NEW YORK, August 24, 2010 -- Inc. magazine today announced its 29th annual Inc. 500, an exclusive ranking of the nation's fastest-growing private companies. The list spotlights the risk takers whose innovative business models and formidable execution have taken their companies to the top of the heap in terms of percentage revenue growth over the past three years. Companies such as Microsoft, Zappos, Intuit, GoDaddy, Zipcar, Clif Bar, American Apparel, Oracle, and many other well-known names gained early exposure as members of the Inc. 500.

This year’s fastest-growing company is Ambit Energy, a Dallas-based business that buys electricity and natural gas at wholesale prices and resells the energy to customers acquired through a direct sales channel. The company saw $325 million in revenue in 2009 and a three-year growth rate of 20,369 percent. Universal Business Solutions Inc. (UBSNA) has been ranked 242.

The 2010 Inc. 500, unveiled in the September issue of Inc. (available on newsstands August 24 to November 16 and on Inc.com), is a group of companies that are smaller but much faster-growing than last year’s crop. Aggregate revenue is $11.3 billion—down from last year's $18.4 billion—but median three-year growth is 1,231 percent, substantially up from last year’s 880.5 percent. The companies on this year's list employ more than 45,000 people. The largest company on the list, with $849 million in revenue, is also the oldest: Freedom Group, a manufacturer of firearms and ammunition, traces its roots back to the founding of Remington in 1816. Complete results of the Inc. 500, including company profiles and an interactive database that can be sorted by industry, region, and other criteria, can be found on Inc.com/500.

“Fast growth at any time is a big achievement; fast growth during the past few years is just short of miraculous,” said Inc. editor Jane Berentson. “The Inc. 500 consists of these just-short-of-miraculous companies, the ones that through ingenuity and ambition have increased revenue, hired employees, and grown fast in difficult economic times.”