Startups.co.uk has unveiled its fifteenth Startups 100 Index, the UK’s longest-running directory of the top 100 most disruptive new businesses – and not a moment too soon.
As the country grapples with high inflation and supply chain disruption, the 2023 Startups 100 showcases a huge range of inventive business ideas that will solve these challenges and achieve massive success in this year and beyond.
Our top startup for 2023 is the car management app, Caura. With commuters facing public transport chaos due to strikes this January, the revolutionary app is empowering the UK’s 30 million drivers to save time and money by managing all their car admin in just one place – including paying charges for ultra low emission zones.
Record-high temperatures in 2022 means the climate crisis remains a big topic over the next 12 months. Runners-up Sensat, Modern Milkman, and Wild all boast a sustainable focus to help customers make greener choices this year.
Richard Parris, Managing Editor at Startups.co.uk, says, “This year’s index has identified an incredible variety of revolutionary business ideas and exceptional founders. The economic outlook for the UK may feel gloomy, but these businesses have a huge opportunity to grow and to inspire others to do the same.”
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The Startups 100 Index 2023
Our judges were hugely impressed by the standard of entries for this year’s index, with hundreds of companies applying to join the likes of the Startups 100 alumni: Monzo, Deliveroo, and HelloFresh.
Collectively raising finance just shy of £2.5 billion, each of our top 100 startups is a distinctive and inventive new business. Click on the links below to find out more about them:
The 2023 Startups 100 special awards winners
This year, in addition to commemorating the top 100 new businesses in the UK, the Startups team introduced specialist awards categories to highlight the firms that are pioneering positive change in important areas, or are demonstrating an inspiring and unique business journey.
Joining us at the judges’ table were famous entrepreneurial faces, including Sahar Hashemi, Ian Wallis, Rachel McClelland, Christopher Kenna, Eloise Skinner, Alison Loveday, Andrea Pattico, and Deann Evans.
Alison Loveday, Senior Leader at Scottish Enterprise and Startups 100 guest judge, says, “This [list] really speaks to the entrepreneurial spirit in all parts of our society and is wonderfully encouraging to see.
“Despite the challenges of the pandemic, which endure, the ingenuity and perseverance of these startups is inspiring. They are proof that with a genuinely great offer, hard work and a great team – anything is possible.”
Each of these exceptional business leaders was tasked with selecting the standout top 100 businesses across eight categories. Click below for the full shortlist of winners:
The 2023 Startups 100 ranking methodology
We’re one of the most accessible new business indexes in the UK. Our list of criteria is kept deliberately short, and all we ask is that entrants are: UK-based, privately owned, and launched after 1 January 2017.
During the application stage, our online form asks businesses to provide us with insight into their operations, which includes their financial details, standout business model, and their five-year vision.
Once the judging process begins, we then use this data to assign weighted scores to every business entrant. This is based on five key areas of analysis:
- Finance
- External validation
- Size of opportunity
- Innovativeness of idea
- Strength of concept
These scores are then averaged out to give us our overall ranking for the Startups 100 Index 2023.
If you’re interested in being included in the next Startups 100, then keep your eyes peeled because we’ll be revealing the date for entries to the 2024 Startups 100 later this year.