Disruptors / Ones to Watch
Fast Track researches and compiles two annual sub-tables, published in our Fast Track 100 supplement with The Sunday Times, featuring 10 of the most promising private British companies from a cross-section of industries that do not qualify for the main league table but deserve special recognition. One table focuses on companies with the potential to disrupt their market and the other on companies that are set to grow rapidly in the future.
The 10 finalists for each programme are selected by a judging panel and are featured in the Sunday Times supplement. Their senior directors are also invited to the awards dinner, where they receive a certificate, with one overall winner presented with an award.
Disruptors to Watch
Disruptors to Watch aims to highlight 10 companies with disruptive potential from a cross-section of industries, rather than claiming to identify the 10 companies with the most disruptive potential.
This year’s judges included Fast Track and past Disruptors to Watch finalists Tom Blomfield, founder of Monzo, the mobile banking app and Peter Roberts, founder of PureGym, the low-cost gym chain; and the overall winner in 2017, Ali Parsa, founder of Babylon Health, the mobile health care app, who was presented with its award at our national awards dinner.
| Company | HQ Location | Disruptive activities |
|---|---|---|
| BulbRenewable energy provider | Central London | More than 850,000 households have signed up to its single, transparent green energy tariff since 2015, attracted by its renewable credentials, innovative technology and customer service. A £60m funding round in August reportedly valued the company at more than £400m, although it is operating in a competitive industry in which seven rivals went bust this year. |
| CallsignAuthentication platform | Central London | Its artificial intelligence-driven cyber-security software removes the need for customer passwords, using data to enable smartphone users to confirm their identity with a single swipe. It raised $35m (£27m) in 2017 from investors including Accel to expand in the UK and US, and was valued at more than $100m. |
| Culture TripLifestyle content platform | Central London | This company’s online lifestyle, cultural and travel content — created by editorial hubs and more than 300 local freelancers — is viewed by 18m people a month. It uses AI to recommend content for its millennial audience. It has raised $103m in funding, including $80m in April, to drive revenue through booking links in the 1,600-plus stories it publishes each month. |
| Evox TherapeuticsDrug therapy developer | Oxford | Its technology delivers drugs directly to patients’ brains and central nervous system, overcoming the limitations of traditional therapeutics, and potentially providing a new way to target cancers and rare genetic diseases. It raised £35m in September from investors including Google's venture capital arm. |
| FiveAIAutonomous vehicle developer | Cambridge | Aims to develop and operate a fully driverless shared urban taxi service for Europe’s $400bn transport market, using AI-driven software and hardware that can be integrated into any modern car. It has received $35m in funding from venture capitalists, the highest sum for an autonomous car firm in Europe. |
| GraphcoreComputer processor manufacturer | Bristol | Says its computer processors are 10 to 100 times faster than existing products, with the potential to revolutionise advances in machine learning. It has raised $110m to launch its first product from Silicon Valley investors such as Sequoia Capital and UK angels including Robin Saxby, co-founder of ARM. |
| MoneseMobile banking service | Central London | Offers a smartphone-only, multilingual current account that can be opened in minutes, even without a UK or EU address — making access to banking easier for those who travel for work or study. The business has attracted more than 650,000 customers in 20 countries since 2015 and raised $60m in September from investors including PayPal. |
| NestedOnline estate agent | Central London | Its data platform helps calculate the value of a house, on which it is prepared to offer sellers a cash advance of up to 94%, removing problems associated with property chains. It has sold more than £100m worth of property since 2016 and raised £165m in funding, including £120m in November from investors including Northzone. |
| Owlstone MedicalDiagnostic breathalyser developer | Cambridge | Aims to save 100,000 lives and cut costs for healthcare providers by $1.5bn a year with its breathalysers that can detect cancerous cells earlier and at a lower cost than existing alternatives. Its products are being used by Glaxo Smith Kline and it has raised £56m from investors including Foxconn Technologies. |
| Oxford NanoimagingMicroscope manufacturer | Oxford | Makes the world’s only portable super-resolution microscope, which offers resolutions 20 times higher than room-filling legacy models. The product is generating interest from life sciences researchers and pharmaceutical companies. The company completed its third funding round in July, raising an undisclosed sum from investors including Oxford Sciences Innovation. |
I’m really proud to be recognised with all these other incredible entrepreneurs Nicolas Cary, co-founder & president, Blockchain
To run a disruptive business you’ve got to be prepared to be resilient. The whole nature of disruption is that you are changing people's lives Humphrey Cobbold, CEO, PureGym
Ones to Watch
Ones to Watch showcases a cross section of companies whose sales growth falls short of the strict criteria for the main league table, but who are set to grow rapidly in the future. All shortlisted companies are visited by the Fast Track research team and assessed for inclusion. Last year’s judging panel included senior representatives from our sponsors Barclays and BDO, and Fast Track’s founder, Hamish Stevenson.
The 2017 winner was Pip & Nut, the nut butter brand, with its founder & chief executive Pippa Murray presented with its awards at our national awards dinner. The two runners-up were Wattbike and Filmore & Union.
| Company | HQ location | Year end | Sales £000s | Staff | Founded | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chi Chi LondonOnline fashion retailer | Central London | Feb-16 | *8,091 | 38 | 2008 | This online fashion label has tripled sales to £8.1m in three years, and plans to expand in the US next year |
| Direct Online ServicesOnline furniture retailer | Gloucestershire | Dec-15 | 18,173 | 141 | 2008 | Started on eBay in 2008. Is forecasting £22m sales in 2016 after securing £3m from BGF to drive growth |
| FrugiChildren's clothing retailer | Cornwall | May-16 | *6,685 | 70 | 2004 | Exports organic clothing for children to 40 countries. Sales have doubled in three years to £6.7m this year |
| MEATliquorBurger restaurant operator | Central London | Jun-16 | *11,000 | 283 | 2011 | Has gone from one burger van to 10 restaurants, with sales forecast to rise 55% to £17m in 2017 |
| Olivia BurtonWatch and jewellery maker | Northeast London | Mar-16 | *9,202 | 13 | 2012 | In 2016 this brand, sold in Harvey Nichols among others, launched in 27 countries and increased sales 154% to £9.2m |
| Pots & Co.Dessert manufacturer | West London | Dec-15 | 2,716 | 18 | 2012 | Its luxury puddings are stocked by Waitrose and Selfridges and are available on airlines. Is forecasting £6.5m sales in 2016 |
| PropercornSnack maker | Northeast London | Dec-15 | *9,500 | 28 | 2011 | Has raised £7m from Piper Private Equity and the Innocent Drinks founders. Sales forecast to rise 37% to £13m this year |
| Rude HealthHealthy food producer | Southwest London | Mar-16 | *8,800 | 25 | 2005 | This health food brand has doubled sales every two years since 2011, and forecasts £12.5m sales next year |
| The Coaching Inn GroupInns operator | Lincolnshire | Mar-16 | *13,000 | 450 | 1996 | Has grown from six to 12 inns since BGF invested £4.5m in 2015 and plans to double its estate in five years |
| Union Hand-Roasted CoffeeCoffee producer | North London | Aug-16 | *11,300 | 71 | 2001 | Sells ethically sourced coffee online, to top restaurants and via Waitrose. Plans to double in size in three years |
* supplied by company † annualised figure
Sitting next to Sir Richard Branson at dinner and bouncing around ideas is something I’d never have imagined I’d be doing! Lesa Bennett, Olivia Burton
Being named ‘one to watch’ is a great achievement and recognises the hard work of our entire team who have contributed to our significant growth Mike Loggie, Saltire Energy
It is a great honour and privilege to have been selected for the Fast Track Ones to Watch Robert Jakobi, Metcalfe’s Food Company
The first people we shared the news with were the staff. We are delighted that we have been recognised in this way Mike Forrester, Orchard Valley Foods
