Accel (London)

Accel is a top-tier global venture capital firm with a dedicated European team based in London. Established in Silicon Valley in 1983, Accel expanded to London in the early 2000s and has since become a leading backer of European tech unicorns. The Accel London fund invests broadly in consumer and enterprise technology companies from seed through growth stage. Accel’s Europe portfolio reads like a who’s-who of success stories – it was an early investor in Spotify, Facebook, and Slack, and in Europe it has funded Klarna, Hopin, and Cazoo among others. For example, Accel’s London team led rounds in Hopin (virtual events) and Klarna (fintech), both of which achieved multibillion-dollar valuations. The firm often takes board seats and provides hands-on support to founders in scaling globally. Accel is known for its deep network in Silicon Valley and Europe, helping bridge entrepreneurs to US markets. It manages multiple funds dedicated to Europe, including Accel London and Accel Europe, and typically invests from Series A onward (with selective seed bets). Notably, Accel was the first Silicon Valley VC to establish a permanent presence in London, reflecting its conviction in Europe’s tech potential. With over three decades of VC experience, Accel has the distinction of having backed over 100 unicorns worldwide. Its London arm continues to actively invest across sectors – from fintech and SaaS to cybersecurity and web3 – making Accel a cornerstone investor in Europe’s startup ecosystem. In short, Accel (London) combines global reach with local insight, helping Europe’s breakout startups scale to international success.