On the face of it, Britain’s venture capital firms have never been more ready to invest in your start-up. British venture capital funds have £8.4bn ready for investment in fast-growth businesses, according to research. Indeed, British tech start-ups raised more than £4bn between January and June, despite the shutdown of the economy, according to the government.
This venture capital cash could provide crucial investment for innovative companies as the country emerges from the Covid-19 crisis.
However, the reality is that many venture capital investors are playing it cautious, wanting to invest in later, safer funding rounds for companies with proven revenue. Two fifths of start-ups believe they have less than 12 months’ worth of runway left before they run out of money. Over 1,000 of the UK’s high-growth tech start-ups have gone bust since lockdown began. Which is why follow-on funding rounds are crucial.