Every submission for the 2021 Most Innovative Companies will be individually evaluated by a team of Fast Company editors and reporters.
The entry period for the 2021 Most Innovative Companies is now closed. Please click here to sign up for future award notifications.
Why Apply
Visibility: Every applicant will be seen and evaluated by Fast Company’s editorial staff
Recognition: All 400+ winners appear in Fast Company magazine and on fastcompany.com
Validation: Immediate boost to employee morale, recruiting opportunities, and sales prospecting
Exclusivity: Gain entry into this bold community of creative thinkers and professionals
Eligibility
Organizations may apply under 42 industry categories and must demonstrate how their innovations from the past year have impacted their business, their industry, and the broader culture. Companies and nonprofits of all sizes will be considered. For full application details, see the rules and FAQs.
Categories
Advertising
The agencies, technologies, and ideas advancing the business of persuasion
Architecture
Firms and commissions that are transforming the built world
Artificial Intelligence
Algorithmically powered products that are changing how humans interact with computers
Augmented and Virtual Reality
The firms creating the future of tech-powered immersive entertainment and experiences
Beauty
The science and marketing of cosmetics
Biotech
The therapies and new solutions using biological science to solve medical problems
Branding
Marketers redefining and elevating the identities of their companies or brands
Consumer Electronics
The new gadgets improving people’s lives
Corporate Social Responsibility
Corporate initiatives that meaningfully make a positive contribution to a company’s community and stakeholders
Data Science
Companies building a competitive advantage through their unique cache of intelligence
Design
The companies and firms reshaping business through industrial design, design thinking, and new user experiences
Dining and Hospitality
The restaurants and food service companies adapting to changing customer demands
Education
New approaches to improving learning
Energy
Novel initiatives that address climate change
Enterprise
Organizations offering tech and services that make other businesses more efficient and effective
Film and Television
The companies developing breakthrough programming—and rethinking how content is marketed and released
Finance
The products and technologies offering new wealth-building opportunities for everyone
Food
Businesses that are producing the consumer goods, systems, and agricultural technologies that are transforming the way we eat
Gaming
Cutting-edge play that entertains, enlightens, and fosters new communities
Health
The latest devices, services, and approaches to empower patients
Joint Ventures
Collaborations between two or more companies that achieve more together than either company could on its own.
Live Events
Bringing people together in real or virtual life to create indelible, shared moments
Logistics
The solutions transforming supply chains, warehousing, and shipping to be more nimble and resilient
Manufacturing
The facilities reinventing their processes to promote flexibility, efficiency, and worker well-being
Media
The businesses inventing or reinventing the future of news
Music
The artists, labels, streamers, promoters, and anyone else making beautiful noise
Not-for-Profit
Fashioning the future of philanthropy
Retail
Fresh approaches to selling goods and services
Robotics
The companies finding creative ways of integrating robotics into our lives and our work
Security
Keeping people and companies safe from the new digital warfare
Small and Mighty
Organizations with less than 50 employees but big ideas that put them at the vanguard of the next generation of innovators
Social Good
For-profit companies doing their part to make the world a better place
Social Media
Daring strategies and new platforms for meeting people where they live
Space
The startups and stalwarts commercializing the final frontier
Sports
The teams, leagues, products, and off-the-field all-stars scoring in the business of play
Style
Fashioning the future of how we dress
Transportation
Who’s driving new mobility solutions and clean alternatives to traditional conveyances
Travel
The businesses enabling new ways to explore the world
Urban Development/Real Estate
The landscapes, properties, and thoughtful initiatives defining how we live today
Video
The players designing new platforms and novel ways to consume media
Wellness
The products and services redefining fitness and self-care
Workplace
Companies that have adopted services, policies, and programs that fulfill their employees’ needs—and make them happier
Most Innovative Company Asia-Pacific
Companies headquartered in the Asia-Pacific whose innovations embody the best ideals of the region and/or work to solve problems inherent to the area
Most Innovative Company Europe, Middle East, and Africa
Companies headquartered in EMEA whose innovations embody the best ideals of the region and/or work to solve problems inherent to the area
Most Innovative Company Latin America
Companies headquartered in Latin America whose innovations embody the best ideals of the region and/or work to solve problems inherent to the area
Most Innovative Company North America
Companies headquartered in North America whose innovations embody the best ideals of the region and/or work to solve problems inherent to the area
![Zola cofounders Shan-Lyn Ma and Nobu Nakaguchi. [Photo: Aaron Richter]](https://images.fastcompany.net/image/upload/v1557501588/fcweb/p-1-zola-most-innovative-companies-2019-FA0319ZOLA001_kqsr6q.jpg)
![A stool from Target's Project 62 furniture line. [Photo: Jamie Chung]](https://images.fastcompany.net/image/upload/v1557501587/fcweb/11-target-FA0319TARG001-horiz-legs_pm5blh.jpg)
![Stitch Fix CEO Katrina Lake. [Photo: Jason Madara; Hair and makeup: Erika Taniguchi at Kern Represents]](https://images.fastcompany.net/image/upload/v1557501587/fcweb/FA0319_STITCHFIX_COVE001_utdz5c.jpg)
![Recent projects from design firm Ammunition. Clockwise from left: The Ember Ceramic Mug; the Deep Sentinel outdoor camera; the June Oven; the Polaroid Mint; and the Acorns Spend card. [Photo: Jamie Chung]](https://images.fastcompany.net/image/upload/v1557501587/fcweb/46-MIC-16-9-FA0319AMMU002_goligt_nlg29z.jpg)
![Mozilla COO Denelle Dixon. [Photo: Jessica Chou]](https://images.fastcompany.net/image/upload/v1557501588/fcweb/FA0319MOZI001_Mozilla_dqjsfw.jpg)
![The Koginut Squash bowl from Sweetgreen. [Photo: Jamie Chung; Food stylist: Ali Nardi at Apostrophe]](https://images.fastcompany.net/image/upload/v1557501588/fcweb/p-1-sweetgreen-most-innovative-companies-2019-MIC-FA0319SWEE001_fya7m5.jpg)
![GOAT cofounder and CEO Eddy Lu. [Photo: Glaskew II]](https://images.fastcompany.net/image/upload/v1557501587/fcweb/p-1-goat-most-innovative-companies-2019-FA0319GOAT002_mwhe8n.jpg)
![The Finke’s Sparkling White Blend from Winc wine club. [Photo: Jamie Chung; Food stylist: Ali Nardi at Apostrophe]](https://images.fastcompany.net/image/upload/v1557501588/fcweb/p-1-WINC-FA0319WINC001_a0vwgo.jpg)
![Modern Fertility cofounders Afton Vechery, left, and Carly Leahy. [Photo: Jessica Chou]](https://images.fastcompany.net/image/upload/v1557501588/fcweb/p-1-modern-fertility-most-innovative-companies-2019-FA0319MODE001_ow0itz.jpg)