London-based Index Ventures is the only European firm to have made the top 10 of an annual ranking of the best global performers in venture capital.

The firm, which currently has investments in online fashion retailer Asos and Facebook, came seventh. Despite its European heritage, it pointed to the benefits of being in the US. Saul Klein, a partner at Index Ventures, said: "Since we've opened an office in San Francisco, we've been able to invest in some great companies like Flipboard and Etsy. It's just a question of sticking to your knitting and doing what we've been doing for past 15 years."