Ian Connatty of British Patient Capital comments on new data from Tech Nation revealing that the UK continues to lead Europe for VC investment. Since the start of the year, $2.5bn has been invested into UK fintech companies. By comparison, German fintechs have raised $1.09bn and Swedish fintechs have raised $1.06bn this year to date.

28 September marks 25 years since the launch of the first VCT. From humble beginnings in 1995 the sector has grown to back winners from Zoopla to Secret Escapes and cutting-edge UK businesses such as Femtech provider Elvie, video games developer Frontier Developmentsand internet-of-things business Simulity.

To celebrate the 25^th anniversary of VCTs the Association of Investment Companies (AIC)has spoken to VCT managers about their best-performing investments, the many companies they’ve backed and the future of the sector.

BGV's Paul Miller explains why now, more than ever, the case for investing in Tech for Good is so compelling.

Three out of five business leaders worldwide (61%) predict growth over the next twelve months, according to a new study from Intertrust. 

Ian Connatty, Managing Director of British Patient Capital comments on the opportunities in venture capital and the challenge of attracting UK investors.

It has been a challenging few years for investors looking to draw income from financial markets.  Amid a multi-year trend of low yields in bond markets, and investor disinterest in dividend-paying shares in stock markets, 2020’s economic crash led to the sharpest cuts to global dividends in history.

It's August, holiday season, things traditionally shut down for August but this year it feels a little different. Many of us are on staycation, some trying to keep the kids occupied after rushing back from Spain and, more latterly, France. Others will be quickly organising a last minute trip to Portugal. Still it should still be a time to play, to think about the past year and recharge the batteries ready for Autumn.

“Despite the Q2 barometer showing the impact on SMEs has been less severe than expected, some sectors are clearly suffering much more than others."

The past few months have been difficult for every business? Whether you’re an established behemoth or a young startup. Even thriving markets, such as ecommerce, have experienced challenges, such as scaling up deliveries to meet demand or keeping staff healthy.

Russia aspires to become a world leader in the hydrogen sector, and the state sees great potential for European exports in particular. 

“We cannot be reliant on sectors that will inevitably fluctuate until there is a vaccine to drive the UK’s recovery. The Bank of England’s prediction today is based on a return to ‘normality’ that is still uncertain."

To say the world has been shaken in the past four months is an understatement.