81. Zero Fintech Environmentally conscious customers want more from their banks and Zero Fintech offers this with an app, which is transparent and supports easy climate action. Written by Helena Young Sponsored by Sage Published on January 12, 2026 About the Startups 100 Now in its 18th year, the Startups 100 is the definitive list of the most promising new UK businesses. There's no fee for entry or for inclusion in our index. The Startups team of new business experts judge all our top 100 entrants in collaboration with specialist industry consultants. See our guide to this year’s hottest new businesses and most exceptional founders in the complete 2026 Startups 100 index. Founders: Richard Theodossiades and Lisa StanleyYear founded: 2021Website: zero.co.ukRichard Theodossiades and Lisa Stanley, the founders behind Zero Fintech, are on a mission to redefine banking for the eco-conscious generations. The Welsh startup created a money app that meets everyday financial needs but also empowers people to take meaningful climate action.The duo got started in 2021 when the climate crisis shifted from background noise to a global call to action.“From David Attenborough’s ‘A Life on Our Planet’, and Greta Thunberg’s ‘Fridays for Future’ movement, to the urgency of COP26 in Glasgow, it was clear that while the need to act was greater than ever, the UK banking system was still financing fossil fuels and environmentally destructive industries,” they share.Their research told them that customers wanted better. In fact, they discovered that 61% of consumers believe banks should tackle climate change, and 59% want their money used for environmental good.Zero does this by giving each customer a GreenScore. This, says the team, is “a simple, intuitive single metric that shows users the carbon impact of their spending, turning complex data into one meaningful number with practical steps to cut their footprint.”The score is accessible through the Zero money app, which includes a personal account, a Mastercard debit card, and other banking services. Customers’ money is held with a fully regulated bank to keep it safe – though Zero is touting the idea of applying for a banking license in the future. With this would come current accounts, green savings, ethical investments, and sustainable lending.The founders built their fully compliant product by bringing in experts including a sustainable finance expert CSO and a multiple-exited CEO cofounder. And, as the company reveals, Zero also has an advisory group consisting of academic and fintech experts from Bristol University, ClearBank, Monzo, Ocean Bottle, and HSBC. It was clear that while the need to act was greater than ever, the UK banking system was still financing fossil fuels and environmentally destructive industries. Now a B-Corp, the venture has partnered with technology providers, including delivery partners like Mastercard, Transact Payments, and Kani, to build a robust, compliant backend. It has also integrated with Apple Pay and Google Pay, and launched a community share option scheme, giving each new customer 400 community shares.Zero now has 14,000 climate-conscious users and has processed more than £1.1m in payments. While the founders say that it has a very specific audience, they hope it will become the leading sustainable finance brand in the UK, “recognised not only for what we offer, but for what we stand for: making money work for people and the planet.”View the full Startups 100 Index for 20261. Omnea2. HIVED3. MAGIC AI4. OXCCU5. Lightyear6. Neuranics 7. Hormona8. Burbank9. Better Dairy 10. Lenkie Technologies11. Userled12. Hoxton Farms13. Rensair14. PulpaTronics15. TradeKart16. 32Co17. Carmoola18. cheqd19. Sightline Analytics20. Adamo Foods21. Bold Bean Co22. Beams Renovation 23. Pan Galactic24. Capi Money25. Spotted Zebra26. ANTHROTEK 27. Unravel28. Perci Health29. Untap Health30. Hair Syrup31. Connect Earth 32. spacebands 33. Unfabled34. Lightning Reach35. STOCKED36. Embeddable37. XR Therapeutics38. Literal Labs39. Scooch40. Openr41. Fibe Limited42. Inicio AI43. Peachies44. Better Nature 45. Ctrl Alt46. Resting Reef47. Nila48. ROXFIT49. Finmile50. NavLive51. Volunteero52. Inntelo AI53. Zonova54. A&B Smart Materials55. Ethicronics56. Treeapp57. kennek58. Soil Benchmark59. Vox Aeris60. Asan Cup61. Nuuri62. Mindstone63. MYNDUP64. Enbiosis Biotechnology65. JUX Food66. Danu Robotics67. Wylde Market68. Air Aware Labs69. Mimicrete Ltd70. ALYVE71. Happl72. Living Things73. Grub Club Pets74. Mealia75. PetProov76. Lylo Products77. Chest78. ZIM Connections79. Uptime Labs80. Teal81. Zero Fintech82. Micro Thermal Energy 83. Kanjo 84. Merlin Cloud85. My Skin Feels86. Eleria87. Cashblack88. RevvedUp89. Cosysense90. SuperFi91. Loom92. Legacy Compass93. Meshed94. SWURF95. Main Squeeze96. Sampl Technologies97. Over the Moo98. Pioneering People99. Bikebook100. Recondition Share this post facebook twitter linkedin Tags 2026 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. Sponsored by: Sage Startups 100 Index Sponsor 2026 Sage exists to knock down barriers so everyone can thrive, starting with the millions of Small and Mid-Sized Businesses served by us, our partners and accountants. Customers trust our finance, HR and payroll software to make work and money flow. By digitising business processes and relationships with customers, suppliers, employees, banks and governments, our digital network connects SMBs, removing friction and delivering insights. Knocking down barriers also means we use our time, technology and experience to tackle digital inequality, economic inequality and the climate crisis.