June 2020
Bristol’s Clifton Suspension Bridge. Photo by Vadim Sherbakov.
Supported by the Digital
Economy Council and
the Department for
Digital, Culture, Media
and Sport
UK Tech Ecosystem Update
London Tech Week 2020: UK Tech Ecosystem Update
Monthly venture capital investment amount
Monthly number of venture capital rounds >$2 million
June 2020 | Check underlying data via https://datacommons.technation.io
UK tech companies continue to raise hundreds of millions every month, and VCs are still
active in H1 2020.
●
VC is a lagging indicator, with much
month-to-month volatility.
●
The impact of Coronavirus will become
more apparent over time.
● UK government co-investment Future
Fund opened 20th May, boosting funding
prospects.
●
Significant funding rounds are still being
closed.
Venture capital investment in UK by round size
Top UK rounds in 2020
$500M
London
$360M
London
$150M
London
$150M
Bristol
$120M
London
$130M
Abingdon
$103M
London
$100M
London
$94M
London
$99M
London
$87M
Abingdon
$83M
London
$80M
London
$80M
London
$80M
London
London Tech Week 2020: UK Tech Ecosystem Update
June 2020 | Check underlying data via https://datacommons.technation.io
Jan - May
UK tech companies are well capitalised, after raising record amounts of venture capital
in 2019. There have been 15 UK rounds over $80M in 2020.
London has raised more VC investment than Paris, Stockholm, Berlin and Tel Aviv
combined in 2020, although most deals would have been agreed before the crisis.
Venture capital investment in London by sector (2020 YTD)
Venture capital investment by city/hub
2019
2020 YTD
London
$10B
$4.0B
Paris
$3.2B
$1.8B
Stockholm
$2.4B
$0.7B
Berlin
$4.5B
$0.7B
Tel Aviv
$2.2B
$0.6B
London Tech Week 2020: UK’s Startup Ecosystem Update
June 2020 | Check underlying data via https://datacommons.technation.io
Source: Dealroom.co.
London Tech Week 2020: UK Tech Ecosystem Update
June 2020 | Check underlying data via https://datacommons.technation.io
Despite challenging macro conditions, UK tech is still outperforming all European
neighbours in 2020.
Venture capital investment
Note: Investment data for 2020 until May 31st.
United Kingdom: 7
Israel: 6
France: 4
Germany: 3
Rest of Europe: 3
London Tech Week 2020: UK Tech Ecosystem Update
June 2020 | Check underlying data via https://datacommons.technation.io
New unicorns since last London Tech Week
The UK ranks #1 in Europe for unicorns, built on a decade of consistent growth.
Source: Dealroom.co.
A generation of world-leading UK scaleups were born during the last financial crisis.
London Tech Week 2020: UK Tech Ecosystem Update
June 2020 | Check underlying data via https://datacommons.technation.io
Tech companies founded between 2008-2011
View all »
Fintech
2011
Valued at $3.5B (May 2019)
$360M Total funding
Private
2011
Valued at $3.5B (Oct 2019)
$1.6B Total funding
Private
2009
Valued at $893M (Nov 2019)
$111M Total funding
Acquired
Marketplace &
Energy
2008
Valued at $4.5B (May 2020)
$638M Total funding
Public
2008
Valued at $2.7B (May 2018)
$30M Total funding
Acquired
2008
Valued at $1.2B (Nov 2019)
$240M Total funding
Private
AI & Deeptech
2010
Valued at $480M (Jan 2014)
N/A Total funding
Acquired
2008
Valued at $250M (Feb 2016)
$20M Total funding
Acquired
2008
Valued at ~$216M (May 2020)
$99M Total funding
Private
Healthcare
2008
Valued at $780M (Mar 2020)
$445M Total funding
Private
2008
Valued at $620M (May 2020)
$98M Total funding
Public
2008
Valued at $200M (May 2020)
$60M Total funding
Public
●
The last financial crisis instigated an
entrepreneurship boom in the UK.
●
“Silicon Roundabout” was coined as a joke in
2008 about a small cluster of startups; there are
now over 35,000 startups & scaleups across the
UK.
●
The UK’s first co-working spaces opened in
2008/09; there are now 260 across dozens of UK
towns and cities.
● With a highly-paid, work-from-anywhere
workforce, the UK tech sector could be a resilient
employer.
● With the right skills and incentives, we could soon
see the birth of the next generation of UK tech
scaleups.
London Tech Week 2020: UK Tech Ecosystem Update
June 2020 | Check underlying data via https://datacommons.technation.io
The UK also ranks #1 in Europe for potential future unicorns, with over 100 companies
valued at $250M-$800M
Number of potential future unicorns
Source: Dealroom.co.
New funds raised by VCs in UK
0M-$50M
$50M-$100M
$100M-$250M
$250M+
UK VCs have record levels of dry powder ready to deploy in 2020 and beyond.
Seed
Series A+
Growth stage
$140M
Feb 2019
$2B
Apr 2020
€463M
Jun 2018
$115M
Jun 2019
$820M
Feb 2020
$477M
Mar 2019
$100M
Apr 2020
$735M
Feb 2020
$375M
Mar 2018
$81M
May 2018
$500M
Nov 2019
€300M
Mar 2019
$80M
Sep 2019
$400M
Nov 2019
Latitude: $180M
Dec 2018
$63M
Jun 2018
$185M
Jan 2020
£83M
Apr 2019
Over $10 billion raised by VCs in UK in 2019-2020 alone. Almost half of the $22 billion raised by European VCs.
London Tech Week 2020: UK Tech Ecosystem Update
June 2020 | Check underlying data via https://datacommons.technation.io
Note: VC funds data for 2020 until May 31st.

Foreign investment is a sign of strength, with the UK investment landscape diversified
for resilience.
% of foreign investment (2020YTD) by country and source
For Israel and the UK, the high proportion of
foreign investors reflects strong global
investor appetite, especially from the USA
and Asia (a sign of strength).
Germany and Sweden now has the lowest %
of domestic capital of any major tech hub.
France wants to attract more foreign capital,
especially from the USA and Asia.
London Tech Week 2020: UK Tech Ecosystem Update
June 2020 | Check underlying data via https://datacommons.technation.io
Note: Investment data for 2020 until May 31st.
40%
assess their runway at less than a year.
43%
have stopped online advertising.
30%
of startups have cut salaries across the company by at least 15%.
49%
of respondents have frozen hiring, another 32% have slowed hiring.
68%
of respondents expect full-year revenues to drop more than 25% of forecast.
39%
of business-to-consumer startups saw March revenues drop by over 50%.
18%
of business-to-business startups saw March revenues drop by over 50%.
33%
don’t believe they’d qualify for any loan though they may be interested.
41%
are considering venture debt.
16%
have committed to laying off at least 10% of staff.
A survey run between April 6th and 17th in
partnership with
UK tech companies are adjusting to navigate Covid-19 - survey results based on the
responses of 200 VC-backed UK companies.
London Tech Week 2020: UK Tech Ecosystem Update
June 2020 | Check underlying data via https://public.flourish.studio/story/279152/
Source: LocalGlobe & Latitude survey, in partnership with 16 other UK VCs, conducted 6-17 April 2020. Based on 200 responses.
London Tech Week 2020: UK Tech Ecosystem Update
June 2020 | Check underlying data via https://datacommons.technation.io
1. Based on the number of VC-backed startups & scaleups based in the United Kingdom.
24%(1)
Net positive
1,731 startups
Digital health (833)
Babylon Health, BenevolentAI, Zava
med, Pharmacy2u
Food delivery & E-grocery (417)
Ocado, Gousto, Graze, Butternut
box
Gaming (167)
Improbable, Playtonic Games,
FACEIT
Dating (20)
muzmatch, Badoo, Lumen
66%
Defensible or
short-term impact
(V-shaped)
5,100 startups
Cleantech (390)
Octopus energy, Bulb, Highview power
Education (286)
Immersive labs, A Could guru,
Memrise, BibliU
Banking & Insurance (208)
Revolut, Greensill, Monzo,
OakNorth Bank
Cyber security (236)
Mimecast, Snyk, Tessian
Marketing (596)
Ogury, Exponea, Tray
Proptech (260)
Purplebricks, Nested, Yopa
Jobs & Recruitment (194)
Beamery, Coople, Adzuna
Robotics & Automation (83)
Graphcore, Blue Prism, CMR
Surgical
10%
Prolonged impact
(L-shaped recovery)
744 startups
Mobility (305)
Cazoo, Trafi, Carwow
Travel (199)
Secret Escapes, Lastminute,
TravelLocal, ClickTravel
Events (120)
Pollen, Ticketscript, Velocity
The pandemic will impact certain sectors in different ways.
London Tech Week 2020: UK Tech Ecosystem Update
UK city
Number
of roles advertised
in 2019
Number of digital tech
roles in 2019
% Digital tech
roles
Median salary for all
roles (2019)
Median salary
digital tech roles
(2019)
Digital tech salary
vs. all roles (%
difference)
Median salary
digital tech
roles (2018)
Change in Digital
tech salary
(2018-2019)
London
3459263
658275
19.03%
£35,000
£55,000
23.64%
£53,296
3%
Birmingham
251017
46723
18.61%
£30,000
£40,000
12.50%
£37,500
7%
Glasgow
148908
33378
22.42%
£27,500
£40,000
35.00%
£39,000
3%
Edinburgh
156338
35786
22.89%
£28,000
£44,938
17.66%
£42,500
6%
Belfast
53041
13687
25.80%
£30,000
£40,000
15.00%
£40,000
0%
Manchester
611936
108859
17.79%
£26,400
£37,500
9.33%
£35,000
7%
Cardiff
109242
23334
21.36%
£28,000
£37,500
12.00%
£35,000
7%
Newcastle
87648
18501
21.11%
£25,920
£35,000
5.71%
£35,000
0%
Leeds
258757
56149
21.70%
£27,500
£36,500
12.33%
£35,000
4%
Sheffield
111996
22000
19.64%
£25,000
£32,500
7.69%
£32,500
0%
Cambridge
228958
58678
25.63%
£30,000
£40,000
5.00%
£39,000
3%
Bristol
320920
76267
23.77%
£28,000
£40,000
15.00%
£35,520
13%
Bath
51762
9680
18.70%
£26,990
£37,500
33.44%
£34,500
9%
Reading
122398
28033
22.90%
£30,000
£42,500
12.94%
£40,000
6%
Oxford
233901
44979
19.23%
£27,500
£38,000
10.53%
£36,000
6%
Source: Tech Nation 2020; Adzuna
/ 13 June 2020 | Check underlying data via https://datacommons.technation.io
2.93M people are now employed in well-paid tech jobs, across the UK.
London Tech Week 2020: UK Tech Ecosystem Update
●
Digital tech job adverts are still significantly
higher than those in other sectors
Source: Tech Nation 2020; Adzuna
/ 14 June 2020 | Check underlying data via https://datacommons.technation.io
Digital tech vacancies have declined sharply, but many companies still hiring
London Tech Week 2020: UK Tech Ecosystem Update
●
The last financial crisis instigated an entrepreneurship
boom in the UK.
●
Increased company creation is a common outcome of
economic downturn.
●
Social distancing is accelerating digital adoption of all
kinds.
●
Tech companies are inherently adaptable, and optimised
for distributed working.
●
For the first time in history, reskilling can happen at scale
and at a distance.
●
Investment in digital skills and entrepreneurship is
essential.
●
Right now there is the potential to sow the seeds for
another decade of growth.
Source: Tech Nation, 2020; ONS, 2019
/ 15 June 2020 | Check underlying data via https://datacommons.technation.io
Business birth rates in the UK picked up after the last two major recessions (2002-2004
and 2012-2016).
London Tech Week 2020: UK Tech Ecosystem Update
▪
Investment numbers refer to venture capital investment rounds such as seed, series A, B, C, …. late stage, and growth equity rounds. It excludes debt or other
non-equity funding, lending capital, grants and ICOs.
▪
Buyouts, M&A, secondary rounds, and IPOs are treated as exits: excluded from funding data, but included in exit data.
▪
A unicorn is defined as a tech driven company that has reached a $1 billion valuation, on the basis of a funding round (unrealised), acquisition or IPO (realised).
▪
There are some notable edge-cases:
- Companies that IPO-ed at or above $1 billion but subsequently dipped below that valuation, are still included as $1B+ exit (examples: Alfa, Rovio, eDreams).
- Some companies have at some stage reached a $1 billion but subsequently raised, IPO-ed or were acquired below that value. In this case the company is not
counted as a unicorn (examples: Blippar, Home24, Fanduel, Ulmart, Conduit, Wonga, VE Interactive, Powa).
- If a unicorn moved HQ, the company is counted in the country where it reached unicorn status. Occasionally companies received dual HQ status.
▪
This report focuses on companies in the post-internet age, i.e. after 2000. Most but not all unicorns are VC backed.
▪
Companies included in the analysis are tech-driven. Industries include software, ecommerce, online marketplaces, hardware, ICT infrastructure. The full industry
& business model taxonomy can be found online
▪
Dealroom’s proprietary database and software aggregate data from multiple sources: harvesting public information, user-submitted data verified by Dealroom,
data engineering. All data is verified and curated with an extensive manual process.
▪
Most underlying data from the report is available online via https://datacommons.technation.io. For more info please visit dealroom.co or contact
support@dealroom.co
June 2020 | Check underlying data via https://datacommons.technation.io
Methodology & definitions
The most complete and detailed picture of UK’s tech ecosystem, in partnership
with Tech Nation: datacommons.technation.io
startups & scaleups
Accelerators, workspaces
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