UK startups need more support in understanding an increasingly complex early stage funding process. A new survey from Angel Investment Network (AIN), the world's largest online angel investment platform reveals that less than half of respondents (44%) said they had a good understanding of the fundraising process when dealing with investors. Less than 1 in 7 (15%) described this as very good.

The survey of 223 startups highlights a big gap in fundraising expectations versus the current reality of the process with more challenging market conditions. For startups that had previously raised investment, 54% revealed it had taken longer than expected, versus just 17% who said it was quicker than expected.