2017 was a record year for Europe’s venture ecosystem, with ¤16.9 billion in capital invested—the highest number PitchBook has recorded. Deal count, however, trended downward for the third consecutive year. The final number of closed deals came in at just 3,306, a 24% decrease from 2016 and the lowest number of financings since 2012.
<p>European
Venture Report
2017 Annual
Contents
Key takeaways
2
Overview
3
Spotlight
7
Artificial Intelligence attracts record investment
Corporate VC
8
Regional Spotlight
9
UK/Ireland sees record venture activity in 2017
Exits
11
Fundraising
13
Healthy fundraising activity despite dwindling fund
count
4Q 2017 League Tables
15
16.9B
53
1.2B
2017 European VC
deal value
Key takeaways from the analysts
13% YoY
2017 European VC-
backed IPOs
2017 European VC
deal value in AI
Credits & Contact
PitchBook Data, Inc.
John Gabbert Founder, CEO
Adley Bowden Vice President, Market
Development & Analysis
Content
Cameron Stanfill Analyst
Joelle Sostheim Analyst
Masaun Nelson Data Analyst
Contact PitchBook
pitchbook.com
Research
reports@pitchbook.com
Editorial
editorial@pitchbook.com
The European venture industry
reached new highs in 2017, at least in
terms of overall deal value. Just under
17 billion was investedthe highest
figure tracked by PitchBookacross
3,306 completed transactions. Those
figures equate to changes of a year-
over-year (YoY) increase of 13% and
decrease of 25%, respectively.
The United Kingdom (UK) and
Ireland have cemented their status
as a VC stronghold with a record 7.1
billion invested across 1,221 deals.
This was partially a product of its
burgeoning fintech ecosystem, as
nearly half of the total fintech deals
across Europe were in the UK/Ireland
region.
Contrary to earlier indications, 2017
proved to be a rebound year for VC-
backed IPOs, which raised over 3
billion across 53 offerings. Assisted
by large offerings from Delivery Hero
and Rovio, 2017 was the strongest
showing since 2014, which retains
decade-highs values for both IPO
value and count.
PITCHBOOK 2017 ANNUAL EUROPEAN VENTURE REPORT
2
Overview
Strong VC investment despite sliding
deal count
2017 was a record year for Europe's
venture ecosystem, with 16.9 billion
in capital investedthe highest
number PitchBook has recorded. Deal
count, however, trended downward
for the third consecutive year.