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The Startup Ecosystem of London

London has 8,925 startups in our sample database. This represents about 65% of The United Kingdom’s startups. London is the highest-ranked startup ecosystem in The United Kingdom.

CITY RANKING

London kept its position stable in the Global Startup Ecosystem Index of 2024, ranking 3rd.

National Ranking

1st
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In United Kingdom

Regional Ranking

1st
0
In Western Europe

Global Ranking

3rd
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Worldwide

Ecosystem

Startup Ecosystem Overview

aerial photography of London skyline during daytime


Set against the backdrop of a bustling metropolis, London attracts startups with a gateway to markets that have already been navigated in the U.S., offering a launching pad for global expansion.


Within this dynamic ecosystem, notable startups have risen to prominence, each contributing to London’s vibrant entrepreneurial tapestry. TransferWise emerges as a game-changer, disrupting European finance. Founded by Taavet Hinrikus, a former Skype employee, TransferWise aims to revolutionize money transfer by circumventing traditional banks. RolePoint revolutionizes recruitment, leveraging social networks of current employees to match candidates with relevant job opportunities. Notable backers like Yuri Milner and Eric Schmidt’s Innovation Endeavors have championed its journey.


London’s entrepreneurial allure is further supported by its pioneering policies. The UK’s Tech Nation Visa eases the path for founders to establish a base, fostering growth within London’s innovation hub, while angel investors and startup investments flourish under favorable government policies.


In this creative crucible, co-working spaces abound, fostering collaboration and ideation. These havens of innovation offer not just workspace but also opportunities to forge connections, exchange ideas, and collectively shape the future.


London is not only home to successful startups but also hosts groundbreaking events such as London Tech Week and the Sifted Summit, bringing together entrepreneurs, corporations, and other ecosystem stakeholders from around the world.


London’s startup ecosystem is one of the strongest in the world where ideas flourish, innovation thrives, and success stories continue to rewrite the narrative. As startups converge in this vibrant metropolis, they embrace not just a city, but a realm of boundless potential and transformative opportunity.

Startups

London Top Startup Industries

Energy & Environment icon
Energy & Environment
#3 worldwide

183 startups

Fintech icon
Fintech
#3 worldwide

1436 startups

Social & Leisure icon
Social & Leisure
#3 worldwide

752 startups

Ecosystem HealthCheck

London Ecosystem Health Check

The health check tables allow you to look at the performance London has in each of the parameters that are part of StartupBlink's ranking algorithm. There are five tables, corresponding to the three subscores, the subscore analysis and industry ana...

  • Overperformance
  • Performance equal to global ranking
  • Underperformance
IndustryGlobal rankMomentum YoYNumber of Startups
Global3194233

ECOSYSTEM

Browse the startup ecosystem database of London

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Startup Ecosystem Charts

Startup Funding in London2017 - 2024

Startup Funding in London 2017 - 2024

From 2022 to 2023, startup funding in London has decreased by 58.25%. During this period, the number of deals in London has decreased by 35.53%. Since 2017, total startup funding in London exceeded US$ $144.11B.

Average Funding in 2023

$7.13M

London
United Kingdom
-35.23% YoY

Funding in 2023

$11.36B

London
United Kingdom
-58.25% YoY

Deals in 2023

1,593

London
United Kingdom
-35.53% YoY

USD

Amount of Funding (USD)

Number of Deals

20172018201920202021202220232024$0.00$15.00B$30.00B$45.00B$60.00B07001,4002,1002,800

Ecosystem

The Startup Ecosystem in London

Our startup ecosystem map for London includes a sample of 8,925 tech companies. We have identified as unicorns 42 startups that have passed the USD 1 billion valuations. Contributing to the vitality of this startup ecosystem are the 8 pantheon member entities. Get the Pro account for unrestricted insights on this ecosystem.

Global Rank

London is ranked within the top 10 startup ecosystems globally.

Top Industries

London’s startups excel particularly in Energy & Environment where it ranks 3 and in Fintech, and Social & Leisure. Find out more

Top Cities for Startups in United Kingdom - Ranked by StartupBlink

StartupBlink ranks the startup ecosystems of more than 100 countries and 1,000 cities. Download our latest Global Startup Ecosystem Report.
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2024 National Rank CityGlobal Rank
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Total Score

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Quantity Score
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Quality Score
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Business Score
1st
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3rd
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144.375
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00.00
00.00
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Startups

Notable Startups in London
DAZN startup icon
DAZN
Octopus Energy startup icon
Octopus Energy
Trainline startup icon
Trainline

ECOSYSTEM

Why should you join London's Startup Ecosystem?

Overview

Within London there is an increased attraction for entrepreneurs to set up their startups in industries such as Energy & Environment, Fintech, Social & Leisure. These three industries represent about 27% of the startups represented on the Startup Ecosystem Map of London.

1st

National Rank

1st

Regional Rank

Overview

London is The United Kingdom's 1st best startup ecosystem and is ranked 1st in Western Europe. With a population of 2M - 10M people, London is ranked 3rd in the world. The city has some notable startup success stories including DAZN and its startup ecosystem infrastructure is strengthened by organizations such as 20VC podcast and Regus - Welwyn Garden City, Welwyn Falcon Gate.

ECOSYSTEM
Startup Infrastructure in London
With a large variety of initiatives, London's startup ecosystem stands out from other cities in Western Europe. London offers a number of funding opportunities for entrepreneurs and startups. Below is a list of London's most prominent support initiatives:

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