Key takeaways
- Top pick: Wayve, best for: Carmakers and robotaxi operators. Wayve says it drove zero-shot in more than 500 cities across Europe, North America and Japan within a single year.
- Also near the top: CuspAI, best for: Industrial companies searching for new materials; and Oxford Quantum Circuits, best for: Enterprises and governments accessing quantum hardware.
- How it was ranked: 10 startups compared. Each verdict is below.
Best Deep Tech Startups in the UK: Top 10 Ranked. Wayve ranks first, with a Lister Score of 97.2.
Wayve leads UK deep tech startups on funding and scale, with embodied AI driving software backed by carmakers and Uber.
CuspAI is the best-funded in AI materials discovery,
Oxford Quantum Circuits has quantum computers deployed on three continents, and
Fractile is the one to watch in AI inference chips.
Best Deep Tech Startups in the UK in 2026, compared| RANK | ENTRY | BEST FOR | SCORE | FROM |
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| 1 |  WayveWayve says it drove zero-shot in more than 500 cities across Europe, North America and Japan within a single year. | Carmakers and robotaxi operators | 97.2 | Custom |
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| 2 |  CuspAICuspAI launched the AI Materials Foundry in July 2026, a coalition of more than 48 partners including Nvidia, Meta and Hyundai Motor Group. | Industrial companies searching for new materials | 95.9 | Custom |
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| 3 |  Oxford Quantum CircuitsOQC says it has quantum systems deployed in the UK, the US, Japan and Spain. | Enterprises and governments accessing quantum hardware | 94.6 | Custom |
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| 4 |  FractileFractile says its in-memory architecture can run inference 25 times faster at a tenth of the cost, with its first chip planned for 2027. | Data centres running large AI models | 93.3 | Custom |
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| 5 |  Quantum MotionQuantum Motion says its CMOS approach could cut costs 100-fold and energy use 1,000-fold in standard data centre racks. | Organisations wanting quantum hardware that fits data centre racks | 92.0 | Custom |
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| 6 |  NscaleNscale set up a US engineering hub in Bellevue, Washington, in 2026. | AI companies that need large GPU capacity | 90.7 | Custom |
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| 7 |  HumanoidHumanoid describes itself as Europe's first pure-play humanoid robotics unicorn. | Industrial and logistics firms piloting humanoids | 89.4 | Not public |
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| 8 |  PhysicsXPhysicsX works with companies in aerospace and security, automotive, semiconductors, materials and mining, and energy. | Engineering teams in aerospace, automotive and energy | 88.1 | Custom |
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| 9 |  RiverlaneRiverlane released Deltakit as open-source quantum error correction software. | Quantum computer makers adding error correction | 86.8 | Custom |
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| 10 |  PhasecraftPhasecraft's Series B was co-led by Plural, Playground Global and Novo Holdings' Quantum Fund. | Companies exploring early quantum applications | 85.5 | Custom |
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How to choose
Start from what you need it for. Where each entry fits best:
- Wayve (#1): Carmakers and robotaxi operators
- CuspAI (#2): Industrial companies searching for new materials
- Oxford Quantum Circuits (#3): Enterprises and governments accessing quantum hardware
- Fractile (#4): Data centres running large AI models
- Quantum Motion (#5): Organisations wanting quantum hardware that fits data centre racks
- Nscale (#6): AI companies that need large GPU capacity
- Humanoid (#7): Industrial and logistics firms piloting humanoids
- PhysicsX (#8): Engineering teams in aerospace, automotive and energy
- Riverlane (#9): Quantum computer makers adding error correction
- Phasecraft (#10): Companies exploring early quantum applications
Each entry's full verdict is below.
The ranking, in detail
01
AI driving software for any vehicle
Wayve, based in London, develops embodied AI driving software for carmakers and robotaxi fleets. It raised a $1.2 billion Series D in February 2026 at an $8.6 billion post-money valuation, with investors including Microsoft, NVIDIA, Uber, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan and Stellantis.
PROS- Backed by carmakers and Uber
- One AI driver across vehicle types
CONS- Robotaxi service not yet at scale
- Long path to large revenue
- Best for
- Carmakers and robotaxi operators
- Where it falls short
- Robotaxi service not yet at scale.
- Pick something else if
- you need immediate scalable robotaxi operations.
97.2
02
AI for new materials discovery
CuspAI, based in Cambridge, uses AI models to design and screen new materials for industrial uses. It raised a $450 million Series B in July 2026, co-led by Kleiner Perkins and NEA, at a reported $2.6 billion valuation, with the UK Sovereign AI Fund taking part.
PROS- Very large funding for a young company
- Broad coalition of industrial partners
CONS- Commercial results still early
- Customer outcomes not yet public
- Best for
- Industrial companies searching for new materials
- Where it falls short
- Commercial results are still early and customer outcomes have not yet been made public.
- Pick something else if
- you need proven commercial results or public customer outcomes.
95.9
03
Superconducting quantum computers
Oxford Quantum Circuits (OQC), headquartered in London, builds superconducting quantum computers for enterprise and government customers. It raised a £260 million ($350 million) Series C in June 2026, led by Bullhound Capital.
PROS- Systems deployed on three continents
- Large recent funding round
CONS- Practical quantum advantage still ahead for most uses
- Price not published
- Best for
- Enterprises and governments accessing quantum hardware
- Where it falls short
- It does not publish pricing, so you cannot determine costs upfront.
- Pick something else if
- you need transparent pricing before committing.
94.6
04
AI inference chips
Fractile, founded in London in 2022, designs AI inference chips that place memory and compute together. It raised a $220 million Series B in May 2026, led by Accel, Factorial Funds and Founders Fund, at a reported valuation of about $1 billion.
PROS- Backed by top US investors
- Targets the cost of running AI models
CONS- First chip not yet shipping
- Performance claims not yet independently tested
- Best for
- Data centres running large AI models
- Where it falls short
- The first chip is not yet shipping, so immediate deployment is impossible.
- Pick something else if
- you need a working product today.
93.3
05
Silicon quantum computers
Quantum Motion, based in London, builds quantum computers on silicon chips made with standard CMOS manufacturing. It raised a $160 million Series C in May 2026, co-led by DCVC and Kembara.
PROS- Uses existing chip manufacturing
- Large recent funding round
CONS- Cost and energy claims not yet proven at scale
- Price not published
- Best for
- Organisations wanting quantum hardware that fits data centre racks
- Where it falls short
- Buyers cannot see the price because Quantum Motion has not published it.
- Pick something else if
- you need to know costs before committing.
92.0
06
AI cloud and data centres
Nscale, founded in London in 2024, builds and runs data centres and GPU cloud capacity for training and running AI models. It raised a $1.1 billion Series B in September 2025.
PROS- Very large funding for its age
- Capacity built for AI workloads
CONS- Capital-heavy business model
- Short operating track record
- Best for
- AI companies that need large GPU capacity
- Where it falls short
- It has a short operating track record.
- Pick something else if
- you need a proven long-term provider.
90.7
07
Industrial humanoid robots
Humanoid, based in London, builds humanoid robots for industrial and logistics work. It raised a $152 million Series A in July 2026 at a $1.35 billion post-money valuation.
PROS- Fast rise in funding and valuation
- Focused on industrial work
CONS- Early commercial stage
- Price not published
- Best for
- Industrial and logistics firms piloting humanoids
- Where it falls short
- It is in the early commercial stage and does not publish its price.
- Pick something else if
- you need published pricing or a mature product.
89.4
08
AI for engineering simulation
PhysicsX, headquartered in London, builds AI software that replaces slow numerical physics simulation in engineering design, testing and manufacturing. An extension from NVentures in November 2025 took its Series B to more than $155 million, valuing it at nearly $1 billion.
PROS- Backed by Nvidia's venture arm
- Works across many engineering sectors
CONS- Customer names rarely disclosed
- Built mainly for large enterprises
- Best for
- Engineering teams in aerospace, automotive and energy
- Where it falls short
- It is built mainly for large enterprises.
- Pick something else if
- you are a small business.
88.1
09
Quantum error correction
Riverlane, founded in Cambridge in 2016, makes quantum error correction software and hardware, including Deltaflow and Deltakit, for quantum computer makers. It raised a $75 million Series C in August 2024.
PROS- Works with many quantum hardware types
- Addresses the main barrier to useful quantum computing
CONS- Depends on the progress of hardware makers
- Latest funding older than peers
- Best for
- Quantum computer makers adding error correction
- Where it falls short
- Its progress depends on the pace of hardware makers.
- Pick something else if
- you need independent hardware development.
86.8
10
Algorithms for today's quantum computers
Phasecraft, a spinout from UCL and the University of Bristol, writes hardware-agnostic algorithms that let today's imperfect quantum computers tackle real problems. It raised a $34 million Series B in September 2025.
PROS- Founded by university quantum scientists
- Hardware agnostic
CONS- Smaller funding than hardware peers
- Commercial use cases still emerging
- Best for
- Companies exploring early quantum applications
- Where it falls short
- Commercial use cases are still emerging, so immediate practical applications may be limited.
- Pick something else if
- you need proven commercial solutions today.
85.5
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Frequently asked questions
What are the best Deep Tech Startups in the UK?
Wayve ranks first on Lister. Wayve, based in London, develops embodied AI driving software for carmakers and robotaxi fleets. It raised a $1.2 billion Series D in February 2026 at an $8.6 billion post-money valuation, with investors including Microsoft, NVIDIA, Uber, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan and Stellantis.
What are the top 10 Deep Tech Startups in the UK?
1. Wayve; 2. CuspAI; 3. Oxford Quantum Circuits; 4. Fractile; 5. Quantum Motion; 6. Nscale; 7. Humanoid; 8. PhysicsX; 9. Riverlane; 10. Phasecraft.
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