The UK has created nearly three times as many unicorns than the US per dollar in early stage venture capital (VC) investment in the past decade, highlighting its attractiveness as an investment destination.
According to analysis from venture-building firm IMS Digital Ventures, the UK has converted $18.5bn (£13.8bn) of early stage investment into 57 successful unicorns, a ratio of 3.08 start ups per $1bn in seed investment.
In contrast, the US created just 1.22 unicorns per $1bn, as the country received a staggering $625bn in VC investment over the past decade.
Unicorns are privately held start up companies, with valuations of $1bn or more.
The UK’s ability to turn funding into successful start-up companies has caused it to become the second most attractive major economy in Europe and North America for early VC investment.
Anastasios Papadopoulos, founder and chief executive of IMS Digital Ventures, said: “The UK has been a breeding ground for some of the world’s most innovative and exciting start ups in the last decade.”
Read the full article at cityam.com
