Startups 100 Ranking Methodology

With hundreds of incredible new businesses applying for the Startups 100 every year, the startups.co.uk team spends a lot of time perfecting the ranking and judging processes to make sure the very best new ventures get the recognition they deserve.

The criteria for entry are simple: you must be a UK-based business, founded in the last five years.

During the application stage, we ask businesses to provide us with insight into their operations. This can range from details of any funds or investment raised, to letting us know what they believed makes them stand out. From there, we begin our ranking process.

The first step in ranking the Startups 100 is an assessment of the businesses’ financial position. We provide weighted scores based on:

• Finance raised
• Turnover for the previous financial year

The second stage in the ranking process is more subjective. A shortlist of businesses is provided to the Startups team, with the finances removed, so that judgements can be made based on the strength of the business idea.

This second round of ranking is imperative, as it offers an opportunity to recognise businesses that may underperform financially, despite having a strong idea. This is particularly the case for businesses in the growth stage – where they might be losing money with a view to long-term growth – but also for businesses in the charity sector, which often have lower turnover and profit margins.

Want to see the results? Start reading today with position number 100, Mia & Ben!