BusinessCloud can reveal its EdTech 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 the education sector.
The EdTech 50 celebrates businesses of all sizes creating original tech for education and workplace development.
MathsWatch, based in Oswestry, Shropshire, tops the ranking for 2026.
The online maths platform offers 24/7 access to curriculum‑aligned video tutorials, interactive questions, instant feedback and progress tracking. Its unique marking of working out boosts understanding and cuts teacher workload, delivering confidence, clarity and measurable results for every learner.
Tapestry, an online learning journal from the Foundation Stage Forum for children’s education, is second. Based in Lewes, East Sussex, Tapestry subscribers have access to a wide variety of features, designed to reduce workload and assist the development of each setting and school’s provision.
Third is Manchester-based Vivify, a platform which helps schools manage and open facilities to the community. Its technology simplifies bookings, reduces admin and maximises income from underutilised spaces.
In fourth spot is Sheffield-based Applatch Kids, an app supporting children’s academic growth by requiring them to pass educational quizzes before unlocking entertainment apps.
Completing the top five is Cheshire firm myHappymind, behind NHS-endorsed science-based mental health and wellbeing programmes – transforming how schools, early years settings and families support positive mental health and prevention.
Sixth is Peerscroller by Yipiyap, a digital platform and app delivering trustworthy, fact-checked content to young people, teachers and parents via short-form video.
In seventh spot is Sheffield-based Chalkie, a tool for teachers to create lesson resources faster than ever before. When they tell Chalkie what they’re teaching, it uses AI to create fun and informative lesson slides filled with key facts, activities, pictures and even videos.
Wonde, Global Equality Collective and Arbor Education complete the top 10.
In 11th, Manchester-based Near-Life provides a simple, fast platform for learning teams to create high quality interactive video and VR simulations that scale role-play, improve real-world decisions, and reduce organisational risk.
Also featuring in this year’s ranking are Desq, digital learning designers creating bespoke, media-rich, interactive and game-based experiences that engage people, solve real learning challenges and improve performance for organisations worldwide; Aptem, a platform which helps nearly 200 providers of vocational training and employment services to deliver efficient, compliant and high-quality programmes with ease; and Synap, an online exam and assessment platform for secure test delivery trusted by awarding bodies, universities and enterprise training teams.
The ranking in full:
EdTech 50 – UK’s most innovative education tech creators for 2026
BusinessCloud called on its readers to vote for companies from the 104-strong shortlist. A combination of these votes and choices from an expert judging panel determined the top 50.
The judging panel was comprised of:
• Rachel Vecht, founder, Educating Matters
• Dan Sandhu, CEO, Education Development Trust
• Tim Holmes, education, training and human capital M&A, Alvarez & Marsal
• Jonathan Symcox, editor, BusinessCloud
@businesscloud.co.uk EdTech 50 judge Rachel Vecht was wowed by this year’s ranking and the growing number of tools to assist with #neurodivergent learning and positive #mentalhealth and #wellbeing. The founder of Educating Matters picks out @myhappymind, Cognassist and @gaialearningonline for particular praise. @educatingmatters ♬ original sound – BusinessCloud