McFerrin Center for Entrepreneurship | Aggie 100

Aggie 100 is designed to honor the 100 fastest growing Aggie-owned or Aggie-led businesses in the world. In addition, Aggie 100 provides a forum to pass lessons to the next generation of Aggie entrepreneurs. Nominated companies are asked to provide high-level information about their company so that an independent accounting firm can rank the nominees and identify the 100 fastest growing companies. The nominated companies are ranked by percentage of compound annual growth in sales or revenues (net of returns), over a three-year period (for 2020 this period is from 2017 to 2019). The 100 fastest growing organizations will be named to the Aggie 100 each year. Honorees are recognized each Fall during an invitation only Awards Dinner.

Aggie 100 has grown significantly from its inception in 2005 and is now being emulated by a number of other top universities, including Louisiana State University (“Tiger 100”), the University of Florida (“Gator 100”), the University of Georgia (“Bulldog 100”), Florida State University (“Seminole 100”), the University of Houston (“Cougar 100”), and others.

Aggie 100 was created by Mays Business School’s McFerrin Center for Entrepreneurship which provides encouragement, education, networking and assistance to entrepreneurial-minded students, and faculty.

2020 marks the 16th Anniversary of Aggie 100. The McFerrin Center for Entrepreneurship is proud to announce the awards dinner will be held on Friday, November 6, 2020 in the Hall of Champions at Kyle Field. The dinner will feature individual recognition and trophy presentations to all Class of 2020 Honorees. Additionally, all Honorees from past Aggie 100 classes will be invited to attend to join in the celebration of Aggie entrepreneurial success.

To be considered for the Aggie 100 companies must meet the following criteria. The dates below apply to the 2020 Aggie 100:

COMPANY SIZE AND LONGEVITY

The Company must meet both of the following criteria:

1. Have been in business for 5 years or more as of December 31, 2019 (cut-off founding date is 1/1/2015)
2. Have had verifiable revenues of $250,000 or more for calendar year 2017.

AGGIE LEADERSHIP*

The Company must meet one or more of the three criteria below to be eligible.

A Texas A&M University former student (or group of former students):

1. Must have founded the company and been active as a member of the most senior management team from January 1, 2017 through December 31, 2019
2. Must have owned 50% or more of the company from January 1, 2017 through December 31, 2019
3. Must have served as the Company’s chief executive (for example chairman, CEO, president or managing partner) from January 1, 2017 through December 31, 2019.

COMPANY CHARACTER

The Company must operate in a manner consistent with the Aggie Code of Honor and in keeping with the values and image of Texas A&M University.

THE SUMMIT AWARD

In 2012, the Center for New Ventures and Entrepreneurship (now known as McFerrin Center for Entrepreneurship) introduced a new award, the Summit Award, which is presented to the Aggie company with the highest 3-year average revenue. Minimum Qualifications for the Summit Award are the same as the Aggie 100, as outlined above. The average revenue will be calculated as a simple average of sales/revenues (net of returns) for 2017, 2018, and 2019. A company need not make the Aggie 100 list for growth to be presented with the Summit Award. Past Summit Award recipients are not eligible. The company which is awarded the Summit Award will be expected to sign a disclosure agreement permitting their average revenue number to become publicly disclosed.

THE McFERRIN CENTER FOR ENTREPRENEURSHIP RESERVES THE RIGHT TO:

1. Independently verify that nominees meet all criteria.
2. Reject any nominee for any reason.
3. Modify Criteria/Requirements as needed without notification.

THE AGGIE 100 APPLICATION PROCESS

Step 1: All companies must be nominated. The nomination period runs year round. Nominations for 2020 close on May 29, 2020.

Step 2: Once the application period opens, all nominated companies will receive details on how to submit their company application. The 2020 Aggie 100 application period is open from May 8, 2020 until June 17, 2020. The application form is fairly simple and only requires you to answer a few questions and attach documentation to verify revenues. For a list of the information required in your application, click here.

Step 3: All companies that complete the application process will be notified by email by late-August so that they may make plans to be on campus in the Fall for all recognition activities. The full list will not be released until the Awards Dinner. All companies are asked to keep the information confidential until the Fall celebration.

Step 4: Companies named to the Aggie 100 list will be required to submit company and Aggie Honoree information by mid-September to be included in all materials.

Step 5: Those companies named to the Aggie 100 list will have the opportunity to invite guest to the Awards Dinner each year. Deadlines for those ticket/table purchases are in October each year.

Step 6: Aggie 100 Awards Dinner & Celebration Events will be hosted each fall in honor of the success of all Aggie 100 companies. The list will be made public at this time.

NOMINATIONS

Nominations are currently open for 2020 Aggie 100. Companies nominated for Aggie 100 will be automatically notified when applications are available. Self-nominations are accepted. Anyone can nominate a company.

If you know of an Aggie-owned or Aggie-led business that you think meets the criteria, don’t hesitate to submit a nomination for them! Nominees will receive an application packet and can choose whether or not they will apply. There is no harm in nominating them for the process.

To nominate a company for Aggie 100 complete the online nomination form. After submitting the nomination form, you should receive a confirmation email. If you do not receive this email, please send an email to Aggie100@mays.tamu.edu.

2020 APPLICATIONS AND IMPORTANT DATES

Applications for the 2020 Aggie 100 are not open. However, you can nominate a company for the 2020 Aggie 100 at this time.

2020 Aggie 100 Applications Open: Friday, May 8, 2020

2020 Aggie 100 Nominations Close: Friday, May 29, 2020

2020 Aggie 100 Applications Close: Wednesday, June 17, 2020

2020 Aggie 100 Awards Dinner and After Party: Friday, November 6, 2020

COMPANY INFO REQUIRED AND CALCULATION OF RESULTS

Q1. How are the results calculated? How is the Aggie 100 list determined?

For each applicant we will calculate the percentage growth in revenues from 2017 to 2019. Nominated companies are asked to provide high-level information about their organization so that the compounded annual growth rate can be calculated. More information about ‘Compounded Annual Growth Rate’ can be found on our website. After the calculations, the companies will be listed by growth rate from the highest to the lowest. The top 100 fastest growing companies will be named to the Aggie 100.

Q2. What Is “revenue”?

We are basing our growth calculations on net revenues for 2017 and 2019. Net revenue is meant to be net sales, or sales less returns. For a professional services business it would be gross revenues less any write-downs or discounts.

Q3. The application form says “verifiable” revenue. How do you verify revenue?

We need a way of verifying the company’s revenue levels. Some of the ways in which revenues can be verified include:Copy of audited, reviewed or compiled financial statements.Copy of page 1 of tax return (you can block out other financial data on page 1 if you wish).Letter from external accountant attesting to revenue level.If you have issues/concerns about any of these, feel free to contact us and we will work with you.

Q4. What information do you need?

The application form will ask for:

Contact informationCompany’s conformance to Aggie 100 qualifications (company age, minimum revenue, Aggie ownership / leadership and adherence to Aggie Code of Honor).Revenue levels for the previous three years.

USE AND PUBLICATION OF INFORMATION / CONFIDENTIALITY

Q1. How can I be assured of confidentiality?

The financial information you provide during the application process is sent directly to an independent accounting firm that tabulates the results. They will only report the results to the Center. The University will not see the revenue levels reported and they will not be made available to the press or any other groups. The accounting firm is PKF Texas in Houston. They provide similar services to awards programs such as the FasTech 50 in Houston.

Q2. What information will be released?

We will publish the list of the 100 companies honored. The list will include company name, city location, names of Aggie principals, year founded and percentage growth rate. Actual revenue figures WILL NOT be published or otherwise released. The article in the Texas Aggie magazine will feature a brief story on several companies. Those articles will focus on the company’s business (much like the information that can be found on the company’s website). They will not include financial or other statistical information. You may be called for an interview.

Q3. Where will the information be published?

The Aggie 100 list will be publicized in the Texas Aggie magazine, The Texas Business Journals, press releases, on our website, in Center newsletters and/or similar channels. Specific information about revenues will NOT be published. The only statistical information that will be released will be the percentage growth rate. You may be interviewed by the Texas Aggie magazine staff for the feature. They will only include information you provide to them in that article.

Q4. Will my company information be released to the Association of Former Students or the Texas A&M Foundation?

No. All such information will be retained by PKF Texas and not released to the University or any University affiliate.

Click here to download the Frequently Asked Questions sheet

Nominations for the 2020 Aggie 100 are currently open. Nominate an organization to ensure they are invited to apply for the 2020 Aggie 100.

2020 marks the 16th Anniversary of Aggie 100. The McFerrin Center for Entrepreneurship is proud to announce that the 2020 Aggie 100 awards dinner and reunion will take place on Friday, November 6, 2020 in the Hall of Champions at Kyle Field. The dinner will feature individual recognition and trophy presentations to all Class of 2020 Honorees. Additionally, all Honorees from past Aggie 100 classes are invited to attend to join in the celebration of Aggie entrepreneurial success. The Friday Evening Awards Dinner will be followed by the Aggie 100 After Party.