The 2023 Startups 100 Index in Full

Amid an uncertain economy, this year’s list of the top 100 startups for 2023 showcases the innovators that will bring light and convenience into the new year.

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Written and reviewed by:
Helena Young

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.”

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:

1. Caura
2. Sensat
3. Hack The Box
4. The Modern Milkman
5. Wild
6. Nourished
7. PolyAI
8. Lottie
9. Beam
10. Flexa
11. Pasta Evangelists
12. RevLifter
13. Peppy
14. onHand
15. Infogrid
16. Sano Genetics
17. Jubel Beer
18. Birdie
19. AUDIOMOB
20. Element
21. SURREAL
22. Vinehealth
23. Toqio
24. Kind Bag
25. Youth Group
26. Natterhub
27. Tiney.co
28. Zeus Labs Ltd
29. Homethings
30. Power Sheds Ltd
31. UniTaskr
32. HumanForest
33. Poplar Studio
34. Volta
35. Zeelo
36. Strolll
37. SlothMove
38. Intelistyle
39. Hausbots
40. The Mothership Group Ltd
41. Touchlab Limited
42. TeamSportz
43. Climate X Ltd
44. Veremark
45. Pollinate
46. KYC Hub
47. Weavr
48. Sprout.ai
49. Worldr
50. Harper
51. Happity
52. Boundless Activated Snacking
53. SymTerra
54. Grubby
55. Olly's
56. RareCan
57. Drop Bear Beer Co.
58. KinKind Ltd
59. Credas
60. Concrete4Change
61. Travel Hands
62. bide planet
63. Snuggy
64. YEO Messaging
65. Genie AI
66. Deazy
67. Pitchbooking
68. GiGL
69. PushFar
70. for peat's sake!
71. Sook
72. Tiwani Heritage
73. Legacy of Lives
74. Ambl
75. Pretty Mama
76. Pawprint
77. Class-ify
78. Clever Lili Ltd
79. KeyNest
80. Neat Home Ltd
81. Vendoir
82. PocDoc
83. CoolMed
84. Mintago
85. Scout
86. Bold Bean Co
87. Further
88. Packfleet
89. WhisperClaims
90. Yonder
91. LOANHOOD
92. Legislate
93. Cauli Ltd.
94. Jiva.ai
95. Earthly
96. Kiteline-Health
97. Gigged.AI
98. Anansi
99. Treepoints
100. Essentialise Workplace Wellbeing

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.

Top 100: At a glance

Written by:
Helena Young
Helena is Lead Writer at Startups. As resident people and premises expert, she's an authority on topics such as business energy, office and coworking spaces, and project management software. With a background in PR and marketing, Helena also manages the Startups 100 Index and is passionate about giving early-stage startups a platform to boost their brands. From interviewing Wetherspoon's boss Tim Martin to spotting data-led working from home trends, her insight has been featured by major trade publications including the ICAEW, and news outlets like the BBC, ITV News, Daily Express, and HuffPost UK.

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