LinkedIn Top Startups 2025: The 20 UK companies on the rise
The way professionals work, hire and build is rapidly evolving, and startups are at the forefront of that change. Advances in artificial intelligence have dramatically reduced the time, funding and resources necessary to launch a business – lowering barriers to entry and accelerating the next wave of innovation.
Our ninth annual LinkedIn Top Startups list identifies those innovators, surfacing the 20 UK companies that are growing fast and gaining attention. These young companies aren’t just attracting top talent and investment – they’re shaping the future of their industries, whether it’s building AI infrastructure or offering sustainable personal care products.
The list is backed by LinkedIn data, evaluating startups across four pillars: employee growth; jobseeker interest; member engagement with the company and its employees; and how well these startups pulled talent from our LinkedIn Top Companies list. Below each company, you can dig into the top skills, roles and job functions – and navigate to people you may know or open roles associated with each.
Looking to level up your entrepreneurship skills? Dig into these LinkedIn Learning courses on topics like leveraging AI for business growth and establishing an entrepreneur mindset.
Here are this year’s 20 Top Startups in the UK – and join the conversation using #LinkedInTopStartups.
You can read our full methodology at the bottom of this article. This ranking is based on LinkedIn data and was compiled by LinkedIn data scientist Alejandra Budar in partnership with LinkedIn News Editor Edson Caldas.
All headcounts are provided by the companies, unless marked with an asterisk. Those headcounts are from LinkedIn data. The most common job titles, functions and skills reflect aggregated, anonymized public member data from active LinkedIn profiles of employees at each company.
1. Fuse Energy
Full-time headcount: 125 | Headquarters: London | Year founded: 2022 | Most common skills: MATLAB, Machine Learning, Python (Programming Language) | Most common job titles: Business Operations Specialist, Business Operations Analyst, Software Engineer | Largest job functions: Operations, Engineering, Human Resources | What they do: Fuse Energy is a renewable energy company that reports supplying 150,000 UK households. Founded by former Revolut executives, it has raised $100m from investors.
2. ElevenLabs
Full-time headcount: 50 | Headquarters: London | Year founded: 2022 | Most common skills: Machine Learning, JavaScript, Python (Programming Language) | Most common job titles: Software Engineer, Head of Marketing, Business Operations Specialist | Largest job functions: Engineering, Marketing, Operations | What they do: ElevenLabs is an AI company focused on audio research and deployment, developing a range of realistic-sounding voices. It has reported surpassing $200m in annual recurring revenue and expects to exceed $300m by the end of the year.
3. Swap
Full-time headcount: 200 | Headquarters: London | Year founded: 2022 | Most common skills: TypeScript, Relationship Development, SASS | Most common job titles: Business Development Representative, Software Engineer, Technical Support Specialist | Largest job functions: Sales, Engineering, Human Resources | What they do: Swap is a startup that builds tools to support global e-commerce, including inventory management, pricing and returns. It runs operations and logistics for hundreds of brands through its platform.
4. Humanoid
Full-time headcount: 135 | Headquarters: London | Year founded: 2024 | Most common skills: Robotics, Automation, Machine Learning | Most common job titles: Data Collector, Deployment Engineer, Robotics Engineer | Largest job functions: Engineering, Information Technology, Accounting | What they do: Humanoid is an AI and robotics company focused on addressing labour challenges. It pledges to develop safe and commercially scalable robotic solutions.
5. Connectd
Full-time headcount: 91 | Headquarters: London | Year founded: 2020 | Most common skills: Lead Generation, Entrepreneurship, Artificial Intelligence (AI) | Most common job titles: Account Executive, Business Development Representative, Customer Experience Manager | Largest job functions: Sales, Business Development, Entrepreneurship | What they do: Connectd is a platform that uses AI to connect startups with executives and advisors who can provide temporary business support. The company has more than 6,000 members across over 100 industries.
6. Sona
Full-time headcount: 125 | Headquarters: London | Year founded: 2021 | Most common skills: Lead Generation, Software as a Service (SaaS), Account Management | Most common job titles: Account Executive, Project Implementation Specialist, Software Engineer | Largest job functions: Sales, Operations, Engineering | What they do: Sona provides an AI-powered workforce management platform for frontline workers. Features include shift scheduling, payroll and communication tools.
7. VIEVE
Full-time headcount: 34* | Headquarters: Scotland | Year founded: 2020 | Most common skills: Beauty, Social Media, Retail | Most common job titles: Creative Designer | Largest job functions: Operations, Marketing, Arts and Design | What they do: VIEVE is a beauty brand founded by makeup artist and content creator Jamie Genevieve, offering a wide range of vegan cosmetic products with a focus on inclusivity and sustainability.
8. MAGIC AI
Full-time headcount: 31 | Headquarters: London | Year founded: 2021 | Most common skills: Git, Mobile Applications, Financial Analysis | Largest job functions: Engineering, Media and Communication, Business Development | What they do: MAGIC AI develops intelligent holographic mirrors for home fitness. Its flagship product uses computer vision and 3D cameras to deliver real-time feedback and virtual coaching from professional athletes.
9. Hook
Full-time headcount: 40 | Headquarters: London | Year founded: 2020 | Most common skills: TypeScript, Python (Programming Language), JavaScript | Most common job titles: Business Development Representative, Software Engineer, Account Executive | Largest job functions: Sales, Engineering, Information Technology | What they do: Hook develops tools to help businesses manage customer success. The startup’s platform uses artificial intelligence to identify risk, recommend next steps and reduce churn.
10. Omnea
Full-time headcount: 84 | Headquarters: London | Year founded: 2022 | Most common skills: TypeScript, JavaScript, Amazon Web Services (AWS) | Most common job titles: Software Engineer, Procurement Specialist, Solutions Lead | Largest job functions: Engineering, Purchasing, Sales | What they do: Omnea provides an AI-powered platform to streamline procurement. Its products support tasks such as request submission, risk identification and supplier data centralisation to help businesses manage spend.
11. BVNK
Recommended by LinkedIn
Full-time headcount: 330 | Headquarters: London | Year founded: 2021 | Most common skills: FinTech, Cryptocurrency, Anti-Money Laundering | Most common job titles: Compliance Manager, Product Manager, Sales Director | Largest job functions: Business Development, Finance, Sales | What they do: BVNK offers stablecoin payments infrastructure for businesses, allowing companies to expedite domestic and cross-border transactions. It received investment from Visa Ventures earlier this year. In December, the company opened an office in San Francisco.
12. Zero100
Full-time headcount: 62 | Headquarters: London | Year founded: 2021 | Most common skills: Social Media, Event Management, Financial Analysis | Most common job titles: Account Manager | Largest job functions: Sales, Media and Communication, Business Development | What they do: Zero100 is a membership-based intelligence platform that provides research and advisory services for operations and supply chain leaders.
13. Nscale
Full-time headcount: 168 | Headquarters: London | Year founded: 2024 | Most common skills: Artificial Intelligence (AI), High Performance Computing (HPC), System Administration | Most common job titles: Cloud Engineer, Software Engineer | Largest job functions: Engineering, Information Technology, Business Development | What they do: Nscale is a data centre startup building infrastructure for artificial intelligence. It has partnerships with Microsoft (LinkedIn’s parent company), OpenAI and Nvidia to invest in UK-based AI capabilities.
14. Data Literacy Academy
Full-time headcount: 49 | Headquarters: London | Year founded: 2022 | Most common skills: Software as a Service (SaaS), Research Skills, Data Analysis | Most common job titles: Business Development Representative, Business Strategy Analyst, Software Engineer | Largest job functions: Sales, Business Development, Education | What they do: Data Literacy Academy is an education startup that provides training to help organisations work with data. Its services include live, in-person instruction and self-guided learning.
15. UNTIL
Full-time headcount: 34 | Headquarters: London | Year founded: 2022 | Most common skills: Social Media, Event Management, Organization Skills | Most common job titles: General Manager, Community Associate | Largest job functions: Social Services, Operations, Marketing | What they do: UNTIL is a health and wellness company that provides flexible workspace and support services for practitioners across various disciplines, including fitness, therapy and coaching. It operates three clubs in central London.
16. Cogna
Full-time headcount: 60 | Headquarters: London | Year founded: 2023 | Most common skills: Artificial Intelligence (AI), Python (Programming Language), Agile Methodologies | Most common job titles: Software Engineer, Enterprise Solutions Specialist, Software Account Executive | Largest job functions: Engineering, Business Development, Sales | What they do: Cogna has developed an AI-powered platform for building custom software. Its applications span sectors including utilities, logistics, manufacturing and infrastructure.
17. SURI
Full-time headcount: 36 | Headquarters: London | Year founded: 2022 | Most common skills: E-Commerce, Marketing Strategy, Data Analysis | Most common job titles: Designer, Design Engineer | Largest job functions: Marketing, Operations, Business Development | What they do: SURI is a startup developing sustainable personal care products. The company’s flagship offering is an electric toothbrush made from biodegradable and recyclable materials.
18. Lottie
Full-time headcount: 70 | Headquarters: London | Year founded: 2021 | Most common skills: Mobile Applications, TypeScript, Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) | Most common job titles: Software Engineer, Partnerships Manager, Medical Specialist | Largest job functions: Engineering, Business Development, Customer Success and Support | What they do: Lottie provides an online marketplace and concierge service to help families find verified care homes, home care and retirement living properties for their loved ones.
19. Navro
Full-time headcount: 107 | Headquarters: London | Year founded: 2024 | Most common skills: FinTech, MATLAB, Agile Methodologies | Most common job titles: Software Engineer, Product Team Manager, Software Account Executive | Largest job functions: Engineering, Product Management, Sales | What they do: Navro provides a payments infrastructure platform for businesses expanding internationally. Its technology enables companies to manage cross-border transactions through a single API and contract.
20. Climate X
Full-time headcount: 90 | Headquarters: London | Year founded: 2021 | Most common skills: Machine Learning, Economics, Python (Programming Language) | Most common job titles: Software Engineer, Product Manager, Data Scientist | Largest job functions: Engineering, Sales, Business Development | What they do: Climate X develops technology to help organisations manage climate risk. Its products enable financial institutions and asset managers to assess the impact of climate change, quantify risk and map portfolio exposure.
You can check out the Top Startups in Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, India, Israel, Italy, Netherlands (Dutch and English), Singapore, Spain and the US.
Methodology
LinkedIn measures startups based on four pillars: employment growth, engagement, job interest and attraction of top talent. Employment growth is measured as percentage headcount increase over methodology time frame, which must be a minimum of 10%. Engagement looks at non-employee views and follows of the company’s LinkedIn page, as well as how many non-employees are viewing employees at that startup. Job interest counts the rate at which people are viewing and applying to jobs at the company, including both paid and unpaid postings. Attraction of top talent measures how many employees the startup has recruited away from any global LinkedIn Top Company, as a percentage of the startup's total workforce. Data is normalised across all eligible startups. The methodology time frame is 1 July, 2024 through 30 June, 2025.
To be eligible, companies must be fully independent, privately held, have 30 or more full-time employees, be 5 years old or younger and be headquartered in the country on whose list they appear. We exclude all staffing firms, think tanks, venture capital firms, law firms, management and IT consulting firms, nonprofits and philanthropy, accelerators and government-owned entities. Startups who have laid off 10% or more of their workforce based on corporate announcements or public, reliable sources between July 1, 2024 and the list launch, are not eligible. These decisions are made by the LinkedIn News team based on company statements and/or reputable news outlets.
About company insights
*Company insights were sourced from LinkedIn Talent Insights. Data reflects aggregated public member data from active LinkedIn profiles in the relevant country and includes full-time employee profiles associated with the company on LinkedIn. We exclude members who identify as part-time or contractors. Headcounts are provided by the companies directly, unless otherwise noted with an asterisk. Those headcounts are based on LinkedIn data. All insights reflect a 12-month time period looking back from July 2025. Skills data was derived from measuring the most frequent skills among a company’s employees. Most common job titles represent the occupations that are most common within each company. Largest job function measures the function area most prevalent within each company.
Reported by: Edson Caldas
Data by: Alejandra Budar
Heavy bias towards tech start ups - which I guess isn't a surprise ?
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I am very excited to see startup companies finding their way to boost the market out there. Good luck 👍 Bravo 👏
Impressive lineup — it’s inspiring to see how London continues to position itself as a powerhouse for innovation and tech talent. The diversity of industries represented here, from AI to fan engagement, highlights how the city’s startup ecosystem is maturing beyond traditional fintech roots. Excited to see how these companies scale globally and what this signals for the next generation of UK entrepreneurs.
I get the impression that most jobs are in London rather than Manchester, but you mentioned Manchester's startups.