Two Oxford-based companies have been recognised among the UK’s most promising new businesses, after featuring in the Startups 100 Index 2026, published by Startups.co.uk.
Now in its 18th year, the Startups 100 Index, powered by Sage, ranks the top 100 young UK businesses demonstrating technological innovation, strong financial performance, market disruption and growing customer traction.
This year’s list includes OXCCU, ranked fourth, and A&B Smart Materials, which placed 54th.
OXCCU also received additional recognition as the winner of the Startups 100 Sustainability Award 2026, highlighting its commitment to placing environmental responsibility at the heart of its business mission.
Founded in 2021, OXCCU has developed a breakthrough single-step process, created at the University of Oxford, that converts captured waste carbon into sustainable aviation fuel and chemicals.
The company aims to offer a cleaner and more affordable alternative to fossil jet fuel, helping to decarbonise aviation and other hard-to-abate industries. Supported by major airlines and strong demonstration results, OXCCU is now scaling production.
Commenting on the achievement, Co-Founder and CEO Andrew Symes said:
“Being recognised in the Startups 100 Index reflects the momentum we’ve built this year. Securing our 21M Series B funding, starting the build of our second demonstration plant OX2, and growing the team has given us strong foundations to move forward.
With strong investors alongside us, the focus now is on proving the technology at a larger scale and building the foundations for a pathway that can make a meaningful difference to future aviation fuel production.”
Also featured is A&B Smart Materials, founded in 2022, which has developed a plant-based, biodegradable alternative to traditional superabsorbent polymers used in products such as nappies and soil enhancers.
With damaging petroleum-based polymers expected to be banned, the company is working with major chemical partners to scale its sustainable materials, supported by investors including the Oxford Seed Fund.
Co-Founder and CEO Amaury van Trappen de Buggenoms said:
“We are pleased to be selected as part of the Startups 100 Index 2026, it is a pleasure and honour.”
Editor of Startups.co.uk, Zohra Huda, said:
“Once again, the Startups 100 Index is proof that the UK’s entrepreneurial heartbeat isn’t confined to the capital—it’s booming across the regions… Our Index is a wake-up call that Oxford is the new engine of innovation.”
