Why do we talk so much about building trust? Because when potential customers trust you, they're more likely to become actual customers. Ditto investors and employees.
Among the most effective ways to build trust with these audiences is winning and showcasing relevant awards.
An award win communicates explicitly that an independent third party with some expertise has deemed your organization to be award-worthy at something related to what you're selling.
With that in mind, here are our nominees for the best awards across an array of specialities and niches – from tech consulting to AI – to pursue in the coming year.
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Best Trust-Building Awards for Startups |
Fast Company Best Workplaces for Innovators
In addition to celebrating innovative cultures on its main list, Fast Company this year has expanded the competition to include recognition in specialized categories, including…
- Biotech, Healthcare, and Life Sciences.
- Financial Services and Fintech.
| Deadline | Fee | Application Requirements |
| March 27 |
$995 (under 1,000 employees) $1,795 (1,000+ employees) |
3 mini essays (500 words max) describing:
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We Love Tech Awards
Recognizing excellence across all aspects of tech, these awards feature categories – including networking, SaaS, and AI – that span an array of organizations, products, people, and solution types.
| Deadline | Fee | Application Requirements |
| March 27 | $750 |
Short essays describing:
In addition, an elevator pitch that sums it all up (50 words max) |
Deloitte Technology Fast 500
The winners here come from a wide variety of industries and disciplines, but they all have one thing in common: growth. In 2025, for example, the last company on the list – #500 – grew by 122 percent.
| Deadline | Fee | Application Requirements |
| Late spring |
None |
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Fast Company Next Big Thing in Tech
The Next Big Things are startups that are working on breakthroughs to capitalize on emerging technologies or influential trends, with a focus on ingenuity, early traction, and potential for increased impact over the coming years.
| Deadline | Fee | Application Requirements |
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TBA (mid-June in 2025) |
TBA 2025: $995 under 500 employees $1,295 500+ employees |
Short essays describing:
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Best Trust-Building Awards for Tech Consulting Firms |
Consulting Magazine Top Consultants 2026
Nominations here are accepted for individual excellence in a wide range of categories – from technology and digital consulting to analytics and AI innovation.
| Deadline | Fee | Application Requirements |
| February 26 | None |
5 short-form essays:
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The Cloud Awards
With 30 categories covering software-as-a-service and 26 dedicated to AI, the Clouds offer plenty of chances for tech innovators to shine.
| Deadline | Fee | Application Requirements |
|
Late May (SaaS) and Late July (AI) |
$695 – $795 | A written summary of your project or solution. |
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Best Trust-Building Awards for AgTech Companies |
Global Tech Awards
Among the categories here is AgriTech, where entrants are judged based on criteria including innovation, sustainability, market adoption, user impact, scalability, and technical excellence.
| Deadline | Fee | Application Requirements |
|
February 20 (final deadline of March 20) |
$275 ($350 for final deadline) |
A written summary of your project or solution that includes:
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2026 AgTech Breakthrough Awards
Covering a broad spectrum of categories, these awards fete companies that are at the forefront of agricultural innovation.
| Deadline | Fee | Application Requirements |
| June 12 | TBA |
Written submissions should include details about your company, service, or solution that include the following:
|
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Best Trust-Building Awards for Insurtech Companies |
Qorus-NTT DATA Innovation in Insurance Awards
Among the categories focusing on innovations that take advantage of emerging technologies and respond to the disruption and opportunities in insurance is one for insurtech breakthroughs.
| Deadline | Fee | Application Requirements |
| March 3 | None |
Written entries should:
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Business Insurance U.S. Insurance Awards
These industry honors include five technology and innovation-focused categories related to placement, underwriting, risk management, safety, and claims.
| Deadline | Fee | Application Requirements |
| March 13 | TBA |
|
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Best Trust-Building Awards for Digital Health Companies |
Modern Healthcare Innovators Awards
These awards recognize leaders and organizations throughout the healthcare industry that are driving innovation that improves care, achieves measurable results, and contributes to clinical and financial goals.
| Deadline | Fee | Application Requirements |
| February 17 | $200 |
Short essay responses (150 words max each) on your project’s…
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HealthTechNode 2026 Interoperability Integration Awards
The focus here is on innovations that eliminate silos, improve data flow, and empower providers, patients, and health systems with unified access to critical health information.
| Deadline | Fee | Application Requirements |
| April 3 | $495 |
|
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Best Trust-Building Awards for Artificial Intelligence Companies |
AI DevSummit 2026 AI TechAwards
Spanning 20 different categories, these awards celebrate technical innovation, adoption, and reception in the AI and machine learning industry and by the developer community.
| Deadline | Fee |
Application Requirements |
| March 26 | TBA | Short essay (250 words max) that describes the AI technology, product, service, or person. |
Newsweek AI Impact Awards 2026
Looking to take home a prize here? Be sure to focus on the measurable impact of your AI innovation. Past winners have included a lot of giants, but there’s room for smaller ideas as well – provided they show results.
| Deadline | Fee | Application Requirements |
| March 30 | $999 |
Entries should:
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AI Breakthrough Awards
Across a variety of categories, these awards focus on companies at the forefront of AI advancements – including technological innovations, creative applications, and pioneering strategies.
| Deadline | Fee | Application Requirements |
| April 13 | TBA |
Your written nomination should:
|
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Other Great Awards for B2B Tech Companies |
The Stevie Awards
With more than 200 categories of products, services, campaigns, and organizations to choose from – including tech innovations, startups, and thought leadership – everyone is welcome at the Stevies.
| Deadline | Fee | Application Requirements |
|
February 10* *nominations accepted until March 4 with late fee |
$355 – $615 |
Entries should:
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Inc. Best Workplaces
This employee survey-based list includes companies with high employee satisfaction and a strong track record of employee growth and advancement.
| Deadline | Fee | Application Requirements |
| February 20 |
$595 under 500 employees $895 500+ employees |
Entrants must:
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Inc. 5000
Has your company put up the kind of performance that merits a mention among the nation’s fastest-growing companies over the last three years? Companies that make the cut will be ranked according to percentage revenue growth from 2022 to 2025 (note that profitability is not a determining factor).
| Deadline | Fee | Application Requirements |
|
April 24 |
TBA (roughly $400 – $500 in past years) |
Applications must include:
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Inc. Best in Business
What does it take to be considered Best in Business? An outsized impact in your community, industry, or throughout wider society. So be ready to tell your story.
| Deadline | Fee | Application Requirements |
|
TBA 2025: September |
TBA 2025: $895 under 1,000 employees $1,2951,000+ employees |
Entrants must:
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Build Your Case, Build Your Trust
As you’re filling out nominations for these awards, keep in mind that you're not just providing information, you're telling a story. The judges will be reviewing dozens if not hundreds of applications – strong, compelling writing is one way you can make yours stand out. (Not your strong suit? We can help)
And if that effort results in a win, your award can be more than just a plaque for the company trophy case or a ribbon for your social media profile. By establishing momentum, credibility, and community, it helps show prospects, investors, and potential employees that you’re a brand they can trust.
Have an award we should consider? If so, send it to brenna [at] propllr.com.
