LONDON — Investment in British startups and growth-stage companies remains “stagnant,” according to new data from investment tracking platform Beauhurst.
Investment increased by 2.2% in the first quarter, hitting £938 million. Deal numbers also increased by 2.7%. But while there was a quarterly improvement, both the total investment and the number of deals were well below figures recorded in the first quarter of 2016.
Deal numbers also increased by 2.7%. But both the total investment and the number of deals were well below the figures recorded in the first quarter of 2016.
Beauhurst says in its latest report, released tomorrow: “Despite a small improvement in deal numbers, equity funding in the UK is still stagnant when compared with its steady growth pre-2016.”
Pedro Madeira, Head of Research at Beauhurst, told Business Insider: “The prospects for UK startups are still bleak compared to previous years.”
The biggest investments in the quarter were a £83 million funding round for startup bank Atom and £82 million of investment for peer-to-peer lending platform Funding Circle. The three other top…