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Deloitte is looking for the fastest-growing technology companies in Central Europe. They can register until 31 July 2017

Last year, DataSprings and ZOOT took the first two positions in the Czech ranking and together with other five firms from the Czech Republic, they ranked among the top firms in Central Europe. 

Another year of Deloitte Technology Fast 50 Central Europe has been launched, looking for fifty fastest-growing technology companies in Central and Southeast Europe for the 18^th time. In order to qualify for the ranking, companies must reach revenues of at least EUR 50 thousand for each of the years between 2013 and 2016. This year, Deloitte is also looking for a firm that develops an innovative product or service that has a revolutionary impact on the market.

Companies may register online until 31 July 2017; the results of the Fast 50 ranking in the Czech Republic and Central Europe will be announced in autumn 2017.

“The importance of this programme has been growing year by year and thanks to it, we support new opportunities for local companies growing in a pace that is definitely worth noticing. These companies contribute to innovations, set new trends, and provide new perspectives of technologies and their application in everyday lives”, says Senta Čermáková, Deloitte Innovation Director, and adds, “Every year we see small-sized players becoming companies that stack up to the competition and bear comparison with international firms, to which our ranking also contributes. This year we would like to welcome more firms applying an environmentally friendly approach to business“.

Technology Fast 50 Central Europe as seen by the last year’s winners in the Czech Republic

“For a young company as we are the mere connection between its name and the ranking is a great award, which was crowned with the first place in our case. You send a signal to the market that you follow the right direction and that you are not afraid of comparison. Thanks to the participation, the number of new job applicants in our firm has grown significantly. I consider this to be one of the clear measures of a company’s attractiveness. Technology Fast 50 thus may help a new unknown firm attract talents that are more and more lacking on the IT market”, says Zdeněk Honek, Sales Director of DataSprings.

“Success in the Technology Fast 50 ranking helped us be more visible on the market. Deloitte is a globally renowned company providing a guarantee of a professional approach and assessment. After the announcement of results, foreign media started to address us, being attracted by our specific channel to sell fashion products, which we do differently in Central Europe. It also had a positive impact on our relations with our partners and investors,” explains Sára Čechová, Investment and Strategy Director of ZOOT.

About Technology Fast 50 Central Europe 2017

Technology Fast 50 Central Europe annually maps the fastest-growing technology companies in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Poland, Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia, Slovenia, Serbia, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, Montenegro, Kosovo, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. For all rankings, firms from the following industries may register: hardware, software, media, communication, pharmacy, high-tech, nanotechnologies, and medical technologies.

Registration is open online until 31 July 2017 at Technology Fast 50.

A complete list of rules

Technology Fast 50 Category

In order to qualify for the main Technology Fast 50 ranking in Central Europe/Czech Republic, the participants must meet the following criteria:

• Annual revenues of at least EUR 50,000 in each of the years between 2013 and 2016;
• Registered office in one of the following Central European countries: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Moldavia, Montenegro, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia or Slovenia;
• Development or manufacturing of proprietary technologies or spending a significant amount of capital on research & development;
• Ownership structure that excludes majority-owned subsidiaries of strategic entities.

Big 5 Category  

• The Big 5 category ranks large fast-growing companies that have achieved extraordinary growth in the last four years. To be eligible, companies must meet the same criteria as for the main Fast 50 ranking, with the exception that the annual revenue in the final measured year (2016) must exceed EUR 25 million for this category.

Rising Stars Category  

In the Rising Stars category, Deloitte ranks “young” companies that show great potential but are too new to meet the main category criterion of a minimum of four years in operation. Eligible companies must be in operation for at least three years (2014-2016) and exceed revenues of EUR 30,000. Apart from that, the same criteria apply to them as for the main Technology Fast 50 ranking.

New in 2017: The Most Disruptive Innovation Award

For the first time, Deloitte is looking for a company with a unique and innovative product or service that has a revolutionary impact on the market. Only one winner will be selected in Central and Southeast Europe.