Important Dates

 

August 5, 2024: Nominations & Applications Open

November 30, 2024: Nominations Close

December 13, 2024: Applications Close

February 2025: Alphabetical List Announced

March 28, 2025: Cowboy100 Honoree Gala 

 

The company must meet all four of the following criteria:

 

1. The company must have been in business for 5 years or more as of December 31, 2023.

2. The company must have verifiable revenues of $100,000 or more in each of the calendar years from 2021–2023 (or the fiscal years ending in such years).

3. The company must be OSU Cowboy-owned or Cowboy-led by an OSU graduate for the period of January 2021–December 2023.

4. The company must operate and act with high integrity in a manner consistent with the values and image of OSU.  As part of the OSU community, we live by the Cowboy Code.

 

Revenue Verification

Rankings are calculated by our independent accounting firm JTaylor using a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR). Companies must submit baseline financial data to be eligible for participation.

 

To ensure the integrity and credibility of the ranked list, JTaylor confidentially manages all applicant financial data. This information will never be shared with a third party, including OSU or its personnel. As such, no parties will enter into a non-disclosure agreement.

 

Submit one of the following forms to JTaylor to verify sales or revenues (net of returns):

 

(1) The business' signed U.S. Income Tax Return for the calendar years 2023, 2022 and 2021, or the fiscal years ended therein. (Forms accepted: 1120, 1120S, 1065, 990 and 1040: Schedule C).

 

(2) Audited, reviewed or compiled financial statements by an external CPA firm (i.e. auditors signed opinion letter) for the years 2023, 2022 and 2021 or the fiscal years ended therein. Note, internal letters from internal auditors or management are not permissible.

 

(3) Revenue Verification Form signed by company’s external Certified Public Accountant attesting to the revenue.

 

Note: The same form of documentation must be submitted for each of the 3 years (2021, 2022, 2023 or the fiscal years ending therein).

 

All required financial information must be submitted to JTaylor no later than 11:59 pm (CST) on December 15, 2024, to have a complete Cowboy100 application. After submitting your application, you will receive a confirmation email from OSU with a link where you can securely upload your financial documentation to JTaylor, the Cowboy100 Accounting Partner. Additional avenues for providing financial documents are (1) the JTaylor document submission link provided on the Cowboy100 website OR (2) mail to JTaylor at 4800 Overton Plaza #360, Fort Worth, TX 76109. Attn…Cowboy100.  Please note that the secure submission link is the safest way to transmit the required financial documents. While every effort will be made to safeguard the information provided in connection with your Cowboy100 application, neither OSU nor JTaylor is responsible for any data submitted in an unsecured manner including as unencrypted email.  

 

This information will never be shared with OSU but will be used by JTaylor to determine your company ranking in the Cowboy100. JTaylor reserves the right to request further documentation if needed.

 

What does it mean to be OSU Cowboy-led or owned by an OSU alum?

The company must meet one or more of the following three criteria:

1. OSU Owned means a graduate of OSU or a group of graduates from OSU must have owned 50% or more of the company for the time frame being measured.

2. OSU-Led means a graduate of OSU serving as CEO, President or Managing Partner.

3. OSU Founded means that a graduate of OSU founded the company and is still employed at the most senior level of management (C-Suite) if not serving as CEO, President or Managing Partner.

 

A company may only rank #1 for two consecutive years. In the event that a company ranks #1 in the third year, it will automatically be ranked second in that third year. This company may again earn the #1 ranking in the next two years. 

 

OSU reserves the following rights: (1) To independently verify that nominees and honorees meet all criteria, (2) Reject any nominee for any reason, (3) Remove an honoree company from the Cowboy100 list for any reason and (4) Modify eligibility and requirements as needed without notification.