1、Beyond Equity:Alternative Financing for the UKs tech startup ecosystem03020405061218222627ForewordIntroductionOverview of debt financing Access to debtDebt and sectorsBreaking the equity lockMethodologyAboutContents0504growth trajectories.Whether through long-term loans,revenue-based finance,IP-back

2、ed lending,or other emerging financing solutions.These options offer founders the breathing room they need to scale without sacrificing ownership or strategic control.For investors,alternative financing adds a valuable layer of capital efficiency and downside protection in an increasingly uncertain

3、funding environment.Alternative financing is not always a replacement for equity,particularly at the riskiest stages of company building.However,for founders,it can serve as a strategic option at key inflexion points.As this report demonstrates,the infrastructure to support this market is growing,wi

4、th more lenders,more products,and more signals that this space is ready to scale.The UKs tech startup ecosystem has matured significantly over the past decade.Thousands of ambitious founders are now building category-defining businesses across sectors,ranging from fintech and AI to renewable energy.

5、This momentum reflects the strength of the countrys talent base,a supportive regulatory environment,and a culture that increasingly embraces entrepreneurial risk-taking.However,while the tech ecosystem has evolved rapidly,broader private capital markets have struggled to keep pace.Against the backdr

6、op of a more unsettled macroeconomic environment,and with AI reshaping the rules of scale,it is time to rethink how we capitalise UK tech companies.This report provides an in-depth exploration of the alternative financing landscape for UK tech companies generating less than 100 million in turnover.I