Private Capital in Northern Ireland 2026 (BVCA (UK Private Capital))

Summary

• In 2025, private capital invested £384 million into Northern Ireland businesses, including £190 million in venture and growth capital and £194 million in buyouts.p.3
• As of 2025, private capital backs 186 businesses in Northern Ireland and supports almost 47,000 jobs.p.3
• Private capital-backed companies in Northern Ireland contribute £3 billion to GDP annually.p.3
• Private capital-backed businesses in Northern Ireland are 1.3 times more likely to deliver annual revenue growth above 10%.p.5
• Over the past 5 years, private capital has cumulatively invested £943 million into Northern Irish businesses.p.8
• In 2025, venture capital backed 137 businesses in Northern Ireland, up 6% from 2023, while private equity backed 49 businesses, down 14%.p.10

Key insights

1. Venture capital-backed companies in Northern Ireland are 1.1 times more likely to be internationalised compared to similar firms in the wider economy.p.5
2. Private equity supports around 42,000 jobs in Northern Ireland, while venture capital supports around 5,000 jobs.p.6
3. Wholesale and retail is the largest sector for private capital-supported employment in Northern Ireland, representing 11,600 jobs.p.7
4. In 2025, growth capital formed the largest part of early-stage investment in Northern Ireland at £156 million.p.8
5. Advanced manufacturing firms backed by venture capital in Northern Ireland are 4 times more likely to hold a patent than non-backed firms.p.13
6. Belfast hosts 47 out of the 69 active university spinouts located across Northern Ireland.p.14
7. Northern Ireland-headquartered businesses backed by venture capital are 3 times more likely to hold a patent than non-backed peers.p.16
8. Private capital-backed companies increase their productivity by 1.1% per year more than the general business population.p.17