Company / Organization Awards Categories

Recognizing the achievements of entire organizations (for-profit or non-profit, large, medium, or small, public or private). Nominations that won in the 2025 ABAs may be resubmitted for consideration in the 2026 ABAs. If they have been updated with recent achievements, they may be submitted to the same categories in which they won. If they have not been updated, they must be submitted to categories different from those in which they won.

Information to be submitted online for entries in these categories in the 2026 competition include

1  Written answers to the following questions, describing the nominated organization's achievements since January 1 2024, OR a video of up to five (5) minutes in length that answers all of the same questions:

a. Briefly describe the nominated organization - its purpose, history, and operations (up to 200 words).  Required
b. Outline the organization's achievements since the beginning of 2024 that you wish to bring to the judges' attention (up to 250 words).  Required
c. Explain why the achievements you have highlighted are unique or significant.  If possible compare the achievements to the performance of other players in your industry and/or to your past performance (up to 250 words).  Required
d. Reference any attachments of supporting materials throughout this nomination and how they provide evidence of the claims you have made in this nomination. At the very least, provide a link to your organization's homepage.  (up to 250 words).  Optional

2  Optional (but highly recommended), a collection of supporting files and web addresses that you may upload to our server to support your entry and provide more background information to the judges.

Company of the Year (may be for-profit or non-profit, public or private, large or small). 

  • Small (≤ 50 employees and revenue ≤ $10 million)
  • Medium-size (≤ 250 employees and revenue ≤ $50 million)
  • Large (> 250 employees and revenue > $50 million)

B01.    Advertising, Marketing, & Public Relations
B02.    Aerospace & Defense
B03.    Agriculture & Agritech (new for 2026)
B04.    Apparel, Beauty & Fashion
B05.    Automotive & Transport Equipment
B06.    Banking
B07. ​​   Biotechnology (new for 2026)
B08.    Business & Professional Services
B09.    Chemicals
B10.    Computer Hardware
B11.    Computer Software
B12.    Computer Services
B13.    Conglomerates
B14.    Consumer Products - Durables
B15.    Consumer Products - Non-Durables
B16.    Consumer Services
B17.    Cybersecurity (new for 2026)
B18.    Diversified Services
B19.    E-commerce (new for 2026)
B20.    Education & EdTech (new for 2026)
B21.    Electronics
B22.    Energy
B23.    Environmental Services / CleanTech (new for 2026)
B24.    Financial Services
B25.    Food & Beverage
B26.    Gaming & Esports (new for 2026)
B27.    Health Providers (new for 2026)
B28.    Health Products & Services
B29.    Hospitality & Leisure
B30.    Insurance
B31.    Internet/New Media
B32.    Legal
B33.    Logistics & Supply Chain (new for 2026)
B34.    Manufacturing
B35.    Materials & Construction
B36.    Media & Entertainment
B37.    Metals & Mining
B38.    Non-Profit or Government Organizations
B39.    Pharmaceuticals
B40.    Real Estate
B41.    Retail
B42.    Telecommunications
B43.    Transportation
B44.    Utilities
B45.    Venture Capital & Private Equity (new for 2026)

B36. Startup of the Year.  For companies that began operations since January 1, 2023. Your nomination should describe the company's achievements since the beginning of 2024, though.  There are no entry fees for the Startup of the Year categories
   a. Business Product Industries
   b. Business Service Industries
   c. Consumer Product Industries
   d. Consumer Service Industries

B37. Tech Startup of the Year. For companies that began operations since January 1, 2023.  Your nomination should describe the company's achievements since the beginning of 2024, though.  There is no entry fee for this category
   a. Hardware/Peripherals
   b. Services
   c. Software

B38. Most Innovative Company of the Year (recognizing overall achievement in product and/or marketing, sales, manufacturing, management, etc. innovation)
   a. Up to 100 Employees
   b. Up to 2,500 Employees
   c. More Than 2,500 Employees

B39. Most Innovative Tech Company of the Year (recognizing overall achievement in product and/or marketing, sales, manufacturing, management, etc. innovation)
   a. Up to 100 Employees
   b. Up to 2,500 Employees
   c. More Than 2,500 Employees

B40. Innovation of the Year (recognizing singular innovations in business model, product and/or marketing, sales, manufacturing, management, etc., by an organization or an individual)
   a. Business Product Industries
   b. Business Service Industries
   c. Consumer Product Industries
   d. Consumer Service Industries

B41. Technical Innovation of the Year (recognizing singular innovations in technology, new products, etc., by an organization or an individual)
   a. At Organizations With Up to 100 Employees
   b. At Organizations With Up to 1,000 Employees
   c. At Organizations With 1,000 or More Employees

B42. Corporate Social Responsibility Program of the Year (recognizing organizations' contributions to society)
   a. At Organizations With Up to 100 Employees
   b. At Organizations With Up to 2,500 Employees
   c. At Organizations With 2,500 or More Employees

B43. Fastest-Growing Company of the Year (recognizing outstanding revenue growth since the beginning of 2024 over 2022)
   a. Up to 100 Employees
   b. Up to 2,500 Employees
   c. 2,500 or More Employees

B44. Fastest-Growing Tech Company of the Year (recognizing outstanding revenue growth since the beginning of 2024 over 2022)
   a. Up to 100 Employees
   b. Up to 2,500 Employees
   c. 2,500 or More Employees

B45.  Minority-Owned Business of the Year: This category will recognize the achievements since January 1, 2024 of businesses in the U.S.A. that are majority owned by members of an ethnic minority

B46. Veteran-Owned Business of the Year: This category will recognize the achievements since January 1, 2024 of businesses in the U.S.A. that are owned by veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces

B47. Student-Run Business of the Year: This category will recognize the achievements since January 1, 2024 of businesses run by current undergraduate university students in the U.S.A.  This is a not a category for business plans.  It's intended to recognize operating, functional businesses that are selling products and services to actual customers.  There is no entry fee for this category.

B48. Energy Industry Innovation of the Year: This category recognizes singular innovations in energy-related technology, production, conservation, storage or delivery, by an organization or an individual in the U.S.A., since January 1, 2024.  There is no entry fee for this category.