How to get your startup into Inc. Magazine

TL;DR

Inc. is a US business magazine and website for entrepreneurs and small business owners, owned by Mansueto Ventures. Editorial stories are free and chosen by Inc.'s writers, so founders pitch a reporter with a lesson or a story. Inc. also runs paid award lists, and the Female Founders 500 is open now: $295 until 6 November 2026, then $395 until 11 December 2026.

What is Inc.?

Inc. covers starting, running and growing a company: leadership, funding, marketing, hiring, technology and AI. In 1982 it began ranking fast-growing private companies as the Inc. 500, which grew into the Inc. 5000 in 2007. It also publishes award lists such as Best Workplaces, Best in Business, Power Partners and Female Founders, and it runs events like the Inc. 5000 Conference & Gala, held 14 to 16 October 2026 in Dallas.

Who should pitch Inc.?

• Founders with a story other entrepreneurs learn from: a pricing change that worked, a hire that failed, a bootstrapped path to revenue.
• Women founders of independent companies, through the Female Founders 500.
• US private companies with at least $2 million in revenue in the latest year and a three-year growth record, through the Inc. 5000.
• Skip it if your only news is a product launch. Inc. writes about running a business, and launch announcements fit tech or trade media better.

How much does Inc. cost?

Editorial coverage is free. The award lists charge a nonrefundable application fee:

• Female Founders 500: $295 until 6 November 2026, then $395 until the 11 December 2026 deadline. Open to female founders of independent organisations.
• Inc. 5000: $395 to $695 in the 2026 cycle, which is closed. Inc. collects sign-ups for the 2027 opening.
• Best in Business: $595 to $1,395 in 2026, depending on timing and company size. The 2026 round is closed.
• Power Partners, for B2B service providers: from $795 in 2026.

How do you get your startup into Inc.?

1. For a story, read recent articles in your topic, such as the Inc. startup section, and note the writer. Pitch that writer with one lesson, the numbers behind it, and why other founders care.
2. To write for Inc., email contributors@inc.com, the address its help centre gives for contributing.
3. To apply for the Female Founders 500, complete the online application before the deadline. Questions go to femalefounders@inc.com. Inc. says honourees get a company profile on Inc.com.
4. For the Inc. 5000, use the 2026 rules as a guide: revenue since at least 2022, at least $100,000 in revenue in 2022 and $2 million in 2025, US-based, private and independent. Check the 2027 rules when applications open.

Inc.'s help centre lists press@mansueto.com for press inquiries. For a story pitch, the writer on your topic is the better target.

Tips to get more out of Inc.

• Pitch the lesson first and the company second. A subject line like "We cut churn from 9% to 4% by dropping our free plan" beats "Startup X launches".
• Apply to the Female Founders 500 before 6 November 2026 to pay the $295 early rate.
• Weigh any award fee against what you get: a list profile and an honouree badge. Further coverage is not part of the deal.

Our verdict

Inc. suits founders with a real business story, and editorial coverage costs nothing but a sharp pitch. The award lists are paid and clearly priced, and the Female Founders 500 is the most direct option for women founders this year. Pay only if a profile and an honouree badge are worth $295 to $395 to you.

More options: see all tech media, blogs and newsletters. Planning a launch around press coverage? The Fe/male Switch startup game walks women founders from idea to first customers.