Directory

Institute of Making

CommunityOtherAcademiaCoworkingBritish

The Institute of Making is a multidisciplinary research and making community based at University College London, exploring all aspects of materials and manufacturing processes across disciplines from molecular synthesis to architecture. It comprises a Materials Library and a MakeSpace workshop, offering membership to UCL staff and students as well as a public programme of open workshops and events. Founded originally at King's College London in 2010, it has been hosted at UCL since 2012.

International House Brixton

CoworkingOtherCommunityBritish

3Space International House Brixton is London's largest affordable workspace, an 11-storey building operated by 3Space (Registered Charity No. 1136377, founded 2010) under its BuyGiveWork model, whereby revenue from commercial tenants cross-subsidises free space for community organisations, charities, and social enterprises. The building opened in autumn 2018 and provides fixed desks, private offices, and five community Give Hubs, delivering approximately 15 times the social value of a typical office according to an independent study. The lease with Lambeth Council runs until spring 2027.

Intruder

ScaleupCybersecurityAIBritish

Continuous attack-surface and vulnerability management SaaS for SMBs and mid-market companies, offering automated scanning across networks, web applications and cloud environments with prioritisation; recently launched AI pentesting agents.

Invest in Change

VCOtherBritish

Invest in Change is an Edinburgh-based angel group founded in 2018 that connects angel investors with purpose-led, impact-focused start-ups. The organisation focuses on early-stage seed investments in companies that aim to generate profit whilst creating a positive social or environmental impact, spanning sectors such as software, education, healthcare and community.

Investing Women Angels

VCOtherBritish

Investing Women Angels is Scotland's first all-female angel investment syndicate, incorporated in 2013 and based in Edinburgh. It backs early-stage, predominantly female-founded and female-led businesses across Scotland, having invested over £2.3 million across more than 25 companies. The organisation also runs education and community programmes to increase the number of women participating in angel investing.

Investment For Growth & Jobs NI

GovernmentOtherGrantmakerBritish

Investment For Growth & Jobs Northern Ireland is the official portal for the Northern Ireland 2014–2020 European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and European Social Fund (ESF) programmes. Managed by the Department for the Economy and the Department of Finance, it supported economic development, job creation, and business growth across Northern Ireland using EU structural funds, and is now in the programme closure phase.

JavaScript London

CommunityOtherBritish

JavaScript London is a community group for JavaScript developers in London, providing meetups, networking, and knowledge sharing around JavaScript development.

Jenson Ventures

VCOtherBritish

Jenson Funding Partners (trading as Jenson Ventures) is an FCA-regulated, B Corp-certified venture capital firm specialising in SEIS and EIS investments in early-stage UK companies. Founded in 2012, the firm has invested over £32 million across 165+ businesses and has 11 successful exits with an average multiple of 4.69x. Jenson takes a purpose-led, inclusive approach to venture investment across all sectors.

KAIKAKU

StartupAIOtherBritish

Robotics platform for restaurants; 'Fusion' robot assembles bowls and dishes at speed using ML-driven inventory management, and operates its own robot-powered 'Common Room' fast-casual outlets.

KPMG Acceleris

VCSaaSAIProfessional ServicesBritish

KPMG Acceleris is an FCA-regulated venture capital advisory firm based in Manchester, operating as a joint venture between KPMG UK and Acceleris Capital (founded 2000). The firm arranges new capital for SMEs and makes direct investments in technology-based companies, supporting early-stage through to growth-stage businesses across technology, life sciences, and ESG-related sectors. It offers funding, investment advisory, and strategic services to founders and investors across the UK, with a track record of introducing over £150 million into UK SMEs.

Kaizan

StartupAISaaSBritish

London-based AI platform that analyses client communications and account data to help service teams detect risk, improve retention, and grow revenue.

Karma Kitchen

ScaleupOtherReal EstateBritish

Operator and developer of fully-fitted commercial cloud kitchen and food-production spaces rented to food businesses and dark-kitchen brands across multiple London locations.

Kelvin Capital

VCOtherAIBritish

Kelvin Capital is a Glasgow-based angel investment syndicate founded in 2009 that backs growth-stage companies across technology, life sciences, and electronics manufacturing. The group has deployed over £150 million into more than 35 portfolio companies alongside other angel syndicates and venture capital firms, and also operates the Kelvin Capital Catalyst Fund targeting established EBITDA-positive UK businesses facing succession or expansion inflection points.

Kennek

ScaleupFinanceSaaSBritish

Lending operating system and SaaS platform for alternative lenders and credit investors covering loan origination, portfolio management, reporting and investor relations; won Fintech Startup of the Year 2024 at the London Fintech Awards.

Kero

VCClimateOtherBritish

Kero (formerly known as Kero Development Partners) is a UK-based early-stage investment firm that backs innovative engineering businesses with patented or patentable technologies. Founded in 2017, the firm focuses on clean tech, renewable energy, advanced materials, and industrial innovation, providing both capital and operational support to its portfolio companies. Notable portfolio companies include Power Roll (flexible solar film) and ZELIM (unmanned rescue vessels).

Keyless

ScaleupCybersecurityBritish

Privacy-preserving biometric authentication using patented Zero-Knowledge Biometrics, verifying face and device cryptographically without storing retrievable biometric data; includes anti-deepfake and anti-injection protections.

King's Ventures

Incubator / AcceleratorOtherAcademiaBritish

The Entrepreneurship Institute at King's College London is the university's central hub for entrepreneurial activity, commercialising and scaling innovations founded by King's students, staff, and alumni. It runs the 12-month King's Start-up Accelerator and King's Spin-out Accelerator, offering mentoring, workshops, office space, and investor connections. The portfolio has facilitated over £121 million in investment and supported more than 180 companies.

Kuano

StartupBiotech & Life SciencesAIBritish

Cambridge-based spin-out using quantum simulation and quantum-inspired AI to design enzyme inhibitors and novel small-molecule drugs. Its Quantum Lens platform applies physics-based quantum fingerprints to guide hit generation and compound optimisation for drug discovery programmes.

L Marks

Incubator / AcceleratorOtherSaaSProfessional ServicesBritish

L Marks is a global corporate innovation firm that designs and delivers innovation programmes for major international organisations, including BMW, Lloyd's of London, and Sodexo. Founded in 2014, it operates an award-winning Innovation Lab model connecting corporates with startups, as well as a Venture Studio that builds new revenue-generating businesses from within client organisations, with a 78% deployment rate across more than 120 programmes in Europe, North America, and the Middle East.

LBIC

CoworkingOtherIncubator / AcceleratorBritish

The London BioScience Innovation Centre (LBIC) is London's first specialist life science bio-incubator, founded in 2000 and wholly owned by the Royal Veterinary College. It provides fully fitted, serviced CL2 laboratory and office space at its Camden campus and, since 2023, at The Apex within the King's Cross Tribeca development, and has supported over 200 biotechnology and life science companies since opening. LBIC is co-located with the RVC's Camden campus, adjacent to the Francis Crick Institute and the Knowledge Quarter.

LBS Launchpad

Incubator / AcceleratorOtherAcademiaBritish

LBS Launchpad is London Business School's startup incubator and pre-accelerator programme, run under the Institute of Entrepreneurship and Private Capital exclusively for LBS alumni founders. It provides mentorship, tailored workshops, financial bursaries, investor access, and a structured curriculum to help early-stage ventures progress from idea to scale. Since inception the programme has supported over 160 companies that have collectively raised more than £200 million and created over 1,500 jobs.

LEAH / Impact First

CommunityOtherCoworkingBritish

Impact First (formerly the London EA Hub / LEAH) is a coworking space and career-development programme for effective altruism professionals in central London, originally founded by Arcadia Impact in 2022. The space provides desks for individuals working on high-impact projects across AI safety, biosecurity, global health, and animal welfare, alongside fellowships, career advising, and networking events for students and early-career professionals.

LISA

CommunityAI SafetyAICoworkingBritish

The London Initiative for Safe AI (LISA) is a non-profit AI safety hub in central London that brings together organisations, researchers, and upskilling programmes working to ensure the safe development of advanced AI. It provides workspace and operational support to member organisations such as Apollo Research, BlueDot Impact, and IAPS, and runs programmes and fellowships to guide talent into AI safety careers. LISA also convenes the broader ecosystem through events for researchers, policymakers, and funders.

LOTI

GovernmentOtherAIEcosystem Bodies, Catapults & InstitutionsBritish

LOTI is London local government's collaborative innovation team, helping borough councils and the Greater London Authority use technology, data and innovation to improve public services and address London's biggest challenges. Founded in July 2019 and hosted at London Councils, it counts 27 boroughs, the GLA and London Councils among its members.