London's Tech Sector Leading European Cities for VC Investment
Feb 2018
Fintech is the leading sector for VC funding into London tech businesses with London fintech firms attracting a record £1.27bn this year. In fact, investment into London fintech companies accounts for 94% of all funding into UK fintech.
Compared to other European countries and major cities, the UK and London remain the favourite destination for tech investors. UK firms attracted almost four times more funding in 2017 than Germany (£694m) and more than France, Ireland and Sweden combined.
While London tech companies also raised significantly more VC investment than any other European city, including Amsterdam, Berlin and Paris.
Despite fears the UK’s decision to leave the European Union would badly damage investor appetite in UK start-ups, UK tech firms have continued to attract high levels of investment since the EU referendum vote – raising over £4bn of VC funding since 23 June 2016. With London tech firms raising a total of £3.2bn since the Brexit vote.
Venture capital funding into London and UK tech companies from 2012-2017
2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | |
London | £260.98m | £344.72m | £646.30m | £963.73m | £1.23bn | £2.45bn |
UK | £404.52m | £543.90m | £950.76m | £1.54bn | £1.63bn | £2.99bn |
Source: PitchBook December 2017
Venture capital funding into technology firms in major European cities in 2017
European city | Total funding raised |
London | £2.45bn |
Paris | £564.97m |
Berlin | £456m |
Stockholm | £360.27m |
Madrid | £65.38m |
Amsterdam | £212.18m |
Dublin | £117.45m |
Helsinki | £56.98m |
Copenhagen | £40.23m |
Lisbon | £2.43m |
Source: PitchBook December 2017
Venture capital funding into technology firms in major European countries in 2017
European city | Total funding raised |
UK | £2.99bn |
Germany | £694.49m |
France | £667.63m |
Sweden | £418.87m |
Netherlands | £279.14m |
Spain | £192.87m |
Finland | £128.62m |
Ireland | £123.06m |
Denmark | £62.21m |
Portugal | £6.63m |
Source: PitchBook December 2017
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