The Inner City 100 is a ranking of the fastest-growing companies located in America’s inner cities. The program spotlights and supports growing companies in urban areas.

Led by some of today’s most creative entrepreneurs and our program sponsors such as Bank of America, Chevron, the Staples Foundation and Goldman Sachs, the Inner City 100 program proves that not only can companies thrive in inner cities, but that inner city companies enjoy unique competitive advantages.

Inner City 100 successes have inspired political and business leaders, academics and the media. The program has led to innovative investment programs, helped blaze a path for other inner city entrepreneurs, and provided enormous stimulus for change in local communities.

How to apply. Each year, ICIC calls for nominations and select the winners based on revenue growth over a five-year period. The initial application is just one page. Companies that qualify based on that application then complete an extensive survey and provide financial documentation to verify self-reported sales figures.  Participants have cited meeting major investors, winning multi-million dollar contracts and gaining increased visibility as benefits to the program. 

The Inner City 100 Symposium. Companies that make the list are invited to the Inner City 100 Symposium in Boston for a two-day event featuring seminars for Inner City 100 CEOs and Senior Managers at Harvard Business School, and a gala awards dinner that historically draws more than 700 guests.  Learn about the 2013 Symposium.

View a List of 2012 Inner City 100 Winners