Questions, answered
Before you apply.
Application costs, evidence, Council Picks, recognition and the gala.
What is Consumer 300?
An annual growth ranking of 300 privately held U.S. consumer brands, with separate Established and Breakout tracks, category recognition and ten editorial Council Picks.
When can I apply?
Applications open in December 2026. Financial submissions are scheduled for January 2–February 15, 2027. Private results and council curation are planned for March; public release follows the April gala.
Is applying free?
The first 300 eligible applications are free, with MDS members invited first. After that allocation, the standard application and baseline review cost $95. One launch place per eligible company. Joining the interest list does not reserve a free application.
What does the standard application include?
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. The $95 standard fee after the free allocation includes this baseline review. A bare, unsupported number is not the intended evidence standard.
What is the deeper verification upgrade?
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 proposed CPA scope ties reported revenue to books and sales reports across both comparison periods. The final partner and review procedures have not yet been confirmed.
Do I need a filed 2026 tax return?
The process is being designed to work with reconciled year-end books before tax returns are available. Supporting documents or a CEO-and-qualified-professional revenue form support the baseline review. The final accepted-document checklist will be published before financial submissions open.
Is Consumer 300 pay-to-play?
Fees fund application and verification work. They buy no rank, award or Council Pick. Free and paid applicants meet the same standards; sponsorship, membership and gala spending add no points. The required deeper review for the highest-ranked quartile is a disclosed participation cost, not a guarantee of placement.
What are Council Picks?
Ten editorial selections from the verified Top 100. Each of the three council members nominates three or four favorites with reasons; overlaps are reconciled to ten unique brands. Council Picks sit alongside the numerical ranking and do not change it.
Who is on the council?
Appointments are being confirmed. Names and affiliations will be published after acceptance. Members disclose conflicts, step out of affected decisions and protect confidential information.
What do selected brands get?
A public brand profile, customized honoree media kit and logo usage rights, plus distribution of the list through Consumer 300 and MDS channels and to press partners. Individual coverage is not guaranteed. Honorees can request gala access; tickets are separate and attendance is optional.
What is planned for the gala?
A Los Angeles celebration following MDS Inspire in April 2027, planned for 150–200 guests. The working format includes red-carpet arrivals, a seated dinner, awards and a 50-minute winners panel. Final date and venue will be announced.
Are categories and awards final?
Established and Breakout growth leaders remain separate. Planned channel awards cover DTC, Amazon and TikTok Shop breakthrough momentum. Starting product categories are health, beauty, home, pet and baby. The final four or five categories, minimum eligible counts and judging rules depend on the qualified entry pool and will be published before judging.
Do sponsors get our financials or influence decisions?
No. Sponsorship provides no selection role, ranking position, award or verification influence. Applicant financial information is not provided to sponsors.
How can I raise a concern?
Contact MDS with your application reference and the concern. Request secure instructions before sharing financial documents. Reviews must be documented and handled without conflicts; material changes to published results require dated corrections.
The inaugural 2027 edition