In January, we highlighted some of the most exciting startups, SMEs and scale ups poised to make waves in 2026.
These companies span diverse industries – from AI and creative media to sustainable materials and fintech – and showcase innovation, resilience and forward-thinking strategies that are setting them apart.
Whether it’s redefining payments, transforming marketing or helping businesses expand globally, these organisations are worth keeping on your radar this year.
Innovation Across Industries
One of the most striking trends among the 26 startups, SMEs and scale ups is the diversity of sectors they’re transforming.
From AI platforms and cloud-native fintech to sustainable materials and creative agencies, these companies are finding new ways to solve old problems.
What unites them is a focus on innovation – whether that’s rethinking supply chains, creating engaging digital experiences or streamlining operations with cutting-edge technology.
In 2026, the ability to innovate quickly and adapt to changing markets will remain a key differentiator for businesses looking to scale and stand out.
Purpose-Driven Growth
Another key theme emerging from this year’s roundup is the emphasis on purpose alongside profit. Many of these companies are not just chasing growth – they’re creating impact, whether through sustainability, social influence or helping other businesses thrive.
This approach resonates with modern consumers, partners, and investors, who increasingly value brands that combine financial success with meaningful contributions. By embedding purpose into their strategies, these startups and SMEs are setting themselves up for long-term resilience and relevance in an ever-evolving business landscape.
More from Startups
Top Startups, SMEs and Scale Ups To Watch in 2026
Here are the seven top startups, SMEs and scale ups to watch in 2026.
Wayfound
Wayfound is the number one independent AI Guardian Agent platform for supervising, aligning, and improving all AI agents across the enterprise. As companies prepare to deploy AI Agents, Wayfound offers a secure, easy-to-use platform for business leaders to explain what their AI agents are doing and ensure agents are being supervised according to company policies, regulations and best practices.
Wayfound also closes the loop to improve AI agents via MCP. Customers see a decrease of 80% in AI monitoring costs, 3x acceleration in time to deploy, and peace of mind, knowing that Wayfound is covering 100% of agent work through real-time supervision and alerting.
Wayfound enables companies to release their AI agents with confidence in weeks, not months.
Kojo
Kojo is a creative agency built by gamers, anime fans, creators and strategists that helps brands authentically connect with gaming culture and online communities. By blending research, creator partnerships and data insights, Kojo crafts campaigns that resonate in spaces like gaming and social media, driving visibility and engagement in an era where traditional ads struggle for attention.
It targets gaming-native micro-creators to build brand-owned communities and meaningful customer relationships, positioning itself as one of TechRound’s “26 Startups to Watch in 2026.”
Changemaker Studios
Changemaker Studios is an award-winning video production and strategy studio that partners with brands, social impact organisations and industry leaders to craft emotionally powerful films – from brand campaigns to documentaries and social content – that translate complex ideas into clear, strategy-driven stories with real-world outcomes.
They fill a gap in the market for cinematic storytelling with strategic impact, creating work that influences policy, funding and partnerships rather than just awareness. Having driven measurable change through high-profile campaigns, Changemaker Studios is positioned as a leading creative partner for organisations accelerating change into 2026.
Ignite Insurance Brokers Ltd.
Ignite Insurance Brokers Ltd is a modern commercial insurance broker offering tailored coverage and exceptional client service across a range of sectors, including tech, startups and established businesses.
Known for its personalised approach and responsiveness, the team focuses on understanding each client’s needs to deliver competitive, bespoke policies rather than one‑size‑fits‑all solutions. Ignite also embraces technology to streamline processes and improve customer experiences.
Bernastic
Bernastic is a sustainability‑focused materials company transforming apparel waste into a high‑performance recycled polymer designed to replace wood and traditional plastics in shipping, packing and storage. By incorporating cotton textile waste into its material, Bernastic helps tackle textile pollution and cut carbon emissions, supporting circular manufacturing practices and more responsible supply chains.
Having perfected its formula and taken it to market, the company plans to expand through strategic partnerships and licensing in industries such as pallets, hangers and furniture.
Paul Beare Limited
Paul Beare Limited is a specialist UK accountancy practice that helps international businesses set up, operate and grow in the UK with confidence and compliance. Their expert team offers end‑to‑end support – including UK entity formation, tax and VAT planning, payroll, banking, legal and ongoing reporting – so overseas companies can avoid costly pitfalls and focus on success.
With personalised relationship management and deep market know‑how, Paul Beare Limited fills a niche for firms expanding into the UK, guiding them through complex regulatory and operational challenges.
Silverflow
Silverflow is a cloud‑native payments technology company founded in Amsterdam in 2019 that aims to modernise the payments landscape by connecting businesses, acquiring banks and payment platforms directly to card networks via its advanced platform, reducing complexity and reliance on outdated systems.
The solution enables smoother operations, richer transaction data use and incremental infrastructure modernisation without full system overhauls, helping payment companies innovate and grow with confidence.
