Which US VCs Are Pitching Flags in London?

Some of America’s biggest VC firms have pitched their flags in Europe in the last several years, enticed by the opportunities in one of the world’s liveliest startup scenes.

Here are the US-headquartered VCs with at least one partner now based in Europe:

Insight Partners

📍 New York

Europe office: London

European investments in 2022: 20

European investments in 2023 so far: 8

Portfolio: Calm, checkout.com, Udemy

Insight Partners is on the cap tables of startups including fintech Checkout.com, AI-powered damage assessment company Tractable and second-hand marketplace Vinted. While the US-based team also runs European deals, the firm has just one partner on the ground: Alessandro Luciano

Bessemer Ventures

📍 New York

Europe office: London
European investments in 2022, according to Dealroom: 12
European investments in 2023 so far, according to Dealroom: 6

Portfolio: Shopify, WiX, toast, twillio, Pinterest

Bessemer Ventures has backed European startups like restaurant supply chain platform Choco and cybersecurity company Eye Security. Two investors are based in its London office:

Accel

📍California

Europe office: London
European investments in 2022: 24
European investments in 2023 so far: 5

Portfolio: Prismo, Cyera, Synthesia, Rex, Stacklok

In Europe, Accel has backed financial health app Anyfin and payment infrastructure startup Kevin. It was way ahead of many of its US VC counterparts and has had a London office since 2000, and closed its seventh fund focused on European early-stage startups in 2021.

Its London office has five partners, focused on investments in Europe and Israel:

General Catalyst

📍 California

Europe office: London
European investments in 2022: 22
European investments in 2023 so far: 12

Portfolio: Stripe, Canva, TravelPerk

General Catalyst’s European portfolio includes ex-Spotify founder Daniel Ek’s Neko Health, fintech Payrails and Spanish unicorn TravelPerk. The VC has four partners based in its London office:

ICONIQ

📍California

Europe office: London
European investments in 2022, according to Dealroom: 1
European investments in 2023 so far, according to Dealroom: 4

Portfolio: adyen, bambooHR, Calendly, BetterUp

ICONIQ has backed companies including AI startup Builder and autonomous accounting fintech Vic.AI. It has one general partner in its London office: Seth Pierrepont

Left Lane Capital

📍 New York

Europe office: London
European investments in 2022, according to Dealroom: 8
European investments in 2023 so far, according to Dealroom: 4

Portfolio: Black Crow AI, Wetravel, yokov

Left Lane Capital invests in internet and consumer startups, and has backed Austrian tutoring platform unicorn GoStudent and challenger stockbroker Freetrade. It has five partners based in a London office:

With the US market looking saturated, growth in German, Nordic and Eastern European venture capital markets has expanded the opportunity set offered in Europe to international investors.

Since 2020, the EU has attempted to foster smart, sustainable, and inclusive growth to overcome structural challenges. EU support to businesses in start-up stages has made it an attractive region for VCs, for example, the European Investment Fund (EIF) directly invests in Venture Capital Funds, spurring further growth. European financial infrastructure has also become more sophisticated in recent years, a by-product of Brexit as jurisdictions like Luxembourg, Jersey and Ireland expand their offering.