The startup picture in London

Venture backing is substantial but far from universal. Among 108029 tracked companies, 14386 have ever raised outside money and 4315 are at the seed stage.

Startups in London - Funding, Founders & Investors

Everything startup in one place: who's building, how the landscape clusters, the people and investors behind it, and whether the capital is real.

HSBC

HSBC: A Global Bank Financing Trade Since 1865

est. 1865 · 228,687 staff · raised outside money

Noel Quinn — CEO

Robin Brown — Managing Director

Bakkavor

Bakkavor Food Production Expansion

est. 1986 · 189,772 staff · raised outside money

Lydur Gudmundsson — Founder

Royal Mail Group

UK based postal service provider

est. 1840 · 138,949 staff · raised outside money

Moya Greene — Ex-CEO

WPP

Global integrated communications services with sustainability focus

est. 1971 · 133,903 staff · raised outside money

Mark Read — CEO · MA University of Cambridge

Associated British Foods

Diversified Global Food & Retail Group

est. 1935 · 132,273 staff · raised outside money

George Weston — CEO

Unilever

Global Sustainable Personal Care Innovation

est. 1872 · 128,000 staff · raised outside money

William Hulme Lever — Co-Founder

James Darcy Lever — Co-Founder

Stallergenes Greer

Stallergenes Greer: 120 yrs of Allergy Immunotherapy Expertise

est. 2013 · 115,499 staff · raised outside money

Michele Antonelli — CEO

Shell

Shell's Integrated Energy Transition Strategy

est. 1907 · 103,000 staff · raised outside money

Andrew Mackenzie — Chairman

Wael Sawan — CEO

Shazam

Music Recognition & Streaming App

est. 2000 · 101,450 staff · raised outside money

Chris Barton — Inspirational Keynote Speaker (Founder of Shazam) www.chrisjbarton.com

Vedanta Resources

Sustainable Mining and Community Empowerment Initiative

est. 1976 · 97,015 staff · raised outside money

Sunil Duggal — Group Chief Executive Officer

Barclays

Digital banking platform for sustainable investment

est. 1690 · 92,900 staff · raised outside money

Sean White — Managing Director

Peter Thomson — Managing Director

Standard Chartered

Standard Chartered Global Banking

est. 1953 · 85,103 staff · raised outside money

Mahesh Kini — Managing Director

Aditya Mandloi — Managing Director

British American Tobacco

BAT: Transforming tobacco industry with reduced-risk products

est. 1902 · 82,868 staff · raised outside money

Nicandro Durante — CEO

Hector A. Sants — Ex-Legal Counsel

Lloyds Banking Group

Digital Banking Platform for SMEs

est. 1975 · 81,667 staff · raised outside money

Antonio Horta-Osorio — CEO

Sam Riordan — Head

Mimecast

Cloud-based security solutions for businesses using M365 and Google Workspace

est. 2003 · 79,693 staff · raised outside money

Marc Zadelhoff — CEO

Avon

Provides beauty & spa services

est. 1886 · 74,224 staff · raised outside money

Laurie Ann Goldman — CEO

David H McConnell — Founder

Sabmiller

SABMiller: Traditional Brewery with Established Brands

est. 1895 · 63,500 staff · raised outside money

Alan Jon Clark — CEO

CNH Industrial

Global Machinery Innovation Platform

est. 2012 · 63,356 staff · raised outside money

Elena Hyeonjeong Cheon — Founder

M&S

Marks & Spencer: Your Christmas gift shop

est. 1884 · 52,092 staff · raised outside money

Stuart Machin — CEO

Aon

TALENT, RETIREMENT and HEALTH solutions.

est. 1982 · 50,000 staff · raised outside money

Patrick Ryan — Co-Founder

Farzana Mistry — Executive Assistant To Ceo, Cfo & Head Of Health Solutions

Melrose

Maintaining high standards of corporate governance

est. 2003 · 48,658 staff · raised outside money

Chris Grigg — Non Executive Director

Jock Miller — Founder & Chairman

Intertek

Global Quality Assurance and Certification Services

est. 1885 · 44,000 staff · raised outside money

Andre Lacroix — CEO

Willis Towers Watson

Risk Management & Talent Optimization Solutions

est. 1828 · 43,000 staff · raised outside money

David Dean — Managing Director

Steve Potts — Managing Director Global Clients Construction

Dentsu Aegis Network

Global Digital Brand Innovation Network

est. 2012 · 41,631 staff · raised outside money

Hiroshi Igarashi — CEO

cluster · 19146 companies

Business Services

3358 founded since 2018 · 1031 funded

Sub-themes

marketing services · 4385it services · 3100hr services · 2514management consulting services · 1745event management services · 1240legal services · 1152

e.g. WPP, Barclays, Grant Thornton International

cluster · 12245 companies

Enterprise Applications

4562 founded since 2018 · 2402 funded

Sub-themes

hrtech · 2796marketingtech · 2489enterprise software · 1566saas · 1526grc software · 741sales force automation · 665

e.g. Jocial Advertise, RELX, Kantar Media

cluster · 12150 companies

Consumer

3480 founded since 2018 · 1753 funded

Sub-themes

b2c e-commerce · 2030fashion tech · 1783social platforms · 966online travel · 927sports tech · 885local services · 833

e.g. Shazam, Mitie, Bidvest Noonan

cluster · 9658 companies

Fintech

4527 founded since 2018 · 2622 funded

Sub-themes

investment tech · 3460cryptocurrencies · 1689payments · 1132banking tech · 803alternative lending · 794finance & accounting tech · 697

e.g. Kinesis Asset, Tyl by NatWest, Bó

cluster · 7509 companies

Retail

2447 founded since 2018 · 1172 funded

Sub-themes

fashion tech · 1795b2c e-commerce · 945beauty tech · 734e-commerce enablers · 687internet first brands · 607horizontal e-commerce · 472

e.g. John Lewis, sainsburys.jobs, M&S

cluster · 7508 companies

Media & Entertainment

1940 founded since 2018 · 957 funded

Sub-themes

internet first media · 1902film & tv studios · 1628social platforms · 760gambling tech · 521music tech · 502ott video · 409

e.g. Shazam, William Hill, Fan Expo HQ

cluster · 6276 companies

Financial Services

1234 founded since 2018 · 571 funded

Sub-themes

asset management · 2002services for investment industry · 1204finance & accounting services · 725banks · 428service providers to banks · 353insurance distribution · 313

e.g. HSBC, Barclays, Standard Chartered

cluster · 5540 companies

Real Estate And Construction

808 founded since 2018 · 246 funded

Sub-themes

real estate brokers · 1001real estate & infrastructure developers · 979architects · 835interior designers · 501property management services · 376building materials · 352

e.g. Mitie, Bidvest Noonan, Balfour Beatty

cluster · 5500 companies

Investment Industry

1538 founded since 2018 · 297 funded

Sub-themes

venture capital funds · 1380private equity funds · 1283investment banks · 1019accelerators & incubators · 623real estate funds · 468investment consultants · 291

e.g. Standard Chartered, Grant Thornton International, BMO Global Asset Management

cluster · 4321 companies

Consumer Goods

880 founded since 2018 · 613 funded

Sub-themes

food & beverage products · 837beauty & personal care products · 690apparel brands · 637home furnishing products · 515fashion accessories · 393internet first brands · 323

e.g. Associated British Foods, Sure, Unilever

Founder & Background	Role	Company
Mark Read Ex- Co-Founder WebRewards, CEO Wunderman, Booz Allen And Hamilton. Trinity College, Cambridge University, INSEAD MBA	CEO	WPP
George Weston Ex- MD Westmill Foods	CEO	Associated British Foods
William Hulme Lever Ex-Co-Founder-Uniliver	Co-Founder	Unilever
Chris Barton Guard, ex-Shazam, ex-Dropbox, uc berkeley	Inspirational Keynote Speaker (Founder of Shazam) www.chrisjbarton.com	Shazam
Kuldip Kaura Senior Advisor - EverSource Capital	CEO	Vedanta Resources
Raju Shukla CleanEdge Resources, ex-Barclays Capital. IIM, Ahmedabad 1992		Barclays
Geoffrey Belsher Barclays, ex-Resurgam Financial, ex-Cibc, University of Toronto	Chairman & CEO	Barclays
C S Venkatakrishnan CEO-Barclays \| Ex-JP Morgan \| Massachusetts Institute of Technology PhD	CEO	Barclays
Marc Zadelhoff CEO-Mimecast \| Ex-Devo,Forrester \| Bowdoin College BA 1994,The Wharton School MBA 2000	CEO	Mimecast
Elena Hyeonjeong Cheon Cnh, ex-Momo Project, ex-Astrazeneca, Georgia Institute of Technology, 2021	Founder	CNH Industrial
Lambros Lambrou Aon, ex-Aon Risk Solutions, The University of Chicago Booth School of Business, 2013	Chief Strategy Officer	Aon
Greg Case CEO-Aon \| Ex- Discover Financial Services, Intersect Illinois, Mckinsey & Company \| Kansas State University, Harvard Business Scho	CEO & President	Aon
Lee Meyrick Aon, ex-Xl Catlin, ex-Zurich Financial Services, Alliance Manchester Business School	Co-Lead Global Specialties & Chief Executive Officer Global Marine & Commercial Risk Solutions at Aon	Aon
Pietro Toffanello Aon Reinsurance Solutions Italia, ex-Guy Carpenter, ex-Gen Re, Università Bocconi, 1993	CEO AON Re Italy	Aon
Pasquale Taddeo Aon, ex-Guy Carpenter, ex-Winterthur Insurance	CEO Aon Reinsurance Solutions Switzerland	Aon
Frank Driessen Aon, ex-Aon Hewitt, ex-Hewitt Associates, University of Amsterdam, 1994	CEO Aon Wealth Netherlands	Aon
Chris Grigg Uk Infrastructure Bank, ex-Hm Treasury, ex-British Land, University of Cambridge, 1981	Non Executive Director	Melrose
David Dean Wtw, ex-Willis Towers Watson, ex-Towers Watson, Yale University, 1997	Managing Director	Willis Towers Watson
David Lockwood Chief Executive Officer-Babcock International Group \| Ex-Cobham,Laird,KTN \| University of York BA 1984		Babcock
Adam Winslow Chairman Laya Healthcare, CP+R, ex-Aviva, BGL Group. University of York BA 2001	CEO	Aviva

backgrounds shown where available

187 investors are on record backing London companies. The most committed:

Most active — backed 2+ companies

European Union

BOMI

Europa

3DOE

3CPP Investments

3Triodos Investment Management

2Gov.uk

2IDG Ventures

2TPG

2Stonebridge

2Hutton Collins Partners

2General Atlantic

Institutional

Triodos Investment Management · VC fundIDG Ventures · VC fundDN Capital · VC fundAcacia Capital Partners · VC fundKleiner Perkins · VC fundIVP · VC fundFlashpoint · VC fundEpisode 1 Ventures · VC fundArts Alliance Ventures · VC fundSocial Discovery Group · VC fundTTC · VC fundSound Ventures · VC fundTriplePoint Capital · VC fundFramework Venture Partners · VC fund+ 13 more

Private & corporate backers

European UnionBOMIEuropaDOECPP InvestmentsGov.ukTPGStonebridgeHutton Collins PartnersGeneral Atlantic+ 150 more

hover a name to see who they backed

Funded startups — peer cities

London

14.4K

821Manchester

755Birmingham

348Glasgow

249Liverpool

Companies that have raised

Company	Industry	Rounds	Latest Round	Founded
Associated British Ports	maritime	4	2016-02	1962
Fidelis	insurance	7	2021-07	2005
Hopin	media and information services (b2b)	14	2022-10	2016
IHS Markit	information services	19	2019-08	1959
Aspen	insurance	0	—	2002
Bachmann & Welser	other financial services	1	2018-01	2017
Markit	information services	2	2013-05	2003
Zepz	financial software	4	2024-10	2010
Lloyd’s	insurance	3	2020-09	1688
Pearson	education management	3	2020-06	1836
Thredd	financial software	6	2021-10	2007
Addison Lee	logistics and supply chain	1	2018-06	1975
Synthomer	chemicals	3	2020-07	1863
ERS	insurance	1	2021-03	1946
Agility Trains	transportation/trucking/railroad	1	2018-03	2008
Nym	network management software	7	2024-02	2018
Liberata	outsourcing/offshoring	2	2010-12	1975
BIMA	telecommunications	6	2020-09	2010
Flexion Energy	telecommunications	1	2021-07	2020
The Bank of London	financial services	3	2024-09	2016
Pepe Jeans London	apparel & fashion	3	2010-08	1973
Origin Housing	civic & social organization	1	2021-05	1924
AnyVan	transportation/trucking/railroad	1	2022-01	2009
Fnality International	financial services	4	2023-11	2019
Wagestream	financial software	9	2024-04	2018

round amounts sparse for tier-3 cities — counts shown, dollar totals withheld

Company	Industry	Founded	Employees
Infinita Club	management consulting	2026	—
Quorum	information technology and services	2026	—
AccountsOS	computer software	2026	—
Just Honey	computer software	2026	—
BriefLedger	media production	2026	—
Merrin	financial services	2026	—
The Content OS	computer software	2026	—
Ecom Station	computer software	2026	—
Synclocal	internet	2026	—
Hive Union Crest Bank	banking	2026	—
Acefina	information technology and services	2026	—
Ace Plans	financial services	2026	—
Allaboutmusicbusiness	music	2026	—
Allied Building Information Modeling	multimedia and design software	2026	7
All About The New You	health, wellness and fitness	2026	—
Aln Partners	information technology and services	2026	—
Arbanaz	consumer electronics	2026	—
Atherix	information technology and services	2026	—
AtriBlock	financial software	2026	—
AetheriumX	financial software	2026	—

The startup picture in London

HSBC

Bakkavor

Royal Mail Group

WPP

Associated British Foods

Unilever

Stallergenes Greer

Shell

Shazam

Vedanta Resources

Barclays

Standard Chartered

British American Tobacco

Lloyds Banking Group

Mimecast

Avon

Sabmiller

CNH Industrial

M&S

Aon

Melrose

Intertek

Willis Towers Watson

Dentsu Aegis Network

Business Services

Enterprise Applications

Consumer

Fintech

Retail

Media & Entertainment

Financial Services

Real Estate And Construction

Investment Industry

Consumer Goods

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