Best Smart Cities Companies in United Kingdom
The 126 best Smart Cities companies in United Kingdom in 2026, ranked by funding and momentum. Funding, investors, founders, valuation, tech stack and live signals. Top: Energy Assets.
Energy Assets sits at £944M in disclosed funding. That number alone tells you the scale of what's moving through United Kingdom Smart Cities infrastructure right now. This directory ranks the best Smart Cities companies in the United Kingdom by disclosed equity funding and recent momentum, tracking 126 firms and $1.5B in total capital across the sector.
The global market stands at $511.6B, forecast to reach $1,114.4B by 2027 at a 15.6% CAGR, driven by 5G rollout, government PPP models, and a genuine push on environmental sustainability. So the UK's $1.5B disclosed pool is a real slice of something much larger. Energy Assets is the outlier that skews everything, but Optibus Technologies at $260M and CNIguard at $40M show depth beyond one name. Data security concerns remain a structural drag on deployment timelines, and as recent analysis on open cities makes clear, full smart-city buildout is a longer road than the funding headlines suggest. Hot momentum right now is clustering around EV platforms and drive system innovation. I'd watch that theme closely if you're mapping where the next funding rounds land.
- ResearchAndMarkets.com
- MarketsandMarkets
Ranked: Best Smart Cities companies in United Kingdom
| # | Company | Disclosed funding | Last round | Employees | Founded | Founder | Tech stack | Patents & IP focus | Recent signals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Energy Assets Provider of AI and web-based smart metering systems 50Innovation top 23%Funding top 31%Product top 33%Growth top 45% All 10 signals ▾Innovationtop 23% Fundingtop 31% Producttop 33% Growthtop 45% AItop 45% Talentbottom 49% Newsbottom 48% Techbottom 41% Globalbottom 39% Marketbottom 24% Innovation: 6 product lines · Deep-tech classification: Tech Hardware Funding: Raised $944M across 1 rounds · 1 rounds over 5 yrs (0.2/yr) rank vs industry peers · Fliar Intelligence Index 50/100 | $944M | 55 mo ago | 6 | 2005 | Dave Taylor CEO | WordPressPleskApple iCloud Mail+18 | — | 4 job openings · 1 partnership |
| 2 | Optibus Technologies 🦄 Provider of end-to-end public transportation management software 67Funding top 24%Moat top 26%Tech top 30%Global top 36% All 10 signals ▾Fundingtop 24% Moattop 26% Techtop 30% Globaltop 36% Producttop 36% Talenttop 38% Markettop 40% Growthtop 45% Newsbottom 27% Customersbottom 25% Funding: Raised $260M across 5 rounds · 5 rounds over 11 yrs (0.5/yr) Moat: Editorial + unicorn rating 9/10 · Unicorn rank vs industry peers · Fliar Intelligence Index 67/100 | $260M | 47 mo ago | — | 2014 | Amos Haggiag Co-Founder & CEO | WordPressApple iCloud MailMySQL+39 | — | 1 launch · 1 award |
| 3 | AppyWay Provider of digital kerbside management and parking solutions for municipalities 57Moat top 31%Funding top 34%Innovation top 36%Talent top 38% All 10 signals ▾Moattop 31% Fundingtop 34% Innovationtop 36% Talenttop 38% Techtop 40% Growthtop 45% Producttop 46% Marketbottom 46% Globalbottom 39% Newsbottom 22% Moat: Editorial + unicorn rating 8/10 · Soonicorn Funding: Raised $90.4M across 8 rounds · 8 rounds over 12 yrs (0.7/yr) rank vs industry peers · Fliar Intelligence Index 57/100 | $90M | 69 mo ago | 45 45 → 36 (-20%) · sector median +7% | 2013 | Dan Hubert Co-Founder & CEO | WordPressMySQLSalesforce+38 | — | — |
| 4 | CNIguard Provider of manhole monitoring systems for utility and infrastructure operators 21Talent top 15%Moat top 38%Funding top 42%Patents bottom 46% All 8 signals ▾Talenttop 15% Moattop 38% Fundingtop 42% Patentsbottom 46% Globalbottom 40% Innovationbottom 35% Marketbottom 25% Techbottom 24% Talent: Analyst team rating 5/5 Moat: Editorial + unicorn rating 5/10 · IP moat: 8 patents rank vs industry peers · Fliar Intelligence Index 21/100 | $40M | 35 mo ago | 8 | 2005 | — | — | 8 patents Patents concentrated in electrical & electronics | — |
| 5 | WhereIsMyTransport Provider of Saas-enabled data collection and management solutions | $32M | 60 mo ago | 4 | 2015 | Dave New Co Founder | — | — | — |
| 6 | Vivacity Labs Provider of smart traffic monitoring and smart traffic signal control 64AI top 25%Growth top 26%Moat top 31%Tech top 38% All 11 signals ▾AItop 25% Growthtop 26% Moattop 31% Techtop 38% Fundingtop 40% Patentstop 45% Innovationtop 49% Fin. healthtop 49% Talentbottom 49% Marketbottom 48% Globalbottom 40% AI: Classified as an AI company · Holds AI/ML patents (G06N-family CPC) Growth: Headcount 42 → 77 (+83%) across vintages rank vs industry peers · Fliar Intelligence Index 64/100 | $19M | 40 mo ago | 77 77 → 99 (+29%) · sector median +7% | 2015 | Yang Lu Non-Exec board advisor and Technical Founder | WordPressMySQLPHP+37 | 20 patents Adaptive traffic signal control and vehicle movement analytics for smart transportation systems | 3 partnerships |
| 7 | Telensa Developer of wireless solutions for smart city and smart lighting | $18M | 125 mo ago | 55 55 → 60 (+9%) · sector median +7% | 2005 | Timothy Jackson Co-Founder | WordPressMySQLPHP+21 | 21 patents Smart IoT lighting and mesh networking with object detection, data transmission, and anonymization | — |
| 8 | Syrinix Provider of water network monitoring hardware and software solution | $16M | 75 mo ago | 21 | 2004 | — | — | 27 patents Pipeline integrity monitoring and pressure anomaly detection for pumped fluid transport systems | — |
| 9 | Zap-Map App-based platform offering electric charge point locater services 53Growth top 19%Customers top 35%Talent top 35%Product top 42% All 9 signals ▾Growthtop 19% Customerstop 35% Talenttop 35% Producttop 42% Fundingbottom 46% Marketbottom 44% Techbottom 43% Globalbottom 29% Fin. healthbottom 29% Growth: Headcount 21 → 44 (+110%) across vintages · App-install growth +32% YoY Customers: Play-Store rating 3.47★ across 9,852 ratings (1 apps) · Review volume +23% in 6 mo rank vs industry peers · Fliar Intelligence Index 53/100 | $14M | 24 mo ago | 44 | 2014 | Dan Fallon Founder | DrupalPHPAmazon Web Services+18 | — | — |
| 10 | SteamaCo Provider of smart metering platform and revenue management solutions | $9M | 83 mo ago | 29 | 2012 | Tom Parkinson Managing Director | TypeScriptUbuntuGoogle Maps+16 | — | — |
| 11 | Fleetondemand Provider of multi-modal transport planning solutions for smart cities | $7M | 92 mo ago | 72 | 2012 | Justin Whitston CEO | WebflowAmazon ALBReact+19 | — | 2 job openings · 1 award |
| 12 | Mobilleo Provider of SaaS-driven smart mobility management solutions | $7M | 92 mo ago | 50 | 2016 | Justin Whitston Founder & CEO | — | — | — |
| 13 | Gaist Holdings Road inspection data and digital twin provider | $6M | 58 mo ago | 1 | 2012 | Steve Birdsall CEO | Craft CMSPHPYii+17 | 10 patents AI-driven image generation and geospatial device activity monitoring systems | — |
| 14 | Future Intelligence Provider of a network management platform for IoT applications | $6M | 41 mo ago | — | 2009 | Nikolaos Zotos Co-Founder & CEO | — | — | — |
| 15 | Immense Provides a platform for transportation simulation and intelligence | $5M | 85 mo ago | 34 34 → 22 (-35%) · sector median +7% | 2016 | Carl Goves Co-Founder | — | — | 1 partnership |
| 16 | Good Vision AI-driven and SaaS-based provider of traffic video analytics solutions | $4M | 41 mo ago | 2 | 2017 | Lukas Hruby Co-Founder & CTO | WordPressMySQLPHP+32 | — | — |
| 17 | Intellitect Water Sensor probes for water quality monitoring | $3M | 197 mo ago | 14 14 → 15 (+7%) · sector median +7% | 2004 | John Howell Founder & Owner | — | 50 patents Real-time water distribution monitoring and anomaly detection using sensor data analytics | — |
| 18 | EnLight Developer of intelligent lighting solutions for deployment at various scales | $3M | 121 mo ago | 2 | 2000 | Celina Anne Aarrons Co-Founder | — | — | — |
| 19 | SeeQuestor Integrated video analytics platform used for solving crime cases | $3M | 65 mo ago | 30 | 2014 | — | — | 6 patents Wireless network control and management systems | — |
| 20 | Deer Technology Provider of meter reading solutions for commercial applications | $2M | 61 mo ago | 11 11 → 7 (-36%) · sector median +7% | 2014 | Garry Jackson Co-Founder | — | — | 3 launchs |
| 21 | Route Konnect Provider of IoT-based smart road solutions | $1M | 49 mo ago | 6 | 2018 | Mohamed Binesmael Founder & CEO | — | — | — |
| 22 | Acoustic Sensing Provider of a cloud-based sewer and rail network lines monitoring system | $1M | 129 mo ago | 2 | 2013 | Nick Hawkins Co-Founder | — | 5 patents Airborne acoustic inspection systems for pipe integrity monitoring | — |
| 23 | Weblib Provider of cloud-based WiFi and mobile application digital connection solutions | $1M | 200 mo ago | 55 | 2009 | Florian Galby CEO | WordPressMySQLPHP+24 | — | 1 partnership |
| 24 | Lightricity Developer of photovoltaic technology for indoor, space, and outdoor applications | $953K | 79 mo ago | 11 | 2017 | Matthias Kauer Co-Founder & Managing Director | Cart FunctionalityGoDaddy Website BuilderGoogle Maps+14 | 11 patents Ultra‑low‑power energy‑harvesting electronics and semiconductor bonding/adhesive integration. | 1 partnership |
| 25 | See.Sense Develops smart lights for cycles, and sensors for collecting data about city road systems | $932K | 80 mo ago | 11 11 → 12 (+9%) · sector median +7% | 2013 | Philip Mcaleese Co-Founder & CEO | Cart FunctionalityShopifyPlyr+25 | — | — |
| 26 | PREDINA AI based safety software for reducing road incidents | $856K | 93 mo ago | 1 | 2016 | Meha Nelson Co-Founder & CTO | — | — | — |
| 27 | Red Optima Group AI-based big data software solution for road & traffic management | $747K | 27 mo ago | — | 2016 | Jason Rolles Managing Director | — | — | — |
| 28 | Alchera Technologies Provider of computer vision based data platform for transport and traffic management | $684K | 57 mo ago | 9 | 2014 | Emil Hewage Board Member & Founder | — | — | 2 job openings |
| 29 | Autonomous Provider of IoT-enabled smart street lighting systems | $674K | 53 mo ago | 19 19 → 14 (-26%) · sector median +7% | 2019 | Bobby Kane CEO | — | — | 1 partnership |
| 30 | IoT Solutions Group Provider of multiple smart city solutions | $668K | 66 mo ago | 5 | 2018 | — | BootstrapAmazon Web Servicescore-js+12 | 12 patents IoT gateway devices enabling secure onboarding and communication for connected edge devices | 4 awards |
| 31 | Ascalia Developer of a platform to reduce resource and energy consumption in cities and industry | $614K | 61 mo ago | 3 | 2018 | Marin Bek Co-Founder & CEO | — | — | — |
| 32 | Transhumanity Developer of AI agents for transport data analysis and decision-making 65Talent top 35%Funding top 45%Global bottom 48% All 3 signals ▾Talenttop 35% Fundingtop 45% Globalbottom 48% Talent: 3 named leaders on record Funding: Raised $544k across 1 rounds · 1 rounds over 1 yrs (1.0/yr) rank vs industry peers · Fliar Intelligence Index 65/100 | $544K | 9 mo ago | — | 2024 | Barclay Gauld Co-Founder & CTO | — | — | — |
| 33 | Simplifai Systems AI-driven traffic management solution | $336K | 54 mo ago | 3 | 2017 | Keith McCabe Founder & CEO | — | — | — |
| 34 | RoadMetrics AI-powered road inspection and maintenance solutions | $248K | 38 mo ago | 7 | 2019 | Dipen Babariya Founder & CEO | WordPressMySQLPHP+18 | — | 2 launchs · 1 expansion |
| 35 | MOSA Provider of connected parking systems for cycles | $237K | 28 mo ago | 4 | 2021 | Josh Liu Founder | — | — | 1 partnership |
| 36 | Loqiva Mobile city services platform connecting communities with apps, IoT and payments | $205K | 65 mo ago | 3 | 2016 | Barry Conlon Co-Founder | — | — | 2 partnerships |
| 37 | Innotech Insights Cloud-based customer data platform | $194K | 82 mo ago | 6 | 2015 | Liam Wright Founder | — | — | — |
| 38 | ParkingEye Parking lot solutions | $134K | 258 mo ago | 312 312 → 206 (-34%) · sector median +7% | 2004 | — | WordPressMySQLPHP+28 | 9 patents Secure vehicle access control using camera‑mounted bollards for parking enforcement. | 1 partnership |
| 39 | Get Urban AI Developer of AI-based video analysis for road safety | $100K | 59 mo ago | 15 | 2019 | Anurag Priyadarshi Founder | — | — | — |
Top 12 Smart Cities companies in United Kingdom
#1
Seed · Loughborough, England · founded 2024$543.5Kraised▾
Developer of AI agents for transport data analysis and decision-making. The company provides tools to simplify complex transport data. These tools aim to increase organizational capacity and efficiency. The AI agents break down barriers to data insights. The company collaborates to address practical needs and deliver solutions.
- Sep 2025Seed$543.5K
#2
Acquired · Livingston, England · founded 2005 · 6 employees$943.7Mraised▾
Provider of AI and web-based smart metering systems. The product offerings include SMETS2 smart meter, Web Analyzer - an energy management tool, AMR DNA - an AI-driven data processing tool, Z link - a demand management tool, and more. Additionally, the company offers gas metering services, water metering services, energy management services, grid development services, and more.
- Oct 2021Conventional Debt$943.7M
#3
Series D · London, England · founded 2014$260Mraised▾
Provider of end-to-end public transportation management software. This software offers tools for route planning, scheduling, rostering, and real-time operations management. It includes features for optimizing networks, managing mixed fleets, and enhancing passenger communication through real-time updates. The platform aims to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance the overall passenger experience. The software is designed for agencies, operators, and consultancies involved in public transportation.
- Jul 2022Series D—
- May 2022Series D$100M
- Mar 2021Series C$107M
- Dec 2018Series B$40M
#4
Acquired · Bristol, England · founded 2014 · 44 employees$14.1Mraised▾
Developer of a digital platform designed to aggregate charging point data from multiple charge point operators. The company's platform generates revenue from its application and also from Business-to-Business channels, licensing data to third parties, and giving insights into the electric vehicle and charging market and its digital services to help and support drivers to make a seamless, enjoyable, switch to electric vehicles, accelerating the transition to a cleaner, greener, future, enabling electric vehicle owners to search for available charge points, plan longer electric journeys, pay for charging, and share updates with other electric vehicle drivers.
#5
Series A · Stanmore, England · founded 2005 · 8 employees$40.3Mraised▾
Provider of manhole monitoring systems for utility and infrastructure operators. The systems use communication and sensing hardware with software installed inside underground vaults. It gathers and responds to critical data from the subterranean grid. This delivers actionable insight to improve reliability, enhance safety, and optimize inspections. The technology detects dangerous conditions before failures.
- Jun 2023Series A$1.8M
- Dec 2022Series A$3.4M
- Aug 2021Series A$3.1M
- Oct 2020Series A$2.6M
#6
Series B · London, England · founded 2015 · 77 employees$18.8Mraised▾
Provider of smart traffic monitoring and smart traffic signal control. The company delivers technology using sensors and AI computer vision for multimodal transport data. It offers insights into movements, speeds, turning behaviors, near miss incidents, and traffic flow. The company aims to help cities overcome transport challenges through sustainability, safety, and optimization.
- Feb 2023Series B$8.5M
- Jan 2021Series A$7M
- Jan 2020Seed$315.2K
- Oct 2018Seed$1.4M
#7
Series B · London, England · founded 2013 · 45 employees$90.4Mraised▾
Provider of digital kerbside management and parking solutions for municipalities. The company delivers a platform designed to digitise processes and connect cities with drivers through data and insights. It offers tools for traffic order management, public consultation, and demand-based planning. The company also provides solutions for parking intelligence, navigation, and electric vehicle infrastructure.
- Sep 2020Series B$26.5M
- Jul 2019Series B$2.8M
- Sep 2018Series A$9.9M
- Jan 2018Series A$3.2M
#8
Series A · London, England · founded 2015 · 4 employees$32.2Mraised▾
Provider of Saas-enabled data collection and management solutions. The platform gathers and maps real-time transit data. It uses various algorithms and tools to manage and convert the data into information for journey planning, navigation solutions, transit network analysis, etc.
- Jun 2021Series A$14.5M
- Oct 2019Series A$7.5M
- Oct 2018Series A$6.3M
- Jun 2017Seed$1.5M
#9
Funding Raised · London, England · founded 2009$6.2Mraised▾
Provider of a network management platform for IoT applications. Products include FINoT platform - a sensor network management platform, and FICoM - a network management platform that extends network connectivity in wide areas and links multiple points through high bandwidth network connectivity. It also offers a PCP platform that enables the deployment of hardware tasks on a programmable platform through a standard cloud infrastructure. The company additionally offers a wireless dimmable controller for remote management and monitoring of LED and HID luminaires and a web-based platform for remote management for infrastructure devices. Applications are in the areas of smart city lighting, smart city sensing, and smart farming.
- Jan 2023Grant (prize money)$521.6K
- Jan 2021Grant (prize money)$626.1K
- Nov 2020Grant (prize money)$416.4K
- Oct 2020Grant (prize money)$405.4K
#10
Seed · London, England · founded 2016$747.5Kraised▾
AI-based big data software solution for road & traffic management. The features of the solution include real-time collision risk insights. It also provides statistically reliable predictions of collision likelihood and analyses causal factors of collision. The platform is using machine learning and artificial intelligence technology.
- Mar 2024Seed$300K
- Sep 2022Seed$347.4K
- Apr 2022Seed$100K
#11
Series A · London, England · founded 2017 · 2 employees$4Mraised▾
AI-driven and SaaS-based provider of traffic video analytics solutions. It allows users to collect traffic data from drones and other street cameras with related weather conditions and time zones to analyze data. It enables users to visualize data and provides insights related to the traffic flow using heat maps and provide traffic reports. It uses artificial intelligence technology to analyze and visualize data. It also offers a subscription-based pricing model.
- Jan 2023Series A$2.9M
- Jan 2019Seed$1.1M
#12
Acquired · Norwich, England · founded 2004 · 21 employees$15.7Mraised▾
Syrinix has developed hardware and software solutions for water network monitoring. The hardware solution offered is called as PipeMinder which collects monitors network stresses, pressure, negative spikes, and detects leaks. Provides a cloud platform called Radar for data dashboarding and analysis to provide actionable insights. Offers a sensor solution for real-time network monitoring and active risk management. Customers are Black and Veatch, Bournemouth Water, Yorkshire Water, CH2MHILL, UVDB, PG & E Corporation, and Anglian Water.
- Feb 2020Series A$496K
- Mar 2017Series A$3.9M
- Sep 2016Series A$3.3M
- Apr 2015Series A$2.4M
Funding & investor landscape
Notable founders
Market landscape — 10 sub-themes by coverage
Share of Smart Cities coverage by sub-theme.
Regulatory-risk over time rising
Funding & growth over time
funding rising · growth rising
How research on Smart Cities is moving in the United Kingdom
A read on the academic research around Smart Cities — which themes are gaining ground, the institutions and researchers driving them, and how the tone is shifting. Based on 1,787 United Kingdom-affiliated papers.
- University College London71
- University of Cambridge49
- Imperial College London48
- Manchester Metropolitan University48
- University of Bristol47
- Intelligent transportation system10→117
- Smart city19→56
- Software deployment2→34
- Computer security7→33
- Reinforcement learning1→27
- Intelligent transportation system15→102
- Smart city22→93
- Transport engineering3→33
- Internet of Things6→34
- Computer security4→28
- Smart city59→146
- Intelligent transportation system7→45
- Corporate governance9→41
- Computer security7→24
- Software deployment4→20
Where smart cities is researched across United Kingdom
Location clusters by institution affiliation — each city's volume, stance tone, and a quick read on its hot topic, what's advancing, the opening opportunity, and the main concern.
Who's filing smart cities patents in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom smart cities patent filing is accelerating — 3 filings from 12 assignees (2018–2019), led by Blackberry, Charbit Gilles, Williams Roland Emlyn; annual filings 1→2.
- Blackberry2
- Charbit Gilles2
- Williams Roland Emlyn2
- Jokimies Matti Kullervo2
- Barrett Stephen JOHN2
- Alfano Nicholas Patrick2
- LEPP James Randolph Winter2
- DOIG IAN Christopher Dummond2
Common questions
Riya reads income statements for fun. She covers the real money in a sector — revenue, growth, who actually earns — and never met a vague claim she didn't want a number for.