PrintPrintRoaring 20 winner Levelwing Media was the highest ranked among Charleston-area companies named to the list of the fastest-growing private companies in the U.S. by Inc. magazine. In all, 25 South Carolina-based companies were named to the list.
By Andy Owens
aowens@scbiznews.com
Published Aug. 24, 2010
Five Charleston-area companies have been named among the fastest-growing private companies in the country, according to today’s edition of Inc. magazine. In all, 25 companies based in South Carolina have been named to the list with most of them concentrated in the Upstate.
Inc.’s 500/5000 list is an annual ranking of the top U.S. private companies based on three-year growth percentage rates. The magazine said it surveys private independent businesses to take a comprehensive look at a critical part of the American economy.
The companies in the Charleston region vary in what they do, including digital media companies, retailers, food and beverage companies, and software and telecommunications businesses.
Mount Pleasant-based Levelwing Media, ranked the highest among the five at 688. The company, which in February was named the fastest-growing in the Charleston region by the Charleston Regional Business Journal, has offices in New York and Mount Pleasant.
Levelwing has been on a hiring spree and is now looking for data analysts and motion graphic artists, said managing partner Steve Parker.
“We’ve hired 30-plus individuals, and we’re still hiring,” Parker said.
Inc.’ editor at large, Leigh Buchanan said it made sense that 20% of the companies on the list were marketing firms, such as Levelwing, or had government contracts.
“These are game changing businesses,” Buchanan said.
Parker said instant access to information allows Levelwing Media to help a business react quickly and effectively.
“Because we focus on the measurable implications of media, we can apply learnings in real time that have immediate impact on a bottom line,” Parker said. “This gives a company business intelligence they never before knew possible.”
South Carolina companies named to Inc. magazine’s 500/5000 list for 2010
| Rank | Company name | 3-year % growth | Revenue (millions) | City |
| 530 | 573% | $44.5 million | Greenville | |
| 688 | 447% | $17.3 million | Mount Pleasant | |
| 691 | 444% | $3.3 million | Fort Mill | |
| 693 | 442% | $7.9 million | Columbia | |
| 832 | 364% | $4.7 million | Mount Pleasant | |
| 978 | 305% | $28 million | Greenville | |
| 1512 | 190% | $3.4 million | Fort Mill | |
| 1611 | 177% | $36.8 million | Pawleys Island | |
| 1940 | 138% | $21.8 million | Mount Pleasant | |
| 2059 | 128% | $13.7 million | Chapin | |
| 2245 | 113% | $6 million | Columbia | |
| 2356 | 106% | $5.4 million | Inman | |
| 2404 | 102% | $4.4 million | North Charleston | |
| 2592 | 90% | $8.9 million | Spartanburg | |
| 2946 | 72% | $25.6 million | Greenville | |
| 3096 | 65% | $3.1 million | Greenville | |
| 3434 | 52% | $4.6 million | Greenville | |
| 3548 | 48% | $5 million | Greenville | |
| 3594 | 46% | $202.5 million | Greenville | |
| 3598 | 46% | $5.1 million | West Columbia | |
| 3969 | 33% | $2.6 million | Charleston | |
| 4238 | 25% | $54.7 million | Chapin | |
| 4620 | 15% | $10.1 million | Rock Hill | |
| 4768 | 10% | $11.9 million | Greenville | |
| 4834 | 8% | $193 million | Columbia |
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