While Sifted gets startups to part with company data to feature on their list, Noon is giving skilled midlife women the spotlight they deserve
The humble list has long shaped reputations, offered shortcuts to authority, and signalled what matters, be it people, products, or places. One of the best-known is the Fortune 500, which rounds up the biggest global companies every year. But there are all manner of lists, from Rolling Stone's 500 greatest albums of all time, to The Sunday Times' Rich List.
But as communities migrate online, expectations shift, and business models are tested, these classic lists are no longer sufficient on their own. Some 'lists' (for want of a better word for now) have become cyclical community drivers and important revenue streams.
Jacob Granger
Two ambitious British news organisations exemplify this transformation: Sifted Leaderboards and the NOON Directory. One is a ranking system for European start-ups, and one is an essential contact list for women in midlife. But what they share is a digital-savvy approach and a focus on the end user.
Sifted is the leading news outlet covering the European start-up scene. Through its array of leaderboards, it has been tracking the fastest-growing start-ups since 2024.
This gives rising founders credibility and visibility across the continent's venture capital ecosystem, split up by key regions (UK & Ireland 100, France & Southern Europe 100, DACH & CEE 100, Nordics & Benelux 100), and pulled together into wider lists (Europe-wide in Sifted 250, and Future 50 for breakout stars to watch).
The mastermind behind it is Jonathan Sinclair, director of research and product, who previously developed the Sunday Times' Fast Track league table, now known as The Sunday Times 100.
