New York, Aug. 20, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Inc. , the only major business media brand aimed solely at business owners, has unveiled its annual exclusive lists of the fastest-growing private companies in America, the Inc. 500 and Inc. 5000. The lists are a comprehensive celebration of the most dynamic and innovative players in today's economy--America's independent entrepreneurs.
In a stagnant economic environment, median growth rate of 2013 Inc. 5000 companies is an impressive 142 percent. The companies on this year's list report having created over 520,000 jobs in the past three years, and aggregate revenue among the honorees reached $241 billion. To make the top 500, a company had to have achieved a remarkable three-year growth of 918 percent. Fuhu, maker of the popular Nabi children tablet, tops the list with a staggering 42,148 percent growth.
Other prominent brands on the list include LivingSocial, Edible Arrangements, CDW, Lifelock, Otterbox and retailer Flip Flop Shops.
"Not all the companies in the Inc. 500 | 5000 are in glamorous industries, but in their fields they are as famous as household name companies simply by virtue of being great at what they do. They are the hidden champions of job growth and innovation, the real muscle of the American economy." says Inc. Editor Eric Schurenberg.
The complete listing of the Inc. 500 appears in the September issue of Inc. magazine (available on newsstands August 21 to November 15 and on Inc.com), and the complete Inc. 5000 appears in Inc.com and in Inc .'s tablet editions, starting on August 20.
The list made its debut in 1981 as a ranking of the 100 fastest-growing private companies in the U.S. The following year, it expanded to 500 companies and, in 2007, the Inc. 5000 was inaugurated. Companies such as Microsoft, Zappos, Clif Bar, Intuit, Chobani, Zipcar, Oracle, and many other well-known names gained early exposure as members of the Inc. 500. Through each evolution, Inc . has sought to recognize and to celebrate the creativity, dedication, and hard work that entrepreneurs put into building their companies.
Complete results, including company profiles and an interactive database that can be sorted by industry, region, and other criteria, can be found on Inc.com/5000 .
Methodology
The 2013 Inc. 500|5000 is ranked according to percentage revenue growth when comparing 2009 to 2012. To qualify, companies must have been founded and generating revenue by March 31, 2009. They had to be U.S.-based, privately held, for profit, and independent--not subsidiaries or divisions of other companies--as of December 31, 2012. (Since then, a number of companies on the list have gone public or been acquired.) The minimum revenue required for 2009 is $100,000; the minimum for 2012 is $2 million. As always, Inc. reserves the right to decline applicants for subjective reasons. Companies on the Inc. 500 are featured in Inc.'s September issue. They represent the top tier of the Inc. 5000, which can be found at www.inc.com/5000 .
About Inc . and the Inc. 500|5000
Founded in 1979 and acquired in 2005 by Mansueto Ventures , Inc . is the only major brand dedicated exclusively to owners and managers of growing private companies, with the aim to deliver real solutions for today's innovative company builders. Total monthly audience reach for the brand has grown significantly from 2,000,000 in 2010 to over 6,000,000 today. For more information, visit www.inc.com .
The Inc. 500|5000 is a list of the fastest-growing private companies in the nation. Started in 1982, this prestigious list of the nation's most successful private companies has become the hallmark of entrepreneurial success. The Inc. 500|5000 Conference & Awards Ceremony is an annual event that celebrates their remarkable achievements. The event also offers informative workshops, celebrated keynote speakers, and evening functions.
For more information on Inc. and the Inc. 500|5000 Conference, visit www.inc.com .
Inc. 500|5000 Team 212-389-5505
