My company is public, can I apply? Public companies are not eligible for the Inc. 5000. Click here to learn more about the Inc. 5000. Related articles What if my company was a partnership in 2015 and is now a corporation? What are the eligibility criteria for the Inc. 5000? What if my company is private and independent but is about to be acquired or go public? My company is majority or wholly owned by a venture capital firm, a private equity firm, or an investment bank. Is it eligible? My company's revenue declined in 2016 or 2017. Does that disqualify my business or make It unwise to apply?