Learn more about our application requirements here.

About The Philadelphia100®

Started in 1988 by The Entrepreneurs’ Forum of Greater Philadelphia and the Wharton SBDC, the Philadelphia100® has recognized some of the region’s finest companies when they were just beginning to emerge: Mothers’ Work, Fiberlink, Urban Outfitters, Forman Mills, Kremer Laser Eye Center, and Primavera Systems, just to name a few.

What we started as an idea to bring recognition to our region has emerged as a new standard - a standard of excellence.

The Philadelphia100® is a merit-based program.  Only companies that are among the fastest growing, privately held companies are awarded the Philadelphia100® designation.  The integrity of the process and the resulting list makes the Philadelphia100® one of the most sought after awards in the region.

The Base Requirements:

• Companies located in the Greater Philadelphia Region
• Positive 3-year average revenue growth.
• Companies earning more than $250,000.00 in the earliest reported year.
• The company legally reported and filed tax returns.

Have more questions? Click here for our application FAQ document

*Please note that Kreisher Miller, the auditing firm for the Philly100 Awards, will be the only one that reviews tax returns and any financial information

The Committee

History of the Philadelphia100®

In 1988, a group of entrepreneurial supporters and professional-service providers gathered at the Entrepreneurs' Forum of Greater Philadelphia to brainstorm about how to highlight the contribution of entrepreneurial companies to the region.  The reult of this brainstorm was the birth of Philadelphia100®, an annual award to celebrate the success of our regions fastest growing, privately held companies.  The Philadelphia100® has been an inspiration to other cities and regions throughout the United States.  Approximately ten other cities.regions have consulted with the Philadelphia100® about how they would start their own 100 list.

In 1998, the Philadelphia100® compiled a list of the top 25 companies' all time performers for the first ten years (based on revenues). At that time, the list of performers was contributing $4.4 billion and employing 35,000 people including industry icons such as Urban Outfitters, Kremer Laser Eye Center, Froman Mills, Mother's Work, and Primavera Systems.

In 2004, the Philadelphia100® Hall of Fame was created as a way of honoring those winners who repeatedly made the list.  The criteria for this honor is: any company that make the Philadelphia100® list of fastest growing privately held companies five times or more or any person who holds the position of CEO for two or more Philadelphia100® companies at the time they appeared  on the Philadelphia100® list of fastest growing privately held companies five times or more.

The Philadelphia100® Mission

The Philadelphia100® is an annual award presented by the Philadelphia100® Forum.

By tracking the fastest growing, privately held companies in the Greater Philadelphia, we: