British venture capital recorded its strongest quarter since 2022, with £4.1 billion deployed across 287 deals in the first ten weeks of the year, according to data from Beauhurst.
The recovery is uneven but unmistakable. AI infrastructure and climate-tech accounted for 61% of all capital deployed, while consumer fintech — once Britain's calling card — slipped to fourth place.
Three new unicorns
Cambridge-based protein-design startup Helix raised at a £1.4 billion valuation. London's Synthesia closed a £200m Series E. And Edinburgh's energy-storage outfit Capsulor reached unicorn status on the back of a National Wealth Fund anchor commitment.
