SLA Mobile has become the first Northern Ireland company to confirm a place in the UK’s Top 10 fastest-growing technology list, it was announced today. 

The firm, which designs and integrates specialist solutions for the global mobile industry, joins the prestigious UK Deloitte Fast 50 high-tech leader board after growing by more than 4,000 per cent in just five years, boosted by a string of international deals with some of the world’s biggest mobile brands and rapid overseas expansion.

Founded in 2003, SLA Mobile has established itself as a technology market leader for the mobile industry developing strategic partnerships with global software giants such as TIBCO, which enable wireless operators to grow profit from rich media content and advertising. It employs more than 80 staff in Belfast, London, Dusseldorf and Kuala Lumpur.

SLA Mobile Chief Executive, Nic Stirk, said the title was a reflection of the company’s innovation-led strategy:

“This is a great achievement for us and a reward for our dedication to creatively challenge in new sectors and markets with fresh ideas.   In less than a decade, our commitment to innovation has seen us grow from an ambitious start-up to a market leader exporting cutting-edge solutions across the globe.

“In the last five years we’ve added some of the world’s biggest operators to our client base. The mobile market is evolving fast and we are working hard to ensure that we grow even further at home and overseas by competing in lucrative new markets such as mobile advertising and developing effective partnerships with global reach and clear benefits for our customers,” he added.

The firm, which was also crowned Northern Ireland’s fastest-growing high-tech company, recently unveiled a ‘world-first’ advertising solution for mobile and 3G data card users which is designed to help wireless operators increase advertising revenue.

The cutting-edge ‘interstitial’ advertising manager analyses individual browser behaviour to present tailored advertising between mobile internet pageloads. It is set to go live to a 25 million-strong subscription base in Indonesia through a tie-up with policy and charging company Volubill.

Now in its twelfth year, the Deloitte Fast 50 ranks the fastest-growing technology companies in the UK based on percentage revenue growth over five years.

SLA Mobile was also listed as one of top 100 European tech firms to watch at the prestigious Red Herring Awards earlier in the year.

Belfast-based high-tech firm SLA Mobile today followed Google and eBay on to a list of the world’s top ICT companies after clinching a coveted ‘Red Herring’ award at a gala event in Berlin, Germany.

Presented annually to a select group of leading ICT businesses in Europe, Middle East and Africa, the awards – named after the technology-focused media company Red Herring Inc. – are seen as an indicator of companies with the know-how to help transform our daily lives. Other companies recognised for their leading edge ideas in recent years include Skype and Yahoo! and You Tube.  

Founded in 2003, SLA Mobile provide high-tech platforms and services that enable mobile phone operators to reduce the time and cost of taking rich media content and advertising to market. 

Nic Stirk, Chief Executive of SLA Mobile, said the award was the result of the firm’s commitment to providing quality and leadership in a competitive market place.

“Inclusion in the Red Herring Top 100 is an important achievement for us and a tribute to the hard work we’ve put into developing an internationally focused business. In less than a decade we’ve rapidly grown from a small start up company to being recognised as a serious business competing with the giants of the technology sector,” said Nic Stirk.

“Focusing on innovation and quality customer service has enabled us to build confidence to compete with larger global competitors such as IBM and win lucrative international contracts with leaders in the mobile market.”

Speaking at the unveiling of the Top 100, Red Herring Managing Director Farley Duvall said:

“During a difficult year, Red Herring still received an impressive list of submissions from companies across the EMEA region, clearly demonstrating Europe’s role as a major centre of innovation in the global technology sector.  The exceptional accomplishments of European technology startups and entrepreneurs are a testament to the rapid advancements being made in building the European innovation ecosystem.”

Already a preferred supplier to Vodafone, SLA Mobile has enjoyed a rich period of growth and recently secured a major agreement with media giant Fox.  The firm was also honoured with the Northern Ireland ‘Rising Star’ title at the 2008 Deloitte Fast 50 Awards for the second time running.