West Michigan companies make Inc. 5000 Midwest list

Seven companies in West Michigan were included on the third annual Inc. 5000 Regionals: Midwest list.

Inc. Magazine earlier this month published its list of 144 “economic all-stars” in the Midwest — defined as Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, Nebraska, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin — and seven of the companies on the list are headquartered in West Michigan.

Born of the annual Inc. 5000 franchise in 2020, this regional list represents a look at the most successful independent small businesses within the Midwest economy.

“This year’s Inc. 5000 Regional winners represent one of the most exceptional and exciting lists of America’s off-the-charts growth companies,” said Scott Omelianuk, editor-in-chief of Inc. “They’re disruptors and job creators, and all delivered an outsized impact on the economy. Remember their names and follow their lead. These are the companies you’ll be hearing about for years to come.”

Methodology

The 2022 Inc. 5000 Regional players are ranked according to percentage of revenue growth when comparing 2018 and 2020. To qualify, companies must have been founded and generating revenue by March 31, 2018. They had to be U.S.-based, privately held, for-profit and independent — not subsidiaries or divisions of other companies — as of Dec. 31, 2019. (Since then, a number of companies on the list have gone public or been acquired.)

The minimum revenue required for 2018 was $100,000; the minimum for 2020 was $1 million.

West Michigan companies on the list

61. Calder Capital, financial services, Grand Rapids, growth rate of 162%

64. Michigan Software Labs, software, Ada, 158%

75. Tech Defenders, computer hardware, Grand Rapids, 144%

79. Tommy’s Express, retail, Holland, 134%

96. Jonas Paul Eyewear, retail, Grand Rapids, 113%

111. Fifth Wheel Freight, logistics and transportation, Kentwood, 92%

138. FlexPost, manufacturing, Holland, 64%

The full list is at inc.com/regionals/midwest.