FAST COMPANY
Best Workplaces for Innovators | Call For Entries
FINAL DEADLINE: FEBRUARY 10
Tips to Create the Perfect Application
Fast Company is looking to identify company cultures that empower employees at all levels to improve processes, create new products, or invent new ways of doing business.

To help craft the perfect application, and optimize your chances of being honored, we've compiled some helpful tips to being named to this year's list:
  • Be Specific - We’re looking to honor companies that are accomplishing real innovation, not merely laying the groundwork for future breakthroughs. In other words, focus on real projects that have delivered measurable results.
  • Be Precise - We want details. Who did what when, and how? How’d the idea come about? What initial hurdles needed to be overcome? How big was the team? How long did it take? How much investment was required?
  • Emphasize Outcomes - Tell us exactly what was accomplished and what it means. What are the impacts or implications for the company, the industry, the broader community?
  • Tell a Story - Exhaustive lists of initiatives are boring. Pick a project that seems most emblematic of your own particular culture of innovation and tell the story.
For more tips from our editors, please visit here.
APPLY NOW
Final Deadline: February 10 ($995)
WHY APPLY
 
Get Featured in Fast Company
All winners will be featured in our Summer issue and on fastcompany.com.
 
National Recognition
Be honored as an employer of choice, and elevate your firm’s employer brand.
 
 
Boost Your Brand
We’ll provide you with a branding kit an optional trophy to help leverage and promote your victory to prospects, clients, and peers.
 
Get Influencers to Take Notice
Gain the attention of Fast Company editors, business leaders, and judges who are industry leaders.
 
CATEGORIES
 
Best Workplaces for Innovators United States
Workplaces based in the U.S. that have invested in human capital and innovation infrastructure in their home markets
 
 
Best Workplaces for Innovators International   
Workplaces based outside of the U.S. that have invested in human capital and innovation infrastructure in global markets
 
Innovation Team of the Year
Teams that have gone above and beyond, driving important innovations in their workplace
 
 
Innovative Leader of the Year
Individuals at any level, from CEO to department head, who have enhanced the innovation culture of their workplace
 
Sustained Excellence (New!)
BWFI's equivalent of General Excellence, recognizing companies that can demonstrate they've sustained strong innovation cultures 
 
 
Advertising/Marketing/
Communications (New!)
Companies focused on advertising, marketing or communications that have created strong cultures of innovation
 
Banking and Finance (New!) 
Companies focused on banking or finance that have created strong cultures of innovation 
 
 
Consumer Products and Services 
Workplaces in consumer products and services that have created exceptional cultures of innovation
 
Enterprise Products and Services
Workplacesin enterprise products and services that have created exceptional cultures of innovation 
 
 
Education (New!)
Workplaces with educational missions that have created strong cultures of innovation
 
Food (New!)
Workplaces focused on the production or distribution of food that have created strong cultures of innovation
 
 
Health and Wellness (New!)
Workplaces focused on achieving better health outcomes that have created strong cultures of innovation
 
Science and Technology (New!)
Companies and organizations focused on science or technology that have created strong cultures of innovation    
 
 
Sustainability
Workplaces whose innovative cultures have resulted in meaningful reactions in harm to the environment
 
Social Good (New!)
Companies and organizations focused on socially beneficial missions that have created strong cultures of innovation
 
 
Early-Career Innovators
Workplaces that have successfully encouraged and nurtured innovation among early-career innovators
 
Diverse Innovators
Workplaces that have successfully encouraged and nurtured innovation among diverse employees
 
 
Women Innovators
Workplaces that have successfully encouraged and nurtured innovation among their female employees
 
Nonprofit Companies 
Nonprofit and not-for-profit organizations with an outstanding culture of innovation
 
 
Small Companies
Workplaces with fewer than 100 employees that have outpaced their cohort in fostering cultures of innovation
 
Midsize Companies
Workplaces with between 100 and 999 employees that have outpaced their cohort in fostering cultures of innovation
 
 
Large Companies
Workplaces with more than 1,000 employees that have outpaced their cohort in fostering cultures of innovation  
 
APPLY NOW
Final Deadline: February 10