What is The Cloud 100 or 20 Rising Stars?
The Cloud 100 is the definitive list of the top 100 private cloud companies in the world. Companies named to the list are recognized within the industry as the top-tier private companies leading the cloud technology revolution.
The Cloud 100 is published in Forbes' August/September issue and on Forbes.com. Those named to the list are celebrated at The Cloud 100, an exclusive event attended by CEOs of the leading public cloud companies, members of the Cloud 100, industry influencers and luminaries.
The 20 Rising Stars are the 20 category-leading young, fast-growing cloud companies that have raised less than $25 million in funding and are poised to join the ranks of the Cloud 100. Like the Cloud 100, the 20 Rising Stars will be invited to attend The Cloud 100.
What do we consider a cloud company?
To be eligible for the Cloud 100, a company must be primarily involved in providing cloud software and services to their customers.
What is the methodology for determining the winners and ranking?
We consider and evaluate nominated companies, last year’s Cloud 100 and Rising Stars, and recognized category leaders. There are four factors we weigh in the evaluation process. These factors, and the relevant weights, are used to select, score, and rank the winners.
Note that only independent cloud companies that have not had a majority strategic or private equity M&A transaction or public listing historically are considered for the list.
Estimated valuation (30%): Based on third-party data providers, an estimate of valuation is determined. In some cases, this estimate is a range rather than a specific number.
Operating metrics (20%): As part of the nomination process, ranges are collected on metrics like revenue and growth.
People & culture (15%): Based on third-party data providers, each company is evaluated on both their size (e.g., # of people, growth in # of people) as well as culture.
Market leadership (35%): The official Cloud 100 judge panel, comprised primarily of public Cloud CEOs, provides their qualitative input and assessment of the companies’ market leadership in various Cloud sectors.
These factors, and the relevant weights, are used to select, score, and rank the winners.
How do I nominate my company?
You can submit your company when nominations open in May, 2024. In 2023, if your company raised less than $25 million in funding, you will automatically be considered for the Rising Stars. If your company raised more than $25 million in funding, you will be considered for The Cloud 100.
Are there any associated costs with the Cloud 100?
There is no cost to submit or if your company is selected to be on the Cloud 100 list.
Does it matter who nominates my company?
No, anyone can submit nominations to The Cloud 100 and most companies will self nominate. If you know a company that should be nominated, but can't fill out the required questions in the submission form, email questions@thecloud100.com and we will reach out to them directly.
How will The Cloud 100 companies be notified and recognized?
The Cloud 100 and the 20 Rising Star winners will be notified via email before the list is officially published in Forbes' August/September issue and on Forbes.com. Those named to the list will also receive an invitation to The Cloud 100 Celebration, an exclusive event hosted by Forbes, Bessemer Venture Partners, and Salesforce Ventures.
The submission form asks for financial information. Who will see my data?
Financial information requested in the nomination form is a core part of the evaluation process. All financial information requested in the nomination form is either in the form of data ranges or is optional. Financial information you provide will be viewed only as described in the Privacy Policy and will never be shared with our judges or event partners. Judges will receive a summary numerical score to protect the confidential data of nominees. No financial information will be shared publicly without company approval (except for names of winners, the final ranking, and anonymized benchmarking data). The only time financial information may be shown publicly is in aggregate form for benchmarking purposes only. Usage of company information is governed by the Privacy Policy below.
This Privacy Policy (the “Policy”) explains how information about that directly identifies you (“personal information”) is collected, used and disclosed by Bessemer Venture Partners (“Company,” “we” or “us”) in connection with our website at thecloud100.com (the “Site”). The Policy also may describe some of our practices for information that we collect or obtain that does not directly identify you. While this information is not personal information under this Policy, we may choose to treat it as personal information in our sole discretion. By visiting or submitting a nomination through the Site, you signify that you have read, understood and agree to the collection, storage, use and disclosure of your personal information as described in this Policy.
1. We collect information and personal information in connection with your visits to and use of the Site. This collection includes information that you provide in connection with the Site and information that is collected automatically such as through the use of cookies and other technologies.
Information That You Provide
We collect information and personal information from you. The categories of information we collect can include:
● Nomination information. We collect information that you provide when you submit a nomination for The Cloud 100. This information may include your name and e-mail address, as well as information about the company that you nominate.
● Inquiries and Feedback. If you contact us, we will collect the information that you provide us, such as your contact information and the contents of your communication with us.
By providing us with information, you represent and warrant that you have all required permissions to provide us with the information.
Information That Is Automatically Collected (Cookies and Other Technologies)
We also automatically collect information about you and any computer or device you use to access the Site. Some of the information we collect, and ways we collect it, include:
● Cookies. When you visit the Site, we may send one or more cookies — small text files containing a string of alphanumeric characters — to your computer or device that allows us to uniquely identify your browser, computer, or device. A cookie may also convey other information to us, such as your Internet Protocol (“IP”) address, unique device identifiers, your browser settings and specifications, and information about how you use the Site (e.g., the pages you view, the links you click, and other actions you take on the Site). Cookies also allow us to track your usage of the Site over time.
● Log Files. We may record log file information each time you access the Site. This information may include information such as your web request, IP address, browser type, unique device identifiers, information about your device, referring / exit pages and URLs, number of clicks and how you interact with links on the Site, domain names, landing pages, pages viewed, and other such information.
● Clear Gifs. We may employ clear gifs (also known as web beacons or pixel tags) which may collect information about you, your computer or device such as your web request, IP address, unique device identifiers, browser type, information about your device, pages viewed, information about cookies, all of which can show your Site usage patterns.
Mobile Device Information. When you access the Site with a mobile device, we may collect and store a unique identifier associated with your device, mobile carrier, device type, model and manufacturer, operating system brand and model, or similar information regarding the location of your mobile device.
2. Third Party Tracking and Online Advertising.
We may permit third party ad networks, social media companies, and other third party services to collect information about you, your computer or device when you visit or use the Site. This information may be collected automatically, including through cookies, social media plug-ins, and other technologies. The information collected, and manner in which it is collected, may include the information and methods described in the “Information We Collect, and How We Collect It” Section above, under the “Information That Is Automatically Collected (Cookies and Other Technologies)” heading. These third parties may collect information about your use of the Site over time, and they may combine it with other information that they possess or obtain about you, such as about your use of other websites and services. These third parties may use this information for our or for third party purposes, including commercial purposes such as tailoring advertising to you on the Site or in other locations like third party websites and services. For information about choices that you may have about this information collection and use, see the “Your Choices” Section below.
3. How We Use Information
We collect, use, process, combine, retain and store personal information that we collect or receive for a variety of purposes, including the following:
- For our business activities, including to operate the Site and accept any nominations you make;
- To announce and publicize companies that are selected for The Cloud 100;
- To communicate with you and respond to your requests, such as to respond to your questions, and contact you about your nomination or changes to the Site;
- For our marketing and advertising purposes, such as to communicate with you about our business and services, and opportunities for collaboration;
- For analytics and research purposes, including announcing and publicizing benchmarking data as long as individual company financial performance metrics are not publicized;
- To enforce this Policy, to resolve disputes, and otherwise to carry out our obligations and enforce our rights, and to protect our business interests and the interests and rights of third parties;
- To comply with contractual and legal obligations and requirements;
- To fulfill any other purpose for which you provide personal information; and
- For any other lawful purpose, or other purpose that you consent to.
4. Sharing of Information
We also share and provide personal information to third parties, including:
- To Forbes, to judges, and to others that help us in selecting and publicizing The Cloud 100; provided that neither Forbes, the judges or others will receive full financial information;
- To service providers, subcontractors, partners, consultants, and others subject to confidentiality obligations with us that help us with any of the purposes noted above or otherwise in this Policy;
- To our affiliates, all for the purposes noted above or otherwise in this Policy;
- To third parties to respond or comply with, in our sole discretion, a court order, subpoena, law enforcement or other government request (with or without notice to you, in our discretion);
- To other third parties upon your consent; and
- To third parties, in our discretion, to: (i) satisfy any applicable law or regulation, (ii) enforce this Policy, including the investigation of potential violations thereof, (iii) investigate and defend ourselves against any third party claims or allegations, or (iv) protect against harm to the rights, property or safety of us, the Site, other Site users, or third parties.
5. Information Access and Correction
In general, we do not maintain personal information in a format that you can access or change. If you would like to request access to, or correction or deletion of personal information that you have provided us, you may send your request to us at questions@thecloud100.com. We will review your request, and may require you to provide additional information to identify yourself, but we do not promise that we will be able to satisfy your request. For example, the personal information may already have been relied or acted upon, and we generally do not take steps (or have the ability to take steps) to undo prior reliance or actions. We also may not accommodate a request to change information if we believe the change would violate any law or legal requirement, cause the information to be incorrect, or if doing so would be burdensome in our discretion.
6. Your Choices
We strive to give you choices about how your personal information is used. These choices include the following:
Marketing E-Mails. We may send you marketing e-mails from time to time. If you do not wish to receive them, you can opt-out following the unsubscribe instructions in the e-mails. We will work to honor your request within 10 business days. If you opt-out, we will still send you e-mails for service purposes, such as for responses to your requests.
Online Advertising. As described above in this Policy, we collect and may permit third parties to collect information using cookies and other technologies. You may be able to “opt out” of some of this information collection by actively managing the settings on your browser or mobile device, but we do not promise that such settings will be effective. Please refer to your browser’s or mobile device’s technical information for information on the settings offered for cookies or other tracking technologies. To learn more about cookies, you may wish to visit https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0042-cookies-leaving-trail-web and/or the Digital Advertising Alliance’s Consumer Choice Opt-Out pages at http://www.aboutads.info/choices and http://www.aboutads.info/choices-mobile (for mobile devices).
7. Do Not Track Preferences
While we want to honor your privacy as described in this Policy, unfortunately the Site does not monitor for or behave differently if your computer or browser transmits a “do not track” or similar message to us or the Site.
8. Data Protection
We take what we believe to be commercially reasonable steps to help protect personal information that we collect, but we do not guarantee that personal information will be completely protected. For example, the transmission of information via the Internet is not completely secure. Any transmission of personal information by you is at your own risk. We are not responsible for the illegal acts of third parties (such as criminal hacking).
9. Data Retention
We tend to keep personal information for as long as we deem necessary for our business purposes, or as otherwise required to operate the Site, comply with your requests, or comply with applicable law.
10. Information From Children
The Site is not directed to children under the age of 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children under the age of 13. If you are a parent or guardian of a child under the age of 13, and believe that your child may have provided us with personal information, please contact us at questions@thecloud100.com and we will use commercially reasonable efforts to delete that information.
11. Third Party Websites
The Site may provide links to third party websites and online services. This Policy does not describe the privacy practices of those websites or services. Please review the privacy policies of those websites or services before providing personal information to them.
12. Updates to This Policy
We may amend this Policy from time to time. When we do so, we will update the “Last Revision Date” at the end of the Policy. Your continued use of the Site after an updated Policy is posted constitutes your consent to the revised Policy.
Who can I contact with additional questions?
Please contact us at questions@thecloud100.com
Last Revision Date: 2024
This Privacy Policy (the “Policy”) explains how information about that directly identifies you (“personal information”) is collected, used and disclosed by Bessemer Venture Partners (“Company,” “we” or “us”) in connection with our website at thecloud100.com (the “Site”). The Policy also may describe some of our practices for information that we collect or obtain that does not directly identify you. While this information is not personal information under this Policy, we may choose to treat it as personal information in our sole discretion. By visiting or submitting a nomination through the Site, you signify that you have read, understood and agree to the collection, storage, use and disclosure of your personal information as described in this Policy.
1. We collect information and personal information in connection with your visits to and use of the Site. This collection includes information that you provide in connection with the Site and information that is collected automatically such as through the use of cookies and other technologies.
Information That You Provide
We collect information and personal information from you. The categories of information we collect can include:
● Nomination information. We collect information that you provide when you submit a nomination for The Cloud 100. This information may include your name and e-mail address, as well as information about the company that you nominate.
● Inquiries and Feedback. If you contact us, we will collect the information that you provide us, such as your contact information and the contents of your communication with us.
By providing us with information, you represent and warrant that you have all required permissions to provide us with the information.
Information That Is Automatically Collected (Cookies and Other Technologies)
We also automatically collect information about you and any computer or device you use to access the Site. Some of the information we collect, and ways we collect it, include:
● Cookies. When you visit the Site, we may send one or more cookies — small text files containing a string of alphanumeric characters — to your computer or device that allows us to uniquely identify your browser, computer, or device. A cookie may also convey other information to us, such as your Internet Protocol (“IP”) address, unique device identifiers, your browser settings and specifications, and information about how you use the Site (e.g., the pages you view, the links you click, and other actions you take on the Site). Cookies also allow us to track your usage of the Site over time.
● Log Files. We may record log file information each time you access the Site. This information may include information such as your web request, IP address, browser type, unique device identifiers, information about your device, referring / exit pages and URLs, number of clicks and how you interact with links on the Site, domain names, landing pages, pages viewed, and other such information.
● Clear Gifs. We may employ clear gifs (also known as web beacons or pixel tags) which may collect information about you, your computer or device such as your web request, IP address, unique device identifiers, browser type, information about your device, pages viewed, information about cookies, all of which can show your Site usage patterns.
Mobile Device Information. When you access the Site with a mobile device, we may collect and store a unique identifier associated with your device, mobile carrier, device type, model and manufacturer, operating system brand and model, or similar information regarding the location of your mobile device.
2. Third Party Tracking and Online Advertising.
We may permit third party ad networks, social media companies, and other third party services to collect information about you, your computer or device when you visit or use the Site. This information may be collected automatically, including through cookies, social media plug-ins, and other technologies. The information collected, and manner in which it is collected, may include the information and methods described in the “Information We Collect, and How We Collect It” Section above, under the “Information That Is Automatically Collected (Cookies and Other Technologies)” heading. These third parties may collect information about your use of the Site over time, and they may combine it with other information that they possess or obtain about you, such as about your use of other websites and services. These third parties may use this information for our or for third party purposes, including commercial purposes such as tailoring advertising to you on the Site or in other locations like third party websites and services. For information about choices that you may have about this information collection and use, see the “Your Choices” Section below.
3. How We Use Information
We collect, use, process, combine, retain and store personal information that we collect or receive for a variety of purposes, including the following:
- For our business activities, including to operate the Site and accept any nominations you make;
- To announce and publicize companies that are selected for The Cloud 100;
- To communicate with you and respond to your requests, such as to respond to your questions, and contact you about your nomination or changes to the Site;
- For our marketing and advertising purposes, such as to communicate with you about our business and services, and opportunities for collaboration;
- For analytics and research purposes, including announcing and publicizing benchmarking data as long as individual company financial performance metrics are not publicized;
- To enforce this Policy, to resolve disputes, and otherwise to carry out our obligations and enforce our rights, and to protect our business interests and the interests and rights of third parties;
- To comply with contractual and legal obligations and requirements;
- To fulfill any other purpose for which you provide personal information; and
- For any other lawful purpose, or other purpose that you consent to.
4. Sharing of Information
We also share and provide personal information to third parties, including:
- To Forbes, to judges, and to others that help us in selecting and publicizing The Cloud 100; provided that neither Forbes, the judges or others will receive full financial information;
- To service providers, subcontractors, partners, consultants, and others subject to confidentiality obligations with us that help us with any of the purposes noted above or otherwise in this Policy;
- To our affiliates, all for the purposes noted above or otherwise in this Policy;
- To third parties to respond or comply with, in our sole discretion, a court order, subpoena, law enforcement or other government request (with or without notice to you, in our discretion);
- To other third parties upon your consent; and
- To third parties, in our discretion, to: (i) satisfy any applicable law or regulation, (ii) enforce this Policy, including the investigation of potential violations thereof, (iii) investigate and defend ourselves against any third party claims or allegations, or (iv) protect against harm to the rights, property or safety of us, the Site, other Site users, or third parties.
5. Information Access and Correction
In general, we do not maintain personal information in a format that you can access or change. If you would like to request access to, or correction or deletion of personal information that you have provided us, you may send your request to us at questions@thecloud100.com. We will review your request, and may require you to provide additional information to identify yourself, but we do not promise that we will be able to satisfy your request. For example, the personal information may already have been relied or acted upon, and we generally do not take steps (or have the ability to take steps) to undo prior reliance or actions. We also may not accommodate a request to change information if we believe the change would violate any law or legal requirement, cause the information to be incorrect, or if doing so would be burdensome in our discretion.
6. Your Choices
We strive to give you choices about how your personal information is used. These choices include the following:
Marketing E-Mails. We may send you marketing e-mails from time to time. If you do not wish to receive them, you can opt-out following the unsubscribe instructions in the e-mails. We will work to honor your request within 10 business days. If you opt-out, we will still send you e-mails for service purposes, such as for responses to your requests.
Online Advertising. As described above in this Policy, we collect and may permit third parties to collect information using cookies and other technologies. You may be able to “opt out” of some of this information collection by actively managing the settings on your browser or mobile device, but we do not promise that such settings will be effective. Please refer to your browser’s or mobile device’s technical information for information on the settings offered for cookies or other tracking technologies. To learn more about cookies, you may wish to visit https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0042-cookies-leaving-trail-web and/or the Digital Advertising Alliance’s Consumer Choice Opt-Out pages at http://www.aboutads.info/choices and http://www.aboutads.info/choices-mobile (for mobile devices).
7. Do Not Track Preferences
While we want to honor your privacy as described in this Policy, unfortunately the Site does not monitor for or behave differently if your computer or browser transmits a “do not track” or similar message to us or the Site.
8. Data Protection
We take what we believe to be commercially reasonable steps to help protect personal information that we collect, but we do not guarantee that personal information will be completely protected. For example, the transmission of information via the Internet is not completely secure. Any transmission of personal information by you is at your own risk. We are not responsible for the illegal acts of third parties (such as criminal hacking).
9. Data Retention
We tend to keep personal information for as long as we deem necessary for our business purposes, or as otherwise required to operate the Site, comply with your requests, or comply with applicable law.
10. Information From Children
The Site is not directed to children under the age of 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children under the age of 13. If you are a parent or guardian of a child under the age of 13, and believe that your child may have provided us with personal information, please contact us at questions@thecloud100.com and we will use commercially reasonable efforts to delete that information.
11. Third Party Websites
The Site may provide links to third party websites and online services. This Policy does not describe the privacy practices of those websites or services. Please review the privacy policies of those websites or services before providing personal information to them.
12. Updates to This Policy
We may amend this Policy from time to time. When we do so, we will update the “Last Revision Date” at the end of the Policy. Your continued use of the Site after an updated Policy is posted constitutes your consent to the revised Policy.
Who can I contact with additional questions?
Please contact us at questions@thecloud100.com
Last Revision Date: 2020
We consider and evaluate nominated companies, last year's Cloud 100 and Rising Stars, and recognized category leaders. There are four factors we weigh in the evaluation process. These factors, and the relevant weights, are used to select, score, and rank the winners.
Note that only independent cloud companies that have not had a majority strategic or private equity M&A transaction or public listing historically are considered for the list.