NquiringMinds defence AI growth recognised in Deloitte’s 2026 Technology Fast 50
NquiringMinds ranked 28th in the 2026 Deloitte UK Technology Fast 50 with three-year revenue growth of 1,239%, and placed third in Artificial Intelligence, fourth in Women in Leadership and third in the South East.
Secure, sovereign AI specialist ranks 28th overall in Deloitte’s Fast 50 award, third in Artificial Intelligence and fourth in Women in Leadership.
10 November 2026: NquiringMinds, a British technology company focused on defence and security, has ranked 28th in the 2026 Deloitte UK Technology Fast 50 after achieving revenue growth of 1,239% over three years.
The company also ranked third in the Artificial Intelligence category and fourth in Women in Leadership, which recognises Fast 50 businesses with a female CEO or a woman in their founding team.
The recognition comes as the UK places greater emphasis on defence innovation, sovereign capability and the contribution of smaller technology companies to national security and economic growth.
NquiringMinds develops secure AI and data-sharing technology to support decision-making in complex operational environments. Its flagship platform, Volt4, connects information and AI services across distributed systems while enabling organisations to retain control over how their data is accessed, shared and used.
Royal Navy demonstration with BAE Systems
On 5 November, ahead of the Deloitte awards ceremony, NquiringMinds demonstrated its collaboration with BAE Systems at the Royal Navy’s Capability Accelerator Hub in Portsmouth Naval Base. Using BAE Systems’ INTeACT Software Development Kit, NquiringMinds’ software was integrated into a representative naval combat management system and exercised against a complex simulated scenario. The demonstration illustrated a practical route for British SME innovation into naval capability.
The collaboration also features as a case study in the Ministry of Defence’s SME Action Plan, which includes a foreword by Luke Pollard MP. The case study describes NquiringMinds’ work with BAE Systems on advanced analytics to support human decision-making using information from sources including radar, satellite data and maritime tracking systems.
NATO and DASA
NquiringMinds has also participated in NATO Allied Command Transformation’s 2026 Innovation Continuum, contributing to work on Cyber Resilience by Design and Next Generation Targeting. The programme brings industry, academia and NATO teams together to develop and test emerging capabilities against operational needs.
The company was one of only three businesses showcased at a Defence and Security Accelerator event at the London Stock Exchange in May 2025, attended by Defence Secretary John Healey. The event highlighted the contribution of defence innovation to economic growth, alongside the publication of research into the economic impact of DASA-supported businesses.
Dr Nick Allott, founder and CEO of NquiringMinds, said:
Defence and security organisations need AI they can trust, systems that remain resilient under pressure, and control over the technology and data on which they depend.
Our growth reflects the relevance of these challenges and our team’s ability to address them. Working with BAE Systems, we are taking secure AI from standalone development into a representative Royal Navy combat systems environment. That is a significant step towards making innovation useful to the people who need it.
Anita Allott, co-founder of NquiringMinds, said:
We are delighted to be recognised in Deloitte’s Technology Fast 50. This is an important milestone for NquiringMinds and a testament to our technology and innovative culture.
Our growth demonstrates that a British technology company can develop world-class innovation, respond to the operational needs of our armed forces and help solve demanding challenges across industry and public services.
Securing fourth place in Women in Leadership makes this recognition particularly meaningful. It reflects the ambition, expertise and commitment of the whole NquiringMinds team.
About the award
The Deloitte awards ceremony took place at the Park Hyatt London River Thames on 5 November, with the official announcement published on 6 November. Now in its 29th year, the Deloitte UK Technology Fast 50 ranks the UK’s fastest-growing technology companies by revenue growth over a three-year period.
About NquiringMinds
NquiringMinds is a British technology company focused on defence and security, developing secure, sovereign AI, trusted data-sharing and cyber-resilient systems. Its Volt4 platform supports organisations operating in demanding environments, with wider applications across industry and public services.
Website: https://nquiringminds.com · Media enquiries: info@nquiringminds.com
Official Deloitte references
- 2026 UK Technology Fast 50 results — 28th overall and 1,239% growth
- Women in Leadership results — fourth place
- Results by sector — third in Artificial Intelligence
- Results by region — third in the South East
- Deloitte’s official announcement — 6 November 2026
- Award methodology and eligibility
Supporting defence references and coverage
- MOD SME Action Plan — NquiringMinds and BAE Systems case study
- Royal Navy announcement — Portsmouth event and Capability Accelerator Hub, 9 November 2026
- Navy Lookout — coverage of NquiringMinds’ integration with BAE Systems’ INTeACT
- NATO’s overview of Innovation Continuum 2026
- NquiringMinds’ participation in NATO Innovation Continuum
- NquiringMinds’ London Stock Exchange showcase
- Government announcement — DASA economic-impact research launched at the London Stock Exchange
Related Sectors
Defence
The defence sector encompasses the armed forces and the organisations that equip and support them. Secure data fusion, autonomy and trusted AI are increasingly central to modern defence capability.
AI
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a rapidly evolving sector focused on creating systems that can perform tasks requiring human-like intelligence, such as learning, reasoning, and problem-solving.
Maritime
The maritime sector includes shipping, ports, naval operations and offshore industry. Connected sensing and secure data sharing are improving safety, efficiency and situational awareness at sea.