15 Awards to Make Your Startup Stand Out in 2024

By |
January 17, 2024

You know your startup is great. But how do you make sure everyone else knows that, too?

Awards.

These 15 awards will help your startup stand out, gain credibility, and generate awareness in 2024.

15 Startup Awards for 2024

Inc. “Best Workplaces”

Celebrates the remote, hybrid, and in-person workplaces that help their employees thrive. Inc. editors look for strong benefits, high employee satisfaction, and a track record of employee growth and advancement at all levels. Note: employee surveys are part of the application.

Fast Company “Innovation by Design”

Recognizes companies that leverage design as a strategic advantage to improve human lives and culture. Applicants are judged on novelty, visuals, immediacy, and impact.

Fast Company “Best Workplaces for Innovators”

Celebrates company cultures that foster innovation and creativity in the workplace – i.e., companies with environments that make it easier to facilitate product development, process improvement, or new lines of business.

Inc. 5000

Honors the nation’s fastest-growing companies over the last three years, as measured by revenue. Applying here also earns companies consideration for inclusion on Inc. Regionals (localized versions of the national fastest-growing list). Note: company financial disclosure is part of the application.

Fast Company “Brands That Matter”

Spotlights purpose-driven brands that engage their communities to connect with fans and customers. Honorees include both massive conglomerates and smaller brands punching above their weights, but all are judged on innovation, dynamism, and uniqueness.

Fast Company “Next Big Things in Tech”

Highlights breakthroughs that capitalize on emerging technologies or influential trends. The judges (Fast Company editors and writers) look for ingenuity, early traction, and potential for increased impact over the next few years.

Deloitte “Technology Fast 500”

Weighs both capacity for innovation and revenue growth to determine winners across a range of sectors. Nominees must be based in North America, be at least four years old, and submit three-year revenue for verification to Deloitte.

Digiday Technology Awards

Recognize the technology that enables innovation in media and marketing. Nominations need to be in a case study format, so healthy customer relationships and strong stories will go a long way.

Inc. “Power Partner” Awards

Recognizes B2B companies that provide the tools, resources, and support that entrepreneurs need to grow their business. The award aims to make vendor decisions easier for Inc.’s readership by highlighting trustworthy, secure organizations that deliver results without causing headaches.

This award requires your customers to fill out a survey administered by a third party (more on their methodology here).

Consulting Magazine Women Leaders in Consulting

Honors women leaders in the consulting space across a range of categories including client service, mentorship, and DEI. Judges look for quantifiable metrics, like dollars saved or revenue generated, to back up the winning nominations.

Fast Company “Most Innovative Companies”

Honors trailblazing organizations that transform their respective industries through new products, novel strategies, or transformative social impact. Launched in 2008, this is Fast Company’s longest-running award.

Inc. “Best in Business”

Highlights companies that make outsized impacts in their communities, industries, and throughout wider society. Winners are segmented into categories based on revenue, headcount, and growth stage.

Axios Power Players

Highlights influential business leaders, including startup founders and CEOs, in select local markets. Axios reporters consider their own experiences with nominated individuals while also weighing leadership, community impact, culture, and growth.

Fast Company “World-Changing Ideas”

Recognizes specific products, companies, and policies that make the world a better place. For this award, Fast Company editors and reporters judge projects on their impact, design, creativity, and scalability. This is an entirely narrative-based award, so good writing is key.

The Stevie Awards

Feature companies and individuals who make a demonstrable difference in their respective industries. There are more than 200 categories that recognize products, services, campaigns, and organizations.

The open-ended application process aims to broaden the focus of these awards and allow businesses to highlight their strengths.

To Win Awards, Embrace the Journey

Identifying awards is the only the first step in a long but ultimately rewarding journey.

Award wins help increase exposure and boost a company's credibility (and that’s not to mention being able to include a shiny new badge in your email signature).

Interested in drafting an awards submission but still have more questions? Check out our piece What Makes a Good Award Nomination? Advice from a Judge to get you started.

Or better yet, get in touch. We’d love to help you navigate how awards can fit into your 2024 PR strategy.
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