Edinburgh AI-focused start-up crowned ‘UK’s top tech innovator’

Edinburgh-based Zelim has been crowned KPMG’s 2026 “tech innovator in the UK” after beating hundreds of businesses.

The annual competition spotlights and celebrates the world’s most innovative technology start-ups and provides a platform for entrepreneurs to showcase their businesses.

Zelim, which builds AI-enabled maritime safety and security systems to save lives when people fall overboard at sea, beat off competition from hundreds of tech ventures across the UK to win the award. The capital firm will now head to the global final later in the year, where an international panel of judges will select the KPMG global tech innovator.

Patrick Molyneux (partner and head of venture fundraising advisory, KPMG UK), Andy Tipping (chief strategy officer, Zelim) and Nicole Lowe (UK head of KPMG's emerging giants practice).

Andy Tipping from Zelim said: “We are honoured to be chosen as the winner, especially given the phenomenal crop of tech companies that came to compete from across the UK. 2026 has been a big year for us already, so this award is the icing on top of the cake and is testament to the dedication of the team who worked so hard to bring a genuinely world leading product to market.”

Amy Burnett, “emerging giants” lead in Scotland at KPMG UK, added: “Zelim is a perfect example of the UK’s burgeoning tech talent and we wish them good luck as they head to the global final of the competition to represent the UK and look forward to playing a part in the exciting journey they have to come.

“We are so proud that an exciting company from Scotland has won and provides yet another shining example of the trend of success for fast-growing firms in the country.”