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Inc. revealed this month that Inflammo is a second-time honoree on the 2024 Inc. 5000 list, its annual list of the fastest-growing private companies in America. In 2022, Inflammo appeared for the first time on the Inc. 5000 list, with the 2024 recognition marking the second time in three years.

According to Inc., “the list ranks companies based on three years of annual revenue growth and is considered America’s entrepreneurial benchmark.” The methodology includes revenue verification, and in some cases, audited financial records.

As a firm that exists to help others on their growth journey, Inflammo is honored to be among the 84 companies located in the Nashville metro area that made the prestigious list. And we’re out to help others make it on the list with some factors to consider if you want accelerated growth.

Ask any CEO whose company made the list what it was that landed a spot on this year’s list, and you would hear an array of responses, including motivated talent, market demand, a desirable product, etc. We would suggest that there are other factors that might not be top of mind, but certainly were essential to the end result. We look at four of these below.

1. Cash Flow – Any company that made the Inc. 5000 list can tout that they successfully managed cash flow. Even amidst inflation, shifting trends in human resources, and supply chain disruptions, these companies maintained a positive cash flow and managed cash to their advantage.
2. Scalability – The honorees on the Inc. 5000 list managed to scale their people, systems and processes for growth. While some companies can extend beyond their resource capabilities for a period, this approach is not sustainable for the long haul. To achieve the three year revenue growth required to grab a spot on the Inc. 5000 list, these companies had to have been intentional about scaling.
3. Data-Driven Decisions – Lastly, we would bet that the companies that made the Inc. 5000 list did so by making insight-led decisions. In other words, data informed key decisions. Financial data, market data, performance data all help determine the road ahead.

Another common thread among these honorees is intentionality. Successfully managing cash flow, enabling scalability and making data-driven decisions require intentionality and forward focus. If your sights are set on becoming an Inc. 5000 company, then become intentional about these things and watch where it takes you.