The UK’s venture capital (VC) funding market registered a 31% increase in deal value for the period between January and April this year, new figures published by GlobalData have revealed.

In terms of the number of VC deals announced, the same period recorded a 13% increase on last year's tally.

GlobalData suggested that the UK’s ability to attract high-value investments is a “testament to investor confidence in the startup ecosystem”.

Some of the notable UK VC funding deals announced in the period between January and April include the $600m fundraising by Isomorphic Labs, $411m raised by Verdiva Bio, and $300m raised by Rapyd.

Lead analyst at GlobalData, Aurojyoti Bose, commented: “The divergence between deal volume and value suggests that while fewer deals are being made, some are of significantly higher value, indicating a shift towards larger, more mature startups.

“Moreover, the pattern mirrors a broader trend observed across some other major markets, such as the US, where investors are becoming increasingly selective in their funding choices.”

GlobalData’s figures also revealed that the UK accounted for around 7% of the total number of VC deals announced globally between January and April, while the UK’s share of the corresponding funding value was around 4%.

Bose added: “As the global investment climate continues to evolve, the UK market has managed to maintain a significant presence and currently stands among the top five markets for VC funding activity in the world in terms of both deal volume and value.”

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