Tech5: Fairphone named Europe’s fastest-growing startup of 2015

Huge congratulations to Amsterdam-based social enterprise Fairphone, which has just been announced as the winner of this year’s Tech5 competition at TNW Conference Europe, crowning it as Europe’s fastest-growing startup of 2015.

Today’s Tech5 presentation was the conclusion of a series of events run by Adyen and The Next Web across the continent, discovering each nation’s fastest growing tech startup. Fairphone came out top based on its revenue growth between 2012 and 2014.

The company – which also won Dutch event – was joined in the final by PackLink (Spain), Uplike (France), Blacklane (Germany), YPlan (the UK), Freespee (Sweden) and Festicket from the UK, which won the wildcard vote.

All of the finalists were interviewed onstage at TNW Europe Conference about the stories behind their incredible growth.

Fairphone’s mission is to create a 100 percent ethical device. It’s on course to release its second model this summer and uses its efforts as a means of promoting supply-chain transparency and fairness.

Speaking to TNW after Fairphone’s first Tech5 win, CEO Bas Van Abel said:

As a social enterprise, winning this award proves that purpose and profit can go hand-in-hand. It is also a great consumer statement, they have voted with their wallets and show that there is a market for ethical electronic products.

Thanks to all the companies who participated in the 2015 Tech5 competition for telling the stories behind their growth, everyone who voted in the Wildcard stage, and especially to our partner Adyen for making it all possible.