The early-stage startup investment landscape in Scotland has proven to be attractive to new international investors, demonstrating consistent year-on-year growth, according to new research.
According to a report from Scottish investment analyst YCF that tracked investors making their first investment in Scottish businesses, the amount of newcomers rose 12% last year, reaching 73.
The figure for 2024 was a 20% rise from 2022, despite wider challenging economic conditions. It represents the highest number of new investors in Scotland since 2021, an overall bumper year for tech investments that saw 105 entering the Scottish market.
The report also noted that the median deal size for newcomer-backed rounds increased by 28% from 2022, reaching £3.86m.
Notable rounds for Scottish firms last year include space tech group Orbex, which raised £16.7m and RNA sequencing company Wobble Genomics, which raised £8.5m.
“The steady rise in newcomer investors signals growing international engagement with Scotland’s early-stage market. Even in challenging market conditions, we’re seeing larger deals and sustained international interest in Scotland’s known strengths, but also in the emerging consumer technologies category,” said YCF editor Alison Grieve.
“The upward trajectory of newcomers suggests Scotland is becoming increasingly integrated into global investment networks, bringing not just capital but international expertise and expansion opportunities to Scottish scaleups. Our data indicates that newcomers are targeting more established opportunities, potentially reflecting confidence in Scotland’s maturing startup ecosystem.”
Separate data released last week by consultancy firm RSM UK found that the number of tech incorporations in Scotland had risen by 15% in the second quarter of the year.
Register for Free
Bookmark your favorite posts, get daily updates, and enjoy an ad-reduced experience.
Already have an account? Log in
