Homeowners often focus on annual fees when selecting HVAC maintenance plans, but industry experts argue that the true value lies in the fine print. Greg Carlson, president of R. L. Lyon Inc. in Morris, Illinois, suggests that comparing service scopes and priority access is essential to ensuring long-term equipment reliability.
For the seventh consecutive year, Columbia-based Accounting Seed has earned a spot on the Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing private companies. This sustained growth trajectory arrives as the firm scales its AI-driven financial platform to support more than 60,000 active users managing over $25 billion in global revenue.
A 219% revenue surge over the past three years has landed Glen Cove-based Epicured at No. 1595 on the 2026 Inc. 5000 list. The company, which specializes in medically tailored nutrition for chronic disease management, now ranks among the top third of the fastest-growing private firms in the United States.
After building a specialized following online, performance footwear brand SQAIRZ is moving into brick-and-mortar retail through a partnership with SCHEELS. The expansion allows athletes to test the company’s signature square-toe design in person, marking a pivot from a strictly direct-to-consumer model to a broader omnichannel strategy.
The National Kidney Foundation has launched its inaugural Kidney Hero of the Year campaign, a nationwide initiative spotlighting seven individuals who have navigated kidney disease through advocacy, transplantation, or professional care. The project serves as a fundraising drive where public donations function as votes for the final winner.
The 80-20 Educational Foundation and Stand with Asian Americans are set to testify at an EEOC hearing today, challenging a proposed rule that would eliminate mandatory EEO-1 workforce data reporting. The groups argue that removing these requirements would dismantle the primary tool used to identify and combat workplace discrimination.
Eighty percent of U.S. educators now integrate artificial intelligence into their classrooms, a dramatic surge from just 10% three years ago. Despite this technological pivot, teachers and administrators remain skeptical of national education policies, according to the 12th Annual Educator Confidence Report published by HMH.
With over 45 years of combined internal experience, Ziebart has promoted three longtime executives to key leadership positions. The move signals a strategic shift toward deepening franchisee support and operational expertise, as the Troy-based automotive services provider looks to leverage talent developed within its own corporate and store-level ranks.
Pittsburgh-based F.N.B. Corporation is sharpening its focus on ultra-high-net-worth individuals, launching an expanded division dedicated to multigenerational financial planning. By integrating specialized investment banking with private family wealth services, the firm aims to capture a larger share of the complex asset management market.
With the August 20 special meeting approaching, LivePerson’s board of directors is pushing shareholders to support its acquisition by SoundHound AI. The company warns that failing to cast a vote will be counted as a vote against the merger, potentially leaving investors with no value should the deal collapse.
For the third year running, 24 Seven has earned a position on the Inc. 5000 list of America’s fastest-growing private companies. The New York-based firm, which specializes in marketing, creative, and digital staffing, continues to scale its operations amidst a shifting corporate demand for specialized AI and consulting expertise.
A 1,000-spot jump in a single year defines the latest milestone for Chicago-based Portage Point Partners. The advisory firm secured the 880th position on the 2026 Inc. 5000 list, marking six consecutive years of recognition fueled by a three-year revenue growth rate of nearly 400 percent.
Seventy-eight percent of organizations in the United Arab Emirates identify misinformation as their primary communications hurdle, forcing a strategic pivot toward rapid response and data-driven narratives. A new study from The PR Academy MENA reveals how local institutions are transforming from reactive entities into proactive reputation managers.
A 355% revenue surge over three years has propelled Connecticut-based Global Medical Virtual Assistants to the 971st position on the 2026 Inc. 5000 list. This second consecutive appearance highlights the firm’s successful pivot from traditional virtual staffing to a comprehensive healthcare workforce infrastructure partner.
The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases has awarded Zepto Life Technology an $8.9 million contract to accelerate the development of its liquid biopsy platform. The funding aims to transition the FungiFlex system from a centralized reference lab model to a deployable diagnostic tool for hospital microbiology units.
The National Association of Real Estate Brokers has named United Real Estate Richmond the third most productive Black-owned residential brokerage in the United States. The honor, presented at the organization’s 2026 national convention in Las Vegas, highlights the firm’s sustained business growth and its commitment to expanding minority homeownership.
Hearing your standby generator roar to life during a weekly exercise cycle provides a false sense of security, according to Rick Wagner Jr. of Raw Power Generator Services. The expert warns that without a rigorous load test, property owners remain vulnerable to unexpected system failures when the power grid actually goes dark.
Mumbai-based Firstsource Solutions and Sunnyvale’s Cresta have formed a strategic partnership to integrate AI-driven customer experience tools into global enterprise operations. By merging Cresta’s conversational intelligence platform with Firstsource’s domain-specific integration expertise, the companies aim to transition AI deployments from experimental prototypes to production-ready systems with measurable business outcomes.
For the fourth year running, Fort Worth-based Valor has earned a place on the Inc. 5000 list, the annual ranking of the fastest-growing independent companies in the United States. This sustained growth highlights the firm’s expansion in oil and gas asset management and its specialized back-office service solutions.
Investors who purchased securities in Pheton Holdings Ltd.—now rebranded as iTonic Holdings Ltd.—between September 5, 2024, and July 29, 2025, face a September 28, 2026, deadline to join a class action lawsuit alleging a massive pump-and-dump scheme that wiped out hundreds of millions in market value.
Banner Life and William Penn Life have surged to become the largest term life insurance provider in the United States, capturing 13% of the market share by the first quarter of 2026. This climb from seventh place in 2018 follows a record-breaking 2025 performance, during which the firm achieved $239 million in annualized premiums.
Investors tracking private debt now have access to more granular, frequent data as S&P Dow Jones Indices and Lincoln International shift their benchmark series from quarterly to monthly reporting. The expanded toolkit includes new sub-indices designed to offer deeper visibility into the U.S. and European private lending markets.
Singapore-based AI workforce specialist YY Group Holding has incorporated a new subsidiary, YY Logitech Pte. Ltd., to target the evolving demands of the logistics and relocation sectors. The company has appointed industry veteran Sunther Manoher as managing director to oversee the integration of digital tools into supply chain operations.
Yankton-based Shurco, a specialist in cargo containment systems, has acquired Ontario, California’s Heavy Motions. The deal brings high-end hydraulic components into Shurco’s existing tarp and covering lineup, marking a strategic move by owner Behrman Capital to broaden the company’s reach into the construction and waste management sectors.
CleanCore Solutions, the Houston-based developer of AI infrastructure, has priced a public offering at $100 million. The company is issuing 400 million shares of common stock, or pre-funded warrants, alongside accompanying warrants to purchase an equal number of shares, with each unit priced at a combined $0.25.
Commercial buildings often run on outdated schedules, ignoring shifting occupancy patterns and equipment decay. R-Zero is moving to change this with the launch of Continuous Building Savings, a Physical AI tool that identifies high-impact operational adjustments to trim energy expenses without requiring expensive hardware overhauls or major capital investments.
Dr. Reem Z. Sharaiha has completed the first procedure at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center, marking the facility’s official entry into the EASE IDE trial. This multisite study evaluates the EndoZip Automated Suturing System, a technology designed to standardize endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty for patients struggling with obesity.
The 2026 proxy season saw a sharp retreat in environmental, social, and human capital proposals, with filings for these categories dropping by over 30% compared to the previous year. While volume has contracted significantly since the 2024 peak, investors are increasingly pivoting toward governance-related issues and financially material concerns.
Corporate and employee donations are moving to nonprofits 90% faster than industry averages, as Blackbaud rolls out new disbursement capabilities. The company’s updated YourCause suite now enables organizations to receive critical funding in minutes rather than weeks, addressing the growing financial pressure faced by the social impact sector.
St. Louis-based automation platform Capacity has secured the No. 432 spot on the 2026 Inc. 5000 list, a ranking of the fastest-growing private U.S. companies. The placement follows a period of rapid expansion for the firm, which recorded an 813% three-year revenue growth rate and recently surpassed $100 million in ARR.
