Startup investors in the East of England
The East of England is anchored by Cambridge, one of Europe's leading life sciences and deep tech clusters, with university funds and specialist investors close by. 6,376 investor-backed companies in the East of England are in Pulse, and 203 raised a first funding round in the last year.
- Investor-backed companies
- 6,376
- Active investors, 2 years
- 10,485
- Rounds, 2 years
- 1,363
- Median round
- £184k
Who is investing
In the last two years 1,749 funds, firms and family offices and 8,699 angels took shares in companies in the East of England, with the latest round in Nov 2026. These are the firms backing the most of these companies:
| Firm | Type | Companies |
|---|---|---|
| SFC Capital | Fund or investment firm | 41 companies |
| The Chancellor, Masters and Scholars of the University of Cambridge | University | 38 companies |
| MNL Parkwalk | Fund or investment firm | 37 companies |
| SyndicateRoom | Fund or investment firm | 25 companies |
| SFC BBI | Fund or investment firm | 24 companies |
| Martlet Capital Limited | Fund or investment firm | 18 companies |
| SyndicateRoom BBI | Fund or investment firm | 15 companies |
| BGF Investments | Fund or investment firm | 14 companies |
See all 10,485 active investors, including angels, with what they've backed, estimated cheque sizes and who they invest alongside.
Rounds and valuations
Over the last two years, 1,363 funding rounds were raised by companies in the East of England, an estimated £3.73bn, with a median round of about £184k. 203 of the companies raised their first priced round in the last 12 months. 38% of these valuations carry a High confidence rating.
How East of England compares
The East of England has 9% of the UK's 74,284 investor-backed companies. The median round of £184k is close to the £176k median for the UK, and close to the UK-wide £176k. The leading sectors are business services (1,787), software & it (799) and retail & ecommerce (600). By stage, 767 are at seed, 417 are at venture stage, 313 have exited. The most active firm in these companies is SFC Capital, in 41 companies.
Questions
How many investors back companies in the East of England?
Pulse found 10,485 outside investors taking shares in companies in the East of England in the last two years: 1,749 funds, firms and family offices, and 8,699 angels.
How much do companies in the East of England raise?
Over the last two years 1,363 rounds were raised, an estimated £3.73bn in total. The median round was about £184k.
Which sectors raise the most in the East of England?
By number of investor-backed companies, business services (1,787), software & it (799), retail & ecommerce (600) lead in the East of England, and most companies are at the seed stage.
Can I see every investor?
Pulse subscribers see every outside investor by name, with portfolios and co-investors, from £39.99 a month plus VAT (£47.99 inc. VAT). Contact details are not included and names are not linked to personal profiles.