Ziplines Education Ranks No. 297 on the 2026 Inc. 5000 List of America's Fastest-Growing Private Companies

San Carlos, August 13, 2026–  Ziplines Education, the leading national career accelerator partnering with universities to upskill adult professionals, has been named to the 2026  Inc. 5000 list, the most prestigious ranking of the fastest-growing private companies in America. Ziplines holds the No. 297 spot this year and joins a list whose past honorees include companies such as Microsoft, Meta, Chobani, Oracle, and Patagonia.

“Being named to the Inc. 5000 for a second consecutive year reflects demand, not just growth,” says Sara Leoni, CEO and Founder of Ziplines. “AI is rewriting the skills nearly every job requires, and millions of working professionals need a credible way to catch up. Universities are where that retraining belongs, and our job is to help them deliver it at the speed the market now requires.”

This year, Ziplines’ ranks #4 in Inc. 5000's Education category, with 1,158% three-year growth. The company partners with more than 30 colleges and universities to close the gap between higher education and industry, upskilling over 40,000 professional learners through flexible, cohort-based online certificate courses that deliver the skills and industry-recognized credentials aligned to what employers demand in the evolving workforce.

Over the past year, Ziplines launched a new suite of five-week certificate courses — AI for HR, AI for Sales professionals, AI for Data Analysis, and AI for Marketing — designed to help professionals put generative AI and no-code tools to work without a technical background. The courses build on Ziplines' track record: more than 90% of learners report increased confidence, and 94% say they're applying their new skills on the job.

“Every company on the Inc. 5000 has a story of perseverance, smart decision-making, and a refusal to sit still,” says Mike Hofman, editor-in-chief of Inc. “Their growth reflects more than strong financial performance–it reflects creativity, resilience, and the customer focus required to build companies that make a lasting impact. We congratulate all honorees on this significant achievement.”

Inc. will celebrate the honorees at the 2026 Inc. 5000 Conference & Gala, taking place October 14–16 in Dallas, Texas, and the top 500 will be listed in the Fall issue of Inc. Magazine.

Inc. 5000 List Methodology

Companies on the 2026 Inc. 5000 are ranked according to percentage revenue growth from 2022 to 2025. To qualify, companies must have been founded and generating revenue by March 31, 2022. They must be U.S.-based, privately held, for-profit, and independent—not subsidiaries or divisions of other companies—as of December 31, 2025. (Since then, some on the list may have gone public or been acquired.) The minimum revenue required for 2022 is $100,000; the minimum for 2025 is $2 million.

About Ziplines Education

Ziplines Education collaborates with 30+ public and regional universities to design, launch, and grow workforce-aligned certificates that build skills, confidence, and career mobility. Practitioner-led and cohort-based, our model helps institutions adapt at the speed of work, so learners and regions thrive as the economy evolves, driven by technology and accelerated by AI. Learn more at ziplines.com.

About Inc.

Inc. is the leading media brand and playbook for the entrepreneurs and business leaders shaping our future. Through its journalism, Inc. aims to inform, educate, and elevate the profile of its community: the risk-takers, the innovators, and the ultra-driven go-getters who are creating the future of business. Inc. is published by Mansueto Ventures LLC, along with fellow leading business publication Fast Company. For more information, visit www.inc.com.

Media Contact
Alyssa Miller
alyssa@ammediaworks.com
973-615-1292

‍