Britain has no lack of ideas, founders or ambition but too often our successful start-ups lean on American giants when they exit. This isn’t inevitable, says Carolyn Dawson

More than 100 companies are incorporated every hour in this country. British start-ups have raised more than $7bn in investment so far this year alone. Despite the headwinds, the UK remains a brilliant and popular destination to start and grow a company.

And, historically, it has been home to triumphant exits for start-ups, too. Take Oxford Ionics, the quantum computing firm that was acquired for over $1bn earlier this year, or Verona Pharma, the healthtech revolutionising respiratory treatment, acquired for an extraordinary $10bn this summer. Clearly, enormous success is possible here.

But too often, these exit successes lean on the American giants. In fact, when we compiled the top 50 UK exits from 2024-25: 94 per cent were via acquisitions, almost all to American tech. Just 30 per cent of acquirers were HQ’d in the UK.

British entrepreneurs are building extraordinarily successful businesses, and then selling the gains to American giants. The nation is missing out on job-creators that could support future generations. We’re missing out........

© City A.M.