"Ten years ago, when we said we would focus on investing in Europe, people were surprised," reports Atomico, a European venture capital firm. "When we said there would soon be multiple billion dollar companies founded in the UK, France, Germany, the Nordics and so on, they laughed."
Today, the firm has raised more than $21 million dollars, added 154 companies to its portfolio, and played a key role in 21 exits. Who's laughing now?
The UK alone is home to an estimated 3,000 to 5,000 tech startups with a combined value of £34 billion. Furthermore, VCs poured more than £1.1 billion into the UK's technology sector during the first half of 2017. London's burgeoning tech sector attracted more venture capital investment over that six-month period than any other six-month period within the last decade. It's numbers like these, coupled with generous tax incentives, relaxed visa requirements, and international benefits, that have motivated many startups and scale-ups to relocate overseas.
Are you looking for some investment of your own? We recently shared 8 London VC Firms Tech Startups Need to Know About. Let's take a look at even more great investment opportunities from around the city:
London Venture Capitalists Investing in Tech: 8 More Funds to Know About
1. MMC Ventures
Founded in 2000, MMC Ventures invests in Seed and Series A technology companies in the FinTech, digital media, and consumer internet sectors. Since its inception, the firm has supported more than 50 portfolio companies rapidly expand from early product-market fit to revenues of more than £100 million.
After initial investments, MMC typically invests up to ten million pounds in subsequent funding rounds, in addition to supporting their partners in raising capital from other prominent VCs, corporates, and lenders. The organisation prides itself on a comprehensive in-house research process that yields highly in-depth market, customer, and competitor report.
We have a culture of openness, integrity and ambition. Our investment comes with responsibility and we pride ourselves in remaining transparent and making balanced decisions in the toughest situations. We build relationships with entrepreneurs and investors based on trust and mutual respect.
Quick Facts
- Total funds raised: £169 million
- Average investment size: £1 to £3 million
- Number of investments: 74
- Exits: 8
Notable Investments: Sky-Futures, Bloom & Wild, Cloudsense
Specialties: FinTech, digital media, consumer internet, software
2. Northzone
Since 1996, Northzone has made a name for itself as a reputable technology investment partnership by supporting more than 100 scale-ups. The firm boasts a strong international presence, with office locations in London, Oslo, Stockholm, and New York. Altogether, the partners at Northzone provide more than 200 years of operational and investment experience. The firm invests in companies of all stages from Seed to Series C.
We are entrepreneurs, researchers, ex-suits, and above all, passionate doers. We happily roll up our sleeves when needed and work through challenges with our portfolio companies. Having been through the whole lifecycle of a company, from both sides of the table (more than once), we are likely to understand the types of challenges that you may face, and are committed to helping you through the roller coaster.
Quick Facts
- Total funds raised: £1.12 billion
- Average investment size: Varies
- Number of investments: 131
- Exits: 25
Notable Investments: Spotify, TrustPilot, Avito
Specialties: FinTech, SaaS, e-Commerce, internet security, consumer internet, artificial intelligence
3. Accel Partners
Since 1983, Accel Partners has supported some of the biggest names in tech including Dropbox, Etsy, and Facebook. With locations in the Bay Area, Bangalore, and London, Accel boasts a global contact book of key influencers who are able to provide invaluable insight to portfolio companies. Despite having raised an impressive ten billion dollars over the years, the firm has managed to stay fairly lean. In fact, the team prides itself on its collaborative, hands-on approach to funding.
We seek to understand entrepreneurs as individuals, appreciate their originality and play to their strengths. Because greatness doesn't have a stereotype. From the earliest days through all phases of growth, it's our responsibility to support unique founders with unique insights as they take the seeds of promise and grow them into amazing, enduring companies.
Quick Facts
- Total funds raised: $10 billion
- Average investment size: Varies
- Number of Investments: 1,123
- Exits: 230
Notable Investments: Dropbox, Etsy, Facebook
Specialties: FinTech, information technology, e-Commerce, consumer internet, education, healthcare
4. White Star Capital
Founded in 2013, White Star Capital is a newer partnership dedicated to backing exceptional entrepreneurs with global ambitions. The organisation has experienced an impressive amount of growth in under five years, achieving five exits, accruing 51 portfolio companies, and opening a second location in London.
One unique thing about White Star? They have a clear focus on companies involved in sensors and algorithms, disruptive commerce, and the digitalization of finance. As such, the organisation seeks founders at the forefront of collecting, collating, and catalyzing data. White Star specializes in Seed and early-stage investments at this time.
We’re a multinational team of entrepreneurs and operators brought together by our extensive experience in early-stage startups. Our partners benefit from our diverse range of skills, languages, and truly global networks.
Quick Facts
- Total funds raised: $129 million.
- Average investment size: $0.25 to $5 million
- Number of Investments: 51
- Exits: 8
Notable Investments: LaunchRock, Dollar Shave Club, Digg
Specialties: Mobile, Big Data, gaming, social, SaaS
Take your tech startup to the next level by joining the London startup community. Check out the London Startup Guide for key insight into all the best events, accelerators, and more!
5. LocalGlobe
Founded by father and son duo Robin and Saul Klein in 2015, LocalGlobe has quickly risen to become one of London's most prominent Seed-stage investment firms. The firm has backed an impressive 45 startups in under two years. The firm offers the capital, time, and support needed to get to Series A and build the most ambitious business possible. Since opening its doors, the firm has cast a wide net, with 154 investments and 24 exits.
We look for founder market fit. The question of whether the founder is from McKinsey or an investment bank is only relevant in the case of it being helpful for the addressable market. I don’t think we expect for founders to have been through a certain journey... It’s a very lonely business starting a company, and all of us have been through it ourselves, and I think the empathy that we have with our founders is fundamental to the relationship.
Quick Facts
- Total funds raised: £115 million
- Average investment size: Varies
- Number of Investments: 154
- Exits: 24
Notable Investments: Citymapper, Improbable, Zoopla
Specialties: Tech, education, energy, fashion, finance, food, health, insurance, property, travel
6. Invoke Capital
Invoke Capital is the only investment team in Europe with a dedicated, in-house R+D division. Based in Cambridge, the firm consists of a group of technology experts with access to one billion dollars in capital. Invoke aims to utilize its targeted expertise and repositioning experience to rapidly scale portfolio companies across multiple markets.
Invoke team members have hands-on experience growing technology businesses and developing core technologies in areas including genomics, security, pattern recognition, signal processing, and Big Data. Invoke partners have served on prominent boards, such as Nesta, the Royal Academy of Engineering, and the Foundation for Science and Technology. The only criteria the firm has for investing is that it be a "significant fundamental technology that brings something new to the marketplace."
Invoke is not a traditional VC fund, we look to do a smaller number of key investments with which we actively work on a day to day basis. Nor do we constrain ourselves by the arbitrary definitions of start-up, Venture Capital, Mezzanine or Private Equity, and we are not constrained by fixed terms or timescales. Instead, we see opportunity in the technology itself and will fund it throughout its growth, including an acquisition if relevant.
Quick Facts
- Total funds raised: $500 million
- Average investment size: Varies
- Number of Investments: 6
- Exits: None
Notable Investments: Sophia Genetics, Neurence, Luminance
Specialties: Tech, Big Data, artificial intelligence
7. Lakestar
Founded in 2012, Lakestar is a newer investment firm backed by a group of prominent investors with substantial experience. The firm's partners have invested in Facebook, Skype, AirBnb, and more. Lakestar focuses on early and growth stage investments in the technology sector.
The European technology market is continuing to boom — we’re seeing high-quality investment opportunities in tech, in a venture capital ecosystem that has materially improved and is increasingly producing market-leading companies on a global scale.
Quick Facts
- Total funds raised: €350 million
- Average investment size: Varies
- Number of Investments: 45
- Exits: 2
Notable Investments: Maker Studios, Angel.ai, Blockchain
Specialties: Tech, Internet, SaaS
8. Atomico
Atomico primarily invests in Series A technology companies with a strong vision for becoming the world's next leader within their respective categories. The firm has no industry-specific criteria, but prioritizes technology companies who have already achieved product-market fit.
The firm's team of investors consists of founders and operational leaders who were responsible for global expansion, hiring, user growth, and marketing for Skype, Google, Facebook, and Spotify. The London-based firm holds additional offices in Asia, Europe, and South America. Notably, Atomico does not invest in American companies at all. The firm prefers to invest in London, Stockholm, Helsinki, and Berlin.
We’re not a traditional venture capital firm. We exist for more than returns, even though it is our lifeblood. Since we began our work in 2006, we’ve always set our sights much higher. At our core, we believe entrepreneurs are the ultimate agents of positive, transformational change across every aspect of our society and economy.
Quick Facts
- Total funds raised: $1.4 billion
- Average investment size: €20 to €50 million
- Number of Investments: 105
- Exits: 21
Notable Investments: Yub, WooMe, TrialPay
Specialties: Internet, telecoms, technology, media, FinTech
Get Fundraising Support
Are you in the preliminary process of raising capital for your tech startup? London has no shortage of world-class investors eager to learn more about your product. And if you're a founder with a minimum viable products (MVP) and Seed to Series C funding, the RocketSpace tech community can help you get your foot in the door. In fact, our London technology campus provides:
- A wide network of startup entrepreneurs, VCs, corporate partners, and advisors
- Pitch workshops, roundtable discussions, and high-caliber networking events
- Flexible coworking options to accommodate teams as large as 60+
Is the RocketSpace tech community right for your startup? Try a FREE Day Pass!
