BusinessCloud can reveal its MediaTech 50 innovation ranking for 2026.
Readers of the online technology publication and an expert judging panel have together decided the 50 companies blazing a technology trail in media.
The MediaTech 50 celebrates businesses of all sizes creating original technology to transform production and delivery of media and the arts – from virtual worlds to music, podcasts, radio, video, film and the written word.
Manchester-based Featherbed Tales, maker of digital picture books and greetings cards recorded by users, tops the ranking.
In second spot is LifeScore. Based in Salisbury, Wiltshire, the music tech firm is building Workbench, a consumer version of its parametric music production tool which turns an artist’s stems into unlimited variations of their own music.
London-headquartered Audoo, behind real-world reporting tech for music royalties, is in third spot.
Gigpig (Manchester), a management and booking platform which connects musicians to venues, and Fanvue (London), a subscription platform enabling content creators to monetise their work, make the top five.
In sixth spot is London-based SmartFrame Technologies, which is redefining the standard for online image publishing through its secure image-streaming and contextual in-image advertising technology.
Also making the top 10 are Sum Vivas (Liverpool), Seenit (London), AMS Neve (Burnley) and Animotive (Belfast).
The ranking in full:
MediaTech 50 – UK’s most innovative media tech creators for 2026
BusinessCloud called on its readers to vote for companies from the 90-strong shortlist. A combination of these votes and choices from an expert judging panel determined the top 50.
The judging panel was comprised of:
• Simon Benson, creator, PlayStation VR / founder, TalentForTech
• Laura Harper, partner, Lewis Silkin
• Rory Daniels, head of emerging technology and innovation, techUK
• Nick Donaghy, investment manager, Creative UK
• Guy Pearce, tech & media M&A, Alvarez & Marsal
• Jonathan Symcox, editor, BusinessCloud