The equity investment market over the past few quarters has been giving us some cause for concern. The amount being invested each quarter was stubbornly staying well below the peak at the beginning of 2016. Last quarter we saw the amount of investment rocket up to an all-time record, but we were worried that this was a flash in the pan – the chance result of a few mega-deals. This quarter nearly matched that amount of investment and saw a record number of deals, both of which are a cause for celebration.

This growth has mostly been fed by investment at the late stage of the market, and especially by mega-deals (£50m+). We view this as a very positive sign that the UK can support the growth of startups beyond the early stage. The long-held view that the UK funding environment does not have the capital to support these deals may no longer apply.

The UK ecosystem (and especially the London tech scene) has produced companies capable drawing the big bucks from further afield than before. The UK is in the spotlight on the international stage right now but so far foreign investors like what they see, regularly getting involved in these mega-deals.

Download full report