Celebrating Wildcat Entrepreneurs

Nominate a Wildcat

What are the ACU Founder Awards?

The ACU Founder Awards honor successful Wildcat entrepreneurs making a difference in the marketplace.

The awards include the Wildcat 10, which recognizes the 10 fastest-growing Wildcat-owned or Wildcat-led businesses, along with the Emerging Venture Award, honoring high-potential early-stage companies, and the Rising Founder Award, recognizing early-stage individual founders demonstrating momentum and future promise.

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Award Categories

Wildcat 10

The Wildcat 10 recognizes the 10 fastest-growing Wildcat-owned or Wildcat-led businesses, based on verified revenue growth.

Learn more

Emerging Venture Award

The Emerging Venture Award recognizes high-potential startups that are early in their journey and not yet positioned to compete for the Wildcat 10.

Eligibility:

  • Company has been operating for 3 years or less

  • Wildcat-owned or Wildcat-led

Selection Criteria May Include:

  • Strong early traction

  • Clear market opportunity

  • Demonstrated potential for future growth and impact

Rising Founder Award

The Rising Founder Award honors an individual Wildcat founder under the age of 40 who is in the early stages of building a promising venture and demonstrating meaningful momentum.

Eligibility:

  • Founder is under 40 years old

  • Founder is actively leading an early-stage venture

Selection Criteria May Include:

  • Strong early traction

  • Compelling founder story

  • Vision for future growth and leadership

2026 ACU Founder Awards Nominations

Use the form below to nominate yourself or a fellow Wildcat.

Those nominated will be notified when the application process begins in April 2026.

 FAQs

Elegibility, Nominations & Application

  • Anyone can nominate a company or founder. Nominators are not required to be an ACU alumnus and self-nominations are also welcome. Nominator's information is not made public.

  • If you know of an ACU-owned or ACU-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.

  • No. While the Wildcat 10 is determined by verified revenue growth, the Emerging Venture Award and Rising Founder Award recognize early-stage companies and founders based on traction, momentum, and future promise rather than historical revenue size.

  • Yes. During the nomination and application process, founders and companies may be considered for the award category that best fits their stage and profile.

  • Nominees who choose to move forward will be invited to complete an application with additional information relevant to their award category. Applications are reviewed by an independent panel.

Determining Wildcat 10

  • For each applicant we calculate the percentage growth in revenues from 2023 to 2025.

    Nominated companies are asked to provide high-level information so the compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) can be calculated. Companies are ranked from highest to lowerst growth, and the top 10 are named to the Wildcat 10.

    More information about 'Compounded Annual Growth Rate' can be found here.

  • The company must have been owned OR led by an ACU alumnus (or group of alumni). This includes:

    1. ACU founder who is still involved at senior level if not President or CEO.

    2. Fifty percent or more owned by an ACU alumnus or group of ACU alumni.

    3. ACU-led means an ACU alumnus serves as CEO, President, Managing Partner, or Chairman.

    The company must meet one of these criteria. It does not have to meet all three.

    Employees who hold a position in the company other than those listed above are not eligible to receive an award.

    For the Wildcat 10, this test must have been satisfied from January 1, 2023 through December 31, 2025.

  • Award calculations are based on net revenues for 2023 and 2025. 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.

  • We need a way of verifying the company’s revenue levels. Some of the ways in which revenues can be verified include:

    1. Copy of audited, reviewed or compiled financial statements.

    2. Copy of page 1 of tax return (you can block out other financial data on page 1 if you wish).

    3. 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.

Confidentiality of Information

  • Winners of the ACU Founder Awards will be made publicly available after the awards ceremony each October.

  • Financial documentation is initially reviewed for completeness by the ACU team. Finalists undergo formal verification in partnership with an independent accounting firm.

  • We will publish the list of the 10 companies honored. The list will include company name, city location, names of alumni principals, year founded and percentage growth rate. Actual revenue figures WILL NOT be published or otherwise released. Other announcements made by the University (e.g., ACU Today article) may feature some of the recognized companies with information similar to what can be found on a company’s website. They will not include financial or other statistical information.

  • The Wildcat 10 list may be publicized in the ACU Today magazine, press releases, on the University and/or center 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.

Sponsorship

  • We offer a range of sponsorship opportunities, including table and reception sponsorships, event activations, gift bag placements, and event underwriting. A limited number of corporate sponsorships are also available each year. For additional details or to explore the best fit for your organization, please contact Madison Hall.

Important Dates

Feb 18

Nominations open

Apr 15

Applications open

Jun 15

Application deadline

Aug 14

Applicants Notified

Oct 29

Awards Dinner

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