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Venture Capital in the UK - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

Joseph Maher Joseph Maher London, United Kingdom Last Updated: September 2024 SIC SP0.382

Revenue

£545.8m

2024-25

£545.8m

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

£XXX.Xm

Employees

2,505

Businesses

213

Wages

£XXX.Xm

Venture Capital in the UK industry analysis

The Venture Capital industry has seen healthy growth over the past decade, as investors increasingly turn to private markets, seeing the benefits of greater returns and portfolio diversification that a venture capitalist can offer. From being a niche area of finance consisting of old-school investors and investment bankers, venture capital has evolved to allow investors to capitalise on new technologies and innovations that could disrupt and shape the future. This phenomenon has become all too common in recent years, with the rapid pace of technological change giving rise to exciting advancements like generative AI.

Trends and Insights

  • Investors welcome interest rate cuts. SME’s typically perform better when interest rates are low given their higher amounts of leverage. This will incentivise investors to look at venture capital, lifting fundraising and driving investment in 2024-25.
  • Early-stage financing dominates the industry amidst rising costs. While still not profitable, companies initiating commercial manufacturing are seeking additional funding to cover capital expenditure and working capital, aided by a robust UK tech ecosystem and government support.
  • London continues to dominate as the UK's startup hub. This bustling capital attracted around 67% of the country's venture capital investment in 2023, primarily fuelling its dynamic fintech sector.
  • High rivalry limits market dominance in venture capital. With VC firms diversifying in specialised sectors and plentiful start-up opportunities, no single player commands an overwhelming market share.

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  • Market estimates from 2014-2029
  • Critical performance data and rankings
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 18.1 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated £545.8m in 2024.

Trends and Insights

2024-25 marks a turning point for VC investment

  • According to KPMG, VC investment in the UK more than doubled in the first quarter of 2024-25, reaching $5.2 billion, up from $2.3 billion in the final quarter of 2023-24.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Venture Capital in the UK
Revenue (2014-2029)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Macroeconomic challenges shift VC focus to fundamentals

  • Macroeconomic challenges are set to persist in the coming years as higher interest rates and political uncertainty introduce volatility into the market. These conditions will lead to a cautious investment market, particularly for later-stage start-ups where large deals become more selective.

Biggest companies in the Venture Capital in the UK

Company
Market Share (%)
2025
Revenue (£m)
2025
Balderton Capital (UK) LLP
68.2
Index Ventures (UK) LLP
62.5
Accel Partners Ltd
54.4

To view the market share and analysis for all 5 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Venture Capital in the UK
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Other early-stage financing, Later-stage financing and Startup funding. Other early-stage financing is the largest segment of the Venture Capital in the UK.

Trends and Insights

Other early-stage financing represents the majority of investment

  • This is financing provided to companies that have initiated commercial manufacturing but require further funds to cover additional capital expenditures and working capital before they reach the break-even point. These companies are not yet generating a profit.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

Companies in this industry provide seed, start-up and early-stage investment capital. These operators generate revenue through management fees for the provision of services.

What's included in this industry?

Seed fundingStart-up fundingOther early-stage financingLater-stage financingBridge equity financing

Companies

Balderton Capital (UK) LLPIndex Ventures (UK) LLPAccel Partners Ltd

Purchase this report to view all 5 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

DRY POWDERASSETS UNDER MANAGEMENTPORTFOLIO COMPANY

Industry Code

SIC 2007

SIC 64.99 - Venture Capital in the UK

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

Investors welcome interest rate cuts. SME’s typically perform better when interest rates are low given their higher amounts of leverage. This will incentivise investors to lo...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

Early-stage financing dominates the industry amidst rising costs. While still not profitable, companies initiating commercial manufacturing are seeking additional funding to ...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2024
  • Product innovation level

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2024
  • Major market segmentation in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

London continues to dominate as the UK's startup hub. This bustling capital attracted around 67% of the country's venture capital investment in 2023, primarily fuelling its d...

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each region
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each region in 2024
  • Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of employees in each region in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across Europe, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

High rivalry limits market dominance in venture capital. With VC firms diversifying in specialised sectors and plentiful start-up opportunities, no single player commands an ...

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

Accel is a trailblazer in the Venture Capital industry. Notably, its vast portfolio of diverse technology-focused start-ups, consistent growth, and notable investments, such ...

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
  • Overview of Balderton Capital (UK) LLP's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Index Ventures (UK) LLP's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Accel Partners Ltd's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of revenue, market share and profit margin trend for 2 additional companies

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for Balderton Capital (UK) LLP, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Index Ventures (UK) LLP, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Accel Partners Ltd, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description, key data and performance trends for 2 additional companies

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

The Alternative Investment Fund Managers Regulations 2013 applies to venture capital firms. It sets minimum operating conditions and disclosure requirements, creating a more ...

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

Profit in the Venture Capital industry follows market trends. When economic conditions are favorable and investment is high, venture capital firms see a boost in carried inte...

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Liquidity Ratios (2018-2022)
  • Coverage Ratios (2018-2022)
  • Leverage Ratios  (2018-2022)
  • Operating Ratios (2018-2022)
  • Assets (2018-2022)
  • Liabilities (2018-2022)
  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Average Wage (2014-2029)
  • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
  • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2014-2029)
  • IVA (2014-2029)
  • Establishments (2014-2029)
  • Enterprises (2014-2029)
  • Employment (2014-2029)
  • Exports (2014-2029)
  • Imports (2014-2029)
  • Wages (2014-2029)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Venture Capital in the UK industry in United Kingdom in 2024?

The market size of the Venture Capital in the UK industry in United Kingdom is £545.8m in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Venture Capital in the UK industry in 2024?

There are 213 businesses in the Venture Capital in the UK industry in United Kingdom, which has grown at a CAGR of 11.8 % between 2019 and 2024.

Has the Venture Capital in the UK industry in United Kingdom grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Venture Capital in the UK industry in United Kingdom has been growing at a CAGR of 18.1 % between 2019 and 2024.

What is the forecast growth of the Venture Capital in the UK industry in United Kingdom over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Venture Capital in the UK industry in United Kingdom is expected to grow.

What are the biggest companies in the Venture Capital in the UK market in United Kingdom?

The biggest companies operating in the Venture Capital market in United Kingdom are Balderton Capital (UK) LLP, Index Ventures (UK) LLP and Accel Partners Ltd

What does the Venture Capital in the UK in United Kingdom include?

Seed funding and Start-up funding are part of the Venture Capital in the UK industry.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Venture Capital in the UK in United Kingdom?

The company holding the most market share in United Kingdom is Balderton Capital (UK) LLP.

How competitive is the Venture Capital in the UK industry in United Kingdom?

The level of competition is high and increasing in the Venture Capital in the UK industry in United Kingdom.

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Competitors

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Methodology

How are IBISWorld reports created?

IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.

Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in the UK include:

  • Office for National Statistics
  • Office for Budget Responsibility
  • Bank of England

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.

Learn more about our methodology and data sourcing on the Help Center.