By Jess Jones UK start-ups secured $2.9bn (£2.2bn) in new venture capital (VC) funding during the third quarter of 2024, a sharp drop from the $5.7bn (£4.4bn) raised in the previous quarter, according to fresh data from HSBC. The global VC market also slowed, marking its weakest quarter in over four years, driven largely by a downturn in mega funding rounds. Early-stage and breakout investments remained relatively stable however. Although fewer deals closed in the third quarter, the UK continues to lead Europe in start-up investment, raking in $12.4bn (£9.5bn) of dry powder so far in 2024. Thi…