Technology Fast 50 & Rising Star

The eligibility criteria

Now in its 25th year, the Deloitte Technology Fast 50 Awards recognises the fastest-growing technology companies across the island of Ireland. The programme ranks technology companies based on revenue growth over the last four years. To be considered for the Technology Fast 50 ranking you need to fulfil all of the eligibility criteria set out below:

1) The company must have accounts covering a minimum of four years(i.e. four full twelve-month financial periods.

2) The company must be considered a technology company which for this purpose, is defined as a company that meets at least one of the following four criteria.

Owns proprietary intellectual property or proprietary technology that contributes to a significant portion of the company's operating revenues;

Manufactures a technology-related product;

Devotes a significant proportion of operating revenues to research and development of technology;

Is technology intensive, or use its own unique technology to solve problems.

NB: Companies using third-party technology or intellectual property in a unique way does not meet this definition. Consulting companies, professional services firms, resellers and others who don't rely on proprietary technologies to generate their revenue are not eligible.

3)The parent company must be Irish-owned and have its headquarters in Ireland. NB: Companies headquartered in Northern Ireland can take part in the Irish OR the UK programme, but need to choose one or the other and cannot enter both.

4) The company must not be a subsidiary of a larger group. NB: If there is more than one trading company in a group of companies, the application should reflect consolidated revenue for years 1 and 4 and not the revenue of a particular company within the group.

5)The company must have base-year (year 1) operating revenues of €50,000 (£43,000) and a current-year (year 4) operating revenue of at least €1,000,000 (£859,900). Operating revenue figures must be calculated consistently. Please disclose in your application any change in revenue recognition between the year 1 and year 4 accounts.

NB: the accounts for the base year must have an accounting period ending between 1 June 2020 and 31 May 2021, and the accounts for the most recent financial year must have an accounting period ending between 1 June 2023 and 31 May 2024.

1. 5)The company must have base-year (year 1) operating revenues of €50,000 (£43,000) and a current-year (year 4) operating revenue of at least €1,000,000 (£859,900). Operating revenue figures must be calculated on a consistent basis. Please disclose in your application any change in revenue recognition between the year 1 and year 4 accounts. NB: the accounts for the base year must have an accounting period ending between 1 June 2020 and 31 May 2021, and the accounts for the most recent financial year must have an accounting period ending between 1 June 2023 and 31 May 2024.

6) All submissions must be accompanied by signed accounts for the first and last financial year being measured in the competition. Where accounts are not audited, a cover letter must be provided. This cover letter should be on company-headed paper, signed by a director of the company, stating and confirming the revenue figure per the accounts. Where only abbreviated accounts are available (with no profit and loss statement shown), please provide alternative financial information supporting the revenue figure presented, for example, management accounts used by the company, along with the cover letter described above.

Applicants who meet the Fast 50 programme criteria may also apply to enter these additional award categories:

• Growing New Technology Award in association with Google

This award will be presented to a company that has created or introduced a new or innovative product or service to international markets that has helped grow their business over the last four years.

• Impact Award in association with Meta

This award will be presented to a company that has made a significant impact within the current year.

• Advocate for Women in Technology Award in association with NetSuite

This award will be given to an individual who has demonstrated through their actions that they are an advocate for increasing participation by and promotion of women in the technology sector.

• Scale Up Award in association with Scale Ireland

This award is for a company that has demonstrated an impressive ability to scale up/expand overseas over the last four years.

• Financial Services Innovation Award in association with FSI

This award will recognise a fintech company with an innovative product or services that is having a disruptive impact within the financial services industry.

The Rising Star award in association with Enterprise Ireland

This separate award will recognise a company that has demonstrated a promising growth trajectory and the potential for inclusion in the Fast 50 rankings in years to come. Companies being considered for this award must have operating revenues accounting for a minimum of 2 years and less than 4 years.

To qualify for the Rising Star Award your company must meet the below criteria:

1. In business for a minimum of 2 years and less than 4 years
2. Current year operating revenue of at least €500,000 or £426,700 (current year is 2023/24 depending on the company’s financial year end)
3. The parent company must be owned and headquartered in ROI or NI. Subsidiaries do not qualify
4. Must be a technology company (produce technology), defined as:

Manufacturing tech related products;

Being technologically intensive or using technology in problem-solving;

Devoting a significant proportion of operating revenues to R&D of technology;

Owning proprietary intellectual property or proprietary technology that contributes to a significant portion of the company's operating revenues.

Apply for the Fast 50 awards programme here: Deloitte Fast 50 Programme (awardsplatform.com). If you have any further queries, please contact the team: iefast50@deloitte.ie.

Deloitte Technology Fast 50 Ireland

To offer more companies the opportunity to gain recognition as a high growth winner, we have extended the Fast 50 competition award categories.

Please use the guide below when completing the "Sector" field on the application form.

• Communications
• Equipment manufacturer
• Satellite telecommunications service
• Service provider
• Wireless service provider
• Other

Environmental Technology

• Clean tech
• Energy tech
• Green-tech
• Other

Fintech

• Asset management
• Cryptocurrency
• Consumer credit / lending
• Digital banking
• Insurtech
• Money transfer
• Payments
• Regtech
• Other

Hardware

• Electronic devices / Computers / Peripherals
• Semiconductors / Components
• Internet of things
• Other

Healthcare and Life sciences

• Biotechnology
• Medical Devices
• Medtech
• Other

Media and Entertainment

• Adtech
• Digital commerce
• Gaming
• Over the top service
• Social media
• Other

Software

• App development / Mobile
• Artificial intelligence
• Blockchain
• Consumer software
• Data analytics
• Enterprise software
• Food Tech
• Health Tech
• HR training
• Logistics
• Real estate
• SaaS/Cloud
• SecuritySmart city / Mobility / Transport
• Social Enterprise / Not for profit / Charity
• Tourism / Travel / Lodging
• Other

For more information about the programme, eligibility requirements, and the application process, please consult the below FAQs.

What is the Deloitte Technology Fast 50?
The Fast 50 is a ranking of Ireland's 50 fastest-growing technology companies, based on percentage revenue growth over the last four years. Now in its twenty-fourth year, the Irish Fast 50 awards recognise revenue growth and are a celebration of innovation and entrepreneurship.

Applications are open to public and private companies, large and small, in all areas of technology, from Internet specialists to life sciences, computers to semiconductors and software to telecommunications.

Why participate in the programme?

• Recognition for your company and the driving of its success
• Boost brand reputation
• Network with the Fast 50, start-up and investor community
• Interesting keynotes
• Exchange ideas and best practices
• Press attention (receive more recognition in the market)

What are the entry criteria?
Please visit the Process and criteria section.

How do I enter and what is involved?
To enter you will need to fill in the online application form which will be in August. You will be asked to provide details of company revenues over the last four years, as well as submit softcopies (PDF) of signed, audited and unabbreviated accounts for years one (2020/2021) and four (2023/24).

Does the application form have to be completed online?
Yes. Applications may only be submitted online. 

How will we know the online registration form was received by Deloitte?
The applicant will receive an automated email notification indicating that the online application was received by Deloitte. If you still have questions about your application form please email iefast50@deloitte.ie.

When do the 2024 entries open and close?
Applications for the 2024 programme open in August and will close in October.

Are revenues published?
No. The Fast 50 programme will disclose percentage revenue growth but will not disclose current- and base-year revenue amounts. Participants will be required to provide revenue proof to Deloitte.

What's in it for applicants?
Most applicants enter the programme to increase their company profile. The Fast 50 gives them the opportunity to leverage their brand, improve their marketing and increase their media recognition.
But that's not all, winners also:

• Receive industry recognition of achieving sustainable high-growth over the last four years;
• Are automatically entered into the Deloitte Fast 500 EMEA programme;
• Benefit from an abundance of free publicity and marketing;
• Get invited to an exclusive winners' virtual awards ceremony.

How many years has Fast 50 been running?
It was launched in the US in 1995 and quickly expanded worldwide; the Irish Fast 50 is celebrating its twenty-fifth year of awards.

How is the ranking and revenue growth calculated?
For the 2024 Fast 50, companies are ranked based on percentage growth for each company's stated fiscal year revenues over the last four years (2021/22 to 2023/24).
The percentage revenue growth is calculated by year four revenue minus year one revenue, divided by year one revenue.

What is the closing deadline and when are the winners announced?
TBC

How much does it cost to enter?
It's free - there is no fee to enter your company.

Which sector does my business fit into?
Please visit the Sectors section.

I've entered in previous years; can I just use last year's application?
Entrants are required to register a new account and complete a new application form for the 2024 programme.

How do I enter the Fast 500 EMEA programme?
To enter the Fast 500 EMEA programme you need to be nominated via your local country programme (i.e. Irish Fast 50). Unless otherwise requested, all qualifying entrants to the Irish Fast 50 will be automatically entered into the Fast 500 EMEA.

Who do I contact for further assistance?
Please email iefast50@deloitte.ie with any questions you may have about the Fast 50.