Best IndustriesEmily Canal This Founder Couldn't Find an Affordable Way to Test Drinking Water After the Flint Crisis, so She Created OneMegan Glover's water testing startup has seen a rise in business thanks to the Flint water crisis and consumer demand for more transparency.
Best IndustriesGraham Winfrey An Ex-NASA Employee Is Launching Satellites Into Space to Predict the Future and Help Save LivesCapella Space's microsatellites can provide crucial data to everyone from commercial clients to first responders. Here's how.
Best IndustriesMatt Haber Can Your Company Survive a Crisis? This Former Navy SEAL Is Preparing Businesses for the WorstAs awareness of workplace violence has risen, so has crisis-management startup Escape the Wolf.
Best IndustriesLeigh Buchanan How This 9-Employee A.I. Startup Helps Keep 36 Million Trucks Loaded Up and Rolling SmoothlyParade's artificial intelligence-powered logistics platform eases the frenzied job of matching available trucks with freight that's ready for hauling.
Best IndustriesChristine Lagorio-Chafkin Meet the Tiny Food Company That's Taking on Doritos, 1 Vegan Pork Rind at a TimeSnacklins, a healthier, vegan pork rind, started out as something of a joke. Now in 1,300 stores, the company behind it has moved into a market far beyond health foods.
Best IndustriesKevin J. Ryan Your Cleaning Products Have a Climate Change Problem. This Startup Has a SolutionTruman's is trying to break society's addiction to single-use plastics. Here's how.
Best IndustriesSophie Downes In the Beauty Industry, Gender-Neutral Is the Next Big Thing. This Startup's Success Shows WhyUrsa Major is one of a fast-growing crop of personal-care brands that are taking gender out of the equation.
Best IndustriesCameron Albert-Deitch Pet Wearables Are a Thing Now. Meet the Company That Wants to Collect Your Dog's DataWhistle's wearable devices help keep dogs in optimal health by monitoring their activities and crunching the data in real time.
StartupTommy Mello Starting a Business During a Recession or Bear Market Is a Risk You Should TakeConventional thinking says to wait it out, but one study of Inc. 500 companies indicates it might be the perfect time to bet the house.Â
Government ContractingMelissa Angell Struggling to Nab a Federal Contract? The SBA Just Made Things a Little Bit EasierThe Small Business Administration is working on bringing more small businesses into the federal contracting base.Â
Inc. 5000Nick Hawkins This Inc. 5000 Founder Was Inspired by Her Father to Build a Company That Helped Save Flint, MichiganRhonda Grayer didn't realize her father's impact until his death. Now she's dedicated her career to carrying on his legacy.
MoneyMelissa Angell Fewer Small Businesses Are Lining Up for Federal Contracts. Those That Did Booked a Record $154 Billion in 2021The U.S. Small Business Administration's latest Small Business Federal Procurement Scorecard revealed another record breaking year.Â
State of Small BusinessMelissa Angell New Study Shows Small Businesses With Strongest Pandemic Recoveries Had One Key Factor in CommonThe industries finding themselves in stronger post-recovery positions tend to be more fluent in this core business strategy.
Best IndustriesRebecca Deczynski Kickstarter's Latest Category Puts Its Faith in the Business of MagicThe industry is going strong, and the crowdfunding site foretells potential in its growth.
TechnologyBill Saporito Meet the Urban Farmers Shaping the Future of the $5 Trillion Agriculture IndustryHow a group of startups has moved farms to high-rise plant factories in the most unlikely locations.
Best IndustriesTim Crino How Entrepreneurs Can Capitalize on the Shifts Coming to the Real Estate IndustryZillow co-founder and CEO Rich Barton shares his predictions for the future of real estate.
MoneyGabrielle Bienasz 3 Ways You Could Benefit From Biden's $25 Billion Small-Business Assistance PlanThrough the Build Back Better Act, government programs that provide loans and other forms of startup capital could get a boost.
Government ContractingGabrielle Bienasz Small Businesses Generated Record Revenue From the Federal Government in 2020Â The record-breaking figure was up $13 billion from the previous fiscal year, according to the U.S. Small Business Administration's latest Small Business Federal Procurement Scorecard.
Best IndustriesKevin J. Ryan Think Podcasts Are Done? Spotify's Q2 Earnings Will Shock YouThe company's podcast ad revenue is up more than 600 percent since last year.
GrowKrissy Mashinsky 5 Ways to Take Advantage of Biden's Small-Business PlanThe 'Made in America' order provides dramatic new benefits for business owners.
WireAmrita Khalid Smart Socks? How This Tech Startup Is Targeting a Common Medical ProblemSiren's remote patient monitoring product could prevent amputations for individuals with chronic conditions, according to the company's founder.
WireSophie Downes How to Make Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion a Reality With Virtual RealityPraxis Labs is making workplace training immersive by bringing it to the virtual world.
WireCameron Albert-Deitch These Ex-Oracle Execs Are Democratizing the Web for Millions of Overlooked UsersMany people have never heard of 'digital accessibility services.' The team behind a new Silicon Valley startup believes that will soon change.
WireGabrielle Bienasz A New Twist on the Natural Hair Movement: Plant-Based Hair ExtensionsPlant-based hair extensions offer a new solution to an old problem overlooked for years.
WireChristine Lagorio-Chafkin Why This Serial Entrepreneur Thinks There's a Gold Mine in Your Back YardCoulter Lewis, founder of the lawn care startup Sunday, is bringing an organic farming mindset to the $105 billion landscaping industry.
WireInc. staff 5 Best Industries for Starting a Business in 2021These are the sectors every aspiring entrepreneur should know about this year.
Best IndustriesSharon Poczter 3 Surprising Industries Poised for Growth in the Biden Era Some under-the-radar opportunities in a post-pandemic world.
State of Small BusinessDiana Ransom How Biden's Buy American Plan Could Boost Small BusinessThe president is directing federal agencies to change the definition of 'Made in America' and make contracting opportunities more transparent.
Best IndustriesSophie Downes 3 Promising Industries for Starting a Business Right NowCovid-19 is expected to drive fast growth in niche industries that aim to make pandemic life easier.
Inc. 5000Kimberly Weisul She Left Her VP Job to Start a Company That Prioritizes Career GrowthAt this woman-led engineering firm, there's a focus on mentorship.
Covid Resource CenterJoe Bargmann 'Pandemic Gardeners' Feed a Growing Trend--and New Business OpportunitiesEntrepreneurs take note: The home-gardening business is booming and could have staying power.
SafeguardsEmily Canal 3 Innovations Meeting New Demand in the Covid-19 EraBoth low-tech and high-tech companies are getting a boost during the pandemic.
Best IndustriesKevin J. Ryan Pot Put Him in Prison. Now CBD Nets Him $46 MillionCannaCraft founder Dennis Hunter assumed the risk of CBD sales before hemp was legal. Now, he's reaping the rewards.
Best IndustriesSophie Downes and Graham Winfrey 8 Best Industries for Starting a Business in 2020Here are the hot sectors with the promising opportunities for entrepreneurs this year.
How I Did ItInc. Video Staff03:37 Why This First-Time Founder Quit Her Dream Job to Launch Great JonesBefore co-founding Great Jones in 2018, Sierra Tishgart was a food editor for New York magazine. When she realized how expensive--and daunting--the home cookware market could be, Tishgart left the editor role to start her own business with co-founder Maddy Moelis.
Inc. UncensoredEmily Canal Inside the 9 Biggest Startup Acquisitions of 2018Five years after doorbell company Ring was rejected on Shark Tank, the company sold to Amazon for more than $1 billion.
Best IndustriesChristine Lagorio-Chafkin First There Was Athleisure. Now There's Workleisure--and It Looks Sharper Than You ThinkThis company thinks your synthetic, sweat-wicking, four-way stretch fabric isn't just for the gym. Now it is part of a booming niche. Call it "workleisure."
Best IndustriesLeigh Buchanan 6.4 Million Children in the U.S. Have ADHD. This Company Wants Doctors to Treat Them With Video GamesDigital therapeutics delivers real treatment to patients through phones and tablets. At Akili Interactive, medicine comes in the form of a game.
Best IndustriesEmily Canal This Company Makes Wearable Devices for Babies So Their Parents Can Sleep BetterOwlet developed its Smart Sock to monitor infants' heart rate and breathing, and to ease parents' anxieties.
Best IndustriesEmily Canal & Graham Winfrey 8 Best Industries for Starting a Business in 2019Some unusual sectors hold tremendous potential for entrepreneurs.
Best IndustriesGuadalupe Gonzalez This Startup Is Transforming the Traditional Photo Booth Into a Powerful Marketing ToolPixilated is one of a growing number of businesses out to change the way you use photo booths.
Best IndustriesKimberly Weisul The Next Gold Rush Is the $22 Billion CBD Business--and This Florida Company Is Ready to WinGreen Roads is cashing in on the demand for products with cannabidiol while preparing for changes in the law that could soon transform the industry.
Best IndustriesKevin J. Ryan Move Over, Scooters: One-Wheeled Skateboards Are the Newest Way to CommuteBut in the quickly growing micromobility space, Future Motion could have some competition.
Best IndustriesGraham Winfrey Neil Grimmer Wants to Design Your Perfect Diet. All It Costs Is $299 and Your DNAThree-year-old Habit is using genetic data to end the one-size-fits-all approach to nutrition.
Best IndustriesEmily Canal From Gas Stations to Whole Foods: Beef Jerky Is Hot--and This Company Has a Lot to Do With ItEugene Kang's company, Country Archer, has seen a rise in interest thanks to changes in dietary trends.
StartupGuadalupe Gonzalez This Turkish Startup Thinks It Can Do Unlimited Movies Better Than Rival MoviepassSinemia says its plan offers a "sustainable, reasonable model for seeing movies on an unlimited basis"--a not-so-veiled jab at its larger rival.
Business OpportunitiesWill Yakowicz Forget the Spa This Mother's Day. Women With Young Kids Want WeedAs cannabis reform continues to expand to more states, data suggests that women in general, and especially mothers, are a growing customer demographic in the state-legal marijuana industry.
Best IndustriesJeff Bercovici The Startup That's Making Healthier Pet Food--From Fungus and Lab-Grown Mouse CellsWild Earth thinks high-tech meatless dog and cat chow will find a market much larger than vegetarian pet owners.Â
Best IndustriesEmily Canal The Hottest Sectors for Launching a Business in 2018Starting a business is always a risk, but pursuing one of these promising sectors will improve your odds.
Best IndustriesSonya Mann How This Shampoo Company Is Using Algorithms to Give You Perfect HairFunction of Beauty uses machine learning to customize its shampoos and conditioners according to each of its customers' individual preferences.
Best IndustriesLeigh Buchanan How This Tiny Health Startup Wants to Improve the Lives of 5.5 Million Dementia PatientsSouthern California startup Ceresti Health is using technology to relieve the stress associated with in-home care of Alzheimer's and dementia patients.
Best IndustriesEmily Canal Meet the Millennial Who's Breaking All the Rules of the Wine IndustryNomadica is trying to change the wine industry with convenient, high-quality varietals.
Best IndustriesWill Yakowicz This Startup Gives Teachers a Panic Button for Their PhonesCrisisGo has many different uses, but in an era of mass shootings at schools, this company's chat app for teachers during emergency situations is taking off.Â
Best IndustriesKevin J. Ryan This Founder Studied Fighter Pilots and Navy SEALs to Help Gamers Perform BetterMobalytics uses artificial intelligence software to help competitive video game players improve their skills.
Best IndustriesKimberly Weisul This Startup's Test Helps Women Understand Why They Can't Get PregnantCelmatix founder Piraye Beim couldn't understand why no one was looking into why fertility treatments work for some couples but not others. So she decided to figure it out herself.
Best IndustriesZoë Henry When Apple and Microsoft Advertise on Social Media, They Turn to These 2 Guys From CanadaMat Micheli and Joseph Gagliese started a talent agency in Ontario in 2014. The company has since blossomed into a major influencer-marketing firm, cutting deals worth hundreds of thousands of dollars for major brands.
Best IndustriesEmily Canal 8 Best Industries for Starting a Business Right NowGot an idea for a plant-based burger or canned wine? You should launch your company immediately.
Best IndustriesEmily Canal This Guy Started a Multi-Million Dollar Cleaning Products Business. Now He's Selling Pea MilkRipple Foods makes dairy-free alternatives to milk, half-and-half, and yogurt out of pea protein.