Deloitte opens 2025 Fast 50 awards, spotlighting Ireland’s fastest-growing tech firms. Entries close 19 September; winners announced 27 November in Dublin.
Deloitte Ireland has officially launched its 2025 Technology Fast 50 awards, calling on the country’s most innovative and fastest-growing tech companies to apply for inclusion in the prestigious ranking.
The programme, now in its 26th year, celebrates indigenous entrepreneurship by ranking companies solely on percentage revenue growth over the past four years.
“More than ever, we realise we need to invest and support indigenous businesses to insulate Ireland and keep us an innovative and exciting place to work and live”
The Fast 50 list includes both private and publicly listed firms that have demonstrated strong management, creative strategies and a clear vision for growth. Previous winners include unicorns such as Wayflyer and Tines, which have gone on to achieve global recognition.
Dynamic market shifts
James Toomey, partner and Fast 50 programme lead at Deloitte, said the awards are more relevant than ever in the current economic climate.
“The dynamic shifts in the macroeconomic landscape since the 2024 awards have intensified businesses’ focus on resilience and upholding the highest standards of quality across their organisations,” he said.
Toomey emphasised the importance of supporting home-grown businesses. “More than ever, we realise we need to invest and support indigenous businesses to insulate Ireland and keep us an innovative and exciting place to work and live. It’s why I’m passionate about the Deloitte Fast 50 awards.”
He added that the programme’s objective methodology is a key strength. “The rankings are trusted, respected and purely quantitative based, solely looking at growth. We hear from previous participants how this has helped them when looking for external investment. In this environment, when investors are being sharper and smarter with their money, this is invaluable.”
The 2025 awards will feature several categories alongside the main ranking, including:
- Growing New Technology Award (in association with Google): For companies that have introduced innovative products or services to international markets.
- Impact Award (in association with Meta): For companies that have made a significant impact within the current year.
- Women in Technology Advocate Award (in association with NetSuite): For individuals promoting greater participation of women in tech.
- Scale Up Award (in association with Scale Ireland): For companies that have successfully expanded overseas.
- Financial Services Innovation Award (in association with Financial Services Ireland): For disruptive innovation in financial services.
- Rising Star Award (in association with Enterprise Ireland): For companies with two to four years of operating revenue and strong growth potential.
In 2024, 11 of the 50 ranked companies were first-time winners. Wayflyer, which provides financing to consumer brands and achieved unicorn status in 2022, topped the list. Other top-five companies included Fibrus, Tines, Buymedia and Catagen.
Eoin Hinchy, co-founder and CEO of Tines, reflected on the company’s journey.
“After working in cybersecurity for more than a decade, Thomas Kinsella, my co-founder, and I saw an opportunity to build a company like we have with Tines. That was seven years ago and the past year in particular has been a special one for us, having achieved unicorn status and ranking in the top five of the Deloitte 2024 Fast 50 awards.”
Susan Crawford, Group CFO of Catagen, said the awards have been instrumental in their scaling journey.
“The Deloitte Fast 50 awards stand out from other programmes because of their objectivity. When a company is ranked, it’s based on its numbers. For our team at Catagen, a Net Zero Technologies company, the Fast 50 has been a trusted reference point in our scaling journey—recognised numerous times, including three top five placements.”
Applications for the 2025 Fast 50 awards are open until 19 September, with winners to be announced at a ceremony in Dublin on 27 November. More information is available at Deloitte’s Fast 50 website.
Image at top: Eoin Hinchy, CEO and Founder, Tines; Aisléan Nicholson, Deloitte partner, Belfast office; James Toomey, Deloitte partner and Fast 50 programme leader; and Susan Crawford, group CFO, Catagen
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