What is the Startups 100 Index?

If you have an interest in startups — maybe you run one, work in one, or want to start one — you will inevitably come across the Startups 100 Index,

We’re the UK’s longest-running new business index. Each year, hundreds of startups pitch themselves via our online entry form. Those that show the most growth potential are handpicked by our judges and named ‘ones to watch’ in our annual ranking.

Naturally, new founders will have questions about how this works behind the scenes. How are we different from other awards? Are we yet another award that companies buy their way into? (On this last one, absolutely not, there are strictly no fees attached).

This page will help to put your mind at ease by explaining exactly why the Startups 100 Index began, how it works, and the legacy we have left so far.

History of the Startups 100 Index

The Startups 100 Index first started all the way back in 2008 (when a young Levi Roots’ submitted his famous Reggae Reggae sauce to our judges).

Having launched just after the financial crash, at the time the business landscape looked eerily similar to how it does today; threatened by permacrisis and a looming recession.

Then, as now, UK startups were emerging from the catastrophe stronger, smarter, and more powerful. We were the first to set out to salute the resilient, game changing startups who would come to exemplify the new era of UK business.

Almost 17 years later, that mission statement has never felt more pertinent. Post-Brexit, COVID, and crippling inflation; the UK economy is now starting the path to recovery. And we want to celebrate the future-facing ideas that are helping to take us out of it.

Who have we featured?

Even if you hadn’t heard of the Startups 100 Index before, you will have heard of our esteemed alumni. Since 2008, we’ve published a further fifteen indexes, equating to 1,600 new brands that we’ve been able to give an early platform to. These include:

• Deliveroo
• Monzo
• Revolut
• Brewdog
• HelloFresh
• notonthehighstreet.com
• Zoopla
• THIS™
• Ella’s Kitchen
• Flight Club
• + hundreds more

Why enter?

We’re willing to take a chance on startups who are still at the very earliest point of their growth journey. For many of our top 100, the winners’ profile they receive on our website might be the first piece of coverage they have. But it acts as a springboard to bigger things.

As well as being a prestigious recognition for young companies, the Startups 100 is a valuable resource for investors and potential customers. Alumni have told us that as a result of appearing on the list, they received:

• Increased investor interest
• Sales boost
• Uplift in social media followers
• Coverage from local and national media
• Partnership opportunities from fellow listees

How does it work?

Our entry process has always been a one-step online webform that takes 2-3 hours to fill in, so you don’t need to worry about taking time out from running your business to apply.

Businesses founded in the past five years can apply to be part of our index. We don’t discriminate by sector or founder experience; every entrant is judged on five categories:

• USP
• Innovation
• Market opportunity
• Industry recognition
• Funding earned 

Crucially, we are also completely free from start to finish. We have never charged entry fees and we will not ask you to pay us money if your business is selected as part of the top 100. We’re about paying tribute to startups, not profiting from them.

All you need to do is fill in the form. In January, you can wake up early and check our homepage to see if you can call yourself one of our top 100 businesses for the year ahead.

When is the next Startups 100 Index?

This Autumn, the team will once again be settling down to read through the hundreds of entrants we receive, and whittle them down to the final top 100.

Next year’s index will be unlike any other. For the first time, all of our top 100 will have been founded after 1 January 2019, marking the first ever entirely post-COVID cohort of startups.

To find out who made the list, visit our website in early January when we’ll be publishing the 2025 Startups 100 Index.