A national recognition program is seeking for-profit companies that can show both revenue growth and measurable social or environmental purpose.
PurposeBuilt100, a program from The Super Crowd Inc., is designed to identify and rank 100 of America’s fastest-growing purpose-driven companies. The program is not limited to AI companies, but it may be relevant to older AI and AI-adjacent businesses that were operating before the recent generative AI boom and can document both growth and impact.
The San Francisco-based founder and CEO of The Super Crowd, Devin Thorpe, describes himself as a "champion for social good." In addition to being a leading advocate for investment crowdfunding to democratize the capital marketplace, he is the author of Crowdfunding for Social Good: Financing Your Mark on the World. Thorpe's overall focus is on 'impact' or 'purpose' businesses where the combination of investment crowdfunding and contributing to our communities has the greatest value.
Karl Dakin, the founder of Dakin Capital and a contributor to Colorado AI News, is supporting the effort and encouraging Colorado companies to review the program’s criteria. He shared, “I am supporting the PurposeBuilt program because I see a need to highlight businesses that go the extra mile to state their intent to achieve a positive social outcome, not merely generate a profit."
PurposeBuilt100 says eligible companies must operate as for-profit businesses, demonstrate a clear social or environmental purpose, provide 2021 and 2025 calendar-year revenue data, meet a minimum base-year revenue threshold of $100,000, and provide documentation sufficient to verify eligibility.
The program’s emphasis on 2021 to 2025 revenue growth means many newer AI startups may not qualify. ChatGPT launched in late 2022, and many companies built around the current wave of generative AI were formed or substantially expanded after that. Still, some companies using AI, machine learning, automation, data science, or related technologies in fields such as health care, education, accessibility, climate, public benefit, financial inclusion, or workforce development may have the operating history needed to apply.
The broader question is whether purpose-driven companies can show not only a compelling mission, but real business traction. That issue is especially relevant in AI, where claims about productivity, access, equity, and social benefit can move faster than the evidence behind them.
Thorpe said AI can help evaluate impact claims, but only with human judgment and clear standards. “AI will not instinctively assign value to social impact without human influence,” he suggested. “With a bit of guidance, it can accelerate the process of assessing social impact and helping humans make a judgment between companies that tell a good story without substance and those that are making a measurable difference. We don’t have to accept impact storytelling on its face.”
According to PurposeBuilt100, eligible companies will be ranked primarily by verified five-year revenue growth, while also needing to demonstrate authentic purpose in their mission or operations. The program says revenue figures will be used to verify eligibility and calculate rankings, but individual company revenue figures will not be published or disclosed.
The application is designed to be short. The PurposeBuilt100 website says most applicants complete it in three to five minutes and should be prepared to provide basic company information, 2021 and 2025 revenue figures, and a short description of the company’s purpose and impact.
As with any application requiring business financial information, companies should review the program terms and privacy policy before submitting revenue or other confidential information.
The program says there is no application fee and no fee for recognition. Winning companies may choose to purchase additional event tickets or promotional opportunities, but recognition itself is not contingent on payment, according to the program’s FAQ. Complete eligibility and selection rules can be found here.
PurposeBuilt100 is expected to be featured during SuperCrowd26, a three-day virtual event scheduled for Aug. 25 to 27. The program says winning companies will be included in a PurposeBuilt100 report and receive a digital badge, a company profile, a hardbound copy of the report, a company spotlight moment during the SuperCrowd26 broadcast, and media amplification.
Applications are due June 15. Companies interested in reviewing the criteria can visit the PurposeBuilt100 website. Companies ready to apply can use the PurposeBuilt100 Ranking Application.
Karl Dakin, quoted in the article and a supporter of the PurposeBuilt100 program, is the writer of The Speed of Change column in Colorado AI News.
