REQUIREMENTS
Companies must meet the below criteria to be eligible for application.
1. Company must have been in continuous business for five years or more as of November 30, 2024;
2. Company must have verifiable annual revenues of $250,000 or more every year for 2021-2023;
3. Company must be Gator owned or led by a University of Florida alum or former student who served as a chief executive (e.g. CEO, President, Managing Partner, Owner, etc.) for the period of January 1, 2021 – November 30, 2024.
4. Company must operate in a manner consistent with the values and image of the University of Florida.
Publicly-traded companies are eligible to apply for Gator100. Company executive leadership must meet the requirements stated above (e.g. CEO, President, Managing Partner, Owner, etc.) for the period of January 1, 2021 – November 30, 2024 and be listed on the company’s most recent SEC Form 10-K . This form must be submitted during the online application process for leadership verification.
REVENUE VERIFICATION
Rankings are calculated by our independent accounting firm, Ernst & Young LLP (EY) using a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR). Companies must submit baseline financial data via the Gator100 Revenue Verification Form.
To ensure the integrity and credibility of the ranked list, EY confidentially manages all applicant financial data. This information will never be shared with a third party, including the University of Florida or its personnel. As such, no parties will enter into a non-disclosure agreement.
EY reserves the right to request further documentation to verify the revenues reported in the Revenue Verification Form. If you are unable to submit the Gator100 Revenue Verification Form, submit one of the following forms to EY to verify sales or revenues (net of returns):
(1) Audited or reviewed financial statements by an external CPA firm (i.e. auditors signed opinion letter) for the years 2023, 2022 and 2021, or your most recently completed three fiscal years. Note, internal letters from auditors are not permissible.
(2) The business' signed U.S. Income Tax Return for the years 2023, 2022 and 2021, or your most recently completed three fiscal years (forms accepted: 1120, 1120S, 1065, Schedule C).
The revenue verification form OR one of the financial information forms listed above must be emailed directly to EY at Gator100@ey.com by 11:59 pm (EST) on November 30, 2024.
The University of Florida reserves the following rights: (1) to independently verify that applicants meet all criteria; (2) reject any applicant for any reason, including previous receipt of the Gator100 award and/or any other awards giving by the University of Florida; (3) modify requirements as needed without notification and (4) use awardee information and imagery as they best see fit.