Awards Criteria & Selection Process

• Employ fewer than 25 full-time employees (or full-time equivalents)
• Operate a for-profit business for three or more years
• Be located within the Greater Kansas City area

Nominations are accepted from the business community from August to mid-October each year. Qualified nominees complete an application and provide additional support materials that are reviewed by a panel of third-party judges from the business community. The panel of judges reviews the applicants and selects the final 25 honorees according to the following:

• Financial stability
• Ability to overcome obstacles/adversity/challenges
• Community involvement/service
• Distinguishing or defining characteristics/qualities
• Company vision

The 25 finalists are announced in mid-December, and events are scheduled throughout the following February and year to honor the finalists. Honorees are profiled in a special 25 Under 25^® supplement in the February issue of Thinking Bigger Business magazine and are invited to be guests on the “Smart Companies” radio show. In addition, a pre-gala dinner is held for the honorees in mid-February. The events culminate in a black tie optional awards Dinner & Gala held in February. The 25 Under 25^® Dinner & Gala features a cocktail reception, Wall of Fame, dinner and awards presentation.

SAVE THE DATE: Dinner and Awards Gala will be held on March 3, 2012

2011 Dinner & Gala Recap
Nearly 800 people attended the 10th Annual 25 Under 25^® Dinner & Gala on February 26, 2011 at the Grand Ballroom–Kansas City Convention Center. Relive the event through photos and our Red Carpet Video, featuring 25 Under 25^® winners, sponsors and special guests, including Barnett Helzberg Jr., Rick Krska and Pat Brown-Dixon.

Click here to see photo highlights from the Dinner & Gala on Facebook
Click here to purchase photos from the event 

Special Print Supplement
Thinking Bigger Business prints a special 25 Under 25^® supplement in the February issue of its monthly magazine.

For information about placing congratulatory ads or messages to the honorees, please contact an account executive at (913) 432-6690 or send an e-mail to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Pre-Gala Reception
A pre-gala event for the 25 honorees, sponsors, judges, and the 25 Under 25^® advisory committee is held in mid-February each year. This event is an opportunity for the 25 finalists to meet fellow honorees and others associated with the 25 Under 25^® event. By invitation only. Click here for photo highlights of the 2011 pre-gala event hosted by Missouri Bank.

Awards Dinner & Gala
The evening extravaganza features a networking reception, Wall of Fame, sit-down dinner and a choreographed awards ceremony highlighted with music and video featuring the honored companies. In addition to honoring the 25 winners, we also present the Entrepreneurial Legacy Award. The Legacy award is presented to an individual in the community whose contributions have created an environment in which entrepreneurs can thrive. Dress: Black tie optional; formal business attire

Click here for photo highlights of the 2011 Dinner & Gala
Click here for photo highlights of the 2010 Dinner & Gala