Maine has once again landed a dozen businesses on the prestigious Inc. 5000 list of the country’s fastest-growing private companies.
But other numbers may not seem as impressive as in years past.
Inc. magazine’s 2022 roster of rising stars, published Tuesday morning, named Origin as the fastest-growing company in Maine, with a national rank of No. 854. The Farmington-based maker of apparel and fitness products recorded three-year revenue growth of 742%, according to Inc.
Last year, Origin was also the fastest grower in Maine, but No. 215 on the annual list and with a revenue increase of 2,034%.
The falloff extends from years back. The top 2022 Inc. ranking in Maine is the state’s lowest since at least 2015, according to the magazine’s records. In some recent years, Maine companies have even scored among the top 100 nationally.
And Origin is not alone. Other perennial Maine powerhouses on the Inc. 5000 achieved more modest ranks this year.
For example, Tilson, the Portland-based technology networking and services firm, is on the list for the 12th time. The company ranks No. 4,593, after coming in at No. 2,098 in 2021 and No. 2,078 in 2020.
While the 2022 rankings of Maine companies show a different pattern from recent years, another trend is consistent. Roughly 12 Maine businesses have ended up among the nation’s 5,000 fastest growers each year since 2015. However, in 2016 the number was eight.
Inc. ranks companies annually according to the percentage of their self-reported revenue increase over the previous three years. To make the list, businesses must have had revenue of at least $2 million in the most recent year, and be privately held, independent companies, not subsidiaries or corporate divisions.
The Maine companies that made the 2022 Inc. 5000 list, each shown with the company’s rank, location and revenue growth, are:
- 854 Origin, Farmington, 742%
- 1,545 Black Point Seafood, Portland, 414%
- 2,065 Cousins Maine Lobster, South Portland, 289%
- 2,998 STARC Systems, Brunswick, 180%
- 3,041 SaviLinx, Brunswick, 178%
- 3,075 Veritas Prime, Portland, 175%
- 3,521 Bedard Medical, Auburn, 147%
- 3,782 Mast Landing Brewing Co., Westbrook, 132%
- 3,844 Mailings Unlimited, Portland, 129%
- 4,045 NexRep, Portland, 119%
- 4,247 Sea Bags LLC, Portland, 108%
- 4,593 Tilson, Portland, 95%.