INAUGURAL CLASS · 2027

MICROCAP HONORS

Celebrating the best leaders, innovators, and companies in American small business.

START A NOMINATION HOW IT WORKS

Nominations open November 1, 2026 · Close December 31

Built for the companies too small for the national awards
and too independent for private equity.

Owned by founders, families, or management
Employee-owned companies qualify too
$1–10 million in EBITDA
Or operating cash flow
No private equity or venture backing
And not a Shore portfolio company
Dec 31, 2026
Nominations close
Apr 1, 2027
Finalists announced
May 27, 2027
Awards ceremony · Chicago

How it works

Four steps from nomination to the stage. The first one takes about five minutes.

STEP ONE

Nominate

Self or third-party nominations. About five minutes, no paperwork.

STEP TWO

Screen

Analysts verify eligibility and data, then narrow the field to a shortlist.

STEP THREE

Judge

Independent panels score every finalist on published scorecards.

STEP FOUR

Reveal

Finalists announced April 1. Winners named May 27 in Chicago.

CEREMONY · MAY 27, 2027 · CHICAGO
Nominate a leader or company

National business awards are built for companies ten times this size. The founders, CEOs, finance leaders, and operators running $1–10M EBITDA businesses do the hardest work in American enterprise and almost never hear their names read aloud.

What winners receive

  • Shore's premier strategy session for their business
  • One year of access to Shore's Learning Management System for their team
  • An invitation to Shore's ELA conference in July

Most of these leaders will never be nominated unless someone who works alongside them does it.

Nominate a leader or company

Nominate

Choose an honor to begin. Nominations take about five minutes.

Leadership honors

CEO of the Year
Chief executive
Nominate
Founder of the Year
Founder or co-founder, still building
Nominate
Financial Professional of the Year
CFO, Head of Finance, or Finance Director
Nominate
Operator of the Year
COO, President, or General Manager
Nominate

Company honors

Healthcare Company of the Year
Healthcare services and supplies
Nominate
Business Services Company of the Year
B2B services
Nominate
Food & Beverage Company of the Year
Food, beverage, and supply chain products
Nominate
Industrials Company of the Year
Manufacturing and industrial services
Nominate

Who is eligible. Companies must be U.S.-based, have trailing-twelve-month EBITDA (or operating cash flow) between $1M and $10M, not be backed by private equity or venture capital, and not be a current Shore Capital Partners portfolio company. Nominees for leadership honors must have held their role for at least 12 months.

Read the FAQ

About Microcap Honors

Microcap Honors recognizes the leaders and companies driving bold growth in America's micro-cap market: businesses with $1 to 10 million in EBITDA that are too often overlooked by national programs.

Why it exists

Microcap Honors gives America's best small businesses and their leaders the recognition they deserve. The honors are purpose-built for companies earning $1–10M in EBITDA and the people who lead them. The inaugural class will set the standard of excellence for every class that follows.

How it's judged

Eight honors: four for leaders, four for companies. Twelve judges across independent panels score every finalist on published scorecards, averaged with no weighting. Data is collected at nomination and verified for finalists.

Growth
Revenue growth over the trailing three years
All honors
Profitability
EBITDA margin and how it has trended
All honors
Culture
Retention and internal promotion
All honors
Entrepreneurial
A bold, non-obvious bet and what it produced
Leadership honors
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FOUNDED BY SHORE CAPITAL PARTNERS · JUDGED INDEPENDENTLY

Frequently asked questions

U.S.-based companies with trailing-twelve-month EBITDA (or operating cash flow) of $1–10M that are not PE- or VC-backed and are not current Shore Capital Partners portfolio companies.
Yes. Both self-nominations and third-party nominations are welcome.
A best estimate is fine. You select a range; finalists provide verified financials later.
Yes. Nominees must have held the role for at least 12 months.
Yes. Submit a separate nomination for each honor.
No. Microcap Honors was founded by Shore Capital Partners and is judged independently. Companies backed by private equity or venture capital, and Shore portfolio companies, are not eligible. Nomination information may be shared with Shore Capital Partners' investment team.
About five minutes. No paperwork is required.
Analysts screen for eligibility and completeness, then independent judging panels score the shortlist.
On published scorecards: Growth, Profitability, Culture, and (for leadership honors) Entrepreneurial Spirit, averaged equally.
Only if they're selected as a finalist. Five finalists will be selected per honor.
No.
Nominations open November 1, 2026 and close December 31, 2026.
April 1, 2027.
May 27, 2027, in Chicago.

Sponsors & partners

PRESENTED BY

Founder and presenting sponsor of Microcap Honors. About Shore Capital Partners

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SILVER & PARTNERS

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