioenergy
Stage: Seed
Focus: Sector Agnostic
Notable Portfolio: -
Stage: Seed
Focus: Sector Agnostic
Notable Portfolio: -
Stage: Seed
Focus: Sector Agnostic
Notable Portfolio: -
Stage: Seed
Focus: Sector Agnostic
Notable Portfolio: -
Stage: Seed
Focus: Technology
Notable Portfolio: Bango, Ubisense, Arachnys, Daniolab
Stage: Seed
Focus: Sector Agnostic
Notable Portfolio: AutonoMe, Auroch
Stage: Seed
Focus: Food & Drink, Life Sciences, Media & Entertainment, Mobile & Online Solutions, Online Platforms & Marketplaces, Products Sci & Tech Innovations, Services, Manufacturing
Notable Portfolio: Cognism, Onfido, Transcend Packaging
Stage: Seed, Series A
Focus: Sector Agnostic, Female Founders
Notable Portfolio: Bewica, Deployed, Salve, Cypher
Stage: Seed, Series A
Focus: Healthcare, Life Sciences, Diagnostics, Digital Health, Medical Device
Notable Portfolio: -
Stage: Seed, Series A
Focus: Deep Tech, HealthTech
Notable Portfolio: Flusso, Blutick, Arecor, Axol, Cardiatec, Exonate
Stage: Seed, Series A
Focus: Sector Agnostic
Notable Portfolio: Appsumer, Avtura, Covatic, easyStorage, Life Ledge, Mindwave
Stage: Seed, Series A
Focus: Technology
Notable Portfolio: Expandly, Oceanium, Novai, Flash Academy
Stage: Seed, Series A
Focus: Web/Internet, Mobile/Apps/Content, Manufacture/Engineering, Environment/GreenTechnology, IT/Software, Life Science, PharmaLeisure/Entertainment, Healthcare/Medical Device, Consumer/Retail
Notable Portfolio: Sharesy, MitoRx Therapeutics, Ecosync, Muddy Machines
Stage: Seed, Series A
Focus: Sector Agnostic
Notable Portfolio: Callsign, Gelmetix, Zuko
Stage: Seed, Series A
Focus: Sector Agnostic
Notable Portfolio: -
Stage: Seed, Series A
Focus: Sector Agnostic
Notable Portfolio: Cipher Surgical, Gousto, Exonate, Limejump
Stage: Pre-Seed, Seed, Series A
Focus: Advanced Technologies, Biotech, Quantum Tech
Notable Portfolio: Isomab, Nebuflow, Open Bionics, Pictura Bio
Stage: Pre-Seed, Seed, Series A
Focus: Cybersecurity
Notable Portfolio: Sitehop, Mindguard, OnSecurity, ESProfiler, Seedata, RevEng
Closing Thoughts on VCs and Angel Investors in the United Kingdom
The UK has been able to maintain its stronghold as Europe's prime startup capital. Both venture capital (VC) firms and angel investors have played a critical role in the development of startups and early-stage businesses in the United Kingdom. Thanks to the investments that have been pouring in, London has gained 20 new unicorns in recent years, bringing up its total unicorn count to 75. With easy access to finance and markets, a helpful ecosystem, and a business-friendly atmosphere, the UK is an excellent place for you to raise financing for your company.
Find VCs and Angel Investors in Europe:
Frequently Asked Questions on VCs and Angel Investors in the United Kingdom
How is the UK's venture capital and angel investment ecosystem structured?
The UK's venture capital ecosystem is Europe's most developed, with London as the primary hub and growing clusters in Manchester, Cambridge, Oxford, and Edinburgh. Key players include British Private Equity and Venture Capital Association (BVCA), UK Business Angels Association (UKBAA), and major VC firms like Octopus Ventures and BGF. The ecosystem benefits from strong government support through British Business Bank programs and Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) tax incentives. Regional development agencies and tech clusters like Tech North and Silicon Fen provide additional support infrastructure.
What funding options are available for UK startups at different stages?
UK startups can access multiple funding channels: seed funding through SEIS-qualified angel investors (£150,000-£500,000), EIS investments from angel syndicates (£500,000-£2M), and institutional VC funding (£2M-£20M+). The British Business Bank's Start Up Loans and Future Fund provide government support. Regional funds like Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund offer location-specific funding. Scale-up capital often involves international VCs, particularly from US firms. Corporate venture arms of major UK companies provide strategic investment opportunities.
Which sectors attract the most investment from UK VCs and angels?
UK investors show strong preference for technology sectors: fintech (particularly in banking, payments, and insurtech), deep tech (AI/ML, quantum computing), healthtech, and enterprise software. There's significant interest in climate tech and clean energy solutions, supported by government net-zero initiatives. Life sciences and biotech attract substantial investment, leveraging the Golden Triangle's research capabilities. Emerging sectors include space tech, advanced manufacturing, and creative industries technology.
What criteria do UK investors use to evaluate startups?
UK investors prioritize strong management teams with domain expertise and scalable business models. Key requirements include clear intellectual property protection, demonstrated market traction, and international growth potential. EIS/SEIS eligibility is crucial for angel investment. Most VCs expect detailed financial projections, clear unit economics, and strategic plans for expansion beyond the UK market. ESG considerations are increasingly important, particularly for climate-focused funds and impact investors.
How can entrepreneurs effectively connect with UK investors?
Key networking channels include London Tech Week, regional tech festivals, and UKBAA events. Accelerators like Seedcamp, Entrepreneur First, and Tech Nation provide direct investor access. Online platforms such as Angel Investment Network and Crowdcube facilitate connections. Local enterprise partnerships (LEPs) and regional innovation hubs organize regular pitch events. Many UK VCs maintain active presence on social media and industry platforms, regularly sharing investment theses and opportunities. University innovation centers, particularly in Oxbridge and London, offer additional networking opportunities.
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