Growth determines placement
Application fees, verification purchases, MDS membership and sponsorship add no points and buy no position.
Inaugural edition / 2027
America's
fastest-growing
consumer brands.
You built the brand. Let the growth speak for itself.
An annual ranking by MDS of 300 privately held U.S. consumer brands, supported by revenue evidence. Open to eligible founders across retail, DTC and marketplaces.
300 brands to recognize$95 standard application2027 inaugural edition
Recognition with a reason behind it
A place you earn through growth.
A ranking should tell you something about a business. Consumer 300 uses comparable revenue growth, published rules and clearly identified verification levels so founders, buyers and investors can understand what the recognition means.
Evidence determines the badge
Self-certified and independently checked figures are labeled differently. Paying for a review does not mean passing it.
The recognition stands on its own
Selected brands receive their listing and standard honoree assets. Buying a gala ticket or sponsorship is not a condition of receiving recognition.
What you get
Recognition your business can use.
A place on the list
A public company profile in the annual Consumer 300 ranking, with your category, growth story and verification status.
Assets your team can use
A customized honoree media kit, logo usage rights and announcement assets for your website, social channels, recruiting and press outreach.
Recognition buyers can understand
Put your recognition in front of retail buyers and commercial partners as evidence of your brand’s momentum.
A stronger story for talent and investors
Give prospective hires, investors and strategic acquirers a clear, shareable marker of what your team has built.
Visibility beyond your own audience
The published list will be shared through Consumer 300 and MDS channels and with our press partners. Editorial coverage is at each outlet’s discretion.
An invitation to celebrate
All 300 selected brands will have the opportunity to request gala access. Seats are limited and require a separate confirmed ticket.
by MDS
Built around
the people
building brands.
MDS brings together more than 700 vetted ecommerce founders. Consumer 300 opens that recognition to the wider consumer-brand world, from beauty and supplements to home, food and apparel.
You don’t need to be an MDS member to apply. Every brand is evaluated by the same ranking rules.
Why we’re creating Consumer 300 →
Recent media coverage
Covered across leading business and retail media.
Independent reporting on MDS and the high-revenue ecommerce founder community behind the Consumer 300 ecosystem.
March 2026
Business Insider reported from inside MDS Inspire and profiled the operators, conversations and trends shaping the community.
Read coverage →
June 2026
Forbes cited MDS data and founder perspective on why major Amazon sellers are expanding into TikTok, Walmart and DTC.
Read coverage →
April 2026
CNBC covered the MDS-led Amazon ad boycott and seller pushback over payments, cash flow and rising marketplace costs.
Read coverage →
April 2026
Modern Retail reported on MDS organizing the seller boycott as Amazon payment changes intensified cash-flow pressure.
Read coverage →Media coverage is independent and does not constitute endorsement of Consumer 300 or its methodology.
Application & verification
The evidence behind the recognition.
Standard application & baseline review
The first 300 eligible applications are free, with MDS members invited first. After that allocation, the standard application and baseline review cost $95. Provide supporting revenue documentation or a revenue form signed by your CEO and a qualified professional. Free and paid applications meet the same evidence standards.
Deeper accounting review
The deeper third-party review is a separate $295 upgrade. It is required for the highest-ranked quartile of the final list and optional for other applicants. Payment covers the review, not approval or a ranking advantage.
The Consumer 300 awards
Who receives an award?
A smaller group of honorees will receive awards for leading their growth track, channel or product category.
Growth-track leaders
Established Brand of the Year and Breakout Brand of the Year, with one winner in each ranking track.
Channel leaders
DTC Brand of the Year, Amazon Brand of the Year and the TikTok Shop Breakthrough Award. TikTok is an emerging-channel award, so it does not need to be a brand’s main source of revenue.
Category leaders
Planned categories include health, beauty, home, pet and baby. The final categories will reflect the number and mix of qualified entries.
Ten Council Picks add an editorial perspective alongside the numerical ranking. Each comes from the verified Top 100 and has a reason for selection.
See the awards and Council Picks →Consumer 300 Gala / April 2027
A small room.
A big achievement.
An exclusive dinner, awards and a winners panel and founder program from the brands behind the strongest growth.
Planned for 150–200 guests in Los Angeles alongside MDS Inspire. Honorees, invited media and a small number of partners, together for one evening.
Explore the gala
Standards & oversight
Credibility is part of the work.
Certified figures, supporting evidence
Applicants certify their figures and provide documents or a signed revenue form. Every entry is subject to spot checks; published labels reflect completed reviews.
Evidence checks before recognition
The highest-ranked quartile requires the deeper accounting review. All applications need the baseline evidence review.
A three-person council
An advisory council curates ten Council Picks from the verified Top 100 and helps with close calls. Names will be announced after members accept.
Working timeline / 2027 edition
From launch to the public list.
November 2026: launch campaign
Introductions to the program and launch updates. Join the interest list to hear when applications open.
December 2026: applications open
MDS members are invited first. The first 300 eligible applications receive the free application offer; later applications are $95.
January 2–February 15, 2027: financial submissions
Provide finalized 2026 revenue, the relevant comparison figures and supporting evidence. Review runs through the submission period and continues as needed.
March 2027: private results & Council Picks
Complete required reviews, share private results and curate ten Council Picks from the verified Top 100.
April 2027: gala, then public release
The target is a Los Angeles gala following MDS Inspire. Public results follow the gala. The final event date and venue will be announced.
The inaugural 2027 list