In recent years, Bristol has emerged as one of the U.K.’s fastest-growing tech hubs. As part of the “Silicon Gorge” region — alongside Gloucester, Swindon and Bath — it has earned the nickname “Europe’s Silicon Valley” thanks to its thriving startup ecosystem.
More than 200 high-growth companies have set up shop in Bristol, collectively raising over £804 million since 2011 and generating a combined revenue of £220 million.
While startups are full of uncertainties, one thing is certain: From telecommunications to sustainability, these companies are just getting started.
Startups in Bristol
- Lumenate
- LettUs Grow
- Ikue
- Altered Carbon
- Glaia
- Siloton
- CellVoyant
- Kelpi
- Penny
- Kurve
Startups in Bristol to Know
Bristol-based Kelpi is a material innovation company specializing in seaweed-based bioplastic packaging, offering a waterproof and sustainable alternative to fossil-fuel based plastics. In 2024, the company secured over $4 million in funding to expand its team and prepare for commercial launch.
Bristol-founded Kurve specializes in creating customized self-service kiosks for restaurants and hospitality businesses, enhancing efficiency and boosting revenue. Established in 2014, the company operates with a small team of around 20 employees.
Siloton is developing a home monitoring service for the 25 percent of seniors affected by macular degeneration. In October 2024, the company announced £860,000 in funding to commercialize its optical coherence tomography chip technology for researchers.
Penny is a fintech platform that simplifies pension management by helping users locate and consolidate their pensions in one place. In 2022, Dealroom valued the company at $33 million, with backing from Gradient Ventures, Google’s AI investment fund, Monzo and Sona. Looking ahead, it plans to expand into the cryptocurrency sector.
Based in Bristol Robotics Laboratory, Altered Carbon is developing electronic nose, or e-nose, technology to help reduce food waste. Described as a digital version of a dog’s nose, the e-nose detects chemical compounds and interprets the data. For example, it helped one of the largest potato distributors detect potato blight up to 10 days earlier, reducing its losses by 20 percent.
CellVoyant is developing stem cell-based therapies to treat chronic diseases by using live cell imaging to predict and optimize stem cell differentiation, enabling the replication of any cell or tissue in the body. The company has secured multiple rounds of funding and is backed by two venture capital firms that were early investors in DeepMind, along with AI-driven drug discovery companies Exscientia and Recursion.
Lumenate’s app uses stroboscopic light sequences from a phone’s flashlight to help users explore their subconscious and reach a heightened state of consciousness — without drugs. The company has raised over $1.45 million in total funding, with investments from several well-known figures, including actress Rosamund Pike.
Customer data platform Ikue is specifically designed for the telecommunications industry, enabling companies to target their audience at the right time to drive growth. Founded in Bristol in 2019, the company is working on expanding its office presence.
Founded in 2019 by University of Bristol alumni, Glaia develops technology that enhances photosynthesis in plants in order to reduce agriculture’s carbon footprint. Applied to crops through roots or leaves, its innovation has attracted multiple rounds of funding and was featured on the BBC series 39 Ways to Save the Planet.
LettUs Grow designs aeroponic technology and farm management software for indoor and vertical farms. Focused on sustainability, the company aims to improve the food system and create a future where affordable, healthy food is accessible to everyone, regardless of barriers like geographic location or cost.
