Some Like It Hot

Here at Entrepreneur, we're constantly on the lookout for the hottest new entrepreneurs. Seven years ago, we decided to formalize our search, launching our Annual Hot 100 listing.

With the help of Dun & Bradstreet, the world's leading provider of business information, we spotlight the nation's fastest-growing new entrepreneurial companies each and every year.

So what's new this year? What trends can be spotted in our 7th Annual Hot 100? Despite the much-vaunted dotcom shakeout, technology businesses finished stronger than ever before, with 36 of our 100 finalists in that category, and five of those are Web-based-more than in any previous year. In addition, one company in e-learning, an industry whose potential we've long touted, made the list for the first time.

If there's any doubt in your mind that homes-buying, selling and improving them-are hot, our list will eliminate it. Twenty-four of our Hot 100 companies are involved in construction or residential or commercial interiors. And, for the first time, two real estate companies made our list.

Where there's give, there's take, though. While technology and construction are soaring, fewer general manufacturing companies made our Hot list than in years past.

All told, our 100 finalists generated total sales of $935.4 million last year. How did they do it-and how does your business measure up? To find out, we provide a closer look at two of our finalists, along with a complete listing of all 100. Congratulations, all.

Intro
Perfect Memory
Furnished With Profits
Making The Cut
Hot 100
 

This article was originally published in the June 2001 print edition of Entrepreneur with the headline: Some Like It Hot.