Top 40+ Series A Venture Capital Firms in the UK

The United Kingdom has experienced remarkable growth in its startup ecosystem over the past decade, with a record-breaking £13.5 billion in venture capital investment in 2021. London, the epicentre of this ecosystem, has cemented its position as Europe's top destination for venture capital, with over 45% of all European unicorn companies originating from the city. 

In this article, we delve into the 40+ leading UK-based venture capital firms that have contributed to the success of various startups within the country and beyond.

These firms have supported more than 7,000 innovative companies across diverse sectors such as fintech, artificial intelligence, healthcare, e-commerce, and more, driving the UK's position as the third-largest tech hub globally, with a combined value of £585 billion.

We will explore the investment preferences, notable portfolio companies, and success stories of these top 40+ UK venture capital firms, providing valuable insights for entrepreneurs seeking funding opportunities and investors looking to better understand the UK's startup landscape. 

With over £8.7 billion of total venture capital investment in UK-based fintech startups alone, and an average deal size of £8.5 million across all sectors, it's clear that the country's venture capital scene is thriving and offers tremendous potential for startups and investors alike.

Looking for funding but don't want to give up equity? Look at alternative funding options like Capchase to fund your startup.

Let's dive into the top VCs here in the UK...

1. Index Ventures

Website: indexventures.com 

Notable Investments: Deliveroo, TransferWise, Revolut

Overview: Index Ventures is an international venture capital firm that focuses on technology and consumer internet startups. With offices in London, San Francisco, and Geneva, they have invested in numerous successful UK-based companies that have become household names.

2. Balderton Capital

Website: balderton.com

Notable Investments: The Hut Group, Revolut, GoCardless

Overview: Balderton Capital is a London-based venture capital firm that invests in European startups across various sectors, including fintech, healthcare, and SaaS. They have a strong track record of backing UK companies that have achieved global success.

3. Accel

Website: accel.com 

Notable Investments: Deliveroo, UiPath, Spotify

Overview: Accel is a leading venture capital firm with offices in London, Palo Alto, and Bangalore. They have a long history of investing in successful UK companies, particularly in the technology and consumer sectors.

4. Atomico

Website: atomico.com 

Notable Investments: Graphcore, Klarna, Lilium

Overview: Founded by Skype co-founder Niklas Zennström, Atomico is a London-based venture capital firm that invests in innovative technology companies across Europe. They have backed several successful UK startups in the fields of AI, fintech, and more.

5. Octopus Ventures

Website: octopusventures.com 

Notable Investments: Zoopla, Secret Escapes, Elvie

Overview: Octopus Ventures is a London-based VC firm that invests in early-stage startups across various sectors, including healthcare, fintech, and consumer products. They have a strong focus on supporting UK entrepreneurs and helping them scale their businesses.

6. Northzone

Website: northzone.com

Notable Investments: Trustpilot, MarketInvoice, Kahoot!

Overview: With offices in London, New York, and Stockholm, Northzone is a venture capital firm that invests in early-stage technology companies across Europe and the US. They have backed several successful UK startups in industries such as fintech and education.

7. LocalGlobe

Website: localglobe.vc 

Notable Investments: TransferWise, Robinhood, Monzo

Overview: LocalGlobe is a London-based seed-stage venture capital firm that has backed numerous successful UK startups, including several fintech unicorns. They invest in a wide range of sectors, from healthcare to consumer products.

8. Passion Capital

Website: passioncapital.com 

Notable Investments: Monzo, GoCardless, Nested

Overview: Passion Capital is an early-stage venture capital firm based in London. They invest in UK-based startups across various industries,with a focus on technology and digital services. They have an impressive portfolio of successful investments in the fintech and proptech sectors.

9. Draper Esprit

Website: draperesprit.com 

Notable Investments: Trustpilot, UiPath, Graphcore

Overview: Draper Esprit is a leading European venture capital firm with a strong presence in the UK. They invest in high-growth technology companies across various stages, from Series A to pre-IPO. Their portfolio includes several successful UK-based startups in AI, robotics, and other cutting-edge technologies.

10. Mosaic Ventures

Website: mosaicventures.com 

Notable Investments: Blockchain.com, Habito, SuperAwesome

Overview: Mosaic Ventures is a London-based venture capital firm that invests in early-stage technology companies across Europe. They focus on innovative businesses in sectors such as fintech, proptech, and digital media. Their portfolio includes several high-growth UK startups that are shaping the future of their respective industries.

11. Dawn Capital

Website: dawncapital.com 

Notable Investments: Mimecast, Showpad, iZettle

Overview: Dawn Capital is a London-based venture capital firm that focuses on B2B software and fintech startups. They invest in early-stage companies across Europe and have backed several successful UK-based businesses, helping them scale and achieve global success.

12. Highland Europe

Website: highlandeurope.com 

Notable Investments: Featurespace, Malwarebytes, WeTransfer

Overview: Highland Europe is a growth-stage venture capital firm with offices in London and Geneva. They invest in rapidly-growing European internet, mobile, and software companies, with a portfolio that includes numerous innovative UK-based startups.

13. Hoxton Ventures

Website: hoxtonventures.com 

Notable Investments: Babylon Health, Darktrace, Deliveroo

Overview: Hoxton Ventures is a London-based venture capital firm that invests in early-stage technology companies across Europe. They have a strong track record of investing in successful UK-based startups, particularly in the healthcare and cybersecurity sectors.

14. Notion Capital

Website: notion.vc

Notable Investments: GoCardless, Tradeshift, Currencycloud

Overview: Notion Capital is a venture capital firm based in London that invests in B2B SaaS and cloud-based startups across Europe. They have a strong focus on supporting UK-based companies and have backed several successful fintech and enterprise software businesses.

15. Episode 1 Ventures

Website: episode1.com 

Notable Investments: Carwow, Triptease, AimBrain

Overview: Episode 1 Ventures is a London-based venture capital firm that invests in early-stage technology companies across the UK. They support startups in various sectors, including automotive, travel, and biometrics, and have a strong track record of backing successful UK-based businesses.

16. BGF Ventures

Website: bgf.co.uk

Notable Investments: Gousto, Revolut, NewVoiceMedia

Overview: BGF Ventures is the venture capital arm of the Business Growth Fund, a UK-based investment firm. They invest in early-stage technology companies across various sectors, including fintech, food tech, and cloud services. Their portfolio includes numerous successful UK startups.

17. AlbionVC

Website: albion.vc 

Notable Investments: uMotif, Elvie, Echopixel

Overview: AlbionVC is the venture capital division of Albion Capital Group, a London-based investment firm. They invest in early-stage technology and healthcare companies across the UK, with a focus on digital health, enterprise software, and other innovative sectors.

18. Forward Partners

Website: forwardpartners.com 

Notable Investments: Patch, Appear Here, Koru Kids

Overview: Forward Partners is a London-based venture capital firm that invests in early-stage UK companies across various sectors, including e-commerce, marketplaces, and SaaS. In addition to providing capital, they also offer hands-on support and expertise to help their portfolio companies scale and succeed.

19. Eden Ventures

Website: edenventures.co.uk

Notable Investments: Reevoo, Green Man Gaming, Huddle

Overview: Eden Ventures is a UK-based venture capital firm that invests in early-stage technology companies across Europe. They focus on sectors such as digital media, e-commerce, and enterprise software, and have backed several successful UK-based startups.

20. Amadeus Capital Partners

Website: amadeuscapital.com

Notable Investments: Graphcore, Speechmatics, Iotic

Overview: Amadeus Capital Partners is a London-based

21. Oxford Capital

Website: oxcp.com 

Notable Investments: Ultrahaptics, Moneybox, Echogen

Overview: Oxford Capital is a UK-based venture capital firm that invests in early-stage technology companies across various sectors, including digital media, healthcare, and fintech. They have a strong track record of supporting innovative UK-based startups and helping them achieve growth.

22. MMC Ventures

Website: mmcventures.com

Notable Investments: Gousto, Interactive Investor, Bloom & Wild.

Overview: MMC Ventures is a London-based venture capital firm that invests in early-stage, high-growth technology companies across the UK. They have backed numerous successful UK-based startups in sectors such as fintech, food tech, and e-commerce.

23. Connect Ventures

Website: connectventures.co

Notable Investments: Citymapper, Kheiron Medical, Typeform

Overview: Connect Ventures is a London-based venture capital firm that invests in early-stage technology companies across Europe. They have a strong focus on product-led startups and have backed several successful UK-based businesses in various sectors, including transportation and healthcare.

24. PROfounders Capital

Website: profounderscapital.com

Notable Investments: Made.com, Unity Technologies, Small Giant Games

Overview: PROfounders Capital is a London-based venture capital firm that invests in early-stage digital technology companies across Europe. They have backed numerous successful UK-based startups, particularly in the e-commerce and gaming sectors.

25. IQ Capital

Website: iq.capital

Notable Investments: Privitar, Thought Machine, Fluidic Analytics

Overview: IQ Capital is a Cambridge-based venture capital firm that invests in early-stage deep-tech companies across the UK. They focus on sectors such as artificial intelligence, data analytics, and cybersecurity and have a strong track record of backing successful UK-based businesses.

26. Seedcamp

Website: seedcamp.com

Notable Investments: UiPath, Revolut, TransferWise

Overview: Seedcamp is a London-based venture capital firm that invests in early-stage technology companies across Europe. They have backed numerous successful UK-based startups, particularly in the fintech sector, and offer a range of support and resources to help their portfolio companies scale.

27. JamJar Investments

Website: jamjarinvestments.com

Notable Investments: Deliveroo, Bulb, Simba Sleep

Overview: JamJar Investments is a London-based venture capital firm founded by the Innocent Drinks founders. They invest in early-stage consumer-focused companies across the UK and have backed several successful startups in the food tech, energy, and e-commerce sectors.

28. Pentech Ventures

Website: pentechvc.com

Notable Investments: Nutmeg, SaaSOptics, Spirable

Overview: Pentech Ventures is a UK-based venture capital firm that invests in early-stage technology companies across Europe. They focus on sectors such as fintech, software, and digital media and have backed several successful UK-based businesses.

29. Kindred Capital

Website: kindredcapital.vc 

Notable Investments: Five, LabGenius, Paddle

Overview: Kindred Capital is a London-based venture capital firm that invests in early-stage technology companies across Europe. They have a unique founder-centric investment model and have backed numerous successful UK-based startups in various sectors, including AI, biotech, and SaaS.

30. ADV (Accelerated Digital Ventures)

Website: accelerated.ventures

Notable Investments: Cytora, TopHat, Open Cosmos

Overview: ADV is a UK-based venture capital firm that invests in early-stage technology companies across the country. They focus on sectors such as insurtech, edtech, and space technology, and have backed several successful UK-based businesses pushing innovation's boundaries.

31. Entrepreneur First

Website: joinef.com

Notable Investments: Magic Pony Technology, CloudNC, Tractable

Overview: Entrepreneur First is a London-based company builder and venture capital firm that invests in talented individuals to help them build world-class technology startups from scratch. They have backed numerous successful UK-based startups in various sectors, including AI, robotics, and machine learning.

32. White Star Capital

Website: whitestarvc.com

Notable Investments: Echo, Tier Mobility, Vinted

Overview: White Star Capital is a venture capital firm with offices in London, New York, and Montreal. They invest in early-stage technology companies across Europe and North America and have backed several successful UK-based startups, particularly in digital health and e-commerce.

33. Crane Venture Partners

Website: crane.vc 

Notable Investments: Tessian, Juro, SuperAwesome

Overview: Crane Venture Partners is a London-based venture capital firm that focuses on early-stage enterprise software and deep-tech companies across Europe. They have a strong track record of backing successful UK-based startups in sectors such as cybersecurity, legal tech, and digital media.

34. Playfair Capital

Website: playfaircapital.com 

Notable Investments: Mapillary, CryptoFacilities, Ravelin

Overview: Playfair Capital is a London-based venture capital firm that invests in early-stage technology companies across Europe. They focus on sectors such as machine learning, artificial intelligence, and blockchain and have backed several successful UK-based startups.

35. True Ventures

Website: trueventures.com

Notable Investments: Automattic, Peloton, Ring

Overview: True Ventures is a US-based venture capital firm with investments in the UK. They invest in early-stage technology companies across various sectors, including consumer products, digital media, and health tech. Their portfolio includes several successful UK-based startups that have achieved global recognition.

36. Augmentum Fintech

Website: augmentum.vc 

Notable Investments: Zopa, Tide, iwoca

Overview: Augmentum Fintech is a London-based venture capital firm that focuses exclusively on fintech investments across Europe. They have backed numerous successful UK-based fintech startups, helping them scale and achieve significant growth.

37. Beringea

Website: beringea.com 

Notable Investments: Watchfinder, Monica Vinader, My 1st Years

Overview: Beringea is a venture capital firm with offices in London and Michigan, investing in high-growth technology and consumer businesses. They have a strong track record of backing successful UK-based startups in various sectors, such as e-commerce, fashion, and personalized products.

38. Wayra UK

Website: wayra.uk

Notable Investments: SafeToNet, Valerann, Oxford Space Systems

Overview: Wayra UK is the startup accelerator arm of Telefónica, which invests in early-stage digital technology companies across the UK. They have backed numerous successful UK-based startups in sectors such as cybersecurity, IoT, and space technology.

39. Innovate UK

Website: gov.uk

Notable Investments: Owlstone Medical, CellCentric, FiveAI

Overview: Innovate UK is the UK government's innovation agency, providing funding and support to early-stage technology companies across the country. They have backed several successful UK-based startups in various sectors, including healthcare, AI, and biotech.

40. DN Capital

Website: dncapital.com

Notable Investments: Shazam, Auto1, Endeca

Overview: DN Capital is a venture capital firm with offices in London, Berlin, and Silicon Valley. They invest in early-stage technology companies across Europe and the US, focusing on sectors such as e-commerce, fintech, and digital media. Their portfolio includes several successful UK-based startups that have achieved significant growth and global recognition.

41. Octopus Ventures

Website: octopusventures.com 

Notable Investments: Graze, Secret Escapes, Zoopla

Overview: Octopus Ventures is a London-based venture capital firm that invests in early-stage technology companies across Europe. They have a strong track record of backing successful UK-based startups in various sectors, such as e-commerce, travel, and property tech.

To wrap up the top 40+ Series A venture capital firms in the UK...

The United Kingdom's vibrant startup ecosystem, powered by an impressive £13.5 billion in venture capital investment in 2021, demonstrates the immense potential for innovation and growth within the country. 

The top 40+ UK-based venture capital firms have played a pivotal role in nurturing and supporting over 7,000 startups across a variety of sectors, including fintech, artificial intelligence, healthcare, and e-commerce, contributing to the UK's position as the third-largest tech hub globally with a combined value of £585 billion.

As the UK startup landscape continues to evolve and attract global attention, the role of these venture capital firms will remain crucial in discovering, funding, and mentoring the next generation of groundbreaking companies. 

Entrepreneurs and investors alike can look to the success stories and investment strategies of these top 40+ UK venture capital firms as a valuable guide to navigating the country's dynamic and thriving startup environment. 

With robust investment activity, increasing deal sizes, and a diverse range of innovative startups, the future of the UK's tech sector looks incredibly promising.