Scots investment market robust

Craft beer firm Brewdog helped Scottish companies raise an eight-figure sum in the last quarter of 2017, as venture capital (VC) investment reached a Uk-wide record, according to a new report.

Accountancy giant KPMG’S latest Venture Pulse survey said firms north of the Border raised $80 million (£57.6m) in the period. VC investment reached $2.5 billion across the UK, with a “flurry” of $100m-plus mega-financings seeing it raise the majority of investment across Europe.

In Scotland, standout deals included Brewdog, whose ongoing crowdfunding round has now reached more than £13.4m.

James Kergon, head of deal advisory for KPMG in Scotland, said the strength of the investment market in Scotland is “significant”, especially given continued economic uncertainty in the UK. “Some investors may have capitalised on the drop in value of sterling, yet the number of later-stage deals reflects the commitment of investors when it comes to established companies.”

He also said the start-up sector in Scotland is “well-established,” and appealing to investors, while government initiatives to support Scotland’s such firms will be key.

“In the coming months, we expect to see investment in fintech and cross-industry applicable technologies like artificial intelligence, customer relationship management, and data analytics.”