GM 125 Rising Stars of Business 2024

GM125 Rising Stars of Business - white

Welcome to BusinessCloud’s inaugural ‘GM 125 Rising Stars of Business’ list.

We’ve joined forces with GM Business Growth Hub to shine a light on Greater Manchester’s most exciting companies across four key sectors: GreenTech; digital, creative and tech; advanced manufacturing and materials; and life sciences.

These are the four sectors that Greater Manchester has identified as having the most growth and productivity potential for the region.

The list showcases companies from the 10 local authority areas of Bolton, Bury, Manchester, Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford and Wigan.

It also includes the city region’s Ones to Watch – 30 up-and-coming businesses that are on course for great success in the future.

Registrations are now open for a launch event for the list on 17th May – details here – before a series of sector-specific roundtables.

AccessPay, Manchester
An integration platform connecting businesses’ back office systems to their banks. AccessPay helps more than 1,000 companies to automate payments, collections and bank statement retrieval.
AEH Innovative Hydrogel, Manchester
Startup AEH Innovative Hydrogel is committed to producing a more sustainable future for agriculture. The GelPonics project is a collaboration between AEH Innovative Hydrogel and CHAP Solutions, supported by the Graphene Engineering and Innovation Centre (CEIC), Grobotic Systems and CHAP partner Stockbridge Technology Centre (STC).
AeroCloud Systems Ltd, Stockport
AeroCloud’s mission is to be the largest provider of operation automation software for small- to medium-sized airports globally. Now supporting more than 50 airports across North America, Europe and the UK, processing over 200 million passengers annually.
Airtime Rewards, Manchester
A free app which rewards shoppers with mobile credit or data, Airtime Rewards is now helping more than three million members save money every month. Participating retailers include Boots, Argos, Greggs, New Look and Halfords
AMS Solutions, Manchester
Solar PV, EV charging and battery storage providers to the private and not-for-profit sectors, helping businesses take charge of their energy, save money and transition to net zero.
Animation Toolkit, Trafford
Animation Toolkit provides armature sets, animation kits and accessories tailored for stop-motion animators. With strategic partners including Disney and Aardman, its turnover now exceeds £2.5m while it is integrating VR features into its product range.
ANS Group, Manchester
Cloud and digital services company helping enterprise clients, SMEs and public sector organisations to digitise operations. Channel partner to likes of Cisco, Microsoft and AWS.
Apadmi, Salford
Apadmi designs, develops and optimises mobile apps. It has created digital products for mobile users and big-name brands for over 20 years, with Domino’s, Co-op, Vodafone, Argos and Chelsea FC among its clients.
AppLearn, Manchester
An AI-powered digital adoption solution. AppLearn Adopt allows clients to see how their staff use their software, while placing real-time guidance inside apps to support them while they work. Recently acquired by Nexthink.
Arctic Shores, Manchester
A psychometric skills assessment platform for screening candidates which uses 12,000 data points to uncover their true potential in a way that CVs and traditional assessments no longer can.
Ascension-Q, Trafford
Launched in 2020 Ascension-Q is a clinical research operating system. It has created a cloud-based platform that helps researchers and operational staff carry out their work more efficiently and improve patient experience. Their technology allows for the design and management of studies with multiple cohorts and across multiple sites.
Auto Trader, Manchester
The UK’s largest digital automotive marketplace. Auto Trader’s team of data scientists monitors circa 800,000 vehicles each day, including 116,000 vehicle updates and an average of 39,000 vehicles added or removed.
Autocab, Stockport
Booking & dispatch software for local taxi firms which helps them become more efficient while growing their business and profitability. Owned by Uber, with customers in 33 countries.
Automedi, Stockport
Described as the ‘internet of manufacturing’ Automedi makes functional products and services out of waste plastics via localised 3D printing. This is estimated to cut out 98 per cent of the CO2 of conventional manufacturing and supply chains.
Badger Energy, Manchester
Badger Energy develops, manufactures and distributes innovative, award-winning renewable energy products and is the exclusive Master Distributor for BPE & RidgeBlade www.Badger-EV.com and www.BadgerPowerElectronics.com for Europe, Middle East and Africa region. Along with its partners, Badger Energy provides sustainable hardware and software solutions to green-minded companies, manufacturers, distributors, corporations, Government departments, educational institutions and communities.
BankiFi, Manchester
FinTech working with banks which aims to avoid the usual time, tech and regulatory barriers associated with incumbents in the market. BankiFi is now live with four UK clients and one in the US, and has run a successful pilot with a bank in New Zealand.
Boodil, Trafford
A payments platform which aims to boost engagement between retailers NS their customers. Boodil’s Pay-by-Bank solution performs an instant bank transfer while integrating merchants can benefit from lower payment processing fees and chargeback elimination. Consumers earn points which can be redeemed within Boodil’s mobile app.
Bright Biotech, Manchester
Bright Biotech’s approach to alternative protein creation through molecular sciences has commercial applications across the R&D and cultivated meat sectors. In 2022 the company closed an oversubscribed $3.2m seed round led by world class investors such as Food Labs and Big Idea Ventures. Throughout 2023 they have been busy hiring staff and moving the business into new laboratories within the Manchester Science Park.
Capsule CRM, Manchester
A smart online CRM system helping businesses to track conversations with their customers and prospects, deliver more personal experiences and build a sales pipeline.
CarFinance247, Manchester
Digital car finance platform connecting car buyers, sellers and lenders. By turning the traditional process on its head, CarFinance247 enables consumers to secure their finance first, empowering them throughout the car-buying journey. Originates more than £500m of motor finance each year.
CDL Group, Stockport
The UK’s biggest insurance retailers rely on CDL’s software solutions to drive success and growth. InsurTechX applies technologies such as machine learning, AI and big data to chat and voice interfaces, transforming the insurance shopping experience.
CGHero, Manchester
A collaborative marketplace for CGI (computer-generated imagery) content creation which aims to connect companies of all sizes with the world’s top digital artists to produce awe-inspiring visuals.
Chatloop, Manchester
Aims to ‘make every website social’ by allowing users to discover, recommend, discuss and share the things they care about. Chatloop enables the ‘looping in’ of friends without having to leave for a separate social media or messaging platform.
Collctiv, Manchester
Collctiv is an app that helps group organisers collect money. It enables them to send just one link and receive payments in less than five seconds – regardless of banking or payments platform. Once a group collection is complete, users can withdraw the money to their personal bank account, send it to someone else or spend it straight from their Collctiv pot.
Concretene, Manchester
Concretene is using graphene to decarbonise the construction industry and has been developed collaboratively by Nationwide Engineering Research & Development (NERD) and the University of Manchester’s Graphene Engineering Innovation Centre (GEIC). It works by enhancing the strength, durability, and corrosion resistance of concrete. Alex McDermott is the co-founder of Concretene.
Connex One, Manchester
Connex One’s SaaS-based customer engagement platform enhances its clients’ productivity and enriches their interactions at all stages of the customer journey. A decade old, it now has 500+ employees located across nine countries.
Crystal Doors, Rochdale
Crystal Doors was established in 1994 and is a Rochdale-based manufacturer of vinyl wrapped doors and accessories, producing bespoke doors of any size for homes, shops, hotels and healthcare facilities. Managing director Richard Hagan is passionate about sustainability.
Culture Shift, Manchester
Culture Shift is a real-time reporting platform to identify and prevent harassment and bullying. It is used by organisations including major universities, EY and Amnesty International to activate lasting change by building a culture that is safe, happy and supportive for everyone.
CurrentBody, Manchester
Beauty technology which “has the power to go deeper than the surface of the skin”. Gadgets such as CurrentBody’s flexible LED light therapy mask to treat skin conditions aim to bring the experience of the clinic into people’s homes.
Decently, Manchester
Established in 2021 by co-founders James Chapman and James Burch, Decently’s mission is to revolutionise the approach to caring for patients with complex behaviours. To enable this the startup has developed Melo, an AI-driven platform designed for clinical teams managing patients exhibiting challenging behaviours due to various neurological conditions.
DeliveryApp, Manchester
DeliveryApp connects customers to a nationwide network of courier drivers within seconds – whether they need ‘A to B’ deliveries or complex multi-drops – with real-time tracking and instant proof of delivery.
DigiTech Oasis, Manchester
Digitech Oasis’s predictive analytics models allow businesses to harness the power of advanced algorithms to predict, improve and automate their operations effortlessly. Its platform empowers clients to streamline and visualise their data to make informed decisions.
Dsposal, Manchester
Dsposal is an award-winning tech company at the forefront of the digital transformation of the waste and resources sector. Dsposal’s vision is a world where all waste is treated as a resource and its highly-skilled software development team specialise in innovative tech solutions.
Duo, Manchester
Duo is a packaging manufacturer and consultancy and was the first UK manufacturer to produce sustainable mailing bags from GreenPE – a thermoplastic, recyclable resin made from renewable sugarcane. Almost two thirds of Duo packaging is made using recycled plastics.
Enviroheat HET, Stockport
Enviroheat HET is a Stockport-based manufacturer of efficient heating systems and has developed a full ‘smart home’ solution. The company has supported the social housing sector for several years, but are also now entering negotiations with nationwide sellers of domestic heating equipment and multinational heat pump manufacturers.
Evergreen Life, Salford
Evergreen Life is applying innovative tech and AI to improve the health and happiness of the population and save the NHS. Based in Salford the company offers health and wellness advice through its app – with over three million people using Evergreen Life solutions. The business has grown to employ around 540 people, with revenues increasing to almost £30m. Caroline Shaw is the CEO.
Evidential, Manchester
A pioneer in the Electronic Presentation of Evidence (EPE), Evidential has been integral to many of the highest-profile court cases both in the UK and internationally – including video analysis, audio expertise, and examination of computers and mobile phones.
Financielle, Manchester
Financielle claims to be the UK’s largest female-focused finance app. It helps women to take back control of their money, ditch debt, increase savings and invest in their future via helpful tools, lifestyle content and an engaged community of 70,000 people.
Firenze, Salford
Firenze is building a technology, compliance and finance solution helping UK wealth managers to offer Lombard loans to their clients – allowing them to borrow against their assets. It wants to democratise this type of lending.
FOTENIX, Salford
Described as the ‘FitBit for farming’, FOTENIX uses technology to boost food production. It uses different colours of light with integrated cameras to upload a digital-twin of the farm’s crop. A Fotenix-enabled farm identifies problems earlier in the season before they are visible to the sharpest human eye.
Fractory, Manchester
Manufacturing technology business Fractory has founded by mechanical engineer and CEO Martin Vares in 2017 along with Joosep Merelaht and Rein Torm. The company’s online platform connects engineers with production capacity. Last year the company raised £4.2m in funding.
Gigpig, Manchester
A live music marketplace connecting venues and artists, GigPig represents thousands of artists and hundreds of venues nationwide. It claims to provide venues with a secure platform to discover, book and manage live music for up to 90 per cent less than the standard industry cost – allowing them to showcase local artists – by cutting out third-party agents.
GJD Manufacturing, Rochdale
GJD is an award-winning UK manufacturer, designer, and supplier of professional detector equipment and its ANPR cameras have been adopted by local councils to assist nationwide Clean Air Zone projects.
Godel, Manchester
Godel provides offshore software development and testing talent for clients which are embedded into in-house teams via a variety of models. Clients have included local powerhouses AO, musicMagpie & Booking.com.
Graphene Innovations Manchester, Manchester
Graphene Innovations Manchester (GIM) was established in 2021 and is led by Dr Vivek Koncherry with a focus on scaling graphene-enhanced products. This is done by integrating academia and entrepreneurship.
Graphene Trace, Manchester
Graphene Trace’s advanced materials research is aiming to almost completely eradicate the prevalence of pressure ulcers in the UK using continuous pressure monitoring. Their proprietary sensor for wheelchair users and hospital inpatients could reduce pressure ulcer onset by up to 95 per cent. Scott Dean is CEO.
HACE: Data Changing Child Labour, Manchester
HACE: Data Changing Child Labour aims to empower businesses to make timely and data-driven decisions to proactively tackle the disturbing problem of child labour in supply chains. Designed for financial institutions, its Child Labour Index, powered by AI, scores companies on three aspects: Public perception, company disclosure and risk.
Hai Tech, Manchester
Its non-invasive AI plant root monitoring provides consistent high quality crops and optimal resource utilisation – unlocking the potential of indoor farming. Andrea Izquierdo is the co-founder and COO.
HalioGEN Power, Manchester
HalioGEN Power – a spin-out founded by the University of Manchester Professor Robert Dryfe and, with Research Associates Dr Lewis Le Fevre, Dr Andinet Aynalem, and Dr Athanasios Stergiou – has created a technology that has the potential to store energy and efficiently provide power without using critical raw materials.
Heatsense Cables, Rochdale
Heatsense Cables, established in 1984, is regarded as the UK’s leading specialist high-performance thermocouple and signal cable manufacturer. The company is a technology leader in fluoropolymer extrusion, high-performance taping and cable wrapping.
Hiring Hub, Manchester
An online platform connecting businesses with boutique recruitment agencies, which it says care more and deliver a better service than the global recruitment brands – democratising the market.
Holiferm, Trafford
University of Manchester BioTech spin-out, Holiferm, is a trailblazer in the development and production of environmentally-friendly biosurfactants that are used in a variety of products, including shampoos, surface cleaners, hand cleansers and cosmetics. Ben Dolman is the CEO of Holiferm.
Housr, Manchester
Changing the way students search for and secure housing. Housr’s ‘swipe right’ app includes almost 50,000 properties and allows students to book viewings, manage maintenance issues and pay bills in one place.
IDnow, Manchester
A European identity verification platform provider with 900+ customers, IDnow has a strong presence at its UK base in Manchester. Its tech verifies 30m+ identities annually, assists with document signing and helps to identify fraud.
Immersify Education, Trafford
Manchester startup Immersify Education has set its sights on being the go-to platform for educational resources for dental students. The Immersify dental platform, which utilises augmented reality, gamification and personalisation to create engaging learning experiences, is already being used by tens of thousands of dentistry students across the UK, US, Australia and India.
Imperagen, Manchester
Imperagen is a spin-out from the University of Manchester and was founded by an expert team of enzyme engineers and computational biologists. In 2022 Imperagen secured £3.5m in seed investment led by IQ Capital and Northern Gritstone.
Kalibrate, Manchester
Fuel and convenience retail analytics platform working with some of the world’s leading brands including Aldi, 7 Eleven and Home Depot. Its solutions are used by more than 1,000 businesses in over 70 countries.
Leasing.com, Stockport
A marketplace for new car contract hire and leasing offers, Leasing.com pulls together millions of deals from the UK’s most trusted brokers, motor manufacturers, funders and franchised dealers. Has helped more than 1m people to lease a car.
Low Carbon Electric, Bolton
Founded in a Bolton garage, Low Carbon Electric is leading the charge in transforming energy infrastructure. Its patented Phase Switch System (PSS) squeezes maximum capacity out of existing underground power cables at low cost with minimal disruption.
Lunio, Manchester
Lunio stops fake traffic from advertising platforms, saving up to 20% on a company’s marketing spend. Excludes fake ad engagements across Google, Performance Max, Meta, LinkedIn, Twitter and more.
Matillion, Manchester
Described as ‘The Data Productivity Cloud’, Matillion’s software allows a company to build and manage all of its data pipelines, empowering coders and non-coders alike to move, transform and orchestrate data.
MirrorWeb, Manchester
MirrorWeb is a unified communications surveillance platform which allows clients to capture and review everything from websites to WhatsApp, SMS, email and social media – supporting regulatory compliance, litigation, digital preservation and heritage requirements.
Mobysoft, Manchester
Software for social housing organisations. Mobysoft’s predictive analytics help social landlords to optimise rent collection and improve the quality of repairs and sustainability – to everyone’s benefit.
Modern Milkman, Manchester
Starting out as a local milkround inspired by David Attenborough’s Blue Planet and the need to reduce plastic waste, Modern Milkman has grown from four friends and a truck to a vast app-connected network for the delivery of locally-sourced groceries with reusable packaging. The UK’s fastest-growing company, according to the FT 1000 list.
Molymem, Manchester
Molymem is developing a new-class of functional and sustainable membranes that help address global water and wastewater challenges. The company is a spin-out from the University of Manchester, located within The Graphene Engineering Innovation Centre (GEIC), a hub for advanced materials.
MusicMagpie, Stockport
A resale and rental marketplace for gadgets, millions of people use MusicMagpie every year to sell their mobile phone, games consoles, tablets, smartwatches, CDs, DVDs, games, books, Blu-rays and more.
Naimuri, Salford
With a mission to make the UK a safer and better place to be, Naimuri brings together talented specialists with expertise and a passion for technology to build data intelligence capabilities.
NCC Group, Manchester
NCC Group is a global cyber and software resilience business operating across multiple sectors, geographies and technologies. It assesses, develops and manages cyber threats across an increasingly connected society.
Netacea, Manchester
Delivers AI-driven threat detection and response to combat the most sophisticated bot attacks. Agentless and invisible to attackers, Netacea delivers a truly autonomous response to threats.
Neuven Solutions, Manchester
Neuven Solutions is a neutral vendor in the temporary staffing sector which allows it to give impartial advice on agency, locum and bank staff management without risking being compromised by the desire to divert bookings to an associated recruitment company.
Nivo, Manchester
A secure instant messaging and identity verification platform serving clients in highly regulated industries including banks, building societies, lenders, insurance and legal firms. Nivo helps them to spend less time finding the data, documents, evidence and approvals they need.
NowSignage, Stockport
NowSignage is a cloud-based digital signage CMS (content management system) that enables users to upload, schedule and manage content across their screens at the click of a button. Powers digital signage networks for 5,000+ companies across 40+ countries worldwide.
OneFile, Manchester
Apprenticeship, training and vocational qualification software company which has supported more than two million people in learning via content, quizzes and progress reports. Also provides support teams to clients and helps them to manage enrolments.
Parcel2Go, Bolton
Parcel2Go.com is the UK’s leading parcel delivery comparison website. Enables sellers to send anything – from a small packet to a large parcel – to destinations throughout the UK and internationally.
Partful
Partful is a 3D interactive parts catalogue and work instructions software – helping OEMs to eliminate incorrect parts identification and manual parts ordering processes, and providing streamlined aftersales.
Peak, Manchester
Peak is an AI platform that optimises product inventory, pricing and customer personalisation for businesses – from millions to billions in revenue. Serves clients including AO, Asos, B&M Bargains & PepsiCo.
Perfect Sense Energy, Wigan
Perfect Sense Energy’s aspiration is to be the most ethical, transparent, open, honest, clean energy GreenTech organisation in the UK. The company has reduced its own carbon footprint and grown its turnover from £1m to £9m in three years.
Piing, Stockport
The future of live events is mass-participation, says Piing, with fans inside stadiums interacting digitally with others via devices while brands directly communicate with the highly connected crowd. In the last 18 months its games have engaged crowds at The Commonwealth Games; football clubs including Manchester City; leading European basketball teams; and Tampa Bay Rays in Major League Baseball.
Pimberly, Manchester
Pimberly is a cloud-based platform for product information and digital asset management. Designed to handle unlimited numbers of SKUs (stock keeping units), data feeds and channels for leading brands and businesses.
Planixs, Manchester
A leader in real-time treasury software, Planixs’s modular Realiti product suite provides the banking and financial services industries with real-time intraday cash, collateral and liquidity management capabilities.
Pop Specs, Manchester
Aims to make buying glasses faster, more fun and affordable. Now in 12 locations with 60+ staff, Pop Specs – which featured on Dragons’ Den – is on track to open another 15 locations this year with a turnover target of £5m.
Prevayl, Manchester
Wearable technology pioneer Prevayl claims to be elevating AI monitoring tech to a level that can ‘facilitate medical breakthroughs’. Targeting the health and fitness industries, its model integrates extensive, contextualised biometric datasets with deep foundational knowledge of the human condition and medical records.
ProofID, Salford
ProofID is a security partner, integrator and service provider trusted by Tier 1 enterprises and mid-market businesses around the world to design, deliver and manage identity and access management services.
Purple, Oldham
Purple’s indoor location services platform provides guest Wi-Fi, digital wayfinding and asset tracking. Its SaaS analytics and marketing tools help businesses to increase revenues and reduce costs by managing their physical venues more effectively.
Q Energy, Manchester
Q Energy is an award-winning Manchester-based software development company that specialises in energy management and smart carbon reduction services. Its vision is to revolutionise energy management through cutting-edge technologies such as IoT, data analytics, machine learning, and automation.
Recourse AI, Manchester
Re:course was founded by Dr Scott Martin and artificial intelligence researcher Maksim Belousov to try and solve the problem of getting machines to understand and communicate naturally with humans. Half of their team are made up of qualified doctors so they speak the language of health.
Red Flag Alert, Manchester
A provider of real-time and comprehensive B2B data, Red Flag Alert’s business intelligence software helps firms to make informed decisions, stay compliant, predict growth and protect themselves from risk.
REFY, Manchester
Entrepreneur Jenna Meek only launched her beauty brand REFY in 2020 but has quickly grown it into a multi-million pound business. She co-founded the business with Jess Hunt, who has 1.8m followers on Instagram and the pair have never looked back. REFY mission is to simplify beauty.
Represent Clothing, Bolton
From Horwich to Hollywood! Brothers Michael and George Heaton are the founders of the cult clothing brand Represent. Their clothes have been worn by stars including the Kardashians, Dua Lipa and Justin Bieber. The company now employs around 100 staff and has a turnover of £80m.
Rezzil, Manchester
A cognitive sports training platform in VR and AR. Used by Premier League clubs Manchester City and Liverpool as well as NBA, NFL and motorsport teams, Rezzil also has a platform for post-game analysis. Its Rezzil Index, developed through applied research with some of the world’s best football coaches and players, triggers the same neuroplastic responses as training with a real ball.
Ripe Thinking, Manchester
Ripe is aiming to change the way people buy niche insurance – from golf to boats, drones and valuables. Powered by real-time analytics, it allows customers to build their policies based on the cover they need and has served policies to hundreds of thousands of people.
Robiquity, Manchester
Robiquity is an artificial intelligence and intelligent automation consultancy which recently expanded into Leeds and London – and has global outposts in North America and Egypt. Now with more than 150 employees, it serves the likes of Virgin Media O2, Evri and Home Bargains.
Ryft, Manchester
Ryft is an FCA-licensed payments system that solves the challenges of costly and slow marketplace transactions. It claims to offer the same functionality as corporations like Stripe while providing the flexibility that marketplaces and platforms need.
SeeChange Technologies, Manchester
Computer vision technology which processes video from retailers’ existing hardware to identify in-store hazards – preventing slips and falls – while improving the self-checkout experience and stock management accuracy.
Shopblocks, Stockport
eCommerce platform which has grown from zero to £1m ARR in five years. After pivoting from an SME focus at launch to mid-market and enterprise in 2022, Shopblocks now works with global manufacturers and wholesalers like Toshiba and Daisy Telecom.
Silveray, Stockport
Originally founded at the University of Surrey in 2018 by Professor Ravi Silva, Silveray relocated to Greater Manchester in 2022 to gain access to the North of England’s rich talent pool and resources. In particular, the company has worked closely with X-ray specialists at the University of Manchester to develop its innovative direct conversion detectors.
Simkiss Home Automation, Rochdale
Simkiss Home Automation are experts in smart home technology. Paul Simkiss founded Simkiss Control Systems in 1999 but set up a second business – Simkiss Home Automation – in 2017 after spotting a gap in the market when he installed smart tech in his own farmhouse.
SoSquared, Manchester
Marketing professionals are currently facing an inflection point – pivoting away from traditional bloated agencies to more efficient tech alternatives. SoSquared has positioned itself, via its software and services solution, to sit adjacent to this change in behaviour. Its tools connect brands with influencers and assist with content creation.
Sparkbox, Manchester
Sparkbox is a retail planning, price optimisation and insights platform powered by machine learning. It helps busy merchandising teams make data-driven pricing and inventory decisions to improve profitability and reduce waste.
Steamaco, Manchester
SteamaCo started in 2012 and is an Anglo-African IoT smart metering technology company with operations in Sub-Saharan Africa. The company’s mission is to solve the highest-value challenges for energy companies in both the grid and the off-grid sectors.
Sticky, Manchester
A no-code operating system for physical spaces. Sticky’s premium branded stickers have been used by leisure, events and retail brands including MGM Resorts, Epic Games and Heineken to process more than £100m in payments from over a million phone ‘taps’.
Summize, Manchester
LegalTech Summize is a challenger brand in a rapidly evolving market – contract lifecycle management – and has secured three consecutive years of triple-digit growth since its launch to market in 2020. Announced its expansion to North America last year with the opening of a new office in Boston.
takepayments, Stockport
Payment solutions for small businesses including card terminals, online payments and PoS (point-of-sale) systems – with high levels of expert support. With 75,000 customers, takepayments’ HQ is in Stockport with further bases in Grimsby and London.
Telcom Networks, Manchester
Telcom Networks is on a mission to change access to the internet for UK businesses – providing affordable, ultrafast 100Gbps broadband and dedicated leased lines over wireless or fibre which it says is a catalyst for economic growth, technological innovation and empowerment.
The Good Prep, Stockport
Operating from Stockport, The Good Prep harnesses technology to deliver wholesome, delectable meals from a varied menu which is tailored to different dietary needs. Has harnessed data analytics to fine-tune its supply chain, minimise waste and improve meal quality.
The Insights Family, Manchester
The Insights Family is the global leader in kids, parents, and family market intelligence, providing real-time market intelligence on their attitudes, behaviour, and consumption patterns across six continents and 22 countries.
THG, Manchester
The Hut Group is a digital-first group retailing its own brands – predominantly in beauty and nutrition – plus third-party brands via its proprietary eCommerce technology infrastructure platform THG Ingenuity.
Thomas Storey, Manchester
Founded in 1930, Thomas Storey Fabrications is one of the largest privately-owned suppliers of steel fabricated products in the UK. Established in the 1930s the company is based in Openshaw. 2016 chief operating officer Jo Atkinson, along with fellow director Tony Ramsdale and non-executive chairman David Houghton, bought the business.
Total Processing, Manchester
Total Processing is a FinTech company disrupting the payments sector through the delivery of solutions across eCommerce and in-store channels worldwide. Through an accredited network of strategic partners, it provides businesses of all sizes with a number of hosted and integrated solutions.
Travel Counsellors, Trafford
Helps people to run their own travel businesses. With a community today of more than 2,000 Travel Counsellors and 300 support staff in six different countries, it enjoyed a record-breaking year in 2023, with sales approaching the £1 billion mark.
UInsure, Manchester
Uinsure’s cloud-based technology empowers advisers to provide an experience that removes the complexity of comparing and accessing insurance today. Using big data and third-party integrations to pre-fill information, it removes lengthy questions from the customer journey when seeking insurance for home, buy-to-let/landlord, non-standard, new build, commercial or tenant properties.
UrbanChain, Manchester
UrbanChain believes that affordable, traceable, green energy should be accessible for all. It does this through its leading peer-to-peer (P2P) energy exchange. Backed by global investment firm Eurazeo, the company’s CEO Somayeh Taheri has announced plans for an IPO.
Vector Homes, Manchester
Vector Homes is looking to put sustainability at the heart of housing. At the core of their innovation lies a one-bedroom, 430 sq ft bungalow, designed for flatpack assembly, integrating recycled materials and graphene, tested and launched at the University of Salford’s Energy House 2.0.
Veo, Manchester
Entrepreneur Joe Darwen describes Veo as what would happen if Greta Thunberg went into business with Jeff Bezos. The Blackpool-born founder wants the Manchester startup to be the world’s most ethical online retail destination to help shoppers make more sustainable decisions. All brands and products on the platform have been thoroughly assessed and approved and must meet three key criteria of being kind, healthy and sustainable.
Verastar, Trafford
Verastar is one of the UK’s leading providers of essential services to small businesses. Serves 135,000 clients with commercial insurance, telecoms, energy, utilities, voice, mobile and payment services via several brands.
Versori, Manchester
Aims to be a global leader in system integration and workflow automation. Versori graduated from the famous Y Combinator accelerator in March 2023 and has since worked with companies like Frasers Group, Macy’s and the MoD – while providing embedded integrations to many of the world’s fastest-growing startups.
Vivify Venues, Manchester
Vivify Venues is a marketplace which aims to provide communities with access to school facilities – generating much-needed income for schools. Since inception three years ago Vivify has generated over £7m for schools the length and breadth of the UK and facilitated over 10m visits.
Voicescape, Salford
A technology provider helping the public and third sectors to connect with their communities. The social housing management software utilises digital technology, behavioural insights and data science to build trust, drive efficiencies and maximise revenue.
Vypr, Manchester
Vypr has been growing at around 50 per cent a year for the past few years and is now a multi-million-pound turnover success story. Now gearing up to take the business international via a new platform that can handle global scale, it has live projects in Australia and is in early conversations with potential partners in the US.
Watercycle Tech, Manchester
Watercycle Technologies, a spin-out from the University of Manchester and partner of the Graphene Engineering Innovation Centre, leads innovation in sustainable mineral extraction and recycling. The business is led by founders CEO Dr Sebastian Leaper and Dr Ahmed Abdelkarim.
WCCTV, Rochdale
WCCTV is a Rochdale manufacturer of body-worn cameras and secured a £30m investment from private equity firm LDC in 2021. The company specialises in providing redeployable CCTV, site security, body worn cameras and time-lapse video services. David Gilbertson is the CEO.
wi-Q, Manchester
A mobile ordering platform for restaurants and hotels, wi-Q’s cloud-based solution is designed to enhance the guest experience. Integrating with venues’ existing operating software, it streamlines processes, makes order management more efficient and allows them to make data-driven decisions.
Wondrwall, Manchester
Wondrwall is a Manchester-based technology business dedicated to changing the way people use energy. Wondrwall’s cloud-based machine learning platform analyses over 20,000 datapoints for every home, each day, in order to maximise solar self-consumption and reduce grid costs and carbon. In 2023, Wondrwall closed out an investment programme worth over £100m.
Zally, Manchester
Zally has developed an AI algorithm and biometrics platform to verify and protect customers. Allows online businesses to build secure continuous authentication experiences that engage and retain users – while killing sign-up forms and passwords.
Zuto, Manchester
Zuto, founded as Car Loan 4 U in 2006, is a marketplace for car finance. It connects customers, lenders and dealers – aiming to reduce a process which currently can take days to just an hour or less.
Below: ‘Ones to Watch’ – companies on course for future success
A Year of Dates, Bolton
Founded from a Bolton kitchen table, A Year of Dates is an eCommerce business offering more than 50 personalised gifts designed to encourage everyone – not just couples – to make memories and spend time with those they love.
Aibytech, Salford
Aibytech has developed AI camera technology integrated into a range of baby products including strollers, playpens, travel cots and car seats. This delivers live updates on a child’s development and needs via an app.
Aquaint, Manchester
Aquaint aims to help the hospitality industry overcome challenges such as shifts and energy management through a workflow management app.
Arcube, Manchester
Arcube is shining a light on ‘dark data’. It helps airlines collect and analyse overlooked customer data to create hyper-personalised and engaging loyalty programmes.
Ceedbox, Manchester
Ceedbox spun out of logistics giant Cardinal Maritime and is committed to revolutionising the logistics industry and establish new benchmarks for supply chain visibility. The company has expanded its client base across air, road, and sea freight.
DeakinBio, Manchester
DeakinBio’s mission is to address the unsustainable nature of ceramic materials, which generate 19 million tonnes of CO₂ annually in Europe alone. The company has developed a bio-based alternative to ceramic tiles with a 94 per cent lower carbon footprint.
Emile Education, Bolton
Emile Education’s games-based learning resources have been developed by teachers, academics and game developers. These have been supplied to over 15 per cent of the primary schools in the UK and Ireland.
First Graphene, Manchester
First Graphene is the leading supplier of high-performing graphene products with a robust manufacturing platform and an established 100 tonne/year graphene production capacity.
First Play Dietary Requirements, Stockport
Firstplay Dietary Foods is a family-run company formed by Steve and Linda Fletcher to produce the Promin brand of low protein products from a small factory in Stockport, where only low protein products are produced.
Flight Patrol, Trafford
Flight Patrol offers a free compensation checker for delayed, cancelled or overbooked flights, which takes just 60 seconds and could see travellers entitled to up to £556 in compensation. It covers flights over the last six years and – unlike other claim companies – only takes a fee per flight claim, rather than per person.
Helpthemove, Manchester
Utilities management software for letting agents, social housing providers and buy-to-rent landlords. Helpthemove’s platform automates change of tenancy notifications to councils, water companies and energy suppliers, cutting admin time by more than 90 per cent.
Hydr, Manchester
Invoice finance partner aiming to improve businesses’ cash flow without extending their borrowing. Hydr’s digital platform, which integrates with Xero cloud accounting software, pays 100% of the value of an invoice within 24 hours, removing the stress of waiting for payment.
Invisu, Bolton
Invisu is on a mission is to help manufacturing companies save money and energy by helping them reduce unplanned downtime. Invisu is an Industry 4.0 digital twin system which provides a suite of robust digital solutions to manage and control the full life cycle of complex manufacturing equipment.
Kesan Foods, Oldham
A manufacturer of chilled and frozen foods, founded a decade ago, which now employs 18 people and makes 950 deliveries every week. Kesan Foods’s turnover now exceeds £1m.
Langen Motorcycles, Wigan
Langen Motorcycles was founded in 2018 as an automotive engineering and development company. Its mantra is ‘we do things differently here’ and founder Christofer Ratcliffe began to pen the first ideas of an ultra lightweight motorcycle unlike anything else on the road.
Mymanu, Manchester
Mymanu is a designer and manufacturer of smart audio consumer electronics including live translation earbuds. Its latest ‘world first’ product are voice-controlled, 4G-enabled earbuds which allow users to leave their phone at home.
Near-life, Bolton
Near-Life is an easy-to-use platform that lets anyone – including educators, learning professionals and other content creators – make interactive video, VR and gamified content easily, with hotspots and branching scenarios.
no-boxx, Manchester
no-boxx is on a mission to eliminate single-use packaging online. The company’s innovative reusable packaging solutions are designed to help customers reduce single-use packaging waste and minimise their carbon footprint, one purchase at a time.
Nuntiare, Manchester
A specialist in multilingual audio production, Nuntiare helps airlines communicate with millions of passengers everyday via localised audio announcements. Its services include translation, voice creation and audio processing.
Panther Partnership, Manchester
Panther Partnership is a Manchester-based manufacturer of bespoke robots and machines based in Manchester. The company’s story started out by commissioning 26 lateral flow test machines during Covid-19 for the UK government in six months. The company’s aim is to hit £5m in the next two years.
PharmAppy, Manchester
Manchester-based PharmAppy was originally set up in 2020 in a bedroom in Prestatyn, North Wales, by school friends-turned-entrepreneurs Rhys Lloyd and Josh Ablett. The idea was originally fuelled by a passion to help their grandparents who were struggling with the shortcomings of modern community pharmacy.
Pill Connect, Manchester
Pill Connect is a Manchester-based MedTech startup with patented products for remote monitoring of solid oral dose adherence data.
Plytime Learning, Manchester
Plytime Learning – launched in 2020 – aims to make personalised learning affordable and accessible to all. The platform, currently focused on primary school maths, includes practice, answer reviews, help videos, real-time performance tracking and rewards to motivate children to improve.
Sourceful, Manchester
Sourceful is a packaging platform for climate-conscious brands. From startups to multinationals, it helps businesses design, produce and manage more sustainable packaging – backed with science and data-driven tools.
Spotlight Pathology, Manchester
Spotlight Pathology is developing decision support tools for the diagnosis of blood cancers. Martin Fergie is the CEO.
Ten Space, Trafford
A platform that captures anonymous employee feedback via surveys. Ten Space uses this data and insight to help human resources teams improve engagement, performance and profit. About to launch a self-service model.
The Blair Project, Manchester
The Blair Project is a multi-award winning provider of technical and vocational skills training in electrification, industrial digitalisation and hydrogen skills training, using the power of e-motorsport to engage learners of all ages, backgrounds and abilities. The Blair Project has secured £4m of government funding for a new net zero industrialisation and electrification centre located within Manchester Science Park.
Thermocill, Trafford
Thermocill, used anywhere there is a radiator or heat emitter below a window, is an innovative modular device – fitted to the windowsill – which reduces both energy and carbon emissions while reducing condensation and black mould.
Vulse, Manchester
Vulse uses AI to help users create LinkedIn posts based on industry, trends and relevance. Its personal branding platform has worked alongside Manchester Metropolitan University as part of the region’s four-university AI Foundry. Led by Rob Illidge, founder of social media agency Social Republic.
Zappify, Bury
Zappify is a virtual business card provider with a growing user base of over 250 companies, comprising 75,000 employees across 41 countries. Its mobile business cards are personalised and utilise contactless technology – available offline – to save information straight to the phone.

GM 125 Rising Stars of Business 2024

AccessPay, Manchester

AEH Innovative Hydrogel, Manchester

AeroCloud Systems Ltd, Stockport

Airtime Rewards, Manchester

AMS Solutions, Manchester

Animation Toolkit, Trafford

ANS Group, Manchester

Apadmi, Salford

AppLearn, Manchester

Arctic Shores, Manchester

Ascension-Q, Trafford

Auto Trader, Manchester

Autocab, Stockport

Automedi, Stockport

Badger Energy, Manchester

BankiFi, Manchester

Boodil, Trafford

Bright Biotech, Manchester

Capsule CRM, Manchester

CarFinance247, Manchester

CDL Group, Stockport

CGHero, Manchester

Chatloop, Manchester

Collctiv, Manchester

Concretene, Manchester

Connex One, Manchester

Crystal Doors, Rochdale

Culture Shift, Manchester

CurrentBody, Manchester

Decently, Manchester

DeliveryApp, Manchester

DigiTech Oasis, Manchester

Dsposal, Manchester

Duo, Manchester

Enviroheat HET, Stockport

Evergreen Life, Salford

Evidential, Manchester

Financielle, Manchester

Firenze, Salford

FOTENIX, Salford

Fractory, Manchester

Gigpig, Manchester

GJD Manufacturing, Rochdale

Godel, Manchester

Graphene Innovations Manchester, Manchester

Graphene Trace, Manchester

HACE: Data Changing Child Labour, Manchester

Hai Tech, Manchester

HalioGEN Power, Manchester

Heatsense Cables, Rochdale

Hiring Hub, Manchester

Holiferm, Trafford

Housr, Manchester

IDnow, Manchester

Immersify Education, Trafford

Imperagen, Manchester

Kalibrate, Manchester

Leasing.com, Stockport

Low Carbon Electric, Bolton

Lunio, Manchester

Matillion, Manchester

MirrorWeb, Manchester

Mobysoft, Manchester

Modern Milkman, Manchester

Molymem, Manchester

MusicMagpie, Stockport

Naimuri, Salford

NCC Group, Manchester

Netacea, Manchester

Neuven Solutions, Manchester

Nivo, Manchester

NowSignage, Stockport

OneFile, Manchester

Parcel2Go, Bolton

Partful

Peak, Manchester

Perfect Sense Energy, Wigan

Piing, Stockport

Pimberly, Manchester