RIVAL EARNS TWO PRESTIGIOUS HONORS RECOGNIZING FASTEST-GROWING COMPANIES

Back-to-back Awards From Inc. Magazine & Adweek Cap Three Years Of Remarkable Growth

Rival, the independent, integrated marketing consultancy with offices in Boston, London and Cape Town, has been recognized as one of America’s fastest-growing private companies in two of the most coveted annual business rankings presented by the general business and advertising press.

Inc. Magazine named Rival to its 2026 “Inc. 5000” list, the most prestigious ranking of America’s fastest-growing private companies. Rival was ranked #1031. Adweek named Rival #12 among all advertising agencies in the “Adweek Fastest Growing Agencies 2026” issue, published today.

Both awards were based, in part, on Rival’s exceptional record of growth across new business, operating revenues and company size. Inc. Magazine’s criteria measures growth from fiscal year 2022 to fiscal year 2025, when Rival’s revenues grew 341 percent. Employee head count increased 433 percent. Adweek considered Rival’s 2024-2025 YOY revenue growth of 210 percent.

“Coming within the last two weeks, this double recognition from media as respected as Inc. magazine and Adweek, is a huge honor – but more importantly it’s a reflection of the impact of the work our team has done in partnership with our amazing clients,” said Eric Fulwiler, co-founder and CEO, Rival.

“Our mission is to challenge the convention of our category and help our clients challenge theirs.” Fulwiler said. “The marketing industry is going through a huge period of disruption and we’re proud to be one of the challengers redefining what the next-generation agency looks like.”

The Inc. 5000 is cited as one of the most noteworthy rankings of the nation’s fastest-growing independent and entrepreneurial businesses, recognizing companies that have achieved remarkable growth while driving innovation, creating jobs and shaping the future of the economy. Past honorees include companies such as Microsoft, Meta, Chobani, Oracle and Patagonia.

Adweek’s Fastest-Growing Agencies honors companies large and small from all over the world whose industry presence is on the rise and is one of the most sought-after awards in the global advertising industry. For 2026, Adweek ranked Rival as the 12-fastest growing agency. Among other metrics, Adweek’s selection was based on Rival’s 2024-2025 YOY revenue growth of 210 percent and its continued expansion of its diverse, integrated offerings.

Criteria that impacted Adweek’s selection included Rival’s rapid expansion of creative and media capabilities, supported by multiple acquisitions, including design and retail media, and a significant investment in building Rival Intelligence, their proprietary AI platform. Rival is also building a significant media property to serve CMOs, including the “Scratch” podcast, the “Future of the CMO” documentary series and original, proprietary research products. The work reaches senior marketers directly, sharpens the agency’s proprietary thinking and feeds a steady pipeline of new business conversations. The agency’s growth is further enhanced by thought leadership and executive visibility at Cannes, SXSW, Web Summit, ANA and WARC that draws from more than 10,000 hours of research conducted over the last five years. Chief among the agency’s IP assets is “The Rival 50,” an annual list of the 50 global brands that are rewriting the rules of modern marketing, created in partnership with Imperial College London.

The Inc. 5000 and Adweek honors follow Rival being named to The Sunday Times Of London’s “Best Places to Work 2026” list in the Small Organizations category. With offices in Boston, London and Cape Town, empowers brands to challenge and disrupt the conventions in their categories to deliver outsized and innovative solutions. The agency’s capabilities include brand development, go-to-market strategy, media planning and buying, data and martech management and creative production. The agency publishes regular research, produces original events and thought leadership content focused on defining the playbook that delivers success for challenger brands.

Source: Rival

  ADWEEK, Agency, growth, Inc. 5000, Inc. Magazine, Rival