How We Make The Forbes 30 Under 30 List


Want to make the Under 30 list? Here’s Forbes’ methodology, as well as some frequently asked questions.

By Kristin Stoller


To put together Forbes’ annual 30 Under 30 list, we start by soliciting nominations from the public through our online nominations portal here. Typically, we receive more than 20,000 nominations, collectively, for our North America, Europe and Asia lists.

Forbes writers and editors comb through each and every one of these submissions to find candidates. They also do their own reporting–reaching out to industry sources, analysts, venture capitalists, accelerators and list alumni for recommendations.

These candidates are then evaluated by Forbes staff and a panel of independent, expert judges, who represent the best and the brightest minds in their respective industries. (Taylor Swift, Mark Cuban, Tory Burch and Padma Lakshmi have judged in the past). We look at a variety of factors, including (but not limited to) funding, revenue, investors, social impact, scale, stage, inventiveness and potential.

While financial metrics are top of mind for most categories, there is no specific formula, algorithm or weighting we assign to these factors, as they vary by category and industry. We focus on highlighting entrepreneurs, founders and creators of their own brands–with less of an emphasis on those hired after a company’s founding. Our finalists are then put through background checks.

The first requirement? All final listers must be 29 or younger. Thirty-year-olds are not eligible for this list.

Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about our list:

If I made the list once, can I make it again?

No. If you’ve made a previous North America, Europe or Asia list, you can not make the list again. However, individuals who have appeared on Under 30 Local lists, as well as Under 30 lists by Forbes licensees (such as Forbes France) are still eligible.

Is it better to self-nominate or have a nominator?

If a business legend takes the time to nominate you, great. But if they simply write that you “should be on the list”—that’s not much help. What does help? A tightly-written nomination that provides concrete details on your business (revenue or funding numbers, credible backers, big partners and impact). Think show, not tell.

Do I have a better chance of making the list if I get 10-plus people to repeatedly nominate me?

No. We do not consider volume or amount of nominations in our final decision. We are looking for quality, not quantity. In fact, spamming the nomination portal can be a red flag for our Under 30 reporters.

How do I get on the list?

There’s no one way to get on the list. Candidates are evaluated by Forbes staff and a panel of independent, expert judges on a variety of factors, including (but not limited to) funding, revenue, social impact, scale, inventiveness and potential. We look at these metrics relative to the industry (and category) candidates are being considered for. There is no code, no algorithm, no secret handshake.

Can I pay to be on the list?

No. This is an entirely editorial project. You cannot buy your way onto the Under 30 list.

How and when do I know if I made the list?

Due to the volume of submissions and the nature of the project, no one ever finds out they made the list until the day of publication. Everyone finds out at the same time – when the list goes live on our website. We also do not send receipts of submission confirmation–so no need to ask!

I’m not sure what category to nominate for and I don’t want to miss my chance by applying under the wrong category?

Our Under 30 reporting team is tight–if there’s a submission that an editor believes is a better fit for a different category, we’ll circulate it internally.

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