Islamic digital finance platform StrideUp has been named among the top 20 fastest-growing startups in the UK and Ireland, according to the Sifted 100 leaderboard for 2025.
The Sifted 100: UK & Ireland Leaderboard ranks the region’s 100 fastest-growing startups annually.
StrideUp, which provides ethical and Shariah-compliant financial services, recently expanded its halal offerings to include home purchase plans and buy-to-let options, responding to growing demand for financial products aligned with Islamic principles.
“We are incredibly proud to be recognised among the UK’s fastest-growing startups, and that too within the top 20,” said Sakeeb Zaman, CEO at StrideUp.
“This milestone is not just a celebration of our growth, it’s a powerful signal that ethical and Shariah-compliant finance is not only viable, but deeply needed.
“Our dedicated team remains committed to building inclusive financial products that genuinely empower individuals and communities at large.”
According to the company, StrideUp has access to over half a billion pounds in funding and a balance sheet exceeding £250 million and says it has already helped many families transition away from riba-based products.
The Sifted 100
Sifted is a leading media brand for the startup community backed by the Financial Times.
To qualify for inclusion in Sifted 100, companies needed to meet strict criteria: they had to be private, independent and headquartered in the UK or Ireland, with the majority of revenue generated from proprietary technology.
Companies must have been founded in or after 2010 and showed substantial revenue growth for at least three years.
The 100 companies featured on the leaderboard have raised £10.5bn in funding, generated £5.38bn in revenue over the past three financial years and now employ around 19,000 people across the UK and Ireland.
