The EMEA venture capital (VC) landscape has experienced significant growth over the past decade, with the number of active investors in the sector surpassing 10,000, according to new data from Dealroom. The data also reveal the dominance of seed stage funding, with over 4,000 investors predominantly active from the seed stage onward. However, achieving unicorn status remains a challenge for EMEA startups, with only about 1-1.5% of first-time funded startups reaching that level. The data also show that choosing the right investor is crucial for startup success, with startups backed by top quartile VCs being three times more likely to reach Series A compared to those backed by VCs in the bottom quartile.
The top VC investors in EMEA startups, as ranked by Dealroom, are:
- LocalGlobe: a UK-based VC firm that focuses on seed and impact investments and has backed companies like Robinhood, Wise, and Monzo.
- Index Ventures: a VC firm with dual headquarters in San Francisco and London, focused on e-commerce, fintech, mobility, gaming, and more. Notable investments include Skype, Facebook, and Adyen.
- Accel: an American VC firm that works with startups at the seed, early, and growth stages. It has backed companies like Slack, Flipkart, and Spotify.
Other VC firms that made it into the top 20 ranking include Point Nine, HV Capital, Sequoia Capital, Bessemer, Global Founders Capital, Seedcamp, Kima Ventures, Balderton Capital, and more.
Insight Partners was ranked as the most successful investor in Series B startups and beyond.
