While Public Relations (PR) agencies are welcome to apply on behalf of their clients, we recommend an internal employee apply for the award given their first-hand experience and organizational context. Historically, applications have been completed by founders or members of the marketing and/or talent (people) teams.

There is no cost associated with applying for Will Reed’s Top 100. In other words, it is completely free to apply; no strings attached.

Applications for the 2023 List closed on Sunday, May 7, 2023 at 11:59pm PT.

Companies that fit the below criteria are eligible for Will Reed's Top 100:

• Seed or Series A companies who raised a $2.5m+ round as of 2021

• Venture capital-backed

• Founded in or after 2015

• In the B2B tech industry

• Based in the US, or has a hub or a majority of the workforce in the US

• Less than 250 employees

All applicants will be judged based on real and demonstrable commitments to cultivating a workplace culture that fosters purpose, community, and growth.

Sharing specific examples around internal policies and programs is strongly encouraged, along with sharing accompanying statistics/data.

Every application is reviewed by Will Reed and then is passed to a panel of esteemed industry judges* who determine the Top 100.

*None of the companies on the judges panel are eligible for Will Reed’s Top 100.

Will Reed's Top 100 winners are notified via email ahead of the List publication. Their Founder/CEO is also invited to the in-person winners' celebration ("The Experience") in San Francisco, CA at the end of September.

Will Reed asks venture firms and relevant peers in the startup space who are ineligible for the award, as well as previous Top 100 winners who are ineligible this year, to nominate companies they deem top-tier culture cultivators. Will Reed then reaches out directly to companies that are presumed to fit the eligibility requirements as a call for applications.

Will Reed's Top 100 combines qualitative and quantitative data. The applicants are anonymized, and the submissions are used to form a comprehensive set of data points. Companies submit data to generate a culture score. The culture score is then factored in alongside a business score, whether the company is nominated, among other criteria.

Email Will Reed’s Top 100 team at top100@willreed.com.

A member of our team will get back to you shortly.