THE PLEXAL STARTUP TRACKER

We want to bring the facts to the table about how COVID-19 is affecting startups. So we’ve partnered with Beauhurst to analyse, week by week, metrics that will tell us the story about investment figures, liquidations and even incorporations.

We’ve looked at 30,000 startups and fast-growth businesses (companies that have attracted equity or venture debt funding). Every week, we’ll publish new statistics here, along with our take on what it means.

From 23 March until 5 August 2020

↓37%

decrease in the value of investment compared to the same period in 2019

£3,197m

how much investment has been raised by startups in the UK since lockdown began

↓28%

decrease in deal numbers for seed-stage companies compared to the same period in 2019 (a total of 151 deals since 23 March)

600

the number of deals since 23 March 2020

£179m

the value of investment since 23 March going to startups that have never received investment before

↓17%

decrease in deal numbers compared to the same period in 2019

↓81%

how much lower funding for tech startups raising investment for the first time is compared to the same period in 2019

656

the number of administration, dissolution and liquidation filings since 23 March 2020

BIGGEST DEALS IN THE TWO MONTHS FOLLOWING LOCKDOWN

 

The five biggest deals for British tech startups

  1. Cazoo £100m
  2. Onfido $100m
  3. Bought By Many £78.4m
  4. Privitar $80m
  5. Compass Pathways $80m

 

The five biggest deals for British tech startups that haven’t previously raised investment

  1. Audiens £6.4m
  2. Living Optics £3.3m
  3. Primer £3.2m
  4. Addionics £2.8m
  5. IRIS £2.4m

The tech sector has been leading investment activity since the lockdown began, with the highest levels of investment going to startups operating in fintech, artificial intelligence, digital security and blockchain.

OUR TAKE ON THE STATS

Investment levels across the board are 37% lower compared to the same period last year. And while the total amount raised since lockdown began has now surpassed £3bn, the conditions are still challenging for companies that haven’t raised funding before.

While general investment figures are increasing, the amount going to seed-stage startups is 81% lower than this time last year. This group has raised a total of £179m since lockdown began, which represents just 5.5% of total investment raised in that period. 

 

 

WANT TO HEAR MORE FROM THE PLEXAL TEAM? CONTACT US.

If you’ve got any media enquiries or would like to learn more about our data and insights from our startup community, contact us on connect@plexal.com

OUR DATA IS POWERED BY: