Pinwheel Earns Spot for Second time on Inc. 5000 List of America’s Fastest-Growing Private Companies

Austin-based startup recognized for rapid growth as it expands an ecosystem of technology designed to grow with kids

AUSTIN, TX, UNITED STATES, August 11, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — Pinwheel, an Austin-based startup best known for its popular phones and smartwatches designed specifically for kids, today announced it has once again been named to the 2026 Inc. 5000 list, the annual list of America’s fastest-growing private companies. The list is the most prestigious ranking of the nation’s most successful independent and entrepreneurial businesses, recognizing companies that have achieved remarkable growth while driving innovation, creating jobs, and shaping the future of the economy.

Pinwheel, which sells phones and watches designed for kids with built-in parental management tools and no social media, saw revenues increase 2.4X over the past 3 years. Earlier this year, the company expanded its product lineup with the launch of a “kid’s landline”, the Pinwheel Home, a screen-free, voice-only home phone for younger children, further extending its ecosystem of age-appropriate technology designed to grow alongside children.
This marks Pinwheel’s second appearance on the Inc. 5000, after first earning recognition in 2024, reflecting the company’s continued growth as families increasingly seek technology designed to help children build healthy digital habits.

“Being named to the Inc. 5000 for a second time is an incredible milestone, but we’re even more excited by what it represents,” said Dane Witbeck, founder and CEO of Pinwheel. “Families are embracing a new approach to technology. One that recognizes digital independence should grow over time, not handed over all at once. That’s why we’ve created an ecosystem of devices that grows with kids, giving parents the flexibility to gradually expand access as their children demonstrate readiness. Our goal isn’t simply to make safer technology; it’s to help raise a generation that has a healthy, productive relationship with technology.”

This year’s Inc. 5000 recognizes a new class of companies redefining what growth looks like. From AI and advanced manufacturing to healthcare, consumer products, and professional services, these businesses are expanding their impact, creating jobs and proving that entrepreneurial ambition continues to fuel the U.S. economy. Among the 5,000 companies on the list, the median three-year revenue growth rate was 130%, and those companies have collectively added more than 627,208 jobs to the U.S. economy over the past three years.

“Every company on the Inc. 5000 has a story of perseverance, smart decision making, and a refusal to sit still,” said 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.”

For the full Inc. 5000 list, honoree company profiles, and a searchable database by industry and location, please visit: www.inc.com/inc5000.
Inc. will celebrate the honorees at the 2026 Inc. 5000 Conference & Gala, taking place October 14–16 in Dallas, Texas, and the top 500 companies will be featured 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. As always, Inc. reserves the right to decline applicants for subjective reasons.

About Pinwheel
Pinwheel is a kid tech company that sells digital devices and services designed specifically for children and teens—no social media or open internet browsers, with built-in parent management controls. The company’s mission is to help the next generation develop healthy, productive habits that enable them to use technology as a tool for creativity and connection rather than a distraction. For more information, visit pinwheel.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.

Dana Ryan
Pinwheel
+1 609-203-0394
dana@danaquinnpr.com

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Written By: EIN Presswire