Early Rate Deadline: February 25 ($695)

Fast Company’s Best Workplaces for Innovators celebrates company cultures that empower employees at all levels to improve processes, create new products, or invent new ways of doing business. Last year, in our third annual list, more than 100 companies from around the world—including multinational conglomerates with tens of thousands of employees as well as a small nonprofit organization with only tens of employees—were honored for cultivating internal innovation in our September issue.

Last year, we introduced a new category component to the program, and this year, we’re happy to announce the further expansion of Best Workplaces for Innovators by adding several new categories that focus on diversity, sustainability, B2B, consumer products and services, and more. We’ll also continue to recognize teams and individual leaders who inspire innovation at their workplaces.

Accenture provides additional research to bolster Fast Company‘s evaluations of every application.

For full application details, see the FAQs.

Early Rate Deadline: February 25 ($695)

WHY APPLY

Brand Exposure

Every application is seen and evaluated by Fast Company editors and reporters

Opportunities

Applicants are often considered for speaking engagements at Fast Company events and exclusive invitations to influencer-only programs

Credibility

Gain the Fast Company stamp of approval as an exemplar for an innovative workplace

Break News

Gain the Fast Company stamp of approval as an exemplar for an innovative workplace

Visibility and Media Exposure

Winners will appear in the September issue of Fast Company and all honorees will appear on Fastcompany.com

CATEGORIES

Best Workplaces for Innovators United States

Workplaces based in the U.S. that have invested in human capital and innovation infrastructure in their home markets.


Innovative Team of the Year

Teams that have gone above and beyond, driving important innovations in their workplace.

Enterprise Products and Services (New)

Workplaces in enterprise products and services that have created exceptional cultures of innovation.

Sustainability (New)

Workplaces whose innovative cultures have resulted in meaningful reductions in harm to the environment.

Diverse Innovators (New)

Workplaces that have successfully encouraged and nurtured innovation among diverse employees.

Small Companies

Workplaces with 100 or fewer employees that have outpaced their cohort in fostering cultures of innovation.

Large Companies

Workplaces with 1000+ employees that have outpaced their cohort in fostering cultures of innovation.

Best Workplaces for Innovators International

Workplaces based outside of the U.S. that have invested in human capital and innovation infrastructure in global markets.

Innovative Leader of the Year

Individuals at any level, from CEO to department head, who have enhanced the innovation culture of their workplace.

Consumer Products and Services (New)

Workplaces in consumer products and services that have created exceptional cultures of innovation.

Nonprofit Companies

Nonprofit and not-for-profit organizations with an outstanding culture of innovation.

Women Innovators (New)

Workplaces that have successfully encouraged and nurtured innovation among their female employees.

Early Career Innovators (New)

Workplaces that have successfully encouraged and nurtured innovation among early career employees.

Midsized Companies

Midsized Companies Workplaces with 100-999 employees that have outpaced their cohort in fostering cultures of innovation.

PAST JUDGES

Ana Bakshi, director, Oxford Foundry; Laszlo Bock, cofounder and CEO, Humu; Susan Chambers, president, Chambers Consulting and former chief human resources officer, Walmart; Saikat Chaudhuri, executive director, Mack Institute for Innovation Management, Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania; Ken Chenault, chairman and managing director, General Catalyst; Paul Daugherty, group chief executive of technology and CTO, Accenture; Frances Frei, professor, Harvard Business School; Stephanie Mehta, editor-in-chief, Fast Company; Jana Rich, founder, Rich Talent Group; Jeff Sanders, vice chairman and co-managing partner, global CEO and board practice, Heidrick & Struggles; Reshma Saujani, founder, Girls Who Code; Bill Taylor, cofounder, Fast Company.

Early Rate Deadline: February 25 ($695)