Inc. Magazine

Founded in 1979 and acquired in 2005 by Mansueto Ventures LLC, Inc. is the only major brand dedicated exclusively to owners and managers of growing private companies, with the aim to deliver real solutions for today’s innovative company builders.

Inc. Magazine

WHEN WHAT YOU CHOOSE TO DO CHOOSES YOU

Behind the Cover

GRASPING REALITY

The Future of … FOUNDING—AND FINDING—FITNESS

Partner Support Leads to ‘Functional Excellence’ • Access Holdings focuses on providing the support and tools its partners need to scale and innovate to build enduring businesses

HOW ROCKET SCIENCE CHANGED BATHING

HOW TO SOLVE THE UNSOLVABLE

THE COLD TRUTH

BANANAS FOR BAONANAS

A Private Equity Firm That Cultivates Value • At Boyne Capital, growth comes through working in partnership with founders.

I FORGOT THE FIRST RULE OF BUSINESS • SERIAL ENTREPRENEUR Ron Ben-Zeev has built companies in multiple industries, including cloud software and real estate. Yet his current company, World Housing Solution—a threetime Inc. 5000 honoree based in Sanford, Florida—almost failed because Ben-Zeev didn’t follow a fundamental rule of entrepreneurship.

How to Beat Goliath? Keep Being David • Chances are, you will at some point compete with much larger companies. And, chances are, you will have the upper hand.

Building a Shared Vision for Success • L Catterton helps founders realize their vision—with a little help from its vast resources and collaborative approach.

If You Don’t Ask Questions, You Won’t Get Answers • Too many entrepreneurs are afraid to ask their customers, suppliers, and manufacturers some really basic things. For instance, why should their product exist?

DEI: Too Important to Let It Go DOA • How to commit to diversity, equity, and inclusion that lasts—and benefits everyone.

Focus, Expertise, and Shared Values Fuel This Founder-Friendly Firm • Vista Equity Partners is a growth specialist for enterprise software firms.

Garry Cooper Is Helping Companies Sell Their Unwanted Equipment. And Steve Case Is Buying • The co-founder of climate tech company Rheaply takes a deep dive into how to rebuild America’s startup ecosystem with his investor, the famed co-founder of AOL.

NO STARTUP LEFT BEHIND • When the innovation economy abandoned Middle America, Steve Case brought venture capital to the heartland.

FEMALE + FOUNDERS 100 • THEY’RE RETHINKING HOW THINGS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN DONE. AND THEY’RE HERE TO TELL YOU WHAT THEY’VE LEARNED ALONG THE WAY.

THIS IS THE FACE OF A FOUNDER QUIETLY PREPARING TO PLANT HER STARTUP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE BATTLE FOR WOMEN’S REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS • THE RISKS ARE HUGE. THE RED TAPE IS LONG. THE FUTURE IS UNKNOWN. AND THIS HEALTH CARE FOUNDER IS HERE FOR ALL OF IT.

HOW I SET AN OLYMPIC RECORD, STOOD UP FOR MOMS, AND LAUNCHED THE KIND OF SHOE COMPANY I’D ALWAYS WANTED

POWER DiAZ • HOW WE BUILT A FAST-GROWING WINE BRAND WITH ORGANIC GRAPES, BETTER LABELS—AND NONE OF THE SNOBBERY

27 TIPS • ON LAUNCHING, GROWING, AND LEADING GREAT COMPANIES

F100 LIST

A CAN, A BRAND, A PLAN • Liquid Death has fastest-growing water brand on the strength of one great joke. But is it really a business model?

6 WAYS YOU’RE THINKING WRONG–AND WHAT YOU CAN DO ABOUT THEM. • Our species adopted a host of cognitive strategies to survive and thrive. These lessons can help you avoid their pitfalls.

DYING TO SUCCEED • When Zeb Evans was 10, he almost died, and it inspired him to become an entrepreneur. Then he almost died again—and again—and each time emerged a radically different founder. And in that, he’s not alone.

A BIGGER PICTURE • INC.’S ANNUAL FOUNDER-FRIENDLY INVESTORS LIST OFFERS AN INSIDE TRACK ON THE PE AND VC...