Data Literacy Academy Ranks #23 in the 2026 Sifted 100: UK & Ireland Leaderboard

London, UK  |  18 March 2026 

EdTech innovator named among the UK & Ireland's 100 fastest-growing startups, placing #23 out of thousands of eligible companies. This objective ranking based on revenue growth proves the surging demand for data & AI skills in the modern workforce.

A milestone that speaks for itself

Data Literacy Academy is proud to announce that it has been ranked #23 in the 2026 Sifted 100: UK & Ireland Leaderboard, one of the most rigorous and respected rankings of startup performance in Europe. Published annually by Sifted, Europe's leading media brand for the startup community, the Sifted 100 identifies and ranks the 100 fastest-growing startups and scale-ups across the UK and Ireland based purely on verified revenue growth, measured as a two-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR).

Reaching #23 out of every eligible startup and scale-up across the UK and Ireland stands as a statement of momentum, credibility, and purpose. It confirms that the demand for data & AI literacy education is no longer just receiving lip service but also the investment to match, and that Data Literacy Academy is at the very forefront of it.

While many awards carry heavily embedded biases, the Sifted 100 is earned through independently verified financial performance. To qualify, companies must be privately held, technology-driven, and headquartered in the UK or Ireland, with at least three consecutive years of revenue data to substantiate their growth trajectory. Thousands of startups are eligible yet only 100 make the cut.

Previous editions of the leaderboard have featured companies that went on to become unicorns and household names. Collectively, the Sifted 100 cohort has historically generated billions in combined revenue and employed tens of thousands of people. Many companies are reshaping industries and redefining what it means to scale in the UK & Ireland tech ecosystem.

The landscape that makes this achievement even more significant

The current operating environment for startups is among the most challenging in a decade. Rising interest rates, tighter venture capital conditions, economic uncertainty, and an increasingly competitive EdTech market have forced many high-growth businesses to slow, pivot, or contract. Against this backdrop, sustaining the kind of revenue growth required to reach the Sifted 100 is a feat in itself, only possible when product market fit, a driven team and the right operations to scale align. 

The fact that Data Literacy Academy has accelerated through this period speaks to the genuine, structural need for data & AI skills education and to the strength of the academy's model, curriculum, and team.

Organisations of every size, from FTSE 100 corporates to public sector bodies to agile SMEs, are awakening to a fundamental truth: their people cannot use data nor AI effectively without structured, accessible education. Data Literacy Academy was built to solve precisely that problem, and the market is responding.

"This recognition from Sifted is a testament to every single person on our team and every organisation that has trusted us to develop the data & AI capabilities of their people. We set out to make data & AI literacy genuinely accessible, not as a technical luxury for specialists, but as a practical skill for everyone. The growth we've seen tells us the world is ready for that mission. And we're only just getting started."

— Greg Freeman, Data Literacy Academy

View the Full Leaderboard

The full 2026 Sifted 100: UK & Ireland Leaderboard is available at: sifted.eu/intelligence/reports/sifted-100-uk-and-ireland-2026

About Data Literacy Academy

Data Literacy Academy exists to close the data skills gap that is holding back individuals, teams, and organisations across the UK and beyond. Through a blend of world-class live and on-demand learning, built for the realities of the modern workplace, the Academy equips people at all levels with the practical data skills they need to make better decisions, faster.

Data Literacy Academy's clients span commercial enterprise, the public sector, and non-profit organisations, united by a shared recognition that data & AI literacy is no longer optional.

Media Enquiries

For press enquiries, interviews, or further information, please contact:

Data Literacy Academy

press@dl-academy.com

www.dl-academy.com

Note to editors: Sifted Leaderboard rankings are based on verified historical financial data and do not guarantee future performance.

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