Pick a category
Choose the award that fits. Browse the 23 categories below.
5th Annual Incredible Inc. 50 Awards Gala · 2026
Nominate a business for the Incredible Inc. 50 Awards
Nominating is free and takes about 5 minutes. Put forward your own company, or one you know deserves the spotlight.
Nominations close Friday, November 27, 2026, 11:59 PM Eastern Time
23award categories
Freeto nominate, no membership needed
~5 minThree short steps
Dec 16, 2026Awards Gala, Bethesda North Marriott
Step by step
How to nominate
Four simple steps, from picking a category to gala night.
Fill in the short form
Three quick steps, about 5 minutes.
Submit by November 27, 2026, 11:59 PM ET
A confirmation email with a reference number follows.
Hear the result by December 7
If shortlisted, send proof of revenue the week of November 30 (a tax return or financial statement signed by the CEO and a certified or chartered accountant). Then celebrate on December 16.
Mark your calendar
Key dates
- NowNominations open
- Fri, Nov 27, 2026
11:59 PM ETNominations close - Week of Nov 30Shortlisted companies verify their figures
- By Mon, Dec 7All nominees told the result; honorees confirm attendance
- Wed, Dec 16, 2026
6:00 to 10:00 PMAwards Gala, Bethesda North Marriott & Conference Center
Before you start
Who can nominate, and who can be nominated
Who can nominate
- Anyone. Nominating is free, and the nominee does not need to be a Council member.
- Nominate your own company or another company you know. One form per company.
- If you nominate another company, the Council contacts it to confirm the figures before shortlisting.
Who can be nominated
- Headquartered in the United States or India; privately held, for-profit and independent (not a subsidiary).
- 10 to 500 employees; operating since at least December 31, 2022, with fiscal 2022 revenue.
- Revenue of at least USD 100,000 in fiscal 2022 and USD 500,000 in fiscal 2025 (or the INR equivalent), with growth shown from fiscal 2022 to fiscal 2025.
Exceptions. Young Entrepreneur of the Year needs only 12 months of operations, at any size. Four categories have no revenue, size or ownership rules and are open to companies, agencies, institutions, nonprofits and individuals: Dr. Cherian Global Leadership, Outstanding Digital Creator, Community and Service Recognition, and State-to-State Partnership Champion.
Not eligible (company categories): publicly traded companies, subsidiaries, government bodies, and companies that cannot document their figures.
Fair and independent
How entries are judged
An independent panel from the Council board and external advisers scores every entry and does not score entries from its own organizations.
40%
Growth
30%
Resilience
30%
Contribution
The Incredible Inc. 50 list
Company entries that meet the growth rules are ranked, and the top fifty form the Incredible Inc. 50 list.
One honoree per category
One honoree is chosen in each of the 23 categories. The four categories with their own rules are judged on their category description, not on growth. The panel’s decisions are final.
23 awards
Award categories
Twelve awards return from past editions; eleven are new. One honoree is chosen in each category. Pick a card to start a nomination with that category already selected.
Fast-growing company awards 8 awards
Company categories. Judged on growth, resilience and contribution.
Fastest-Growing American-Owned Company
ReturningOpen to
Companies headquartered in the United States
Judges look for
Three-year revenue growth, jobs created, financial resilience
Nominate in this category →Fastest-Growing Company in India
ReturningOpen to
Companies headquartered in India
Judges look for
Three-year revenue growth, jobs created, financial resilience
Nominate in this category →Fastest-Growing IT Services, Software and Cybersecurity Company
ReturningOpen to
Software, IT services, data, AI, cloud and cybersecurity firms in either country
Judges look for
Growth, plus customer wins and delivery quality
Nominate in this category →Fastest-Growing Advanced Manufacturing and Electronics Company
ReturningOpen to
Electronics, industrial automation, advanced manufacturing and product engineering firms
Judges look for
Growth, plus capacity added and new contracts or exports
Nominate in this category →Fastest-Growing Mobility and Clean Technology Company
ReturningOpen to
Mobility, electric vehicle, battery and clean technology firms
Judges look for
Growth, plus technology adoption and scale of deployment
Nominate in this category →Fastest-Growing Healthcare and Life Sciences Company
ReturningOpen to
Healthcare services, health IT, medical devices and life sciences firms
Judges look for
Growth, plus patient or provider impact
Nominate in this category →Fastest-Growing Hospitality, Food and Retail Company
NewOpen to
Restaurants, hotels, food producers, retailers and e-commerce firms
Judges look for
Growth, plus new locations or markets and customer loyalty
Nominate in this category →Fastest-Growing Professional, Logistics and Business Services Company
NewOpen to
Consulting, staffing, finance, legal, logistics, supply chain, education and training firms
Judges look for
Growth, plus client retention and repeat business
Nominate in this category →Ownership and leadership 4 awards
Company categories.
Women-Owned Business of the Year
ReturningOpen to
Companies at least 51% owned and led by one or more women
Judges look for
Growth, leadership, and what the business has built for its team and customers
Nominate in this category →Minority-Owned Business of the Year
ReturningOpen to
Companies at least 51% owned and led by members of a minority group
Judges look for
Growth, resilience, and the opportunity the business has created
Nominate in this category →Young Entrepreneur of the Year, Innovation
ReturningOpen to
Founders aged 35 or under on November 27, 2026, with 12+ months of operations
Judges look for
A new product, service or business model, and early traction
Nominate in this category →Family Business of the Year
NewOpen to
Companies owned and run by a family for two or more generations, or now led by the next generation
Judges look for
Continuity, growth, and how family values show up in the business
Nominate in this category →Honorary and leadership awards 3 awards
No revenue or size rules. Open to companies, agencies, institutions, nonprofits and individuals.
Dr. Cherian Global Leadership Award
ReturningOpen to
Leaders whose work reaches across borders
Judges look for
Vision, global reach, and impact on small business or community
No revenue or size rules Nominate in this category →Outstanding Digital Creator Award
ReturningOpen to
Individuals and organizations creating digital content that informs or connects U.S.–India business and community
Judges look for
Audience reach, quality of content, and benefit to the community
No revenue or size rules Nominate in this category →Community and Service Recognition
ReturningOpen to
Companies and business leaders with sustained community service
Judges look for
Time, money or expertise given, people reached, and length of commitment
No revenue or size rules Nominate in this category →The U.S.–India corridor 4 awards
Cross-border company and partnership awards.
U.S.–India Corridor Builder
NewOpen to
Companies operating, exporting or expanding in both countries
Judges look for
Cross-border results: contracts, offices, partners, customers, export revenue
Nominate in this category →Indian Company Entering the U.S. of the Year
NewOpen to
India-headquartered companies that opened or grew U.S. operations in the past three years
Judges look for
U.S. customers won, U.S. jobs, partnerships and procurement access
Nominate in this category →U.S. Company Expanding into India of the Year
NewOpen to
U.S.-headquartered companies that built an India delivery center, supply chain, customers or partners in the past three years
Judges look for
Results in India: revenue, teams, partners
Nominate in this category →State-to-State Partnership Champion
NewOpen to
Companies, agencies, institutions and individuals who connected a U.S. state and an Indian state (no revenue or size rules)
Judges look for
Investments, deals and introductions created, and follow-through
No revenue or size rules Nominate in this category →Government contracting 2 awards
U.S. companies only.
Government Contracting Excellence, Federal
NewOpen to
U.S. companies with federal prime contracts or subcontracts
Judges look for
Contract performance, federal revenue growth, partnering with other small businesses
Nominate in this category →Government Contracting Excellence, State and Local
NewOpen to
U.S. companies with state, local or education contracts
Judges look for
Contract performance, state and local revenue growth, partnering with other small businesses
Nominate in this category →Innovation and impact 2 awards
Company categories.
Innovation of the Year
NewOpen to
Companies with an original product, service or process, including AI
Judges look for
Originality, adoption, and measurable results
Nominate in this category →Job Creator of the Year
NewOpen to
Companies that added the most jobs and invested in training
Judges look for
Net jobs created, retention, training and pay practices
Nominate in this category →Nominate
Nominate a company
Three short steps. Fields marked * are required.
Thank you. Your nomination has been received.
Reference number:
We have also emailed your reference number to you. If the company is shortlisted, we will contact you the week of November 30 to verify the figures. Questions: events@usindiasmecouncil.org
Note: a nomination for this company and country already exists. The Council may merge duplicates.
Nominate another companyGood to know
Terms in brief
- The Council may disqualify entries with inaccurate or unverifiable information, and may move an entry to a better-fitting category.
- Revenue and headcount figures are used only for judging and verification and are not published.
- If chosen, the company’s name, logo, founder photo and profile may be published on the Council’s website, social media and in the press.
- Late nominations cannot be accepted. Questions: events@usindiasmecouncil.org.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Does it cost anything to nominate?
No. Nominating is free, and the nominee does not need to be a Council member.
How long does the form take?
About 5 minutes, in three short steps. You can nominate your own company or another company you know. Use one form per company.
Can a company be nominated in more than one category?
Choose a category, and a second if the company fits. The Council may move an entry to a better-fitting category.
What happens if I nominate another company?
The Council contacts the company to confirm the figures before shortlisting.
What happens after I submit?
You see a confirmation with a reference number and receive the same by email. Shortlisted companies verify their figures the week of November 30, and all nominees are told the result by Monday, December 7.
Will our revenue and headcount be published?
No. Revenue and headcount figures are used only for judging and verification and are not published.
Can I submit after November 27?
No. Late nominations cannot be accepted. Nominations close Friday, November 27, 2026, 11:59 PM Eastern Time.
Ready to nominate?
It takes about 5 minutes. Nominations close Friday, November 27, 2026, 11:59 PM ET.