Today we can reveal the inaugural North West Tech 50 – our ranking of the region’s most innovative technology companies.
Peak leads the way at no.1 after securing backing from both an independent judging panel and the general public. Its subscription-based service model allows companies of all sizes to plug artificial intelligence into existing systems to generate improved ROI.
CEO Richard Potter, who founded Peak with Atul Sharma and David Leitch in 2014, told BusinessCloud that the aim is to “create and dominate” a global AI market for enterprise.
“This is great recognition for all the hard work the team have done,” Potter said of the North West Tech 50 news. “Everyone is empowered here to make it the most amazing company in the world to work for, so they’re delighted that we’ve been voted top.
“Everyone can take that as a personal pat on the back and a great bit of recognition. Hopefully, over the years, we’ll be recognised on more and more lists.”
North West Tech 50 ranking in full
The top 10 featured firms from around the region. Salford-based VR entertainment experiences creator Immotion came in second ahead of listed giant Blue Prism, which is headquartered in Warrington and develops ‘AI workers’ for businesses.
Two Liverpool companies rounded out the top five: MGISS, which develops geospatial data solutions, was followed by Angel Solutions, which creates software for the eduction industry.
ORCHA (Daresbury), Dream Agility (Ramsbottom), Mercarto (Manchester), Mojo Mortgages (Macclesfield) and Energi Mine (Ashton-under-Lyne) made up the rest of the top 10.
The top 50 featured 19 companies based in Manchester, 15 from Liverpool, six from Lancashire, two from Salford and eight from other areas.
You can see the full top 50 ranking, which was compiled from a shortlist of 224 disruptive companies creating innovative technology solutions, here.
The ranking was not open to large companies in other sectors with internal R&D departments, eCommerce retailers or technology infrastructure businesses such as telecoms. Agencies were required to be developing bespoke innovative solutions using the latest technologies to be considered.
The public vote on the shortlist attracted more than 2,100 votes. A panel of expert judges also made their choices. The final 50 ranking was decided from a combination of these.
The judging panel was comprised of Mo Aldalou, entrepreneur engagement manager (North West), Tech Nation; Dr Joanne Phoenix, interim executive director, Sensor City; Chris Reay, property director, MediaCityUK; Sam Booth, CEO, Pro-Manchester; Nigel Jones, sector specialist: tech & creative, Department for International Trade; Dan Sodergren, head of business services, The Landing; Miranda Barker, CEO, East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce;Andrew Sloane, investment lead in Scotland and the North West, ADV; Anna Heyes, MD, Active Profile; Patricia Keating, executive director, Tech Manchester; Mark Lawler, MD, Baltic Creative CIC; Katie Gallagher, MD, Manchester Digital; Angela McClelland and Dawn Paine, The Extraordinary Club; and Jonathan Symcox, editor, BusinessCloud.
North West Tech 50 is one of 11 annual regional ranked lists which will aim to shine a light on the companies of all sizes who are doing amazing things with technology.
We will publish one ranked list a month every year from February through to December. Full details are available here and the rankings are accessible from the ‘featured lists’ dropdown on the website navigation above.