For 25 years, Inc. has been ranking the 500 fastest-growing private companies in America. This year we’ve gone further. We’ve expanded the list tenfold. to create the first-ever Inc. 5000…In the Inc. 5000, you’ll find the most comprehensive look ever at the most important part of the economy—the entrepreneur part. For one thing the Inc. 5000 catches businesses that are too big to grow at the pace required to make the Inc. 500.