This morning, Inc. Magazine released its 2017 list of the 500 fastest-growing private companies in the nation, and Colorado tech claimed a noteworthy eight of the top 500 spots.
Rankings are based on revenue growth from the last three years and represent a range of young, hungry startups and more established industry leaders. The number one position this year went to San Francisco-based e-sports company Skillz, which grew its revenue by a rate of over 50,000 percent over the last three years.
Further down the list, we saw a number Colorado tech’s rising stars. Here are the companies that made the cut.
Inc. 500 Ranking: 113
Growth: 3,498.97 percent
Revenue: $9 million
What they do: Choozle developed a programmatic digital marketing and advertising platform that leverages consumer data and gives businesses insight into the performance of their campaigns. This year, the company also ranked in the top 10 of Inc. 5000’s Top Advertising and Marketing Companies.
Inc. 500 Ranking: 169
Growth: 2,463.10 percent
Revenue: $5.9 million
What they do: DirectDefense offers information security solutions and managed services, working with business in a variety of industries to identify and remediate cybersecurity risks. This is the second year in a row that DirectDefense has made the Inc. 5000 list, moving up from 341 in 2016 to the 169th position this year.
Inc. 500 Ranking: 263
Growth: 1,652.90 percent
Revenue: $2.3 million
What they do: SelectHub’s SaaS platform helps businesses evaluate and implement enterprise software. The company was named one of Built In Colorado’s Top 50 Startups to Watch in 2015 and continues to be a company worth keeping an eye on.

Inc. 500 Ranking: 278
Growth: 1,575.60 percent
Revenue: $62.5 million
What they do: Welltok’s health optimization platform encourages users to make daily choices that improve their health and well-being. The app provides advice about diet and exercise and even helps people take advantage of their healthcare benefits. The company has made the Inc. 500 for the last two years, this year moving from 304 to 278.

Inc. 500 Ranking: 309
Growth: 1,402.43 percent
Revenue: $102.5 million
What they do: V3Gate provides IT solutions — such as identity management, cybersecurity, IT infrastructure, and data services — for government agencies and the military. The Colorado Springs-based company ranked 809th on last year’s list.
Inc. 500 Ranking: 371
Growth: 1,166.28 percent
Revenue: $21 million
What they do: Aleph Objects designs and manufactures the LulzBot line of rapid prototyping 3D printers and software— products that are built around the idea of open source innovation and adaptability. Though the company fell in ranking from last year, it came in second on Inc.’s list of Top Computer Hardware companies.
Inc. 500 Ranking: 400
Growth: 1,095.49 percent
Revenue: $6.9 million
What they do: BiggerPockets’ offers a suite of resources that help people navigate the world of real estate investment. Much of the platform is geared around a social network of new and experienced investors, but the company also provides property analysis tools and a marketplace for buying and selling property, seeking financing or partners or advertising your real estate business.
Inc. 500 Ranking: 401
Growth: 1,094.14 percent
Revenue: $3.6 million
What they do: Apto’s SaaS platform helps commercial real estate brokers build customer relationships and manage their properties, listings, deals and commissions. This is the second consecutive year that the company has made the list, and they were also named one of Built In Colorado’s 2017 50 Startups to Watch.
Image via featured companies, Shutterstock and social media.
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