Despite a decelerating economic landscape in Britain, the leaders of this year’s rankings for the 100 fastest-growing tech firms are experiencing remarkable growth.

The companies featured in the inaugural list have collectively achieved revenues of £3.2 billion in the latest trading year, marking a substantial rise of £2.6 billion compared to their earnings from three years prior.

In a climate where the job market appears to be cooling, a majority of the 100 firms are actively hiring. Among the 82 companies sharing their future plans, approximately 4,200 new positions are expected to be created over the coming year. In total, these companies have generated 11,200 jobs in the last three years, increasing their workforce to 20,700 employees.

This ranking could be pivotal for the Labour government as it consults on its decade-long industrial strategy. Success in this area requires foundational elements, which in the tech sector means dynamic and ambitious companies already achieving meaningful scale and poised for global success.

Our dedicated research team sifted through publicly accessible records and reached out to numerous private enterprises to compile this comprehensive ranking and highlight their achievements.

Software companies (including those focused on finance, insurance, and AI services) are categorized separately from hardware ventures (like batteries, electric vehicle charging, robotics, and sensors) to better illustrate the relative ease of scaling asset-light operations.

The 50 software firms showcased an impressive average annual growth rate of 156%, while their counterparts in hardware and other sectors reported a robust growth of 87%.

Notably, two-thirds of the companies on the list reported losses in their latest financial year, with these deficits supported by patient investors. More than 90 firms secured external investments, raising a total of £10 billion. The ranking features 12 “unicorns,” businesses valued at over $1 billion by their investors, including insurance provider Marshmallow (No. 22, Software) and Flo Health (No. 49, Software), a digital health services provider.

International investors are looking to capitalize on British tech opportunities, with notable backing from US chip manufacturer Nvidia for PolyAI (No. 8, Software), a specialist in AI-driven voice assistance. Japanese firms JX Advanced Metals and SoftBank have also invested, with JX supporting Alloyed (No. 16, Hardware), a spin-off from the University of Oxford, and SoftBank backing Cambridge’s CMR Surgical (No. 17, Hardware), which focuses on medical robotics.

In the life sciences sector, Enara Bio (No. 27, Hardware), which is developing innovative cancer immunotherapies, has garnered the attention of pharmaceutical giant Pfizer. Active venture capital firms include Oxford Science Enterprises (five investments), Seedcamp (four), Index Ventures (four), and Entrepreneur First (three).

Despite having funds, success in commercializing new technology can be uncertain, as shown by the experiences of companies like Britishvolt, Reaction Engines, and Arrival.

While London is a hub for software companies, accounting for 42 of the 50 firms, the highest-ranked company overall is located in Manchester. Evergreen Life provides digital health services to both the NHS and private providers, reporting an extraordinary annual revenue increase of 554% to £36.1 million last year. The company expanded its workforce from 50 to 500 employees during this period and plans to create an additional 100 positions this year.

On the hardware side, companies employing proprietary technology to craft equipment, drug discoveries, and even aerospace components are spread throughout Britain, with at least one hardware company present in every region except Wales.

The majority of the founding executives are men, with only 17 women serving as chief executives, founders, or co-founders. Among them are Dame Dawn Childs, chief executive of the top-ranked hardware company Pure Data Centres, and Caroline Shaw, leading Evergreen Life, the overall number one.

Emerging sectors like battery technology, AI, and genomics are represented in the rankings, highlighting a notable cluster of companies focused on defense and security technology. Noteworthy examples include Paradigm, based in Hampshire, which provides satellite communication services for the military (No. 34, Hardware), Rowden Technologies in Bristol, which has secured Ministry of Defence contracts over larger defense firms (No. 13, Hardware), and Hadean (No. 30, Software), data visualization experts collaborating with the British Army for training scenarios using virtual simulations. Hadean has even attracted Dawn Meyerriecks, a former science and technology director at the CIA, to its advisory board.

The military-industrial sector poses significant challenges for innovative startups, often dominated by a handful of major players. While some entrepreneurs may be open to acquisition by overseas buyers, not all view this as a success. Rob Harper, founder of Rowden Technologies and a previous army veteran recognized with an MBE for his contributions to counterterrorism efforts, aspires to create a long-lasting venture.

“If we sell to a US company in three years, that should be seen as a setback,” he emphasizes. “I genuinely want to build something and demonstrate that in a nation renowned for its engineering expertise, top-notch universities, and exceptional talent, it’s possible to establish a multinational engineering company.”

Top 100 Tech Companies in Britain – 2025

Leading 5 Software Companies

1. Evergreen Life▲ 554.09% Digital health services from Manchester supporting the NHS with digital therapeutics. Founded by Stephen Critchlow.

2. Allica Bank▲ 536.98% A fintech bank focusing on the needs of small and medium-sized enterprises, with over £3 billion in loans issued.

3. UrbanChain▲ 334.39% A green energy marketplace aiding small renewable energy producers, raised £50 million in funding, led by Somayeh Taheri.

4. Peppy Health▲ 329.10% An employee benefits platform utilized by over 350 businesses in the US and UK, established by Mridula Pore, Evan Harris, and Max Landry.

5. Zilch Technology▲ 327.17% A fintech unicorn servicing four million customers since its 2018 launch, led by CEO Philip Belamant and considering a potential IPO.

Leading 5 Hardware Companies

1. Pure Data Centres▲ 373.72% A data center operator with significant equity and borrowing capabilities, overseen by Dame Dawn Childs.

2. YouSeq▲ 332.67% Offers molecular diagnostic kits that identify multiple infections simultaneously, achieving £8.1 million in sales, primarily overseas.

3. Evolito▲ 279.02% Specializes in electric motor technologies, spun out from YASA, with leadership from Chris Harris.

4. toob▲ 270.73% A full-fibre broadband provider founded in 2017 by ex-Vodafone directors, now expanding its network.

5. Utopi▲ 182.87% Implements smart sensors for property management, having recently surpassed 100,000 devices in global installations.

Explore the comprehensive insights and company profiles of the 100 Tech ranking.