London seed funds top list of unicorn hunters

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ondon-based early stage tech investors in car-selling startup Cazoo and fantasy football digital platform Sorare have topped a global list of the most successful venture capitalists, after a record year for tech investment across Europe.

LocalGlobe and Seedcamp, who between them have backed a string of unicorn tech companies, were ranked in the top two of VC investors, after analyst Dealroom created a list based on investors’ ability to spot potential stars early.

2021 was a record-breaking year for venture capital investment with £113 billion invested in tech companies across Europe and Israel. London-based companies raised £20bn.

Top seed stage investors in EMEA

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Source: Dealroom

Dealroom releases a ranking of more than 200 venture capital firms from around the world to help founders and entrepreneurs identify which are the investors that are most likely to help them progress from startup to the next stage of building a global business.

For the first time, this list attempts to rank investors on their ability to spot potential stars early – like football scouts, seeking the next Ronaldo.

Yoram Wijngaarde, founder of Dealroom said: “In 2021 global funds doubled down on European tech and invested tens of millions of dollars here. But a handful of European seed stage investors were early to spot the startups that are now going global, having invested in them years ago. By highlighting these firms, we hope to show founders which are the best investors to approach when raising investment.”

Beezer Clarkson, partner at US VC firm Sapphire Ventures said: “This research shines a light on how Europe is becoming a much better hunting ground for unicorns with companies like LocalGlobe nearly on par for US funds when it comes to funding high-growth companies at the earliest stages.”