The reference point of Europe’s tech landscape, the UK tops virtually every chart and metric of the region’s startup universe.
Its 48 unicorns and 40,000 startups get the most funding, close the most deals, and realise the most exits than any other country across the continent. It’s an increasingly mature tech space capable of pulling its weight against other global ecosystems.
While growth rates have slowed down in line with global market turmoil, the UK’s ecosystem value jumped 42.8% in 2021, and is steadily approaching $1tn — as much as Germany, France and Sweden combined, and third worldwide, according to Dealroom.
Sifted ranked the most promising startups across the UK in a weighted selection of new entries, older faces and fast-growing hits.
Key
Year founded
Amount raised
Last funding round
Valuation
Employees
2013
€131m
Support Program
€348
201-500
Sifted Take
2011
€167m
Late VC
€591
51-200
Sifted Take
2018
€48m
Series A
€182
51-200
2014
€240m
Series C
100-500
Apollo Therapeutics
Health /
apollotherapeutics.comStevenage, United Kingdom
2016
€132m
Early VC
€659
11-50
Intelligent Growth Solutions
Dundee, United Kingdom
2013
€59m
Series B
€253
201-500
2016
€131m
Series B
€468
51-200

Privitar
Security, Enterprise Software /
privitar.comLondon, United Kingdom
2014
€135m
Series C
€364
51-200
Carbon Clean Solutions
Climate & Sustainability /
carboncleansolutions.comLondon, United Kingdom
2009
50-100
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