# Defence tech investors in United Kingdom (2026 list)

> 94 defence tech investors in United Kingdom, 86% active in the last 12 months. Led by New Enterprise Associates, Accel, Gaingels. Ranked by what they funded.

Source: https://millionrounds.com/lists/defensetech-investors-in-united-kingdom (Millionrounds; every figure on the page links to its filing or article)

[Investor Lists](https://millionrounds.com/lists)

# Defence tech investors in United Kingdom

Updated 7 November 2026

Firms observed backing a defence tech company in United Kingdom in the last two years, wherever the firm is based.

[See all 94 *→*](https://millionrounds.com/login?join=1&next=%2Fapp%2Finvestor-lists%2Fdefensetech-investors-in-united-kingdom)The top 25

**94** investors on the list No change this week

**1,534** cheques in 12 months *-4%* against the market

**$9.3M** median round they joined *+16%* against the market median

**86%** wrote a cheque in 12 months

**50%** have led a round

## The Top 25

Ordered by cheques observed, never by anything anyone paid for

Deploying now (25)

- 1 [New Enterprise Associates](https://millionrounds.com/fund/new-enterprise-associates) *Deploying now* VC firm · United States **1,610** **$34M** median round **Oct 2026** last seen
- 2 [Accel](https://millionrounds.com/fund/accel) *Deploying now* VC firm · United States **1,341** **$32M** median round **Nov 2026** last seen
- 3 [Gaingels](https://millionrounds.com/fund/gaingels) *Deploying now* Private equity · United States **1,010** **$8M** median round **Oct 2026** last seen
- 4 [FJ Labs](https://millionrounds.com/fund/fj-labs) *Deploying now* VC firm · United States **849** **$11M** median round **Oct 2026** last seen
- 5 [Antler](https://millionrounds.com/fund/antler) *Deploying now* VC firm · United Kingdom **729** **$1M** median round **Nov 2026** last seen
- 6 [Innovate UK](https://millionrounds.com/fund/innovate-uk) *Deploying now* VC firm · United Kingdom **704** **$1.2M** median round **Oct 2026** last seen
- 7 [DFJ](https://millionrounds.com/fund/dfj) *Deploying now* VC firm · United States **526** **$52M** median round **Nov 2026** last seen
- 8 [Lux Capital](https://millionrounds.com/fund/lux-capital) *Deploying now* VC firm · United States **445** **$30M** median round **Nov 2026** last seen
- 9 [Octopus Ventures](https://millionrounds.com/fund/octopus-ventures) *Deploying now* VC firm · United Kingdom **355** **$10M** median round **Oct 2026** last seen
- 10 [Speedinvest](https://millionrounds.com/fund/speedinvest) *Deploying now* VC firm · Austria **345** **$6.7M** median round **Nov 2026** last seen
- 11 [Entrepreneur First](https://millionrounds.com/fund/entrepreneurs-first) *Deploying now* Accelerator · United Kingdom **332** **$3.6M** median round **Oct 2026** last seen
- 12 [Lightbank](https://millionrounds.com/fund/lightbank) *Deploying now* VC firm · United States **206** **$5.5M** median round **Oct 2026** last seen
- 13 [Notion Capital](https://millionrounds.com/fund/notion-capital) *Deploying now* VC firm · United Kingdom **202** **$9.2M** median round **Oct 2026** last seen
- 14 [Lakestar](https://millionrounds.com/fund/lakestar) *Deploying now* VC firm · Switzerland **168** **$18M** median round **Oct 2026** last seen
- 15 [IQ Capital](https://millionrounds.com/fund/iq-capital) *Deploying now* VC firm · United Kingdom **165** **$17M** median round **Oct 2026** last seen
- 16 [Oxford Capital Partners](https://millionrounds.com/fund/oxford-capital) *Deploying now* VC firm · United Kingdom **151** **$12M** median round **Aug 2026** last seen
- 17 [Maven Capital Partners](https://millionrounds.com/fund/maven-capital-partners) *Deploying now* Private equity · United Kingdom **129** **$3.5M** median round **Oct 2026** last seen
- 18 [Scout Ventures](https://millionrounds.com/fund/scout-ventures) *Deploying now* VC firm · United States **124** **$5.1M** median round **Sept 2026** last seen
- 19 [Development Bank of Wales](https://millionrounds.com/fund/development-bank-of-wales) *Deploying now* Government · United Kingdom **123** **$1.3M** median round **Oct 2026** last seen
- 20 [Mercia Asset Management](https://millionrounds.com/fund/mercia-ventures) *Deploying now* VC firm · United Kingdom **109** **$3.7M** median round **Oct 2026** last seen
- 21 [Oxford Science Enterprises](https://millionrounds.com/fund/oxford-science-enterprises) *Deploying now* VC firm · United Kingdom **108** **$11M** median round **Nov 2026** last seen
- 22 [British Business Bank](https://millionrounds.com/fund/national-security-strategic-investment-fund) *Deploying now* Corporate VC · United Kingdom **105** **$6.3M** median round **Nov 2026** last seen
- 23 [Artis Ventures (AV)](https://millionrounds.com/fund/artis-ventures-av) *Deploying now* VC firm · United States **100** **$25M** median round **Nov 2026** last seen
- 24 [Gokul Rajaram](https://millionrounds.com/fund/gokul-rajaram) *Deploying now* Angel · United States **100** **$8M** median round **Nov 2026** last seen
- 25 [Playfair Capital](https://millionrounds.com/fund/playfair) *Deploying now* VC firm · United Kingdom **88** **$6.8M** median round **Sept 2026** last seen

**69 more on this list**

All 94 are in the app, with filters for stage, sector and market. A free account shows 10 per search, Pro up to 1,000.

[See the whole list *→*](https://millionrounds.com/login?join=1&next=%2Fapp%2Finvestor-lists%2Fdefensetech-investors-in-united-kingdom)

## The Newest Cheques

Rounds this list's investors joined most recently

- **6** Nov **[Ocient](https://millionrounds.com/company/ocient)** Series C · $100M *Led by* [Boka Capital](https://millionrounds.com/fund/boka-capital)
- **6** Nov **[Thinking Machines Lab](https://millionrounds.com/company/thinking-machines-lab)** Other · $5B *Led by* [Accel](https://millionrounds.com/fund/accel)
- **5** Nov **[T-Therapeutics](https://millionrounds.com/company/t-therapeutics)** Series B · $133M *Led by* [British Business Bank](https://millionrounds.com/fund/national-security-strategic-investment-fund)
- **5** Nov **[Siggy](https://millionrounds.com/company/siggy)** Pre-seed · $6M *With* [Gokul Rajaram](https://millionrounds.com/fund/gokul-rajaram)
- **5** Nov **[Potential Sciences](https://millionrounds.com/company/potential-sciences)** Seed *With* [Twin Path Ventures](https://millionrounds.com/fund/twin-path-ventures)
- **5** Nov **[Alethio Therapeutics](https://millionrounds.com/company/alethio-therapeutics)** Series A · $90M *With* [Oxford Science Enterprises](https://millionrounds.com/fund/oxford-science-enterprises)

## Stages This Year

1,306 rounds

- Seed **22%**
- Series A **16%**
- Venture **16%**
- Pre-seed **10%**
- Series B **9%**
- Other **27%**

## What They Backed

Sectors, last 12 months

- AI **526**
- Biotech **109**
- Aerospace & Space **87**
- Healthcare **86**
- Fintech **78**
- Big Data & Analytics **63**

## Cheques by Quarter

Led Joined

388 Q1 25

451 Q2 25

428 Q3 25

472 Q4 25

440 Q1 26

410 Q2 26

390 Q3 26

115 Q4 26

The last bar is the quarter still running.

## Lists Like This

- [AI investors in United States 3,683](https://millionrounds.com/lists/ai-investors-in-united-states)
- [Fintech investors in United States 1,166](https://millionrounds.com/lists/fintech-investors-in-united-states)
- [AI investors in United Kingdom 1,039](https://millionrounds.com/lists/ai-investors-in-united-kingdom)
- [Big Data & Analytics investors in United States 1,039](https://millionrounds.com/lists/big-data-investors-in-united-states)
- [Biotech investors in United States 914](https://millionrounds.com/lists/biotech-investors-in-united-states)
- [Energy investors in United States 798](https://millionrounds.com/lists/energy-investors-in-united-states)
- [Robotics investors in United States 797](https://millionrounds.com/lists/robotics-investors-in-united-states)
- [Construction investors in United States 742](https://millionrounds.com/lists/construction-investors-in-united-states)
- [Cybersecurity investors in United States 702](https://millionrounds.com/lists/cybersecurity-investors-in-united-states)

[All investor lists *→*](https://millionrounds.com/lists)

## Reading for founders in government and defence

- The Hour of the Predator Giuliano da Empoli · 2025 3.94 from 5,140 ratings on Goodreads Government and defence About the book A chilling assessment of international politics in our time, from an internationally bestselling author whose work has sparked controversy and debate across the worldBlending the author’s personal insight with startling historical comparisons to the days of Machiavelli and the… On AmazonListen on Audible
- Written Out of History: The Forgotten Founders Who Fought Big Government Mike Lee · 2017 4.05 from 728 ratings on Goodreads Government and defence Company building About the book Senator Mike Lee tells the story of the Founders whose warnings about the dangers of an all-powerful federal government helped shape our Constitution--but are being ignored today. Today, most Americans are familiar only with the "big names" associated with the Founding -… On AmazonListen on Audible
- Unit X: How the Pentagon and Silicon Valley Are Transforming the Future of War Raj M. Shah · 2024 3.82 from 1,608 ratings on Goodreads Government and defence Company building Innovation About the book Shortlisted for the 2024 Financial Times Business Book of the Year “An exceedingly important book!”, General David Petraeus, US Army (Ret.), former Director of the CIA “Essential reading for understanding how technology will change the future of warfare.”, Chris Miller, New York… On AmazonListen on Audible
- The Sirens' Call: How Attention Became the World's Most Endangered Resource Christopher L. Hayes · 2025 3.93 from 8,942 ratings on Goodreads Government and defence About the book An Instant #1 New York Times BestsellerFrom the New York Times bestselling author and MSNBC and podcast host, a powerful wide-angle reckoning with how the assault from attention capitalism on our minds and our hearts has reordered our politics and the very fabric of our… On AmazonListen on Audible

More books for founders and investors on the [Reading List](https://millionrounds.com/reading-list?role=founder&industry=government).

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

## Quick answers about defence tech investors in United Kingdom

### Who are the most active defence tech investors in United Kingdom?

By cheques observed, the most active are New Enterprise Associates, Accel, Gaingels, FJ Labs and Antler.

### How many defence tech investors in United Kingdom are there?

94 are on record. 86% made an investment in the last 12 months and 50% have led a round.

### Which stages do defence tech investors in United Kingdom back?

Of the rounds with a named stage in the last 12 months, mostly Seed (29%) and Series A (21%).

### How big are the rounds defence tech investors in United Kingdom join?

The typical (median) round among the leading investors here is $8M.

### Which sectors do defence tech investors in United Kingdom back most?

In the last 12 months, mostly AI, Biotech and Aerospace & Space.

### Which defence tech investors in United Kingdom lead the most rounds?

Accel (103 led), New Enterprise Associates (73 led) and Lux Capital (20 led).

### Where are defence tech investors in United Kingdom based?

Among the most active, most are based in the United Kingdom (13), the United States (10) and Austria (1).

### What have defence tech investors in United Kingdom invested in recently?

Recent rounds include Ocient (Series C, Nov 2026, with Boka Capital), Thinking Machines Lab (Other, Nov 2026, with Accel) and T-Therapeutics (Series B, Nov 2026, with British Business Bank).

Built from the rounds we watched, refreshed every night. [How we count](https://millionrounds.com/methodology) · [Report a correction](https://millionrounds.com/corrections)