The prestigious annual award recognizes groundbreaking technology innovations and the companies behind them.
With virtual power plants (VPPs) positioned at the forefront of the clean energy transition, Fast Company recognized Swell Energy as part of the magazine’s prestigious Next Big Things in Tech award, a prestigious designation of 119 technology companies who made an impact in 2023. Highlighted in the Sustainability and Energy category, Swell Energy is one of the “4 next big technologies for 2023,” alongside other industry leaders Enlighted, Itselectric, and Mill.
"The Next Big Things in Tech is not just a look around the corner—it's a look around the corner after that," says Brendan Vaughan, editor-in-chief of Fast Company. "These are the products and ideas that will define technological innovation for the rest of this decade and beyond—and solve some of the world's most pressing issues. We are thrilled to honor the organizations that are making them a reality."
According to the magazine, Fast Company editors and writers rigorously evaluated each application, considering the technology's relevance in solving pressing problems, its ingenuity, proven progress, potential for long-term viability, scalability, and anticipated impact over the next five years. Winners were selected through multiple assessment rounds and discussions among judges, making it a comprehensive and months-long process.
Swell was specifically chosen as a winner “for granting power-security peace of mind to homeowners,” reflecting the company’s goals to increase the adoption of distributed energy resources (DERs), allowing consumers to take control of their energy use and ultimately achieve energy security at a lower cost. This award is a significant recognition for Swell, affirming the value of the company's business model and technological innovations. Confirmation as a leading technology in the prestigious Fast Company Next Big Things in Tech list emphasizes Swell's impact in accelerating clean energy adoption and reaching net-zero goals.
This year's Next Big Things in Tech winners were chosen by a panel of 18 editors and writers from Fast Company. The selection includes a mix of established industry leaders and emerging brands across 29 categories, including AI and Data, Social Good, Robotics/Automation, E Commerce/Retail, and Space/Telecom. Fast Company employed a specific methodology beyond short-term successes to select the honorees. The magazine's editors and writers evaluated each application, considering not only a company's immediate impact but also assessing how the company's innovations could lead to significant global impact in the years to come.
“With Next Big Things in Tech, our aim is to honor projects based not only on what they’ve already achieved but where they’re poised to go,” says Fast Company global technology editor Harry McCracken. “Whether honorees are still in the lab or already on the market, they’re driving progress in tangible ways on an array of fronts.”
Swell Energy appreciates the efforts of employees, partners, suppliers, and customers who have played a critical role in the company's sustained growth. This achievement is the direct result of our collaborative efforts with our stakeholders and partners who are collectively moving the industry forward and Creating a Greater Grid, for the Greater Good.
For more information about Fast Company’s Next Big Things in Tech, including company profiles, winners, and categories, please visit https://www.fastcompany.com/next-big-things-in-tech/list.