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London Tech Week wrapped with a standout panel on European and UK venture capital, bringing together two sharp minds for a conversation about where capital is right now and where it's heading next.
Emily Turner of HSBC Innovation Banking moderated with real market depth, guiding a discussion with Ben Blume of Atomico that went straight to the questions founders and investors are actually asking. Our president Kinga also took the stage as part of the day's programme.
Three Takeaways From the Panel
Deal sizes are up 40 percent year on year. That's Emily's data point, and panelists agreed it reflects something real happening in the market. Late stage capital is back, but it's coming back specifically for companies that built strong fundamentals during the funding drought.
Speed is back too. A ready founder can close a deal in as little as two weeks, even with a public investor involved. The message for founders is straightforward: be ready. Know your numbers, know your story, and know your ask before you walk into the room.
There's more capital available today than in 2022 for high quality AI and deep tech companies. Ben's read on the US and European markets matched what's being seen from the European side as well: appetite is there, but the bar for quality is higher than it was. The market isn't waiting around, and founders shouldn't either.
The Bigger Picture
Taken together, the panel painted a picture of a market that's active again, but selective. Capital has returned in size and speed, particularly for AI and deep tech, but it's flowing to companies that used the slower years to build real fundamentals rather than just wait them out.