18. Cheqd

By taking an open-source approach to data, Cheqd is putting control of data back into the hands of the individual.

Founders: Fraser Edwards, Ankur Banerjee, and Javed Khattak
Year founded: 2021
Website:cheqd.io 

Cheqd is back with a Startups 100 hat-trick. Appearing on the index for the third year running, its been rapidly climbing the leaderboards, starting out at #60 in 2024, moving up to #34 in 2025, and for 2026 impressively cracking our top 20.

Cheqd has continued to grow, and ascend our ranks, thanks to an increasing number of trusted global partners. The startup initially faced some challenges simply due to the obscure and highly technical nature of what they were offering.

But the value has come into sharp focus, now that Cheqd has been accepted into the JPMorgan Chase Fintech Forward Program, and Barclays Scaleup Program, in 2025.

It’s been a well-deserved, rapid ascent for a company with a mission to keep your private data secure. Cheqd uses decentralised data encryption to preserve our online privacy. By now most of us are familiar with the concept of decentralised currency (cryptocurrency), but Cheqd wants us to start thinking about our decentralised identities.

To date, Cheqd has, in its own words, “built one of the largest and most diverse ecosystems in Self-Sovereign Identity (SSI), bringing together leading innovators across digital identity, compliance, trusted data, and decentralised AI”. SSI is a digital identity model that gives individuals control of their own personal data.

The problem that Cheqd identified with traditional systems is that they were reliant on “centralised entities” (where all the control comes from a singular point), which kept control out of the hands of users, and were more prone to data breaches.

Cheqd, on the other hand, is an open-source blockchain network, which makes it much easier and more secure to exchange and purchase trusted data. Essentially, Cheqd wants to make managing and sharing your digital ID and data more trustworthy, and more efficient.

What makes Cheqd stand out from the data-privacy crowd, though, is the financial incentive for companies to participate. Cheqd introduces “payment rails” which can create new revenue models for both organisations and individuals.

By 2030, Edwards and Banerjee see the company providing the default infrastructure for verifiable credentials, allowing startups, enterprises and even governments to issue and verify trusted data across industries. We look forward to checking in on them next year.

View the full Startups 100 Index for 2026

1. Omnea
2. HIVED
3. MAGIC AI
4. OXCCU
5. Lightyear
6. Neuranics
7. Hormona
8. Burbank
9. Better Dairy
10. Lenkie Technologies
11. Userled
12. Hoxton Farms
13. Rensair
14. PulpaTronics
15. TradeKart
16. 32Co
17. Carmoola
18. cheqd
19. Currence
20. Adamo Foods
21. Bold Bean Co
22. Beams Renovation
23. Pan Galactic
24. Capi Money
25. Spotted Zebra
26. ANTHROTEK
27. Unravel
28. Perci Health
29. Untap Health
30. Hair Syrup
31. Connect Earth
32. spacebands
33. Unfabled
34. Lightning Reach
35. STOCKED
36. Embeddable
37. XR Therapeutics
38. Literal Labs
39. Scooch
40. Openr
41. Fibe Limited
42. Inicio AI
43. Peachies
44. Better Nature
45. Ctrl Alt
46. Resting Reef
47. Nila
48. ROXFIT
49. Finmile
50. NavLive
51. Volunteero
52. Inntelo AI
53. Zonova
54. A&B Smart Materials
55. Ethicronics
56. Treeapp
57. kennek
58. Soil Benchmark
59. Vox Aeris
60. Asan Cup
61. Nuuri
62. Mindstone
63. MYNDUP
64. Enbiosis Biotechnology
65. JUX Food
66. Danu Robotics
67. Wylde Market
68. Air Aware Labs
69. Mimicrete Ltd
70. ALYVE
71. Happl
72. Living Things
73. Grub Club Pets
74. Mealia
75. PetProov
76. Lylo Products
77. Chest
78. ZIM Connections
79. Uptime Labs
80. Teal
81. Zero Fintech
82. Micro Thermal Energy
83. Kanjo
84. Merlin Cloud
85. My Skin Feels
86. Eleria
87. Cashblack
88. RevvedUp
89. Cosysense
90. SuperFi
91. Loom
92. Legacy Compass
93. Meshed
94. SWURF
95. Main Squeeze
96. Sampl Technologies
97. Over the Moo
98. Pioneering People
99. Bikebook
100. Recondition

Written By

Helena Young Deputy Editor

Helena is Deputy Editor at Startups. She oversees all news and supporting content on Startups, and is also the author of the weekly Startups email newsletter, delivering must-know SME updates straight to their inbox.

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.

With a background in PR and marketing, Helena is particularly passionate about giving early-stage startups a platform to boost their brands. That’s one reason she manages the Startups 100 Index, our annual ranking of new UK businesses.

More about

Sponsored By

Sage Startups 100 Index Sponsor 2026

From startup roots to championing founders. For nearly 45 years, Sage has supported the businesses powering the UK economy. As proud partner of the Startups 100 Index, we celebrate the UK’s most ambitious entrepreneurs. Our mission is simple: make running a business effortless. With practical AI and Sage Copilot, we give founders time back, clarity and confidence – automating admin and letting finance run itself. Sage breaks down barriers so businesses can thrive. Our trusted finance, HR and payroll solutions make work and money flow, connecting millions of SMBs through a digital network that removes friction and delivers insight. Beyond business, we tackle digital inequality, economic inequality, and the climate crisis.

More about