San Francisco may be the West Coast's coolest city, but San Jose proved once again this year why it owns the title of Silicon Valley's capital. The city of San Jose alone boasts 11 companies on this year's Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing private U.S. companies, with three in the top 500 and a combined annual revenue of $168.8 million. From software design to CrossFit branches, here are the 10 fastest-growing companies in this entrepreneurial mecca.
10. Clean Solar
Rank: 2,203
2014 Revenue: $8.5 million
Three-Year Growth Rate: 177 percent
Founded in 2007, Clean Solar is a residential solar installer serving the Bay Area that offers a 15-year production guarantee, full solar warranty, and a variety of financial options for purchasing and installing solar paneling.
9. Richter10.2 Media Group
Rank: 2,192
2014 Revenue: $3.7 million
Three-Year Growth Rate: 179 percent
Richter10.2 Media Group, founded in 2008, is a niche strategic relations and video agency that helps its technology and service company clients refine their message and expand their reach to their precise target audience.
8. Malwarebytes
Rank: 1,546
2014 Revenue: $48.1 million
Three-Year Growth Rate: 264 percent
Malwarebytes provides software designed to protect consumers and businesses against advanced threats that consistently escape detection by traditional antivirus solutions.
7. TechShop
Rank: 1,215
2014 Revenue: $12.0 million
Three-Year Growth Rate: 345 percent
TechShop is a membership-based, DIY workshop and fabrication studio providing access to a vibrant community of creative people and more than $1 million in high-quality machines, tools, and software.
6. Early Growth Financial Services
Rank: 1,003
2014 Revenue: $6.5 million
Three-Year Growth Rate: 436 percent
Early Growth Financial Services provides outsourced financial services, including account, CFO, tax, and valuation concerns. Founded in 2008, the company focuses on small and midsize companies, providing support throughout the development process to clients like TechShop, Indiegogo, and ZenDesk.
5. Untangle
Rank: 922
2014 Revenue: $18.6 million
Three-Year Growth Rate: 487 percent
Untangle makes an integrated suite of security software and appliances with enterprise-grade capabilities and consumer-oriented simplicity. Founded in 2003, the company produces software that protects nearly five million people's computer networks.
4. NorCal CrossFit
Rank: 706
2014 Revenue: $4.3 million
Three-Year Growth Rate: 641 percent
NorCal CrossFit owns and operates 20 CrossFit gyms worldwide, in addition to providing online coaching, fitness challenges, and apparel sales services.
3. Ensighten
Rank: 456
2014 Revenue: $19.6 million
Three-Year Growth Rate: 1,012 percent
Ensighten provides omni-channel data and tag management that allows enterprises to collect, own, and act on their customer data across all marketing channels and devices.
Founded in 2009, their clients include Microsoft, Capital One, United Airlines, and T-Mobile.
2. 360 Payment Solutions
Rank: 238
2014 Revenue: $2.5 million
Three-Year Growth Rate: 1,865 percent
360 Payment Solutions is a credit-card processor for banks, associations, and software companies.
1. Kukui
Rank: 76
2014 Revenue: $4.1 million
Three-Year Growth Rate: 3,944 percent
Kukui provides businesses a custom marketing platform that integrates with their point-of-sale system.