Skip to main content
The Actuary: The magazine of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries - return to the homepage Logo of The Actuary website
  • Search
  • Visit The Actuary Magazine on Facebook
  • Visit The Actuary Magazine on LinkedIn
  • Visit @TheActuaryMag on Twitter
Visit the website of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries Logo of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries

Main navigation

  • News
  • Features
    • General Features
    • Interviews
    • Students
    • Opinion
  • Topics
  • Knowledge
    • Business Skills
    • Careers
    • Events
    • Predictions by The Actuary
    • Whitepapers
    • Moody's - Climate Risk Insurers series
    • Webinars
    • Podcasts
  • Jobs
  • IFoA
    • CEO Comment
    • IFoA News
    • People & Social News
    • President Comment
  • Archive
Quick links:
  • Home
  • The Actuary Issues
  • January 2019
01

UK accounts for almost a third of VC investment in Europe 

Open-access content Friday 18th January 2019 — updated 5.50pm, Wednesday 29th April 2020

Brexit fears did not stop the UK attracting $7.7bn (£6bn) of venture capital (VC) investment last year, almost a third of the record $24.4bn raised in Europe as a whole.

2


The findings from audit firm KPMG also show that British start-ups attracted 1.5 times more investment than German companies, and 2.6 times the amount seen in France.

Almost $2bn was invested in UK firms in the final quarter of 2018, according to the data, which also shows that the country accounted for four of Europe's 10 largest deals.

"Global VC investors continue to be attracted to quality UK businesses, and are particularly focused on larger and later-stage deals," KPMG innovative startup practice head, Patrick Imbach, said.

"For years now, the true implications of Brexit have remained open questions, however, the venture ecosystem would appear to have been unaffected to far." 

Globally, VC investment increased to a record $255bn last year, compared with $175bn in 2017, with US-based e-cigarette manufacturer Juul raising $12.8bn alone.

Despite the record funding levels, the data shows that the actual number of VC deals declined from 17,314 to a six-year low of 15,299, reflecting a high number of valuable 'megadeals'.

Every region studied saw record levels of investment in 2018, with the US leading the way after raising $41bn in the final quarter, while Asia accounted for four deals worth $1bn or more.

VC investment in artificial intelligence related to healthcare almost doubled last year, rising from $1.25bn to $2.34bn, while funding in urban mobility skyrocketed from $26bn to $45bn.

Given the "extraordinarily strong' year in the US, Asia and Europe, KPMG said VC investment in 2018 would be hard to match this year, but that there would likely be substantial funding in late-stage deals.

"Autotech - whether autonomous vehicles, alternative energy vehicles, or ride hailing - is expected to see strong investment, in addition to healthtech and FinTech," the firm said.

"On the technology front, artificial intelligence is also expected to see strong growth." 

Sign up to our free newsletter here and receive a weekly roundup of news concerning the actuarial profession 

This article appeared in our January 2019 issue of The Actuary .
Click here to view this issue

You may also be interested in...

2

'Major flaws' in cyber insurance policies identified

The UK’s cyber insurance market is “very immature” and “untested”, according to new research, with most of the policies available containing significant common flaws.
Friday 18th January 2019
Open-access content
2

Report reveals most desired qualities in actuarial consultants

Independent advice and thinking freely are two of the characteristics that UK pension schemes value most in actuarial consultants, a survey of 100 senior trustees has found.
Thursday 17th January 2019
Open-access content
2

Sustainability proposals to have significant implications for insurers

The European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority’s (EIOPA) recent sustainability proposals could have far-reaching implications for insurers, Willis Towers Watson (WLTW) has warned.
Wednesday 16th January 2019
Open-access content
2

Geopolitical tensions rated the top risk for 2019

Rising geopolitical tension is the most urgent risk facing the world this year, a survey of nearly 1,000 business leaders, politicians and academics has found.
Wednesday 16th January 2019
Open-access content
2

Car insurance premiums fall by 6% in 2018

UK motorists are paying 6% less for car insurance today than they were this time last year, data from Confused.com and Willis Towers Watson (WLTW) reveals.
Tuesday 15th January 2019
Open-access content
2

Business interruption ranked the joint top risk to companies in 2019

Business interruption (BI) and cyber incidents are the top two threats facing companies around the world in 2019, a survey of insurance experts and risk managers has revealed.
Monday 21st January 2019
Open-access content

Latest from January 2019

Pension funds suffer biggest losses since financial crash

The average UK pension fund experienced its biggest loss since the financial crash last year, with less than one in ten generating positive investment returns.
Wednesday 30th January 2019
Open-access content

Investors urge fast food giants to root out climate risks

More than 80 investors with $6.4trn (£5trn) in assets under management have told six of the world’s largest fast food companies to urgently tackle climate and water risks in their supply chains.
Wednesday 30th January 2019
Open-access content
2

US life insurers missing out on $70bn in premiums

The average life insurance policyholder in the US is massively underinsured, new research has found, with firms potentially missing out on almost $70bn (£53bn) in annual premiums.
Tuesday 29th January 2019
Open-access content

Latest from small_opening_image

2

COVID-19 forum for actuaries launched

A forum for actuaries has been launched to help the profession come together and learn how best to respond to the deadly coronavirus sweeping the world.
Wednesday 25th March 2020
Open-access content
2

Travel insurers expect record payouts this year

UK travel insurers expect to pay a record £275m to customers this year as coronavirus grounds flights across the world, the Association of British Insurers (ABI) has revealed.
Wednesday 25th March 2020
Open-access content
2

Grim economic forecasts made as countries lockdown

A sharp recession is imminent in the vast majority of developed and emerging economies as the deadly coronavirus forces businesses to shut down across the world.
Tuesday 24th March 2020
Open-access content

Latest from inline_local_link

2

COVID-19 forum for actuaries launched

A forum for actuaries has been launched to help the profession come together and learn how best to respond to the deadly coronavirus sweeping the world.
Wednesday 25th March 2020
Open-access content
2

Travel insurers expect record payouts this year

UK travel insurers expect to pay a record £275m to customers this year as coronavirus grounds flights across the world, the Association of British Insurers (ABI) has revealed.
Wednesday 25th March 2020
Open-access content
2

Grim economic forecasts made as countries lockdown

A sharp recession is imminent in the vast majority of developed and emerging economies as the deadly coronavirus forces businesses to shut down across the world.
Tuesday 24th March 2020
Open-access content

Latest from 01

Pension funds suffer biggest losses since financial crash

The average UK pension fund experienced its biggest loss since the financial crash last year, with less than one in ten generating positive investment returns.
Wednesday 30th January 2019
Open-access content

Investors urge fast food giants to root out climate risks

More than 80 investors with $6.4trn (£5trn) in assets under management have told six of the world’s largest fast food companies to urgently tackle climate and water risks in their supply chains.
Wednesday 30th January 2019
Open-access content
2

US life insurers missing out on $70bn in premiums

The average life insurance policyholder in the US is massively underinsured, new research has found, with firms potentially missing out on almost $70bn (£53bn) in annual premiums.
Tuesday 29th January 2019
Open-access content
Share
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Linked in
  • Mail
  • Print

Latest Jobs

Leading Insurer/Asset Manager – Pricing Actuary (Mortgages)

London (Greater)
Competitive
Reference
148750

Senior Consultant - Risk Settlement - Any UK Location - Up to £100,000 plus bonus

London / Manchester / Edinburgh / Remote
Up to £100,000 + Bonus
Reference
148832

Finance Transformation Actuarial student/Qualified Actuary

London (Central)
£50,000 - £75,000 depending on experience
Reference
148830
See all jobs »
 
 
 
 

Sign up to our newsletter

News, jobs and updates

Sign up

Subscribe to The Actuary

Receive the print edition straight to your door

Subscribe
Spread-iPad-slantB-june.png

Topics

  • Data Science
  • Investment
  • Risk & ERM
  • Pensions
  • Environment
  • Soft skills
  • General Insurance
  • Regulation Standards
  • Health care
  • Technology
  • Reinsurance
  • Global
  • Life insurance
​
FOLLOW US
The Actuary on LinkedIn
@TheActuaryMag on Twitter
Facebook: The Actuary Magazine
CONTACT US
The Actuary
Tel: (+44) 020 7880 6200
​

IFoA

About IFoA
Become an actuary
IFoA Events
About membership

Information

Privacy Policy
Terms & Conditions
Cookie Policy
Think Green

Get in touch

Contact us
Advertise with us
Subscribe to The Actuary Magazine
Contribute

The Actuary Jobs

Actuarial job search
Pensions jobs
General insurance jobs
Solvency II jobs

© 2023 The Actuary. The Actuary is published on behalf of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries by Redactive Publishing Limited. All rights reserved. Reproduction of any part is not allowed without written permission.

Redactive Media Group Ltd, 71-75 Shelton Street, London WC2H 9JQ