UK universities are world-renowned for their academic excellence and quality of research, with over 15 British institutions ranking in the top 100 universities globally. From gene sequencing to quantum computing and nuclear fusion, university research departments are at the forefront of technological innovation, producing companies with the potential to not only reshape industries, but radically change how we live our lives for the better.
The UK has built up significant expertise at creating university spinouts, having established multiple investment platforms over the last 20 years that prompted the growth of key university hubs. Early pioneers of the investment model were platforms tied to universities in Oxford, Cambridge, and London. With a number of these platforms now scaling and with their portfolios maturing, we are seeing the UK spinout market poised for growth and entering an exciting new chapter.
While spinouts have come a long way in the last two decades, the market is only now becoming relevant for material institutional investment, where significant capital can provide diversified portfolios of later-stage companies with the funding they need to scale up and achieve their full commercial potential, reaching valuations that we more commonly associate with companies in the US….
