Rebel Cheese Named No. 761 on the 2026 Inc. 5000 List, the Most Prestigious Ranking of America’s Fastest-Growing Private Companies
Company Recognized for 455% Three-Year Revenue Growth, Earning a Place Among the Nation’s Most Successful Independent Businesses
Austin, TX, August 11, 2026 – Rebel Cheese announced it has been ranked No. 761 on the 2026 Inc. 5000 list, the annual list of the fastest-growing private companies in America. The list is the most prestigious ranking of the nation’s most successful 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.
Rebel Cheese on the 2026 Inc. 5000:
- No. 761 overall — up from No. 1,657 in 2025, a climb of 896 spots
- No. 2 among Texas food & beverage companies — up from No. 6
- No. 35 in Food & Beverage nationwide — up from No. 59
- No. 89 in Texas across all industries
- No. 31 in the Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX metro
- 455% three-year revenue growth
- 2nd consecutive year as an Inc. 5000 honoree
"Last year was our first time on the list. Climbing almost 900 spots since then is hard to wrap our heads around. Growth like this happens slowly, and ours happened in the kitchen, where our team turns the wheels and checks the rinds every single day, so that every bite tastes exactly the way we intended. That's what got us here, and we couldn't be more grateful for our team and every one of you who keeps ordering. Thank you."
– Kirsten Maitland & Fred Zwar, Co-Founders of Rebel Cheese
This year’s Inc. 5000 recognizes a new class of companies redefining what growth looks like. From AI and advanced manufacturing to healthcare, consumer products, and professional services, these businesses are expanding their impact, creating jobs and proving that entrepreneurial ambition continues to fuel the U.S. economy. Among the 5,000 companies on the list, the median three-year revenue growth rate was 130%, and those companies have collectively added more than 627,208 jobs to the U.S. economy over the past three years. For the full Inc. 5000 list, honoree company profiles, and a searchable database by industry and location, please visit: www.inc.com/inc5000.
“Every company on the Inc. 5000 has a story of perseverance, smart decision making, and a refusal to sit still,” says Mike Hofman, editor-in-chief of Inc. “Their growth reflects more than strong financial performance–it reflects creativity, resilience, and the customer focus required to build companies that make a lasting impact. We congratulate all honorees on this significant achievement.”
Methodology
Companies on the 2026 Inc. 5000 are ranked according to percentage revenue growth from 2022 to 2025. To qualify, companies must have been founded and generating revenue by March 31, 2022. They must be U.S.-based, privately held, for-profit, and independent—not subsidiaries or divisions of other companies—as of December 31, 2025. (Since then, some on the list may have gone public or been acquired.) The minimum revenue required for 2022 is $100,000; the minimum for 2025 is $2 million. As always, Inc. reserves the right to decline applicants for subjective reasons.
About Rebel Cheese
Rebel Cheese is an Austin-based artisanal plant-based cheese company redefining dairy-free cheesemaking through traditional techniques and sustainable innovation. Celebrated for our cave-aged brie and original takes on beloved dairy classics, we’ve earned national recognition through our Shark Tank appearance and features in VegNews, The New York Times, and more. Every cheese reflects our commitment to craftsmanship, community, and proving plant-based can be just as delicious as the dairy alternative.
About Inc.
Inc. is the leading media brand and playbook for the entrepreneurs and business leaders
shaping our future. Through its journalism, Inc. aims to inform, educate, and elevate the profile of its community: the risk-takers, the innovators, and the ultra-driven go-getters who are creating the future of business. Inc. is published by Mansueto Ventures LLC, along with fellow leading business publication Fast Company. For more information, visit www.inc.com.